More often than not, marketing is a necessary but frightening concept for those who do not specialise in it. For therapists in private practice, it is crucial to be able to create a strong online presence whilst still dedicating time to the therapy side of your work. This can be a tricky balance to strike.
Nowadays, most potential clients look for therapy by searching online, so if you register your practice in an online directory, you will be contacted by more people than if you use business cards or newspaper ads alone. Plus, once you have signed up, you will save a significant amount of time on marketing and be able to focus on other aspects of your practice.
Registering with general online directories (such as Yell or Freeindex) can be helpful, but many successful therapists in private practice will tell you that therapy specific directories work more to their advantage, in terms of the number of clients that are referred through them.
This is due to the fact that industry-specific online directories have the power to increase your visibility to potential clients through their increased Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In effect, this means that your practice will appear higher up in their Google search results, leading to more prospective clients and increased referrals.
It is also beneficial to register with an online directory that is specific to therapy because it will enhance your reputation by association. If people feel that they can trust your practice, they will be more inclined to contact you.
On the Private Practice Hub website there is a comprehensive list of online directories specifically for therapists, which can be downloaded by becoming a member, free of charge. This includes UK Therapy Hub, an online directory for therapists which lets you have total control of your profile. UK Therapy Hub gives you the space to tell potential clients about your experience and what you can offer them. This will help you to build a connection with potential clients and encourage them to contact you.
Using an online directory like this can make marketing your practice so much simpler, cheaper and more effective – it doesn’t seem like such a frightening prospect after all!