50 Content Ideas for Massage Therapists & Bodyworkers (plus some social media tips!)
One of the problems we hear the most from massage therapists and bodyworkers who are growing their business is the challenges that come with posting consistently on social media- specifically with content ideas and content creation.
Why Post on Social Media Consistently?
In our current day and age, having a social media platform for your business is a must. It is true that there are therapists who do not do online advertising and are strictly word of mouth, but the majority of those therapists have been practicing for 15+ years and have built out practices with people who have stayed with them for years. In those cases, having a social media account may not be that important. But for bodyworkers who are new in their business, or are wanting to expand into the digital space to build community, share their offerings or keep up with times- then social media is a must.
Social media is the main way that local businesses can showcase their products and services to their local audiences. The more active you are on your social media platforms, the more likely you are to pop up in someone’s news feed who lives local to you. The more times your business account makes an appearance in someone’s news feed, the more likely they are to give your services a try. There are some marketing studies that suggest that it can take as many as 7 or 8 times of seeing your business marketed to them before they decide to make a purchase or schedule an appointment. By being consistent in your posting, you are boosting that likelihood of someone pulling the trigger on trying out your massage and bodywork services.
What Platforms to Post on
In the beginning of trying to post consistently, we recommend picking one platform and getting good at posting there. Maybe it is Instagram, but it could also be Facebook or even Tik Tok. If you can diversify across those platforms, it will only be beneficial for you. Posting across various social media platforms is helpful for getting your name out to different audiences. It is easy to link your Facebook and Instagram accounts so that you can post on both platforms simultaneously. That is what we do. Whenever we make a story, post, or reel, they are able to post to both our Instagram and Facebook accounts by linking them up through the Meta Business Suite.
Content Creation Tips
It can be challenging to try to post on the fly. Don’t get us wrong- sometimes you have to do just that. BUT, it is so helpful when you have ready made content stored away for the days you just don’t feel like taking photos, recording videos, or making an infographic or carousel post on Canva. We highly recommend creating an album on your phone for b-roll videos and photos that you can use on the fly for posting stories, reels, and more.
You can set up a day each month where you batch create as much content as possible. Head to your studio space and take as many aesthetically pleasing photos as possible that you can use for your stories as well as within your canva created posts. You could also considered trading services or hiring a local photographer for higher quality images, but having some simple snap shots on your phone is great for stories and last minute content needs. You should also take many 5-15 second clips from various angles of your room, as well as clips with you in the video dressing/undressing the table and moving about your studio space. Having this library built up is great for batching content and having reels, posts, and stories saved inside your drafts.
You can also batch create content on Canva with infographics and carousel posts. If you make a day of this and practice letting go of your perfectionism, you will be surprised how much content you can make in one devoted content creation day. Challenge yourself to do this, and you WILL get better over time. Practice makes progress when it comes to content creation and social media.
Create a Schedule for Yourself
It is also helpful to make a content calendar or a schedule for yourself to get in the habit of posting consistently. If this is something you would like help with, you can always go to the Ask Ally & Cody section in the Virtual Studio and we can help you design a content calendar that works for you and your practice. You should not overwhelm yourself with daily posting if you are not already posting consistently (1-3x per week). Instead, you should start small and take doable, baby steps and increase your frequency over time. Start with the content that is easiest for you to do, and build from there. As you begin to batch more content, posting more frequently becomes easier. Start where you are, and grow from there.
The content ideas
Below you will find a master list of content ideas, and some ideas on the various ways you can format them (stories, posts, reels, etc)
Post Weekly Availability: At the start of the week (Sunday or Monday) you can post your weekly availability with a LINK for them to book. Booking links are helpful as it is easy for your client to book right then and there. You could make a post with text overlaying, or you could also make a story. We recommend doing both at the start of the week.
Share Your Daily Schedule: On the days in which you work, we suggest sharing your schedule with your clients! Post a picture of your treatment room in your story along with “Today’s Schedule” and put the services that you are doing. This is also a great place to attach a booking link. When clients see the services you are giving to others, it entices them to receive the service themselves.
Client Quotes: We have all heard our clients say endearing, funny, or fantastic things about their service. Things like “I feel like a melted gummy bear,” or “that was the best massage I have ever had,” are great client quotes to put into your stories or a weekly post to your page. You can do a photo of the messy post massage sheets to bring in an element of reality and behind the scenes look.
Walk Through Your Space: You can do this in the form of your stories, posts, or reels that show what your space looks like. Make sure you have good lighting, that everything looks really clean, neat, and put together. You can add a lovely quote that inspires you, or another call to action to book.
Behind-the-Scenes Moments of Life: Our clients love to see real, behind the scenes, moments. Remember that your clients come to you not just because they love your bodywork, but because they likely enjoy you as a person and your personality. Showing them glimpses of your real life can help deepen their relationship and loyalty to you. Share stories of going to your favorite places, spending time with family on your days off, and more.
Behind-the-Scenes Moments of Work: In a similar way, you can share behind the scenes moments of your work like! Show videos of you cleaning up your treatment space, cleaning hot stones/cups, blending oils in your diffuser and more!
