“For Body Wisdom Grads growing their private practice with heart, skill, and strategy.” (For YOU or whoever takes care of your social and your website!)
=> Big Picture: Your Clients Are Searching Differently
Instagram, and TikTok are no longer just social tools—they’re search engines now!!!!
Clients now type things like:
“Neck pain relief Des Moines massage”
“Massage therapist for stress and burnout near me”
“Best lymphatic massage after surgery Iowa”
But here’s the deeper truth: it’s not just Google anymore!!
AI tools like ChatGPT, Google’s new Search Generative Experience (SGE), and voice assistants are answering questions BEFORE people even click a website!! That means you’re not just optimizing for SEO anymore—you’re now dancing with four major types of visibility:
The Four Kinds of SEO You Need to Know (and Use)
- Classic SEO – Optimize your website so it shows up in search results for the right keywords.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) – Create content that AI tools can summarize and feature in answer boxes and “AI overviews.”
- Local SEO – Make sure your practice shows up on maps and “near me” searches.
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) – Structure your content so Siri, Alexa, and voice AI can pull direct, speakable answers from it.
Action Tip:
Update your website and Instagram bio with clear, searchable phrases that feed all four types of search:
“Prenatal Massage in West Des Moines”
“Helping active women recover faster through Myofascial Release”
“Calm your nervous system. Reset your body. You deserve both.”
Also: Start thinking in questions and answers—just like your clients search.
What’s Working Now?
✅ Hyperlocal SEO
Google’s Map Pack is prime digital real estate right now!!
Ensure your Google Business Profile is up to date with your hours, services, and includes at least one recent 5-star review.
✅ Instagram = New Search Engine (As of July 10th, 2025)
==> BIG NEWS: Instagram posts (from public pro accounts) are now indexed by Google!!
Use keywords in your caption (not just hashtags!), tag your location, and don’t be afraid to repeat the words people are actually searching for.
✅ Zero-Click Content
AI and Google are favoring content that answers questions right on the page or post.
Share bite-sized “answer cards” like:
“How often should you get a massage for chronic tension?”
“3 signs your fascia is restricted (and what to do about it)”
These work for GEO and AEO, while building trust and authority.
✅ “Instagram Trial Reels: Quietly Test, Confidently Post”
Instagram’s new Trial Reels feature is a game-changer for creators and businesses looking to experiment without risk. Instead of posting a Reel to your full audience right away, you can now soft-launch it to non-followers only, giving you a chance to test how it performs in the wild. Over 72 hours, Instagram gathers data on engagement—views, likes, shares, and comments—so you can see if the content truly resonates. If it’s a hit, you can then confidently publish it to your followers for maximum impact, or let it auto-share when it reaches your set goals.
What It Is: Instagram Trial Reels let you test a Reel with non-followers first, keeping it hidden from your primary audience while you gauge engagement (views, likes, shares).
How It Works: After you post a Trial Reel, Instagram shows it only to new viewers for up to 72 hours. If engagement is strong, you can manually publish it to your followers—or set it to auto-publish when it hits performance goals.
How To Do It: When creating a Reel, simply toggle on “Trial Reel” before posting. Monitor the performance in Insights, then decide whether to share it fully or leave it unpublished.
Content Focus for July/August
Short-form video still rules ….
And the bar isn’t perfection—it’s authenticity. Stats have shown that people favor “real” over polished, so go for it!
Video ideas you can record this week:
- “What I love most about helping clients heal”
- “3 things I do to protect my hands as a massage therapist”
- “How I helped cyclists recover after RAGBRAI”
Educational Posts = Value
These satisfy both human curiosity and search engines. Even a 2-sentence tip counts.
Client Stories (with permission)
There’s no better SEO than real trust in action. If it helped someone, share it.
July/August Action Items for Your Practice
| ✅ Task | 📈 Why It Matters |
| Add a new 5-star review to Google | Fuels Local SEO + client trust |
| Post one short-form video (Reel/TikTok) | Boosts visibility + reach |
| Create an FAQ carousel or blog | Supports GEO, AEO, and Classic SEO |
| Update your Instagram & site bios | Helps clients (and AI) know exactly what you offer |
Wishing you great success in your massage marketing journey!
If you ever have questions or need a little extra guidance, I’m just an email or call away:
Rhett Hatfield
Body Wisdom Massage School's Blog 
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