Hey Therapist Entrepreneurs,
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Sometimes I do. There are so many options, so many places where I can focus my time and energy, and so many decisions to make.
When it starts to feel noisy, I like to stop and settle on a few things I can do that will actually move the needle in my practice and help me feel more in control.
That’s what this week’s episodes are all about. Little, specific strategies for spring cleaning your practice, one way of building your AEO, and simplifying your group practice planning if you’re not sure whether you want to stay solo or become a group practice owner.
These episodes helped me to concentrate and focus my time, and I hope they help you do the same.
And in this week’s Personal Story Time...
The marketing I'm focusing on right now
My 3 Favorite Episodes This Week
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For preparing for a successful spring…
I really love practical strategies, the kind that tell you specifically what you can do to make things better. That’s why I was really excited when Felicia released her marketing ideas for spring on the Bad Therapist Show podcast.
She talks about simple things you can do on your website to make sure there aren’t any sneaky problems you didn’t notice, strategies for collecting reviews and why they matter, and also changes you can make to your schedule so that you can build your business in a way that works for you.
When there are so many different things to manage in a business, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck in the weeds. I think going back in and just solving several small problems helps keep that overwhelm manageable and at bay.
One of my favorite strategies was about catching sneaky tech glitches. Every now and then, there’s one small thing that gets in the way of booking clients, and you don’t always notice until it’s already had an impact.
I’ve had this happen myself. There was a time when the “book a matching call” button on my website wasn’t working correctly, and it made it impossible for new clients to schedule. I was really glad I caught it, because it was directly affecting referrals.
So taking a moment to go over these kinds of details, like Felicia suggests, is absolutely worth it.
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For deciding if Psychology Today is worth it....
In all of the Facebook groups, I see people quitting Psychology Today in droves, saying that it doesn’t work, they can’t get new clients from it, and it’s not worth it.
That’s why I was fascinated by Anna Walker’s new episode of the Marketing Therapy podcast. She looks deep into her annual data and says almost the exact opposite, that Psychology Today is still worth it, but not for the reasons you think.
Instead, it’s worth it for AEO. She also says it might convert some clients, but that doesn’t seem like the real value proposition right now.
Well, she convinced me. After listening to the episode, I decided to create Psychology Today profiles for most of my therapists. This is something I’ve never really bothered with before, but since I’m doing everything I can to market my clinicians, it feels like a no-brainer.
If you’re interested in seeing whether you agree that Psychology Today is worth it, go ahead and listen to this episode.
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For being a group practice owner without the work…
When solo clinicians’ schedules fill up and they have a waitlist, they often start thinking about whether they want to become a group practice owner. They want to grow, but they also don't want the headache of managing and supervising other therapists. Suddenly they're asking: Do I want to hire an associate? Do I want to start a group, knowing that it will come with stressors? Or do I want to keep things simple and stay the way I am as a forever solo practice owner?
In this episode, I will tell you how you can have your cake and eat it too. Here's the truth: you can hire AND function as a solo provider if (and this is a big if) you hire the right second person.
If you’d like to know how I made this work in my own practice, then this episode of Worth It is for you.
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Leah's Personal Story Time:
Here's what I'm doing
Marketing your practice is certainly interesting right now. There are so many options for where you can focus your money, time, and resources. And to be honest, I leverage a lot of them. I work on SEO, I use Google Ads, I build a strong network, I have a platform with The Educated Parent podcast. I do my best to get our name out there and our promise of providing treatment that works to children and families, which is truly my passion.
Once you have those different pieces going, you have to figure out where you’re going to double down. Where are you going to put your time and your money? Where are you going to invest?
I’ve found the two places I’m focusing on this year, and here they are: in-person networking and AI optimization. Here’s why. They both seem to move the needle the most in my practice.
How much have I doubled down? I’m rewriting both of my websites piece by piece. And if you have two websites, you know that’s a lot of work, and a lot of money goes into that as well. But it’s really important to me that we can be easily found and that our services stand out in this AI world.
In terms of networking, it fits my personality. I love connecting with people. I love making friends. So I decided to dedicate an entire day to it each week. Yes. Every Friday, my schedule is cleared, and all I’m doing is meeting with other providers.
Honestly, it’s my favorite day of the week. I get to talk to people I like, and those conversations build relationships, referrals, and in many cases, real friendships.
These don’t have to be your things. But they are my things because I really think they’re going to help my practice scale in the most reliable and authentic way.
If you don’t yet have your one or two things, it might be really helpful to decide what they are and double down in those areas.
Knowing what your plan is is absolutely worth it, and building your systems around that plan is worth it too.
Sharing is caring!
Got a fellow therapist or practice owner who would love this info? Send them this email! They can also join the list by clicking on this link. Let's help more people thrive in their businesses.
Hope these resources help you grow your practice this week! Here's to your continued growth and success!
Warmly,
Leah
CEO of Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts
Host of Educated Parent Podcast
Host of The Worth It Practice Podcast
CEO of Worth It Practice Consulting
PS: If you'd like a break from business, the newest episode of Educated Parent Podcast is now live! This week's episode is about the scariest topic in parenting: how to talk to your kids about sex! Don't worry; we have you covered!
