Therapists and Healing Artists: Are You Backing Up Your Computer?
I am amazed at how many therapists and healing professionals do not back-up their computers.
I have had several clients whose computers crashed and they lost all their data due to not backing up.
I recently had a client whose computer was stolen and she lost everything she had on her computer!
So what is the solution?
BACK-UP!
Back-up frequently and systematically. Here is what I recommend:
1. Get an external hard-drive. They cost about $50-100 and will hold
a lot of data. 100-200 GB and even more. Unless you are backing up a
lot of video files 100-200 GB should be enough.
2. Talk to your computer consultant about what software you need to
back-up your data automatically on a daily basis (back-up all data
including your email).
3. While an external hard drive with an automatic back-up is
important, it certainly won’t help you if there is a fire or your
computer is stolen. For this reason, I recommend you also use an online
data-backup company. You will then have an additional back-system in
case of fire of theft, but also in case something goes wrong with your
external hard drive back-up system. I use Mozy
Mozy allows you to automatically back-up your data as often as you
wish. You can use the free version for small amounts of data, or you
can pay about $50/year for unlimited amounts of data back-up. Mozy is also available for the Mac!
Why use both an external hard drive and an online backup system?
Because if your data is important to you, you won’t want to trust any one system alone!
If you are not already backing up–I hope you start doing it now!
Are You Looking for a System to Deliver Your Newsletter?
One of the best systems that is available to deliver your newsletter or ezine is Aweber.I have used several different systems over the years but was never satisfied with any of them until I tried Aweber.
Some highlights:
- Ability to have more than one list. Many email delivery systems only allow you to have one list.
- Ability to track conversion rates of people that visit your site vs those that sign up for your list or buy your product.
- Abilty to “split test” different headings on your subscribe box
- Great stats that allow you to track subscribers by location (country, state/province, city), date, open and click through rates of your newsletters, etc..
- Unlimited sequential autoresponders allowing people sign up automatically for courses or classes or information with automated follow-up messages and reminders.
- Variety of html newsletter templates.
- Free training guides and videos.
- Excellent free, customer support via phone and live chat.
Sign up for their free for 30 day trial.
“The Website Toolkit”: Robert Middleton Has Done it Again!
Robert Middleton, my favorite marketing guru, from Action Plan Marketing has just created yet another absolutely superb marketing product called, "The Website ToolKit."
I purchased it immediately as the price was unbelievable ($39 USD) and, in addition to my constant search for new products to use with my clients, I am in the middle of doing an overhaul on my website.
Like all of Robert’s products–to see a review I wrote on his famous InfoGuru Marketing Manual you can go here.– The quality of the "Toolkit" is excellent and it’s an amazing value.
Most counsellors, coaches and healing professionals’ websites are extremely ineffective as marketing tools. This is due to the fact that the vast majority of designers don’t have a clue about how to design a site from a marketing perspective (my partner and co-blog author of Website Design and Promotion, Nathaniel Richman of nrichmedia, being one of the few exceptions).
Most helping and healing professionals have never studied marketing or copywriting and their websites illustrate this.
Robert’s "Toolkit" walks you through the entire process of developing a website designed to get results, not simply to "look pretty and professional."
The Website ToolKit includes a series of PDF document files, audio files with full transcription, and 50 sample websites. You can either follow the step-by step instructions by yourself or you can work with a marketing professional to assist you with the process.
I assist my clients in writing copy for their websites with a view
towards attracting clients, and, as I wrote to Robert today, from now on
I will be insisting that they purchase the toolkit. It will make it much
easier to understand and utilize the concepts I present to them.
Marketing Resource: Boost Business with Your own Ezine
One of the best resources on the web for creating, publishing and promoting an ezine (electronic newsletter) is. "Boost Business with Your Own E-zine" by Alexandria Brown, aka, "The Ezine Queen." I used this e-book (electronic book) to develop my own ezine and have found it to be invaluable.
"Boost Business with Your Own E-zine" is chalk full of 250+ pages of information plus another 32+ pages of resources. This ebook covers every aspect of developing an ezine that you need to know and more. Topics include: planning your ezine, frequency of publishing, writing quality content, formatting issues, managing your list of subscribers, getting subscribers, promoting your ezine, sample templates, etc.
Using an ezine to is one of the best ways to market your practice on the Internet. Most of my clients have never thought of developing an ezine before I suggest they consider using
one to add to their marketing strategies. Developing an ezine can feel overwhelming for most counsellor and healing professional types unfamiliar with marketing, However, an ezine doesn’t have to be a lot of work and it can really help you get more clients, not to mention adding value for your existing clients.
If you are thinking about developing an ezine (and if you haven’t, I suggest you do) Alexandria’s ebook is an excellent resource. Check it out here.
Marketing Resource: InfoGuru Products
One of my favorite marketing resources is Robert Middleton’s Action Plan marketing website.
I recommend his InfoGuru Marketing Manual for any therapist, coach, counsellor or other healing professional marketing a practice.
The InfoGuru manual is an easy to read, comprehensive marketing guide addressing the fundamental aspects of marketing your practice. The 23 chapters include positioning yourself in your market, developing a target market, packaging your services verbally and in writing, creating websites that attract clients, generating referrals, networking, marketing through speaking and writing, writing effective copy (text), how to keep in touch with clients and prospective clients, ezines and email marketing, direct mail marketing, how to price your services and more.
The InfoGuru manual includes hands-on action plans, audio tutorials, articles, marketing discussion group, and many additional bonuses.
Robert also has numerous other marketing products including Cd’s and streaming audios from many of the teleclasses he has done over the last several years. I have participated in many of these classes and own a lot of the products Robert sells on his website. All are of excellent quality and are presented without hype and with tons of integrity. They are ideal for helping and healing professionals who are often have trouble with more aggressive styles of marketing.
You have a choice of purchasing the online version of the manual, or
for an additional cost you can also get the hard copy version sent to
you.
Robert’s InfoGuru Marketing Manual is the resource I recommend to my clients most often. If you asked me for only one book that would best help you market your practice, this would be it.
Visit Robert’s website and you can begin by getting a lot of the free stuff he offers including an excellent newsletter, articles on marketing, and a marketing plan workbook.