Massage Techniques: Demonstrate different massage techniques with explanations. This can be done in reels or short videos. Explain the benefits and specific uses for each technique. This is a content idea that you can do over and over again, changing up the techniques.
Client Success Stories: Share stories of clients who have had significant improvements or breakthroughs with your treatments. Make sure to get their permission first! You can create a post or a series of stories detailing their journey and progress.
Massage Tools/Enhancement/Add-On Spotlight: Showcase the different tools/enhancements/add-on’s you use in your practice, such as hot stones, massage guns, or specific types of oils or topicals. Explain why you use them and how they benefit your clients. This can easily be done as a carousel post, or a reel.
Stretching Tips: Share quick stretching exercises that can help relieve common areas of tension. These can be in the form of reels or carousel posts, with detailed step-by-step instructions and benefits of each stretch.
Health and Wellness Tips: Offer advice on overall health and wellness, such as nutrition tips, mindfulness practices, or sleep hygiene. These can be shared as infographics or short videos. Use visuals to make the information more engaging.
Your Professional Development: Talk about courses or workshops you’ve attended, books you’re reading, or new techniques you’re learning. This can be done through posts or stories. Share how this development benefits your clients and enhances your practice. Clients love to see you learning and growing!
Seasonal Promotions: Announce any seasonal promotions or special offers you have. Use eye-catching graphics and a call to action to book now. Highlight the limited-time nature of the offer to create urgency. Seasonal promotions work great in your stories with a clickable link to book, as well as an eye catching post. You can even share the post daily to your stories with the same link!
Holiday Greetings: Post holiday greetings and well-wishes to your clients. This shows a personal touch and helps build community. Use festive visuals and personal messages to connect with your audience. Use holidays as easy posting to connect and say hello to your audience!
Client Milestones: Celebrate your clients’ milestones, such as their 10th session or a year of consistent visits. Make a special story about it with their permission, using their first name only!
Testimonials Compilation: Compile multiple testimonials into one post. This can be in the form of a carousel or a collage. Use a mix of text and visuals to keep it engaging.
Massage Benefits: Highlight different benefits of massage therapy, such as stress relief, improved circulation, or pain management. Use clear visuals and engaging captions. This can be done as a series of posts, each focusing on a different benefit.
FAQ Posts: Answer frequently asked questions about massage therapy. This can be done in a Q&A style post or a series of stories. Use visuals and text to make the information easy to digest. Answer questions like “what happens if I fall asleep?” or “What if I want to leave my socks on?” Etc!
Product Reviews: Review products that you use and love, such as oils, lotions, or equipment. Share why you recommend them and where to get them. This can be done in a post or a series of short videos. You can also talk about your favorite things in your Instagram stories.
Upcoming Events: Similar to your personal development, announce any workshops, classes, or events you’re hosting or attending. Use stories and posts to generate excitement and participation. Include details about how to sign up or attend.
Client Appreciation Posts: Show appreciation for your clients with special shout-outs or thank you posts. If they ever bring you something special as gift/tip, share this to your stories with a thank you message. This can help build loyalty and encourage referrals. Use visuals and personal messages to make these posts special.
Collaborations: Highlight collaborations with other health and wellness professionals. Share what you’re working on together and how it benefits your clients. You can even shout out the people in your community who you love! This can be done in posts, stories, or reels.
Daily Routine: Share snippets of your daily routine, from your morning coffee to your evening wind-down. This can be done in stories or reels. Show how you balance work and self-care.
Inspirational Quotes: Post quotes related to health, wellness, and self-care. Use beautiful imagery and fonts to make them visually appealing. This can be done as regular posts or stories. Everyone loves some inspiration and encouragement!
Massage Myths: Address and debunk common myths about massage therapy. Use a series of posts or stories to educate your audience. Provide clear explanations and evidence to support your points.
Client Education: Explain the benefits of regular massage and how it can improve overall health, and how massage works with our nervous system. Use infographics or short videos where you talk to explain massage concepts. Break down complex information into easy-to-understand visuals or short video clips of you explaining how things work.
Dressing & Undressing the Table: Share stories of you dressing and undressing your table before and after clients with the background music of your treatment room or adding some music from insta/fb. This is great b-roll video content to add any type of text-hook for an Instagram reel, or using it in your stories with a book now link or any other “call to action.”
Personal Stories: Share your journey and experiences as a massage therapist. Talk about why you became a therapist and what you love about your work. This can be done in posts or stories, using a mix of text and visuals. Again, your clients will love to hear more about your life and who YOU are.
Client Feedback: Share a google form for your clients to provide you with feedback, you can put a link to this in your stories or a post with a link. Showing that you are open and receptive to feedback is a good thing as a business owner! You can also send this out in an email. Another idea is using Instagram stories and putting a “question” link where you invite your clients to share feedback.
Massage for Specific Conditions: Talk about how massage can help with specific conditions, such as chronic pain, stress, or sports injuries. Use clear visuals and informative captions. This can be done as a series of posts, each focusing on a different condition.
Seasonal Self-care Tips: Offer self-care tips that are relevant to the current season. This can be done in stories or posts. Use visuals to illustrate the tips and make them more engaging.
