Panicked about Not Having Enough Clients to Stay in Business?
Are you a psychotherapist, life coach, or new naturopathic doctor in private practice, and worried about getting enough clients / patients to fill your case load?
Have you ordered business cards, gone to networking meetings, run some ads, and maybe even got yourself a website -- but still have huge gaps in your daily client appointment schedule?
This is what we all start out doing. And this is why so many of us fail to make it in business. These things just aren't enough.
What if you knew exactly what to do that would bring in the perfect patients / clients for you and make your workday a busy joy? Can you imagine how all that being in business for yourself angst would simply disappear?
What if you could have a mentor, a marketing coach who knows your unique challenges, and has already tested out what really works and what doesn't?
Would you be interested in knowing about some simple, fast, and inexpensive things you could do that will start making a huge difference in attracting clients?
To get you started, some of the most important pieces of advice are right here.
And for more articles and tips, see my website:
THE No-Hype Marketing Mentor
for Solopreneurs in the Healing Arts.
Deah Curry PhD
Certified Professional Coach for New & Struggling Professionals Licensed Facilitator of Get Clients Now! 28 Day Program
The First Five Things You Must Do to Get Clients in Your Door
Personally, I think it helps to be sequential, but others disagree. Nonetheless, I'd follow this order if I knew then what I know now.
- DETERMINE your business model -- will you take insurance, or file reimbursement claims for clients/patients, take credit cards, have a sliding scale, or not?
- IDENTIFY your ideal client. Don't cling to being a generalist -- it won't work to attract many clients to your door.
- DESCRIBE their specific problem in language they would use.
- SPECIFY the solution to their problem that you are capable of providing -- again, in language they would use.
- LOCATE where you can find these ideal clients so you can plan how to reach in and get their attention in a compelling way. Yes, I said plan -- that's the next list to come: developing your marketing plan. Stay tuned.
The 1 HUGE Mistake
We think people care about our credentials. They don't. At least, not at first. If your marketing consists of primarily touting your stellar qualities and excellent education, you are losing more clients than you know.
What You Struggle With the Most
and you aren't alone, most clinicians in private practice haven't mastered these things yet either.
"Write like you speak. Talk directly to your ideal client, using the same emotional language they use"
That makes it so much easier!!
Writing like we speak creates warmth and connection. That's what draws clients to us.
This is much more powerful and attractive to clients than the stale old mantras I've seen a gazillion times: My pleasing personality creates a warm environment in which clients can feel safe and blablahblah. Snore.
If you want to guarantee your marketing will fail, write like a therapist.
You don't have to keep struggling to stay in practice
I've been where you are, and I'd like to help you get more clients with grace and ease. See my website, use the free tips you find there, and when you're ready to take it further and want some coaching on how to do that, I'll be here for you.
Low Cost WebTools to Help You Get Clients with Grace & Ease
I've tried or evaluated all these online ways to improve marketing. If it's here, it has my stamp of approval.
- Vista Print
- An inexpensive and online design company for creating and buying your business cards. I've used them since 2003, and they are recommended by many in private practice.
- GoDaddy WebHosting & Domain Registry
- An online service where it's easy and inexpensive to build your own website. Favored by many DIYers.
- MadDog Web Hosting & Domain Registry
- These two online services have relatively comparable pricing, and the identical web editor program for creating your website.
- PayPal
- Every professional needs the ability to accept payment by credit and debit card. The easiest way to get started that I've found is PayPal's virtual terminal.
Visitor Feedback
If you're a therapist or naturopathic doctor, I'd love to hear from you.
If you are struggling with your marketing efforts, can't get the language right in your online profiles, have no clue what steps to take to become highly visible to your target patients / clients, here's a place you can ask for help. If I have an idea for you, or know of a resource, I'll let you know.
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Reply
- Practice_Builder Practice_Builder Mar 21, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
- This is a very interesting lens. You share a lot of helpful information here. When you get the chance, I'd love it if you'd stop by my lens on building a successful practice and say hello.
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Reply
- Deanne Cousins Deanne Cousins Mar 16, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
- Deah, I read your marketing tips. You come across so clear. I will be contacting you for more ideas!
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Reply
- margaretdexter@mac.com margaretdexter@mac.com Mar 10, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
- Hi Deah,
this page is great.. I like the top five first things... it's short and to the point.
I skipped the voting and went to the results...
cool site...
I'm not putting my blurb hereBECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ONE YET!!
Here's my favorite link:
THE No-Hype Marketing Mentor Website -- Check it out!! -- It's loaded
Most Effective Ways to Get More Clients
Client attraction brainstorming: what's your favorite, highest producing marketing activity?
I say...
What others are saying...
New Photo Gallery
The best marketing plan system I've found -- and I've tried many -- from CJ Hayden.
Get it today from Amazon, try it out on your own or do the system with me
as your licensed facilitator, and no hype mentor-coach.
by THE-No-Hype-Mentor
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