Have you ever considered social media marketing for your private practice?
You’ve probably been recommended to start a social media account and to organically reach new prospective clients by a myriad of sources, whether it’s peers or a social media expert. But you’ve left wondering how this actually looks for a therapist in private practice.
According to Statistica, over 83% of Canada’s population is on social media. With social media being one of the few no-cost marketing options available, having an effective social media strategy helps you reach your ideal prospective clients without spending a dime.
To get started with social media marketing, determine which platform(s) your ideal prospective client spends most their time and start by only focusing on those social media platforms. When you’re trying to focus on every platform, overwhelm is likely to creep in.
Facebook is one of the platforms where most of my ideal prospective clients, therapists like you, spend their time – so for this reason Facebook is one of my go-to social media platforms that I focus my efforts.
Facebook is widely accessible and offers a variety of tools and formats to help you promote your business. You can go the organic route and post updates on a business page, or even pay for targeted ads for direct call to actions. Although, I don’t recommend paying for targeted ads right off the hop, especially without having a social media marketing strategy in place first.
If you’re just getting started with managing a Facebook business page, here are my 4 quick tips to keep in mind:
1. Make it engaging and emotional
When I say emotional, I don’t mean extremely personal or intense, rather I mean you should opt to create content that emotionally connects with your audience. Put yourself in a prospective client’s shoes. What is important to them when finding a new therapist? What simple solutions or strategies can you share with them that can help them get a “quick win,” (even if they don’t ever come to see you)? Or what objections or hesitations prevent them from taking the next step in their healing journey? These are all great topics to create content around.
2. Remember: It’s all public
Keep it professional, top level and engaging. Don’t feel tempted to post something in the moment but instead strategize your next move on social media and approach it with intent.
3. Connect with other therapists
Connecting and collaborating with other therapists and their Facebook business pages can demonstrate great industry comradery and help build referral relationships.
4. Set up an automated message to your Facebook Business Page
From time-to-time you’ll receive private messages, through your Facebook business page, asking about your services. Because it’s important to maintain privacy and confidentiality through all aspects of social media engagement, you may wish to set up an automated message to your business page messenger directing your clients to contact you through email or telephone.
A Facebook business page is a commitment but it can help get your name out there, build trust with prospective clients, and increase client traffic to your website. And the best part, it’s free! So why not give it a try?