It’s that time of year again, the summer referral lull when new client referrals dry up and existing clients cancel.
Is this happening to you?
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard from therapists that the summer lull has hit them earlier this year. The sudden dip in client referrals have left some therapists worried about maintaining consistent client caseloads throughout the summer.
If you’ve been in private practice for a while, you’re probably no stranger to the summer dip. However, if you’re new to private practice, this dip maybe causing you to worry.
In today’s blog, I’ll share with you 5 ways to keep business momentum in your private practice when you’re experiencing a sudden dip in client referrals.
5 ways to maintain business momentum
(1) Expand your income opportunities
Even if it’s just for the summer months, consider taking on alternative income opportunities such as a short-term contract, clinical supervision work with new or seasoned therapists, or developing a training to teach other therapists your specific therapy approach or method. Taking on additional income opportunities can help you maintain your income while testing out new ways to bring other income streams into your private practice.
Do you like to learn new and creative ways to approach therapeutic interventions in their private practice?
There’s something special about trainings that are taught by therapists who have been in the trenches, done the work and helped clients reach their goals successfully. You help clients achieve their goals every single day! Why couldn’t you teach other therapists your methods?
If you answered yes, chances are so does your colleagues.
(2) Shake up your marketing
At times, running a private practice can feel like a rollercoaster ride with nauseating fluctuations of client referrals. If you’re seeing a dip in referrals (or you foresee it coming), consider shaking up your marketing initiatives by introducing new ways to get your name out there.
Depending on which marketing initiatives feel right for you and your private practice, consider the following:
- Conduct a free seminar or webinar for a local agency,
- Grab a coffee with a previous colleagues or referral partner that you’ve been meaning to catch up with,
- Network with new professionals or agencies,
- Refresh your therapist directory profiles, especially if they’ve been collecting virtual dust,
- Revamp your website,
- Create or update your Google My Business page or,
- (My favourite) start a blog or podcast.
TIP
Maintaining consistent marketing initiatives, even during peaks times throughout the year, can help you always have a pool of clients coming into your Privaye practice. Even if you have full private practice, creating a waitlist or developing referral relationships with other therapists in your area can help stimulate consistent private practice growth as well as develop networks.
(3) Start planning for a fall therapy group or program
Have you been considering starting a therapy group or program for months (or maybe even years) but so far, it’s only in idea format? Then why not use this time to make your idea into a fall income opportunity.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m working on a big project such as developing a group or program, I need time and space to get my creative juices flowing. Use the summer referral lull to your benefit by starting the planning process for your future group or program. You can also use this time to begin creating content and developing a marketing strategy plan for your program, so when September rolls around it’s all ready to go!
(4) Take Vacation
Take time away from your private practice so you can focus on the little things in life.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking, “how is vacation going to help grow my private practice?”
When you take the time away, the space from your private practice can help you recharge so when you return, you come back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
I know this is absolutely true for me! When I take time off, I notice that when I return I have a clearer mindset, I feel lighter, and I’m wayyyy more efficient than before I left. Every August, because it’s the slowest month of the year in my business, I take three weeks off. It helps me recharge for the inevitable September speedup.
(5) Invest in Business Coaching
If you’ve been working towards specific business goals in your private practice but it’s been a slow process, hiring a business coach can help you get the results you want faster. Whether you’re looking for help with creating effective and efficient business systems, developing authentic marketing strategies, or simply wanting to learn the how-tos to get your private practice off the ground, a business coach can be a game-changer. Investing in business coaching during the summer referral lull, you can develop a plan and take steps toward your business goals before the September speedup.
Developing a strong plan to support your private practice through any foreseen or unforeseen dips in client referrals helps alleviate the stress when it occurs.
If you’d like to discuss how business coaching can help you kickstart your private practice, I’d love to chat with you about your private practice vision and goals.
Schedule a free 15-minute, no obligation, consultation by scheduling yourself into one of my available time slots by clicking here.
If the available times don’t work for your schedule, simply send me an email at [email protected] with your preferred dates and times (including your time zone).