Saturday, July 26, 2008

New Community Group!

We have been getting a lot of requests to provide a community where people can go to share ideas and strategies on building and marketing their private practice. Well, we've heard the requests and we've responded!

We have created a Yahoo Group just for that purpose. If you are a clinician (licensed, pre-licensed or even still in graduate school) with a drive to enter the world of private practice, then this is the place for you! All levels or expertise are welcome! Private practice can be isolating and trying to create a practice can be overwhelming. Rather than trying to go it on your own, this is a great way to expand your support system and maybe even create a network of your own.

So if you want to join us, go to Yahoo Group: Ask! Believe! Achieve! & sign up today!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Summer Slowdown

Clients go on vacation, children are out of school, work schedules are dramatically altered, resulting in an impact in your client caseload. Does this sound familiar? Are you finding your schedule and income in a state of flux? Welcome to Summer Slowdown! Summer can be a anxiety-provoking time for therapists, but it doesn't have to be. If you're finding your caseload to be a bit off-kilter at this time of the year, there are several things you can do to keep your practice thriving:

1) Look at your marketing strategies -- Are you tracking where your clients are finding you? Are you looking at where your calls are coming from and if a call is resulting in an intake? If not, now is the time to do this. By determining how you are attracting clients, you can decide where to best invest your marketing dollars.

2) Define your ideal client -- Trying to figure out who to market to? If you haven't determined your ideal client, then how are they ever going to find you and the wonderful services you can provide to them? Defining your ideal client will give you the strength, motivation and direction you need to build your dream practice.

3) Revisit your practice vision -- how long has it been since you've gone over your vision? A good business owner revisits their vision (aka their business plan) every 6 months to a year to see whether they are meeting their goals and to check that their goals are in alignment with their business needs. If you don't have a vision, now is the time to establish one! Otherwise, how will you possibly know when you've met your goals?

4) Get a website - You've defined your ideal client and have your vision, but how are your clients going to find you? Internet marketing is essential in the 21st century. Building a site takes time, and using the Summer is the perfect time to work on getting your site up and running without taking away from a heavy caseload.

5) Indulge in self-care -- we tell our clients how important it is to engage in a little TLC, yet we are notorious for not following our own advice! Whether it be a weekend getaway or taking up a new hobby, a little self-care can rejuvenate our own well-being, so we'll be ready to tackle those full caseloads!

If you're unsure where to start, or how to proceed, don't feel you have to tackle this on your own. Contact us today and let us help you get back on track! Ask! Believe! Achieve!