Is everyone REALLY blogging private practice owner? Blogs can be a great way to connect with potential clients and increase your online presence. They can also be time consuming and frustrating. If you are ready to take the plunge and start a blog, this episode of Texas Counselors Creating Badass Businesses will help you avoid the mistakes and hit the ground running. Take a listen!
TCCBB #30 DO NOT Blog Until You Listen to This
How do Private Practices Get Clients?
I see this question a LOT in social media.
The answer is not that complicated, but building a successful private practice takes time and effort.
Sure your marketing must attract the attention of potential clients. After that you, your front office staff, and any therapists you employ must provide excellent customer service from the first phone call to the last appointment (and beyond). Any public facing messaging must maintain your positive reputation, and continually connect with potential clients.
Your marketing strategy must be consistent, persistent, positive, and helpful.
Blogging is an excellent tool to have in your toolbox, but it is not the only one.
Some common methods used by private practices to achieve these goals include blogging, podcasting, networking, paying to appear in online directories, targeted advertising, engaging with the community through speaking, and collaborating with insurance companies and physicians.
Three Reasons to NOT Blog
You know yourself better than anyone else. Remember when I said you must be consistent, persistent, positive, and helpful? That's what your blogs must convey.
I know practice owners try to work around this dilemma by immediately hiring out the task of blogging. While they may get a ton of content, they must still be able to measure the effectiveness of each blog. Did the blog result in a sale? A share? A referral?
If you are on the fence, consider:
- Blogging requires a significant amount of time and commitment. Producing high-quality content, managing the technical aspects, engaging with readers, and promoting your blog all require time and effort.
- Not all topics attract a large number of readers. If your blog focuses on a highly specialized or niche subject that doesn't have a broad appeal, it may be challenging to build engaged readership. Without an interested and active audience, your blogging efforts may feel discouraging.
- Blogging requires a certain level of transparency and sharing personal information. If you value your privacy or have concerns about your online security, maintaining a public blog might not align with your preferences or needs.
What kinds of blogs are most successful?
Successful blogs can come in various forms and cover a wide range of topics. While the definition of success may vary depending on your goals, there are certain characteristics that tend to contribute to a blog's popularity and longevity.
Factors like quality content (Google loves this), engaging writing style, regular updates, search engine optimization, and building a community around your blog all contribute to a blog's success or failure (I talk about this more in the podcast).
Bottom line? It's crucial to choose a topic that you are passionate about that aligns with your expertise and audience's interests.
When you do it right, blogging can be a great way to connect with potential clients, engage with past clients, and increase the value of your brand. Use the tools in this episode of Texas Counselors Creating Badass Businesses so you can be consistent, persistent, positive, and helpful. Hit the ground running, connect with potential clients, and start growing your counseling private practice!
Blog post by Kate Walker Ph.D., LPC/LMFT Supervisor in Texas
