I’ve heard that massage therapists are slow adopters of technology, but are you losing clients because you’re reluctant to get to grips with the internet? If you think you might be missing the boat, read on to discover how easy it can be to get a website for your natural health practice.

Websites for therapists

There are 4 main options for getting your practice online:

1. Hire a web designer. This is the easiest option, but can also be expensive. (Most web designers charge a one-off fee upfront, but some now offer monthly payments to make budgeting easier.) A professional will take care of all the technical details and will guide you gently through the process from start to finish. When searching for a web designer, look for someone who can show you examples of their work, who you find it easy to communicate with, and preferably has some knowledge of marketing too. Hiring a professional web designer is a good option if you don’t have much time, are scared of computers, or just want someone to do the whole thing for you.
2. Use a website builder. Website builders are relatively new. Typically you create an account, and set up a website in just a few minutes, by choosing a template and typing in the text for your pages. Usually you pay for the service as you go (e.g. monthly). Most claim to be easy to use (with support included in the price), but you do need a basic proficiency with computers to get up and running. Using a website builder is a good option if you want to spread the cost of your website, and don’t mind learning how to use the software; on the other hand, the end-result can sometimes lack visual finesse.
3. Create a listing in one of the therapist directories. There are now lots of directories on the web that allow people to search for a conveniently located therapist. (I’ll be reviewing some of these next time.) They range from simple classified ad type listings, to a page per therapist or clinic, and in some cases even a mini-website. Listing in a therapist directory is a good bargain option and the directories are often well promoted. On the negative side, you don’t get a lot of control over your listing, are competing against all the other therapists in your area, and a directory listing probably doesn’t look as professional as having your own web site.
4. DIY. Although not for the technophobes, if you have a lot of time available and enjoy learning new skills, a DIY approach might work for you. Creating your own website is relatively cheap, but can look amateur unless you have a good head for design and the patience to learn how recreate your ideas in HTML. If DIY appeals, Elated.com have some great tutorials on web skills for beginners and also sell web site templates that make it easy to put together a web site without being a web design guru.

Summary

If you’d like to get your practice on the web, there are several ways to go about it. You can outsource the whole thing to a web designer, try one of the new easy-to-use web builders, list yourself in a therapist directory, or learn some skills to do it yourself.

The best choice for you will depend on how much free time you have, whether you prefer to work with people or are happy sitting at a computer working things out yourself, as well as how much money you have to spend.

Happy Marketing!

Catherine Doyle

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Founder, Soothed - web design & online marketing for natural therapists
Editor, natural bloom - sharing the inside story on holistic health

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Tags: massage website

This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 12:19 pm and is filed under Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.