How Important Is a Web Presence?

I know this is a touchy area for some, because many health practitioners are technophobes. But if you're interested in using your healing talents to help as many as possible, you need to reach out to others. Using online tools such as email and building an active web prescence can bring you a steady stream of clients who want your services. The web offers lots of ways to really leverage what you are doing by communicating with people who are seeking you out. It allows you to effectively at little or no cost to communicate with your existing clients as well as reach new ones. If you ignore the web, you are ignoring a simple business building tool that allows you to express who you are, how you work and what you can do for others.

Simple Web checklist:

• Use email to stay in touch with existing clients
• Submit articles to increase traffic to your website and build your profile as an expert
• Free directory listings can increase your website rankings and make you easier to find
• Use social marketing such as facebook to stay in touch with friends and associates and remind people you are there

Getting Started:

I recommend starting with one 500 word article (about half an A4 page) on a subject that would be of interest to your ideal client. Use this article to:

• Include in your newsletter (don't have one? Start now...)
• Post on your blog
• Post as a 'note' on your facebook page
• Submit to article directories (this will direct traffic to your website if you have one and increase your online prescence)

If you would like more information on how to use some of these methods, drop me a line at krishna@vitalityoptions.com.au I will be happy to direct you to the right place - in fact it would be a pleasure!!!

Related articles:

How to write articles that build your profile

How to Find Time to Work on Your Business...

I had a nice chat with a therapist friend this morning who is frustrated at all the emails he has been getting lately as a result of persuing social networking skills. He wanted to know if he really has to do all that. "It just takes up my time" he exclaimed!

The simple answer is 'no!' You don't have to do all that, unless it is going to benefit your business by connecting you with either clients, or skills that will help you aquire clients or further build your business in some way.

It's important to recognise that not all marketing mediums are right for every business. It depends very much on who your clients are. I recommend asking yourself the following questions:

1. Who are your ideal clients
2. Where do they hang out (either socially, professionally or online)
3. What do they read
4. Where would they go if they were seeking out your product or services?

It is only after answering these questions that you can consider where best to spend your time reaching them. Once you have do the following:

1. Build time into your week that allows you to work on your business instead of just in your business. If you ignore this you will find that heavy troughs will follow your peaks. By allowing yourself time to spend on your business, even when you are busy, you will have a steady more consistent flow of clients.
2. Decide what are the best methods to reach ideal new clients.
3. Determine what outcome you want from each approach. Do you want leads you can followup or add to your database or do you want someone to make an appointment.
4. Focus on the approaches that will work best for you. Just because it works for someone else, doesn't mean it's your best choice.
5. Spend a little time each week on your chosen marketing methods.

The aim is to make sure every activity you take on has the potential for productivity. This means a stronger business for you. We are all given 24 hours in a day. How we leverage that time will determine how effective you are. Being busy is not necessarily mean good business.

Ask yourself what it is you really want. Determine the steps to get there and pay attention to do a little each week. The more focused you are, the better your results will be.

If you struggle with focus I highly recommend the free desktop program Simpleology. It has to be seen to be believed. You can download it for free here: www.simpleology.com

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well." Louisa May Alcott

To your health practice success...

Krishna