Team Introductions: Introduce your team members and talk about their roles and expertise. This can be done in posts or stories. Use photos and personal stories to make the introductions more engaging. If you are a solo practice, then you can share a photo of you and all the hats that you wear in your business!
Wellness Challenges: Create a wellness challenge for your followers to participate in, such as a 30-day stretching challenge or a self-care routine. Use posts and stories to promote it. Provide clear instructions and encourage participation! You can even do some kind of reward or incentive and choose a winner at the end. Make sure you participate in the challenge and share daily stories/posts of you participating. Doing a challenge like this is a great way to have 30-days of content and engagement.
Client Policy + Procedures Reminders: Make regular posts / stories or even create a highlight on your Instagram page that details your policies. Regularly share your cancellation policy, no show policy, how to park/enter, what to do before/after your massage, and things your clients may need some occasional reminders on.
Creative Infographics: Create and share infographics about the benefits of massage, common issues treated, or fun facts about the body and wellness. Use clear visuals and informative text. You can really get creative here!
Motivational Monday: Start the week with a motivational quote or tip to inspire your followers. Use engaging visuals and personal messages to connect with your audience.
Flash Sales: Announce flash sales for last-minute appointment openings to fill your schedule. Use eye-catching graphics and a clear call to action. Do these sporadically and as a last minute ditch to fill openings. You do not want to do this too much or your followers/clientele will try to wait to book to a catch a deal. But every now and then it is a great way to fill those last minute spaces. Your stories are a great place to do this.
Your Aesthetic Workspace: Share aesthetic photos of your workspace. Capture snapshots of various areas of your space, or even post before/after videos if you have done some renovating or redecorating. You can even show seasonal decorations and special touches you add around the holidays.
Anatomy Fun Facts: Share interesting or surprising facts about the human body as it relates to massage therapy. Doing this regularly also helps you keep up to date on your anatomy! Use engaging visuals and clear explanations. This can be done as regular posts or stories.
Professional Milestones: Celebrate your professional milestones, such as years in practice, certifications, or new services offered. Use posts or stories to highlight these achievements and thank your clients for their support.
Local Favorites: Highlight your favorite local business, services, and places you like to go. You do not have to collaborate to talk about your favorite places around town. In fact, showing your favorite places to go around your town will display you as an engaged, community member and someone your clients trust on recommendations.
Encourage Referrals: Make occasional posts or stories where you encourage your clients to refer you to their friends and family. You can create a referral program if you would like, but you can even just encourage clients to do it without a formal referral program. Most clients who love you are willing to do this!
Book Recommendations: Recommend books on massage, wellness, or self-care that you think your clients might enjoy. Use posts or stories to share the recommendations and why you recommend them.
Your Personal Wellness: Share how you practice self-care and wellness in your own life. Use posts, stories, or reels to showcase your routines and tips. You can show your exercise/yoga routines, a nice walk or hike, or any health and wellness activity you like to engage in regularly. Show your clients that you walk the walk!
Engagement Posts: Create posts that encourage engagement, like asking your followers their favorite massage techniques or how they unwind after a busy day. Use posts, stories, or reels to prompt responses and interactions. The more your clients engage in your comment section, the more your posts are boosted in social media algorithms.
Interactive Stories: Use Instagram Stories' interactive features like polls, quizzes, and question stickers to engage with your audience. For example, run a poll asking your followers which type of massage they prefer (e.g., deep tissue vs. Swedish). Follow up with a story explaining the benefits of the winning choice, and invite them to book a session.
Partner Stretching / Massage Techniques: Share a video or reel demonstrating partner stretching or massage techniques that clients can do at home with a friend or partner. Highlight the benefits of these stretches or massage techniques and provide safety tips to ensure they are performed correctly. You can create a follow-up Q&A in your stories for any questions your audience might have.
Live Q&A Session: Host a live Q&A session on Instagram or Facebook where followers can ask questions about massage therapy, self-care tips, and wellness practices. Promote the session in advance with posts and stories, and save the live video to your IGTV or Facebook page for those who missed it.
DIY Aromatherapy Blends: Teach viewers how to create their own aromatherapy blends using essential oils. Highlight different blends for relaxation, energy, or focus, and demonstrate how to use them in a diffuser or as a personal scent. This would work great in a reel.
Day in the Life: Do a day in the life reel of a massage therapist / bodyworker. This would make a great reel where you walk your clients through your day and do a voice over the video!
Consistency in social media posting can seem daunting, but with the right strategies and content ideas, it can become a seamless part of your business routine. Social media is not just a tool for attracting new clients but also for engaging with your existing community, showcasing your expertise, and sharing your journey. By implementing these ideas and tips, you'll be able to maintain an active and engaging presence on your chosen platforms.
Remember, the key is to start small and gradually increase your posting frequency as you become more comfortable and efficient with content creation. Use the resources available to you, such as ready-made content, a content calendar, and interactive tools on social media platforms. If you ever feel stuck, refer back to this master list of content ideas, and don't hesitate to reach out for support through our Ask Ally & Cody section in our Virtual Studio.
Happy posting, and we look forward to seeing your growth and success on social media! If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to get in touch with us.
