6 Tips To Make Your Online Presence Pop

Published: July 8, 2019 by Zencare Team

A version of this article originally appeared on the TheraNest blog. To learn more about TheraNest and receive a Zencare-exclusive discount, get started here.

For many therapists launching a new private practice, online marketing isn’t exactly top of mind. But when it comes to getting that first client through the front door, virtual impressions matter.  

Online marketing is an effective way to jumpstart your caseload – and if done well, it can attract new clients seeking a therapist with your specific expertise.

The key is to cultivate an identifiable brand that helps you stand out in the field. Below are six tips to inspire you, and help you kickstart your own strategic online marketing push – and connect with clients who are a great fit for your unique skills.

1. Clearly highlight your areas of expertise, in a way that resonates with potential clients

Both clients and search engines respond to specificity. So when you're building out your online presence, highlight a few areas where you have the most experience, rather than trying to cover all the bases.

No therapist can have deep expertise in every possible diagnosis, modality, and client population – not to mention, appeal to all those different clients simultaneously.

Take some time to reflect on your most rewarding cases. Even for general practitioners, or therapists with experience across diverse settings, there are often common threads that will tie together your best-fitting clients. Consider, why did your favorite clients initially seek you out? Was there a particular moment in life, headspace, or dilemma they were facing?

If you’re really lost, consult with a few trusted colleagues. Ask how they conceptualize your work; how it might be different from their own; and who they would refer to you for therapy.

From this point, you can begin to tell a story. Clearly illustrate who your clients are, what challenges they’re facing, and how you’ll address them together.

Steer away from clinical jargon, especially around modalities – most people do not know what technical terms mean. Focus instead on what a session with you looks like and what clients can expect to gain from working with you. End on a hopeful note that instills prospective clients with the confidence that you can help solve the specific challenge they’re facing.

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2. Avoid going too niche, though (especially if you're just starting your private practice)

While you want to avoid a laundry list of every client you’ve ever seen, for most clinicians who are new to private practice, it’s equally important to not go overly-niche and exclude clients unnecessarily.

Do your research to make sure there’s enough demand for your specialty, and that your area isn’t already saturated with specialists.

Be prepared to back your expertise up, too – ideally, you want to find a symbiotic process where your training and ongoing education paints a compelling picture of why you are the therapist to serve a given population.

3. Use warm, up-to-date professional photos

Humans are visually-driven creatures and rush to judgement quickly. The first impression any potential client will make of you is from your profile photograph.

Keep it professional – do you really want to introduce yourself through a grainy selfie or a cropped wedding photo? (Or worse, no photo at all?)  

Wear bright clothing and a warm smile. Consider using your office as the background, so clients know what to expect when they walk in your door.

Update the photo every five years or so, to help your site stand out as relevant and active.

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4. Draw from real-life examples to inspire potential clients to reach out

Instead of relying on cliche, hypothetical questions – such as “Are you feeling stuck?” – get specific. Remember, you aren’t trying to convince someone that they need to start therapy. You’re trying to illustrate why they need to start therapy with you.

Here are some examples to inspire the copy on your own site:

Because each of these examples contains a specific population, your profile may appear in more keyword-based searches. These examples also convey positivity and passion – which can translate as hope for the potential client!

5. Simplify the initial contact process for new clients

Your potential client found your site through the use of specific keywords, read your profile, and decided to schedule an intake appointment.

Now, they’re ready to reach out! Make it seamless for them to get started while they’re most motivated.

So instead of asking a potential client to call and leave a voicemail, set up the option to schedule online or send a message through your website or profile.

If there are too many steps to set up an intake, or a long phone tag delay, the potential client may give up altogether or go with another therapist who’s less of a fit, but easier to contact.

6. Ensure all information is up to date

It’s frustrating for both you and your would-be clients to find each other, connect, and set up a first appointment – only to find out it’s not feasible to work together from a logistics standpoint.

Keep the communication channels flowing freely by ensuring the following details are accurate on your personal website or listing:

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Marketing is constantly evolving, revealing more exciting potentials for therapists to connect with the right clients for them.

At Zencare, we’ll help you build your ideal private practice through onsite photography, a professional profile, and modern booking platform. Our mission-driven team is ready to jumpstart your online presence and drive motivated clients to you.

Click here to get started with Zencare. To learn more about TheraNest and receive a Zencare-exclusive discount, get started here.

Grow Your Practice With Zencare!

We're looking for clinically excellent and compassionate therapists and psychiatrists to refer clients to. We'd love to learn about your practice!