Do you know what your Bio is doing?

Hello all! A few months ago, I resolved to have more blog postings. I promptly followed this up by being silent online, go figure! While the heart is in the right place, the fingers sometimes lack motivation to type. I just wanted to let the fellow TQs know I am learning and do not want to let the ladies down!

Recently did a minor overhaul on the website, www.rapturemassage.com. My website is very basic, I will be first to point this out, but Web.com provides an affordable layout for my needs at this time. In the future (hopefully sooner than later) I will be replacing it with a more jazzy site. I re-wrote much of the verbiage and moved some photos around, no heavy lifting.

During the overhaul, I was bouncing ideas off of fellow spa professionals I work with (the chaps at Beleza Spa in Chelmsford MA are really wonderful professionals and friends!) and got advice that my Bio page was TOO in depth and too personal. HUH? TOO in depth?

When I originally wrote the Bio page, I felt that I should let my prospective clients know a little about me, including something about my family. I don't believe I was too deep in the information I gave, but I wanted to connect on a personal level to visitors. I think this idea came from the fact that, currently, I am a small mobile massage company with exactly 1 masseuse (yep, that'd be me!). My husband is co owner with me and does a wonderful job scheduling clients. He also takes care of the obtaining products we use, transport, and set-up/break-down on job sites. However, I am the one who performs the actual massage work.

It was suggested to remove much of the 'personal' information referring to my off the job life. I fully understand the suggestion, and have trimmed down the information greatly. I did look online to many massage sites, as well as pro fitness sites (companies and individuals) and found a good percentage had 'in depth' bio pages, such as I had. Many others had Bios much like what had been suggested to me.

I opted for the trimmed down version at this time. Has anyone else had this cross their minds? Are we missing out on a more personal connection with our clients?

Looking forward to interacting.

Trust in the Cyber World 

I would consider myself a late bloomer, at 38 I had my first child. Rewinding, at 36 I graduated with my Massage Therapy degree. That same year (2007) I 'launched' (I don't know if I have indeed left the tarmac yet) my Mobile Massage Business.

Not to be aristocratic, but I have never felt comfy in the typical business setting. Set hours, set location, etc. never felt comfortable for me. When I began the business, I felt (and still do) that as far as Massage Services, mobile is the way to go, and will be more prevailant in the future. I surmised that I should get in on the 'bottom floor' as soon as I could.

Society is funny, soooo many changes in some ways, but set in stone in others. For example, we are all part of a wing-ding, 'what-have-you-done-for-me today' business and social world. Everything seems accelerated, with mobile uploads and tweets galore. However, in my field, it seems the 'old school' view of massage still takes hold in many situations. I know I have screened out many a caller to my business that, let's be honest, were not looking for a professional massage, but something sexual (ick!).

On the other hand, there are many people in MA that I desperately wish to bring massage services to, who I cannot make the final connection with. I honestly don't blame people either. My business revolves around me coming into your home (or business). I fully understand how that is disconcerting to some, which in turn gives prospective clients pause when entertaining the thought of a home (or business) massage.

And I guess that is the subject of my post...to prepare for business better and find ways to break down that final barrier and gain the trust of potential clients in the Cyber World, even before I speak to them, but as they look upon my website, or facebook page, or twitter page. I must find new and better ways of easing client's 'fears' via my website, twitter posts, blogs...etc. It requires growth and savvy (two things that sometimes I feel I have none of). It is daunting on some days and honestly sometimes I want to throw up my hands and just be a stay at home mom! :) (that is a whole different job in itself)

So, I guess I just wanted to blurt that out there, if for anything to have my mind chew on it in a cathartic sort of way. Discuss or comment as you wish!. Thank you all and here is to continued growth and prosperity for all of us!

xo paula