As you may know, most businesses now utilize the internet to market and promote products and services.  But can your private practice benefit from internet marketing?

I say, "yes," private practices can benefit from having an internet presence.  Even if you do not  have a product to sell, your potential clients are looking for mental health information and mental health professionals on-line, often at odd hours of the day when they have free time, or are feeling vulnerable and in need of support.

What does ethical internet marketing look like?  Here are a few highlights of what to include in your marketing:

• You will need a website or blog with information on your services, yourself and your training, how you work and treatment philosophy, and contact information.  I am a BIG fan of utilizing a blog to share expertise and up-to-date treatment and research findings to demonstrate your expertise.

• It can be nice to have a place where people can sign up for a free report that has information on your area of expertise.  You can make it as simple as, "10 Ways to Effectively Relax Before Bed," or "5 Natural Ways to Beat the Blues."  These reports are general, factual and not meant to deliver therapy. Think articles that you see in popular magazines.

• Once someone comes to your site and signs up for your report, you can send a monthly email newsletter with more informational articles, tips, and little promotions of services or products you may offer. 

These three elements give you a solid internet presence and make it easy for people who are interested in your services to get a sneak peek into who you are, how you work, and what you have to offer.  This can streamline your intake process, as people will already have checked you out before they call and will be ready to schedule an appointment.

You will also be seen as an expert (especially if you have that blog).  People are naturally inclined to want to work with experts (and pay them more than those who are not established as a specialist.).

An internet presence also gives your clients confidence that you are a practitioner of 2009 and you have taken the time to consider customer services and have made yourself accessible to them easily.  No one wants to have to make multiple phone calls or rely on a name given to them by the insurance company to make decisions on mental health providers.

If you are interested in learning more about internet marketing, I am in the process of putting together a program that will address the details outlined above.  I will let my newsletter subscribers know as soon as this workshop is ready. If you are not already on my newsletter list, you can add your name by downloading my free report or registering for my mailing list (you just need to do one of these, not both).