I’m not really sure how well this post is going to over with you guys but I just want to vent . . . .

I went to lunch this week with a colleague who has just recently ventured into private practice and, truthfully, he’s having a really hard time getting that first client.  You can relate, right?  You either are right there with him starting your own practice or you remember when you were back there hustling trying to get that phone to ring.  It’s a hurdle for all of us to get that first warm body in the office . . . and it feels like it’s never going to happen . . . until it does.

So Jason and I are dining in this great little Japanese restaurant and the conversation goes like this . . . .

Jason:  I’m starving to death!  I still don’t have a client yet.  And, I don’t know what to do!

Me:  What have you tried?

Jason:  Well, I’ve sent out my business cards and brochures to treatment facilities and I’m showing up at networking events every month.  I’ve been meeting therapists and community providers.  I’m reading books on marketing and how to get clients.  I’ve joined the Board of a local non-profit and I’m offering my services at a reduced rate.

Me:  Wow! That sounds like a lot of work!  Are you getting any referrals?  Are clients finding you?

Jason:  Oh, sure!  I’m getting 4 – 5  phone calls from potential clients each week but not one is making an appointment.

Me:  (So I have a hunch that one of the things that Jason is doing is keeping The Secret That You Absolutely Must Tell.)  So Jason, it sounds like your referral sources don’t really understand who you want to work with.  They are sending you unqualified referrals.

Jason:  Oh, no!  They know exactly who I work with!  I’ve been very clear that I work with XYZ.  It’s on my brochures and my business cards and that’s exactly how I introduce myself when I’m networking.

Me: Well, then, let’s look at how the conversation goes on the phone.  What do you say when your potential client calls?

Jason:  Oh, I’m very personable!  You know me . . . I can talk to anybody!  I tell them what my credentials are and what I offer – individual therapy for XYZ.  Then I ask them if they have any questions and if they want to book an appointment.

Me:  OK, Jason, so those are important things to cover but there might be a better way to cover them.  What I’ve found to be useful is . . . . (This is where I’m telling him about my 98% conversion rate to booked appointments and what my process is.)

Jason:  (And, THIS is the response I got.)  Yes, but . . . that takes up too much of my time to go through all of that and anyway, it’s all in my disclosure statement. . . . Anyway, I’m really great at marketing but I’m not getting any appointments booked. Blah, blah, blah.

Well, Jason says that he knows all about marketing but I’m not so sure he knows much about how to make a sale.  After all, if he did, he would be speaking the language of his potential clients, booking appointments with them, and seeing clients in his private practice.  Instead, he’s busy telling me how much he knows about marketing.  He’s not interested in learning how successful therapists do those things.  And, I’m not interested in telling him.

There!  I’ve said it! And, I’m feeling better already!

Back in May I wrote a post telling you The Secret that You Absolutely Must Tell.  So today, I’m telling you that it’s also important to tell who you absolutely do not want to work with. 

For me, that’s Yes-Butters!  So, I’m wondering who is it for you that you absolutely do NOT want to work with?

Tags: Appointments, Business Card, Fee, Work with Tamara

Every Therapist Has One

In the mental health profession, having a favorite client is like having a favorite child.  Every therapist (and every parent) has one but we think we aren’t suppose to tell.  In fact . . . , has anyone ever talked to you before about their favorite clients?

And Here’s Why You Should Tell

I have favorite clients. And, if you tell the truth, you have favorite clients, too. Right?  Here’s the beauty of telling that truth . . . . When referral sources know who you like to work with, that’s exactly who they will refer to you.  And, when clients know who you like to work with, your favorite’s are the ones who will seek you out.

Are You My Favorite Client?

My favorite clients are. . .

• Resilient and open to new ideas;

• Courageous and willing to face their fears;
• Willing to experiment with life and able to adapt the things we talk about to fit their lives;
• Interested in helping other people and are involved in efforts to do just that;
• Recognize that their relationships with me are valuable;
• Naturally collaborative and focus on possibilities;
• Naturally optimistic;
• Really get the 90 / 10 law i.e. 90% of my value to you will be outside of the time we spend together; and,
• Enthusiastically tell others about our work together.

If you aren’t telling your clients and referral sources who your favorite clients are, you are preventing the right clients from getting to you.  If you don’t know who they are, then take some time to figure it out . . . or, if would like to be one of my favorite clients, then drop me an email or give me a call.  I’ll be glad to help you figure out who you love, love, LOVE to work with, how to let them know, and how to help them find you!

New fabulous and favorite clients are always welcome!

(And, here’s how I let them know on my counseling website.)

