Massage Portland Oregon - Massage therapy and bodywork
Hamid LMT
Gresham & Portland, Oregon massage therapist
Massage Location
& Contact Info
All articles by Hamid Shibata Bennett, LMT, licensed massage therapist in Portland, Oregon.
Hamid Shibata Bennett, LMT
Licensed massage therapist
in Gresham & Portland, Oregon
ABMP ~ OR Lic. #301
2915 NE Broadway, Suite C
Portland, Oregon 97232
1450 NW 5th CT
Gresham, Oregon 97030
503-975-1259
Many sensations come, many thoughts or images arise, but they are just waves of your own mind.
-Shunryu Suzuki
Internet marketing for massage therapists on a budget, volume 1 (11/15/04)
by Hamid Shibata Bennett, LMT
Why design a web site?
If you're reading this, then you know just how pervasive the Internet has become. It is a rich source of information and a wonderful place to receive free or very low cost advertising. Think of a web page as an expanded version of your business card, able to convey a sense of your personality and massage style to an informed, targeted market. You can make it as simple or complex as you want, but there are some common factors shared by successful sites on the net. This series will cover a few basic suggestions and thoughts about creating a web presence, geared towards the absolute beginner.
How much does it cost to design a web page?
It's a common misconception that a web page costs a great deal of money. You don't need the newest, fastest computer or the most recent upgrade of the latest software. If you're computer savvy, or willing to learn, make the page yourself!
I made my web page on an upgraded 10 year old Apple Macintosh and designed the site with free software (SoftPress Systems Freeway 1.0.2). I wrote all the contents myself, created the graphics on an ancient version of Adobe Photoshop and found inexpensive web hosting with my very own domain (www.transcendingtouch.com) . It can be cheap to run a site. Really! And, it felt great figuring it all out!
Sound terrifying? Dont worry. There are still some easy ways to get a web site.
You're a massage therapist! Trade! Find someone who will design your site and trade them your massages therapy for their html code! Or, contact the graphic design department of your local college and ask if any students need a project. Students are looking to build up their portfolio and want to show off their newly developing skills.
I'm not timid... what kind of computer hardware and software do I need?
I'll admit it... when it comes to computers, I'm terribly biased. I'm a Mac geek and proud of it. Most of my recommendations will center around this platform since it's what I know best. Mac OS X is rock-solid, lovely to behold, safe from both virus and spyware and simply works. My current computer, an 867Mhz 12" Powerbook (a nearly 2 year old model snatched up recently from ebay), is the epitome of svelt elegance. (My wife has a Dell notebook, knows how I feel about Windows and loves me anyways). OK... I'm done with my little rant. Honestly, if you're on the Internet now and your computer does what you need it to do, then you're hardware is probably modern enough to handle all of this.
Here's a very basic list of needs:
Apple Mac or Windows PC with dial-up or broadband Internet access.
Web hosting (this is where your web site is stored online). I use WeHostMacs.com.
Personalized domain (i.e. www.mysite.com). Find a web host that can get you your own domain.
- FTP program (file transfer protocol). This is a program that uploads your site to the web host, such as Fetch.
- HTML generator. I suggest an easy to master WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) program like Freeway Express ($90). There are several out there, so do some research.
- Graphics program. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 is excellent and under $80. Graphic Converter is a wonderful shareware program without all the features of Photoshop Elements, but still very usefull ($35).
- A traditional film camera and scanner or digital camera. Many photo labs will scan your film and put it on cd for a small, additional charge. Or, use the convenience of a digital camera for instant results. Borrow the equipment, if you don't have it, and get a friend to take pictures. Stock massage photography is a bit cheesy and all over the net. Let your clients see the beauty of your work.
- You really don't need to spend a bundle on web design. It can be a fun, rewarding project and source of additional income, allowing more clients to find your special gift in the world of massage therapy.
- In future articles, we'll look at elements that make a well-designed home page, website optimization and free methods of getting your site listed and ranked high on search engines.
May you soar beyond dreams...
Hamid Shibata Bennett, LMT, is a licensed massage therapist in Portland, Oregon with an extensive background in Japanese and European language desktop publishing and Apple Macintosh hardware and software troubleshooting. His massage therapy practice is deepened by his devotion to the spiritual path, musical expression and overall love of centered presence amidst the beauty of this whirling, ever-changing world. http://www.transcendingtouch.com/
