(888) 435 8206 GET STARTED

# The Therapist Practice Series - Part 3: Counseling and Content Marketing

Therasoft Dev
0 Comments
February 22, 2016

Homepage of Isabella Mori’s

blog; Isabella is a Vancouver-based counselor.

In Part 2, we talked about the importance of using marketing to promote your practice. This week, let's focus on the importance of content marketing and social media.

In today's world, information has become a commodity. People use the Internet to share and search for information all the time. Marketers used to trick Search Engine Optimization tools to get better search rankings. But SEO is now regulated. It has become a barometer to measure the relevancy and quality of the content shared. The better the content, the higher the ranking. Thought leaders who share high quality content increase their influence and earn respect, attention and business.

As a therapist, you are an expert in mental health. You may even have a specific issue your practice focuses on. This knowledge is something you can share online for internet users to see. Sharing your knowledge online is a way to highlight your expertise. People searching for this knowledge will stumble upon your content and learn from it. When they read your article, they will become aware of your existence. And they may decide to contact you to learn more or request an appointment.

The most common ways to share marketing content is to use a blog. Like this one. If you don't want a blog, you can ask a colleague or an online publisher to host this content for you. Once your content is online, you can use social media to promote it and put it under as many eyes possible. Below is a step by step guide on how to make the most of social media using content marketing.

### Solo Practices vs. Group Practices

The content you share will be different depending on the structure of your practice. Group practices should focus on the different specialties offered in the practice. While Solo Practices should focus on the therapist and their experience. Solo practices are more about connecting with the patients and sharing your personal background. Group practices are about offering a wide range of specialties and resources. So before you start sharing, be mindful of the context of your practice. In all cases, content should convince readers that your practice is what they are looking for. So remember to pitch yourself!

### Personal Page vs. Business Page

Therapists are now accustomed to social media. Yet most still struggle to take advantage of it to promote their business. They create a personal page to interact with friends and family. But they forget to create professional pages. Worse, some even use their personal page to interact with patients.

In real life, you meet with patients in an office separate from your private home because you distinguish your private life from your work life. The same distinction should apply to digital and social media presence. Make sure to create a social page for your business on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You can then send your potential customers to the page if they want to connect with you online.

### Passive Presence vs. Pro-Active Presence

Once you have a business social page up, the work isn't over. You should update your page often with content to give an incentive for people to follow it. This content, as mentioned above, will vary depending on the structure of your practice.

You may have a blog but don't have time to write articles on it on a weekly basis. Don't worry, all the content you share doesn't have to be original. You can also repurpose content from other sources that you find interesting. Search for articles about your field that your potential and current clients can connect with. Then share the links to the articles on your social page.

Creating marketing content for your business can be a challenge. If you don’t think it’s in your wheelhouse, hire a professional marketer to create the content for you.

In Part 4, we’ll talk about how to manage client interactions. Not just on social media, but on all platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive these articles directly in your inbox! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Did you enjoy this article? Check out the rest of the series:

Introducing The Therapist Practice Series
Holistic Strategy for Success - Part 1
Marketing a Counseling Practice - Part 2