Tags: Favorite Clients, Words for Your Private Practice, Work with Tamara

This is the 4th  post in the series
Reduced Fees, Sliding Scales, and Lessons Learned.
The series actually begins here.

How Does Your Reduced Fee Reflect on Your Overall Reputation?

Are you thinking about advertising the fact that you offer a sliding scale fee?  I strongly discourage mental health professionals from doing this and here’s the reason why . . . .

Once referral sources discover that you routinely provide services for a reduced fee, that is the idea that becomes attached to your name i.e. you provide the cheap stuff.

That’s NOT what you want to be known for even if you run a non-profit and routinely charge less than the Usual and Customary Fee for your services.

Your reputation should be based on the services that you provide and what differentiates you from your peers . . . not on having the lowest rates in town.

Tags: Fee, Reputation

In the midst of your strategizing for your 2010 marketing plan, you need to gather what I call supporting  data. This is a file that contains information that might help a potential referral source or client choose to work with me.  One type of data that goes into my file are articles and research related to the niche, domaine, and services that I offer.

Here is an article by Raymond A. Levy and J. Stuart Ablon in the Scientific American that cites research concluding that clients feel better, function better, and are more flexible in managing life challenges as long as three years post-termination of psychodynamic  psychotherapy.

This is an article that is going into my Supporting Data file.  Perhaps it should also go into yours.

Do you have other articles / items that might be useful to the rest of us?  If so, share them with us right here.

Tags: Marketing Plan, Supporting Data File

When you get ready to close your private practice, for whatever reason, you can’t just shut the door and walk away. Did you know that?  Attorney Richard S. Leslie has written a thoughtful article in the January 2010 issue of the Avoiding Liability Bulletin.  In it he details some of the following for your consideration when you decide to close up shop:

• Ask yourself who needs to be notified – clients, former clients, insurance panels, landlords, supervisees, colleagues and business associates, referral sources, and your licensing boards;
  

  "You Couldn't Have Planned This if You Tried" by Ken Douglas / Today is a Good Day

• Consider the possible circumstances that might result in you closing your door – retirement, geographical relocation, health emergencies, financial circumstances, your own death, your spouse’ or partner’s death,and other unforeseen circumstances;
• Your state may dictate certain actions that you must take when you close your practice;
• Your professional code of ethics and HIPPA will certainly have standards that you must adhere to when closing your practice;
• How to notify existing clients;
• Subsequent maintenance, storage, and access to records;
• How to provide public notice of the closing;
• When and how to notify former clients;
• Why you may not want to terminate liability insurance policies when you close your practice;
• And, in the event of your death or incapacity to handle these things, who does it for you?

Every mental health professional and every professional coach is required to responsibly close their private practice  – regardless of whether their closing is planned or unforeseen.  Whether you’ve been in business for years or you are just now getting started, now is the time to take the steps necessary to prepare for the eventual closure of your practice.

Tags: Closing Your Practice, Ethics, HIPAA, Records & Documentation, Relocation, The Unexpected

The DEADLINE for registering for the 2009 / 2010 Private Practice from the Inside Out Annual Series is this Friday, October 16, 2009.  Find details here.

Here’s what others have said about working with Tamara on building / revitalizing a private practice.

“Your coaching style was such a pleasant surprise!  I got so much more than I planned on getting – hundreds of ideas and ways to implement them that fit MY style.”

~ Amy G., Breckenridge

“WOW!  I thought I would learn some new tricks for my ten year old practice!  Had no idea that I would double my client load so quickly!  Better watch out what you ask for!”

~ Donna K., Denver

“I love your emphasis on collaboration and relationship-building rather than the same old scarcity model.  You stayed true to your values and mine!”

~ Jeri D., Lakewood

Your wealth of knowledge about our business is amazing!”

~ Marquita P., Castle Rock

“Thank you for helping me narrow my focus and learn to market my services in a way that feels ‘right’ for me.  Up until now, getting clients has always felt like selling.  You’ve made it feel natural, logical and even fun!”

~ Jessica A., Aurora

“I made the entire fee for PPIO! back in less than two weeks!  Best money I’ve ever spent on my practice!  The only other investment in my practice that I consider this important is the telephone!”

~ Paul J., Castle Rock

“Tamara, you blew my expectations out of this world!  Can’t wait to see what you offer next!”

~ Dustin P., Littleton, CO

“Tamara!  You are GREAT!  You made me think about my practice in a whole new way.  I realize now that I have MANY WAYS of growing my practice!”

~ Lorna A., Highlands Ranch

“YOU ARE A GIFT!  Just when I thought I would have to close my practice or starve to death, you showed me multiple possibilities.  It’s been three months since I finished PPIO!  and my practice is bringing me only blessings and joy!”

