GetReal, GetGOING: Marketing Your Practice
In other blog posts, I’ve talked about finding your niche and articulating your passion. Once you’ve done these things, it’s time to think about getting the word out — that is, stepping outside of your therapy office — virtually and literally — and sharing your professional interests with a broader community.
A quick sidebar here:
Is it scary — especially if you’ve always considered yourself to be a private person — to thrust yourself into the public domain? Yes! Absolutely. It’s vulnerable to say to the world, “Here is my business (here is me) please call me!” But — and let me make that a more emphatic BUT— it’s also the first step on the path to connecting with the people who can help you, and the people who need you.
If you struggle with your own resistance to marketing your practice, I encourage to check out one of my favorite TED talks by Dr. Brene Brown (and, while you’re at it, watch this one too!). In these talks Dr. Brown, a researcher and storyteller, speaks eloquently and humorously about how we, as humans, experience vulnerability, and find the courage to work through it. If you haven’t listened to her talks yet, you are in for a thought-provoking treat!
End of side bar!
With that out of the way, let’s look at some of the most common ways mental health businesses reach out to the community. Many activities can enrich and expand your work and take you beyond the confines of your office, as well as promote you and your practice, even before you’ve opened your doors. Here’s a GetReal, GetGoing list of possibilities to get you thinking:
Create a website
Speak at conferences
Teach courses at graduate schools
Provide workshops in your office
Offer group therapy to your niche
Join the Chamber of Commerce
Attend networking meetings
Join Toastmasters or attend public speaking classes
Give community college workshops
Attend regular association meetings
Have lunch with colleagues who share your interests
Partner with colleagues who host workshops in your niche
Speak at local churches
Speak to faculty and staff at local schools
Talk to neighbors about your new practice
Create an informational pamphlet
Do an interview with the press
Write an article
Join a related advocacy group
Write a letter to your governmental representatives offering information about your niche
Create an email newsletter
Start a blog
Comment on other people’s blogs
Utilize social media
Run webinars
Write a book or an e-book
Create a podcast
Create an online course for CEUs
Film a video blog
So, as Brene Brown says, “Dare greatly,” and start putting you and your business in the public eye. For more exercises and thoughts on building and marketing your practice, you can check out GetReal, GetGOING: The Definitive Roadmap to Starting the Private Practice of Your Dreams!
