How To Get New Clients To Your Therapy Business When You Really Don’t Like Selling

Selling has got a bad rep, and you might be one of those many people – not just therapists – who feels a bit –well-icky when it comes to having to sell ‘yourself, services or products’.  We know you got drawn to becoming a therapist because, just like us, you want to make a difference in people’s lives and love to help others. Let’s be honest who can ignore that warm, fuzzy feeling inside that you get when your client say’s “Thank you, I feel so much better now” or “OMG you are amazing”.   The only problem is – those good feelings don’t exactly pay the bills do they?

At some point, like it or not, we all have to find ways to get more clients in through the doors to keep our business afloat.

If you shudder at the thought of ‘putting yourself out there’ don’t stress– take three slow deep breaths and read on…

As a therapist, let us assure you that you have something that not everyone has to help them market themselves – Do you know what it is?

 Your biggest marketing tool is your interest in and empathy towards others. It’s what makes you so great at what you do, and it’s a skill you can easily nurture to attract not just any old client, but really good clients.  You know the type of clients we mean, the ones you wish you had 10 of!

Networking doesn’t need to be scary

Don’t just skim past this section, networking has come on in leaps and bounds since the bad old days of suited and booted breakfast meetings. No…that’s not quite our thing either! However, there are lots of online networking groups and even groups just for holistic therapists.  So why not dive in and see it as a fun talking shop with like-minded people. You can pick up nuggets of business wisdom, swap tales of how you deal with no shows or just chat to people who really ‘get’ your business and are happy to refer if they like you. Which they will.

It can feel a bit weird at first asking people you don’t know to send business your way, BUT if you change tactics and ask people if they want referrals – bam – you have an instant new friend and the dynamic is completely different. Suddenly you’re doing THEM a favour and if there’s something we therapists love, it’s returning a favour.

Get into your niche!

Yeah, we know that it’s not a new concept, but you really do need to work out what your niche is. Then you can target the people who fit perfectly into it and get them queueing up to book a session with you. Just think about it – nobody randomly books a therapy session unless they have an idea that it’s going to solve a problem.

So your job is to pick a problem and target people who have it with lots of lovely information about how you can sort it out for them. So, for example if you absolutely LOVE helping ladies with fertility problems make sure your website, marketing, social media and everything makes a BIG DEAL of that, share information about hormones, fertility and pregnancy tips. The reward- you attract more of the people you love helping and your reputation spreads.

Did we mention websites?

Websites, blogs, social media – we know most of you would rather just get on and do what you are actually trained to do with your clients – but we’re afraid you DO need to take note as this one! Why? – Because in the 21st century it is either where your next potential customers is hanging out or looking for you.

Establishing your niche will make it so much easier to nail your website, blogs & social media (that’s why we shared that piece of wisdom first) and if you’re not sure, visit a local business networking meeting where you’re bound to find lots of willing people to help you create a website and even help manage your social media for you if you really need it.

Even therapists need a brand

Okay so we get that you’re not a box of cereal, but potential clients need to ‘get’ you and feel they can trust you. If you don’t have a website or any kind of online presence yet, in the words of another well-known brand – Just do it!

These days, we’re all in Google’s hands, and so the cold hard truth is that nobody will trust you to help them without nosing around your Facebook page or website first. I bet you even do it yourself? So, make sure your social media accounts aren’t lying dormant – if the last Tweet you posted was in 2013 people will think you’re closed. You do know that you can automate this stuff, right? Social media is a fab way to promote your business and any offers you have as well as get the message across about how approachable, knowledgeable and downright lovely YOU are.

Check out online directories

Well, we would say that – but that’s because they WORK. Don’t limit yourself to just therapy specific directories either, local, free and general business directories are a great source of lovely new custom – and we all want a bit of that…don’t we?

“Urmmm”  before we move on, we think it might be a good time for us to throw our hat in the ring and let you know that our platform here at Wellbeing Umbrella, is another great place to find new interest too!  

That said, a great tick is to try a sneaky Google search for therapists in your area in your niche and see what comes up – then subscribe to the top one or two in your location. Make sure you have a verified Google My Business listing too, as that helps link up your website and online presence.

Selling doesn’t have to be hard work – use your skills and personality to promote what you love and they will come…