~ Marla T., Aurora

“This was the best training I’ve ever attended.  PERIOD.”

~ Deb E., Castle Rock

“Tamara is so generous with her information / knowledge / experiences – the good and the bad!  Don’t miss her!”

~ Danielle V., Cherry Creek

“This is what I expected to get in graduate school and didn’t.  No wonder it was such a struggle to start a private practice!”

~ Josh G., Englewood

Tamara’s availability between sessions was AMAZING.  I never expected her to care so much about helping me succeed!”

~ Lynn D., Parker

“I should have signed up for this series LAST YEAR!  Thank you for helping me turn my practice    around!”

~ Jamie H., Denver

Tags: About Tamara

If you still haven’t taken the time to have a business card made for yourself, then you are making a big BIG mistake.

Here’s two things that you really need to know . . . .  Your cheapest form of marketing is a great business card. They can cost you as little as six dollars for 250 at an on line printing service like VistaPrint or they can cost you as much as several hundred dollars for 1000 from a local printer like Maverick Press in Littleton, Colorado.   Your design, choice of paper and quantity ordered factor in to your final costs but any way you figure it, your business card is your least expensive marketing cost and is the most versatile tool you will use.

The second thing you need to know about your business card is that once you hand it over to another professional and leave the premises, it serves as a reminder of who you are and how to reach you. Think about it . . . .  I told you about that old adage “last in, first out.”  That means that if your business card keeps your name in front of other professionals’ eyes last, then your name is the one that is likely to be recalled when they are ready to call with a referral.  Last in, first out.

And, here’s one more thing you need to know about having a business card.  It’s the professional thing to do.  No CEO, no professional, and no office manager is going to refer clients to you until you take yourself seriously enough to get decent business card. Think about it. . . .  Having a business card implies that you are serious about your professional services. . . . It implies that you have some degree of stability i.e. your address, website, and phone number aren’t changing daily. . . .  And, it implies that you have something of value to offer.

Still putting off getting that business card? P-L-E-A-S-E!  What’s keeping you from taking that step?  Let me know and I’ll be happy to nudge you along!

Tags: Business Card, Professional Image

Carla read my post here and wrote in asking:

What do you do when as a result of finding out that you are a counselor, your church now wants you to provide counseling services to members of the congregation? Or the fact that you have taught classes at ministry events, and as a result some of the participants want to come see you?”

"Nice, Small Church" by Speediakal

How flattering!  But, here are 9 things that I consider before deciding whether or not to see members of my own church . . . .

1. Size matters.  I have found that it is difficult to be active in a church whose congregation numbers only 200 and still maintain my privacy.  That, in turn, colors my professional relationship with my client.  He knows more about me (and I know more him) than is always best.  If, on the other hand, my congregation numbers 1000, then it may be relatively easy for me to maintain my privacy and to minimize personal interactions outside of the counseling office.
2. I consider how I will handle it if I discover that my client is sexually or romantically involved with one of the leaders in my church (who happens to be married).  As far fetched as that may sound to you, it is not all that uncommon and it may very well change how you feel about your church home.  It did for me.  And, that’s before my client AND my church leader both wanted to vent to me, wanted me to choose sides, and then wanted me to publicly condone their behaviors to others!
3. I also consider how my own unforeseen weaknesses / foibles in my personal or church life (challenges in relationships, lapses in judgement, my own spiritual practices, etc.) might negatively impact my relationship with my client . . . .  Unanticipated exposure of those things can actually color what happens in my church and with my client.
4. I also consider the possibility that my partner / spouse / friend / child / sibling / parent may want to befriend my client.  That’s a mess in and of itself! And, what will I do if I believe (from my  clinical work) that the relationships with my client might not be good for my loved one?
5. I’ve had clients catch me before I could dash off from church services to “catch me up” on the latest chapter of their weekend disaster.  Do I want to do therapy in the parking lot?  Do I want to act disinterested?  Or, do I want to dread seeing that client every time I enter the church door?
6. I also have to consider if / how I am going to interact with my clients when I see them.  Am I going to speak to my clients when I see them at church?  Am I going to ignore them?  What if my new client sits down beside me on the pew?  Wants to hug me?  Asks me to take communion with her — or just “conveniently” times it so that it happens that way?
7. What if I sign up for a church dinner club and get assigned to the one that my client attends?  Am I going to explain to the host why I had to leave abruptly when my client showed up?  Am I just going to let the host think I’ve lost my mind?  (Yep, that’s exactly what I did as I ran out the back door.)
8. What if I agree to host a Bible study and my client shows up . . . or his wife . . . or someone who eventually becomes his spouse?  Am I really going to ask my client to leave because there’s a dual relationship if he stays?
9. Sometimes clients can be possessive of their therapists (and you won’t always know this ahead of time).  I’ve had Client A  show up “hurt” or mad at his therapy appointment because he had seen me talking to someone else at church.

