Private Practice Marketing: 3 Secrets I Wish I Knew When I First Started Out

I don't know about you, but I am still waiting for my first class in graduate school about how to develop, market, and run a private practice.

I'm also still waiting for my father to have a discussion with me about the facts of life.

My wife and I have 2 kids, so I guess I figured it out for myself. Just like I had to figure out for myself how to market and build a practice.

So here are three secrets I wish I knew when I first started my practice.

Secret #1 - Grow Rich in a Niche

A niche is simply a narrow and specific area in which you want to specialize.

The opposite of having a niche is being a generalist. In the private practice therapist world, I call it "Death by ICF." Most therapists will tell you that they work with individuals, couples and families.

Well, who doesn't? Doesn't every one? If you say you work with individuals, couples, and families, who don't you work with?

Individuals, couples and families makes you sound like you are just a garden variety plain vanilla therapist. It tells potential clients nothing about what you do.

It makes no one say

"That's the person I want to talk to right away!"

Choose a niche in which you enjoy working. What really gives you a kick to do? What do other people marvel at you doing well?

Then make sure it is self replicating.

Recently I was talking with some friends at lunch and the subject came up about what would need to happen in the economy for each of us to continue to do well in our respective careers. I realized that all I really need to stay in business is for people to keep getting married and having kids.

#2 - Return your calls

I know it sounds so simple to do, but it's also so simple not to do.

I'm always stunned by the number of counselors that tell me about how many days old messages they have on their desk to return.

I have a rule that I will try my very best to return a call in the same day I received it.

Sometimes it gets a little stressful when I have 8 calls to return, five more clients to see, and a family that for some crazy reason wants me home at night.

Here's how I reframe it to help me handle it better: "I've worked very hard for a long time to get this many people to want to talk with the likes of me......."

#3 - Return new referral calls within two hours

I'm even more shocked by the number of clients that have told me that they were given 3 names, I was the first to call back, and one of the others took a week and the other one never returned their call.

Unbelievable.

At this point in my practice, as a result of these tips I am giving you, usually when a new client calls specifically and only for me, I still get back to them within a couple of hours.

As you are building your practice, many of your clients will be shopping around for a practioner.

Be the first one to call back.

Practice building mentor coach Jeff Herring, MS, LMFT is the President of BuildingYourIdealPractice.com, empowering private practice professionals to build, market and live the practice of their dreams. You are invited to subscribe to the free Getting Clients Newsletter and our free monthly Practice Building Tele-Seminar

---

How to Use Business Cards to Network and Market Your Business

You've had one thousand of the finest, most eye-catching business... Read More

Hold Onto What Youve Got

You probably spend a great deal of your time looking... Read More

The Use of Bar Code SMS in Mobile Marketing, Advertising, CRM

Anybody that frequents shopping malls are familiar with the bar... Read More

Business to Business Direct Mail Offers that Say Free

In direct mail, the offer is the incentive or reward... Read More

Marketing Is A Long-Term Investment

"Dig your well before you're thirsty" is the title of... Read More

Business Cards and Business Etiquette

One of the very basic conditions of being a successful... Read More

10 Elements Every Direct Mail Piece Should Have

Don't want your direct mail to end up in the... Read More

The Magic of Keep-in-Touch Marketing

Yesterday I received a phone call from an acquaintance that... Read More

Customers Are Like Vampires

No, customers aren't bloodsuckers (well, maybe a few are!) and... Read More

Why Your Sales Copy Should Be Written As If It Will Never Be Read At All!

What is enthusiasm?Well, consulting good ol' Mr. Webster, you could... Read More

Postcards Work

What's the fastest, simplest and cheapest way to promote just... Read More

Standards for Dry Washing and Pressure Washing in Mobile Car Care

The industry standard for mobile washing is completing the car... Read More

A Point in Every Direction is the Same As No Point At All

Ever try to be something for everyone and find no... Read More

Marketing Manual Sample Outline

The key to success in any business relies a large... Read More

Business Marketing For Consultants, Coaches, Speakers, and Trainers: How To Be Noticed and Trusted

Business marketing is essential for professional services, such as consultants,... Read More

Secrets of Trade Show Success

The ropers at Annie Oakley's Real Western Dudette Ranch were... Read More

The Benefits of a Marketing Plan

What is a Marketing Plan? Marketing is to do with... Read More

7 Ways a Copywriter Can Help Your Business Succeed

Think you can't afford to hire a copywriter? Think again.... Read More

Mortgage Marketing to Realtors ? Creating a Memorable Positioning Statement

Mortgage marketing to Realtors involves having a crystal clear position... Read More

Has the Free Report Had Its Day?

For years now we have been inundated with offers of... Read More

The Exiler

THE EXILER (your search for true brand attributes ends here!)With... Read More

7 Tips for Successful Postcard Marketing

Simple low-cost postcards have become a valuable business tool for... Read More

When You Need More Than Magic To Keep Your Marketing Going

It is easy to focus on what remains outstanding and... Read More

Secret Marketing Plan

Many people have asked me what was the secret to... Read More

Discover the Winning Marketing Strategy Secrets of Donald Trump Apprentice Wanna-bes

The highly entertaining Donald Trump's search for an apprentice turned... Read More

Embracing The Future - Marketing Yourself, Your Business And Your

IntroductionMany businesses and organisations have a perception that marketing means... Read More

Whats Your Selling Sentence?

What's your Selling Sentence? If you have a business, you... Read More

Pre-Cleaning and Updating Addresses in Your Database

When you send a direct mail piece using the Addressed... Read More

Make It A Threesome

What if -- every time you had a networking appointment... Read More

Why Surveying Matters

What is the single most important thing you can do... Read More

Turning The Casual Scanner Into A Buyer

The world is full... Read More

Marketing: Can I Trust You?

We live in an unprecedented era of communication. Because of... Read More

Your Ultimate Competitive Advantage

The biggest secret to success in business is to always... Read More