Your NEXT client lives in a digital world. Shouldn’t your practice? Open up your practice to meet new clients where the clients are.
We often hear from
therapists that they don’t use social media, hate Facebook, and try to minimize their screen time. Very laudable. And, probably a great idea. We all would be better off spending less time online. But, for better or for worse, your potential new clients live online.In this digital world, as many as 90% of potential new clients will “vet” your practice online before ever making contact directly. Your online presence is your first impression on a potential new client. If you don’t get past that initial online vetting, you’ll never get a chance to make a great human connection in an initial phone call or first meeting.
Follow S•E•E – to get out of the box and get clients to reach out to you, you need to remember
- Simple – make it simple for the client to reach out to you
- Encounter the client online
- Engender confidence and trust
Make it simple and easy for the client to reach out to you
When you make it simple and easy for a client to schedule a meeting, you are breaking down the barriers that separate the potential client from becoming a new member of your growing practice. What happens when potential client prospects are considering reaching out to you and you’re not available? You lose the client. So, make yourself accessible to clients when the client is ready to reach out. A new client should be able to send you a message and, ideally, book an initial consultation at any time of the day. Click here to find out more about how you can use Schedule > Bill > Deliver to enable clients to easily book appointments.
Encounter the client online
Meet potential clients where they are. Create and leverage opportunities for encounters in Google search results, Facebook, LinkedIn, Psychology Today, and – of course – on your website. Encounter clients where they are spending their time. Your first encounter might be in a Google Search result – so make sure that your site is inviting in Google search results. Your clients are on Facebook and you may need to consider advertising on Facebook. Whether your clients are searching in Google, browsing on Facebook, or catching up on their LinkedIn networking, you can and should take the initiative and create encounters with potential clients.
Use your digital persona to engender confidence online
You can and should engender confidence and trust before the client calls the first time. In fact, you need to start creating trust and confidence in your initial online encounter. Your website, your Facebook business page for your practice, your LinkedIn profile, your PsychologyToday profile, and all other parts of your online digital persona are what your potential client first meets.
More than just an online brochure or business card, your digital persona is an opportunity to “speak” directly to a potential client. In this digital encounter your potential client can start to understand how you can help, can assess your knowledge and expertise, and decide if they fit into one of your client niches.
When your digital persona speaks in YOUR voice, you are on the road to engendering the confidence and trust that a potential client needs to feel before reaching out to you. Ultimately, nothing is more powerful than an initial meeting or phone conversation with a new or potential client. To get to that initial meeting, start by creating trust and confidence online.
Your next step to make S•E•E happen for your practice
At Therapy Everywhere, we will be glad to help you get out of the box and get clients. Click here to schedule a free consultation now. Make sure that your practice has a strong online presence that makes a difference for you in the real world.