8 Free Ways to Market a Private Practice
Marketing your private practice may seem difficult, especially if you are one of many counselors in the area. With many practices aiming to gain the same clientele, standing out is essential to growing a business.
Developing a marketing strategy does not have to be challenging or expensive. By taking advantage of available technology and putting in some effort, you will be able to raise awareness of the nature of your practice and its specialties.
Here are some ways that you can market your practice for free:
Network
Think about your practice’s specialties. Try to network with people that can connect you to individuals that match your ideal client’s profile. If your practice focuses on families with young children, try to connect with groups of parents or teachers. If your practice specializes in marital counseling, then you might speak to religious leaders. Taking classes can also help you connect with people you may not meet in everyday life.
Blog
Blogging is a great way to gain a wider audience for your website. A blog will improve your website’s search engine optimization by increasing your site’s content. Having posts about various topics will make someone searching online more likely to reach your site. Take time to write articles that would address your ideal clientele. Make it short, simple, and consistent. Posting once a week is ideal.
Take Advantage of Social Media
Many counselors keep their clients updated through their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. In addition to giving information, the objective of social media is to interact with followers. Take the time to connect with other therapists online and find other pages in your area. Make sure you keep your information updated and mention your practice’s specialties.
Contact Local Radio Stations
Radio stations have a certain amount of hours available to the public each week. Their producers usually look for topics that their audience can relate to or benefit from. Communicate with the top local stations in your area and ask for the availability of public hours. Mention some topics you are comfortable talking about and create an outline for a sample show.
Reach Out to Newspapers & Magazines
Publications often include articles written by experts. Identify publications that are read by potential clients. Contact them and send them sample articles. Relay information your clients find useful in a way that is easy to read. In addition, most of these publications have websites. Ask them to post a link to your website. This will improve your site’s SEO and increase website traffic.
Email Existing Clients
Collect your client’s email addresses (with their permission) and send them updates. Offer simple coping skills and keep them informed of any upcoming workshops and programs.
Survey Existing Clients
Ask your existing clientele about what they would like to see from you in the future. This will improve your services and generate more clients. Ask about programs they would like to attend and counseling techniques they be interested in trying.
Encourage Referrals
Word of mouth is a very effective form of marketing. If people like the services that you offer, they will recommend you to others. Thank clients that bring in referrals by offering a referral program as an incentive.
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