OK, so I could go on and on . . . . My point is this . . . .  While much of this can make for great grist for the clinical work that you do with a client, do you really REALLY want to contaminate your personal life (and the lives of your loved ones), your spiritual home, and your professional life with this stuff?  Just think about it and, if you do, consult, consult, consult.

Can you think of other questions / situations / concerns to consider before jumping in to provide therapy within your own religious community?

Tags: Boundaries, Consultation, Ethics, Policies and Protocols, Reputation

If you are looking at your marketing calendar and trying to decide where to focus your energy for the month of October, how about Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

According to the American Cancer Society, almost 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2009.  Over 40,000 women are expected to die from this disease this year.  It is the second leading cause of death (lung cancer is the first) in women in the United States so you have plenty of good reasons to get involved.

Here are some ways to make a difference

"Ducks for the Cure" by Kim Baker

AND get your practice noticed . . . .

• Invite a physician into your practice to discuss breast cancer with your clients.
• Send a letter to health care providers letting them know that you will be providing extended hours or reduced fees for referrals breast cancer patients during the month of October.
• Provide a free breast cancer support group.  Hold it at the local library and let the local newspaper know the details.
• Join one of the many fund raising opportunities like the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York.
• If you’ve had a personal experience with breast cancer, consider writing / speaking about the experience to women’s groups around your area.
• Create your own fundraiser.  Ask other therapists to help you.  Get the media involved.

You can find a list of additional ways to help promote National Breast Cancer Awareness Month here.

Tags: Calendar, Fee, Media, Physician, Public Speaking, Support Group

If you’ve been following AllThingsPrivatePractice from the beginning, then you know that a marketing calendar is one of my secret weapons.    Here are a few ideas for your September marketing calendar . . . .

September 16 is Working Parents Day.  How about partnering with a drop-in childcare facility.  You can offer a free workshop for the most overlooked of working parents . . . stay-at-home parents while the childcare facility offers free or low cost childcare!  Consider topics that might be of interest to stay-at-home parents like Finding Time for Self Care, Holding on to Your Dreams While Holding on to Your Little Ones, and Raising Feminist Boys.

Another marketing opportunity is International Day of Peace on September 21.  This is a day set aside to promote

"Islamic Peace" by Trey Ratcliff / Stuck in Customs

peace and non-violence.  Offer to facilitate a book study for other therapists based on Marshall Rosenberg’s book, Nonviolent Communication:  A Language of Life.

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on Sunday, September 27 and ends at nightfall on Monday, September 28, 2009.  This is the most important of all Jewish holidays.  It is traditionally spent worshiping and fasting.  If you are not Jewish, consider offering to take call or cover other work-related duties for you Jewish colleagues in mental health.

Can you come up with other ideas to market your private practice in September?  Drop me a note here to share them.

Tags: Book Study, Calendar, Dreams, Free, On Call, Partner, Self Care, Workshop

This is part of an episodic series, The Therapist’s Networking Guide.
To see the previous one in this series, click here.

Your network is your lifeline.  These are the people that know you best.  These are the ones that can vouch for you and sing your praises!  They are the people who will refer clients to you.  And, they are the ones that you can most influence. . . . Are you helping your network take really good care of you? Here are some things that I do . . . .

• Stay in touch. Have you heard the old saying, “Out of site, out of mind”?  It’s definitely true when you are wanting referrals.   You can send them a note, pick up the phone and call, or make a visit to their businesses.  Find reasons and creative ways to stay in their thoughts. Research shows that when office managers make a referral, they typical refer to the last name that they ran across — a business card, a newsletter, a person, etc.  Remember, “Last name in, first name out.”

• Pay attention. When someone in my network receives recognition, I congratulate them.  If they’ve written a new book, I make an effort to read it.  And, if they are looking stressed or a little worn out, I try to offer a little support — offer to cover their on call duty for the weekend or just let them vent.  If there is a death in their family, I offer condolences and make sure I send a card.  Don’t ignore your network’s challenges and triumphs.

• Be generous. Your time, talents, and resources are no more or less valuable than your networks’ time, talents, and resources so share them liberally!  By doing so, you will build good will, great friends, and a better world.

• Make referrals. Make sure that your network knows that you have their personal and professional best interests at heart by making appropriate referrals to their businesses.  You don’t want to develop a reputation for always wanting referrals and never reciprocating.

