How To Use Blogs To Market Your Practice
I have searched in various blogging directories (websites that list blogs) and have found very few blogs that are written by counsellors, therapists or other healing professionals. Most of these professionals are not that interested or savvy when it comes to technology so this is not surprising.
While I understand these apprehensions about using technology, I encourage my clients as much as possible to learn about the various methods for using the Internet to market their practices. It is one more way to increase exposure of your private practice. Furthermore, increasingly people are turning to the Internet first when looking for information–and this includes professionals they want to hire. Therefore, if you are not marketing online, you are missing out on getting more clients.
When it comes to blogs, the technology is relatively easy, so why not think about starting one yourself? There are several ways you can utilize a blog to market your practice. For example:
- post interesting information on your blog that is valuable to your clients and potent clients
- link to other websites that provide information that your target market wants or needs
- sell your products or services from your blog
- sell other people’s products (affiliate products) on your blog
- have a sign-up form to your newsletter at your blog
- have a sign-up form so visitors can subscribe to receive notification when your blog has been updated
- have a information-rich, password protected site and charge a fee to join.
- use Google AdSense on your site
- post comments on other blogs that are related to your topic so that you increase your back links to your website (important for Google search engine ranking)
The most important aspect of blogging when it comes to marketing a practice has to do with building a relationship with visitors to your blog and finding ways to nurture this relationship (i.e. encourage visitors to repeatedly come back to your blog). Building relationships with your target audience is key to having a successful practice and blogging is an effective way to do this.
