Are you looking for new ways to increase your client base? Here’s one I’ve used successfully many times.
- Picture your “ideal client”
- Where does she hang out?
- Go there
- Find out more about what she needs
- Figure out what you can do for her
- Let her know you care
- Give her some “free” stuff
- Develop a trust
- Tell her what you have to offer
Sound like stalking? Nope — it’s just marketing. Let’s look at it from a Private Practice perspective. Let’s say…
- I’m an anxiety disorders specialist. My ideal client has and anxiety disorder
- On FaceBook, she probably hangs out in the anxiety-related pages; she probably also hangs out in anxiety discussion groups online
- Visit those pages and sites. Join the discussion groups.
- Read what everyone is chatting about. What questions are they asking?
- Get some great ideas for ancillary services and programs you can offer her
- Provide some insight and support in the discussions. Offer to be an “admin” or “moderator” for the discussion board or page
- Write some articles and post them; make some videos and put them up on YouTube; record a progressive relaxation podcast; put together a little e-book with symptom management techniques — let folks know about them (give them away)
- Get yourself known as the expert who has helped with some great free “stuff”
- Let them know that there’s more you can do for them(individual, group, workshop, teleseminar, online therapy options)
I have a video on Borderline Personality Disorder that I put up on YouTube less than 2 years ago. It’s been viewed over 9500 times! There is not a month that goes by that I don’t get at least 2 new clients off of that video — 2 YEARS LATER!
Maybe it’s time to try something new…