Since the economic downturn of 2008, my practice has experienced significant growth. I attribute that growth to these four strategies.

Our economy took a turn for the worse in 2008, stock market crashed, and many companies were forced to downsize. It was a hard time for many Americans, financially and emotionally. And yet, during this same time frame, my practice Wasatch Family Therapy experienced exponential growth. We steadily acquired new clients. opened two additional locations and grew from half a dozen therapists to over 20 therapists.

So how did I do it? I put time and energy into creating and maintaining a strong online presence.

1) I used a website as a way to introduce myself and to serve my community

As an early technology adopter, I had a website (or webpage) in the early 2000's. As social networking expanded in the mid-2000's I saw the incredible possibilities for reaching out directly to potential clients. My website not only acts as an introduction to my clinic and my therapists, but also allows us to serve and educate through videos and articles about important issues related to mental and emotional health and well-being.

2) I used social media to have meaningful conversations with people

Social media has played an invaluable role in acquiring and retaining clients. I estimate that we gain about 80% of new customers through Google and the internet. The importance of having an online presence cannot be overstated. It changed my business forever, and Wasatch Family Therapy continues to thrive to this day. Here's a rough time frame of my social networking journey:

2002 Started solo private practice Wasatch Family Therapy
2004 Webpage
2008 Joined Facebook
2009 Joined Twitter
2009 Started blogging on practice website
2009 Employed 4-5 therapists
2009 Joined LinkedIn
2010 Started YouTube Channel
2011-12 Joined Instagram, Pinterest
2013 Joined Google+
2014 Currently employ 20+ therapists with 3 locations

3) I created consistent and meaningful content on reputable websites

I caught the vision of providing quality content to educate and serve the public. My professional Facebook presence, blog, and other media projects were ways for us to get my name out there, establish trust and reliability, and connect with readers and potential clients. I started blogging for PsychCentral's Ask the Therapist in 2009, Private Practice Toolbox blog in 2011, Sharecare and Daily Strength in 2012, and became the Answers relationship expert blogger in 2013.

4) I sought out media interviews and learned to leverage them

Once I started creating content on larger websites, I started seeking local and national media interviews. As a result of my blogging and media interviews established news and lifestyle websites began quoting me and linking to my website. This led to even more traffic (readers coming to our site), which in turn meant building trust with more people. It’s been very encouraging to see the fruits of my labor pay off in the growth of my clinic, and the ability to employ amazing therapists.

Never before have therapists been able to serve potential clients before ever meeting them and to educate our community without leaving the house. Through developing your strong online presence through an effective website, an engaged social media following, creating helpful content, and seeking media interviews, you can maintain viability and keep your practice strong, even when the economic climate is less than favorable.

What strategies have you used to survive and thrive in an uncertain economy? Please share your thoughts below!

Join my Private Practice Toolbox Facebook group and connect with nearly 2000 therapists around the globe in 2 simple steps: 1) Click request to join the group & 2) Fill out this brief questionnaire before you'll be added to the group.

Some therapists have embraced Facebook and others are hesitant to venture into social networking arena. Here are my thoughts on the benefits and risks of setting up a Facebook page. Benefits of a Facebook Page for your Practice

Free marketing.
Raises visibility of your practice.
Allows Facebook users to easily find your practice.
Provide education and resources to those who "like" your page.
Post links to your website on your page wall to increase your web traffic.
Network with other local businesses to increase referrals.
You will have the option of posting on Facebook as your therapy clinic page name (instead of your personal profile name) allowing you to network, post on other Facebook pages, and increase visitors to your Facebook page.
People who "like" your page can not contact you directly or message you through Facebook.
As the page administrator you have many options to control what content others are allowed to post on your page.
There are amazing apps available for pages that will help you build your business.
You can set up your website blog feed to automatically post to your page.

Concerns Regarding a Practice Facebook Page

Privacy cannot be guaranteed. Any use of technology carries some risk of breach of confidentiality. Here's what Facebook.com privacy policy disclaimer says:

Although we allow you to set privacy options that limit access to your information, please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. We cannot control the actions of other users with whom you share your information. We cannot guarantee that only authorized persons will view your information. We cannot ensure that information you share on Facebook will not become publicly available.

Potential for dual relationships. Clients may choose to identify themselves as your client in their posts or comments. While there is no way for visitors to know which of you "likes" are clients and which are family, friends, business associates, and others people may make assumptions based on who "likes" your page.
Impact to client-therapist relationship. Issues may arise through interacting on your page that may impact the therapeutic relationship. For example, if a client comments on an article that you post and you don't comment back, he or she may be hurt. Consider adding a social media policy to your privacy policy on your website and or initial client paperwork that outlines your professional boundaries.
It takes time to update and maintain a Facebook page.

As therapists, we have to weigh the benefits and the risks. Do you have a Facebook page for your practice? If you've decide to set up a Facebook page for your practice, my next post will help you get started.

photo credit: mr. nightshade

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