Therapist Thoughts

Whether marketing yourself on the internet is new to you or you consider yourself a pro, it is an important part of any business. Even traditional brick and mortor businesses can benefit from having an online presence.

 So does the idea of creating an website overwhelm you? Do you even know where to start?

Don’t worry here at www.IMAGEFaceToFace.com we are here to help you launch your online presence! We have made the process as painless as possible.

 

If you already have a website or blog, congratulations! Be sure to link to it from your directory listing so potential clients can read it and get to know you!

If you don’t have one, we have the additional benefit of offering every member their very own blog, hosted here on www.IMAGEFaceToFace.com. 

Why Blog?

You may be wondering what is the importance of blogging? Although there are many benefits, there are four main reasons why…

1. Customer Relations
2. Expert in your field
3. Media Relations
4. Search Engine Ranking

Now you may be wondering HOW you can use your blog to benefit the four areas above?

1. Customer Relations – You can share ideas and tips that clients or colleagues find interesting. This is a great area to post thoughts and questions that spark conversation on public topics like current online therapy legislation or your ideas on causal therapy.

2. Expert in your Field – If you specialize in addictions; share statistics, build public awareness and share your insights. Those suffering from addicitions and colleagues who share your passion will visit often to learn and engage in dialogue with you.

3. Media Relations – Writing for your visitor and sharing your expertise will attract the media as well. As you build an audience you will find that the media may engage in conversation with you whether on your blog or through the ‘contact’ form on your directory page. They are looking for newsworthy and interesting information to share. What better way to secure your place as the expert and attact more readers, thereby building your client base, than to be published by the media.

4. Search Engine Rankings – I do not recommend that you write for the sole purpose of getting high rankings in the search engines. However, I have found that the most effective way to get notice by the top search engines is to write useful information for your target audience, and to be consistant. —Hmm, I think I covered that already :)

You may also wonder if there are additional ways to get your blog noticed?

Besides writing for your reader and being consistant there are a couple other easy things you can do to help promote your blog and thereby your therapy practice.

1. Include a link to your IMAGEFaceToFace.com Blog in all your emails and correspondence. You can also include the link when you post a comment or question on someone else’s blog or website.

2. Social Networking sites – Do you have a facebook or twitter account? Are you connected on LinkedIn? You can include the link in your account profile as well as when you publish a new blog post, send a quick note through your social network letting them know you have something new for them to read.

3. Your readers can also subscribe to your blog on IMAGEFaceToFace.com. Each time you post, they will be notified.

If you already have a blog, feel free to use your IMAGEFaceToFace.com Blog to post a summary of your lastest post and direct them to your site to read more.

Let me add that blogging is all about your reader.

You need to have information that is useful, helpful and timely. It doesn’t need to be a magnificent piece of literature, just something enticing to your audience.

The other key about blogging is ‘consistency’. I can not stress enough the importance of being consistant. Now that doesn’t mean you have to blog multiple times in a day or even every day, but if you set a goal to post a blog every week, then be consistant to do a post every week. Your reader knows they can count on you… one more point on the trust factor.

Blogging is about developing loyalty. Clients get to learn who you are, what you think and can gain confidence in your counsel.

Why not start today!

 

Warmly,

Tammy Morales
C.O.O.
I.M.A.G.E. Inc
www.IMAGEFaceToFace.com

 

This morning, I am fooling around with the blogging application that we have to offer our membership.  This week I am going to post an article about how to use it and before I do that, there are still a few things I need to learn about it too.  One of those things is how to add a picture, and what it will look like when I do.  So here goes!

In this photo, our two eldest children are returning from a sail, during our recent vacation to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

 

My vacation was fantastic! The five of us (reluctantly) came home relaxed, refreshed, and ready to get back into regular life.   I have set a new goal to live and work somewhere by the ocean at least 4 or 5 months of the year by 2014.