Take Time to Say Thank You

• Say “thank you.” I do not do business with professionals who fail to say “thank you” and you shouldn’t either.  Gratitude is an attitude that is cultivated and I pride myself on cultivating many ways to say it.  I write notes, send cards, bake baskets of cookies, send flowers, give small token gifts, and write public articles of gratitude.  It costs me very little to tip my hat to those that have been kind to me / my business and I make a point to not forget.

• Be transparent. Transparency is not about wearing your feelings on your sleeve.  However, being transparent is about being committed to the truth and honesty.  It’s really about your level of integrity.  If you are nervous about working with a new client that has been referred to you because you haven’t worked with their presenting issues before, don’t fake it.  Let your referral source and your client know that you will be seeking consultation while working with them or refer them to a different therapist.  Don’t pretend that you know it all.  Your clients and your referral sources will appreciate you being willing to admit your limitations.  And, in doing so, you give them permission to do the same.

• Ask for what you need. Your network thrives when the relationships in it are reciprocal rather than lopsided.  In order for a network to work for you, you need to be willing to ask for what you need.  I have, at different times, asked my network for help securing office space, community resources for my clients, and to be a sounding board for a new project, etc.  If you can’t ask for what you need, then you need a new network!

So, what is it that you are doing to help your network take better care of you?  And, what is it that you can commit to doing better?

The next post in this episodic series is

Tags: Network

Even if you are doing many things “right,” you can still end up destroying your private practice. Here’s the 5 top ways you can blow it up fast:

# 5 – Don’t change things up.
Keep doing the same old things you used to do when you started in the business 20 years ago. Be predictable i.e. boring. Keep working with the same old issues (and only those same old issues) that you’ve always worked with. Don’t develop new bodies of work, new skills, or new interests. Allow your work and your practice to become dated and irrelevant. It works every time.

Caution! Caution!

# 4 – Don’t ask your clients.
Whatever you do, do not survey or poll your clients. Don’t ask for their feedback about anything . . . your office location, the way they are greeted at the front desk, your billing / fee collection process, your clinical effectiveness, or their thoughts about your work after they terminate. And, should your clients volunteer such feedback, be sure to argue, justify, or dispute it. Whatever you do, make sure you do not actually consider it and make appropriate changes (see comments above).

# 3 – Don’t ask for referrals.
Don’t explain that you are expanding your practice; don’t tell friends and family that you have a few extra time slots to fill; and, don’t tell clients that your business depends on referrals from satisfied customers. Better yet, tell everyone you know that you have a one month waiting list and are not looking for new clients.

# 2 – Don’t brand yourself.
Branding is for businesses that want to present a clear, succinct and memorable message about who they are and what they represent. By not branding you and your private practice, you can ensure that your business becomes forgettable, at best and, at worst, becomes confused with too many / unprofessional images and messages. To kill your practice, I highly recommend avoiding all tendencies toward branding.

# 1 – Don’t niche your practice.
Most importantly, try to be everything to everyone. Be a generalist. Do everything OK. Work with everyone all right. Refuse to specialize in anything and become forgettable fast.

Why isn’t your private practice surviving?

Tags: Brand, Change, Feedback, Niche, Survey

This is the third part of an 11 part series on How To Build A Great Marketing Kit.

Before you read further, you may want to read the introduction here.

For those of us who have spent half of our lives in academia, our stories about our professional lives can become monotonous and predictable rather quickly. That can present a problem when you get to the second essential item in your marketing kit, your professional biography. The purpose of your bio is to highlight your expertise in and interesting and engaging fashion. It is not to regurgitate your resume ad nausea. At a later date, I will share with you a recipe for your professional bio.

For now, put down in writing the story of how you came to do the thing that you do best in your professional life. What is that? Is it using your sense of humor? Is it your intuition or your ability to motivate your clients? Think about your mentors and role models. Consider the traits and skills that come effortlessly to you. And, finally, note the bumps in the road along your path that resulted in you being the person you are and the therapist you have become.

Now, tie those all together in an interesting and engaging story about who you are. This is the basis for your professional bio.

(If you would like additional help constructing your professional bio, consider working with me as your brainstorming coach to help you find those engaging nuggets. Or, consider hiring a professional copywriter like Kathryn Bass at Kadroodle.com to simply do the work for you!)

Tags: Resume, Stories

If you have access to the internet and have not made your way to a discussion list relevant to your profession, you are missing out on a great way to let people learn about you and your services.  These electronic mailing lists are typically subject specific and anyone who subscribes to them is allowed to post.  Your post is then emailed to everyone else on the list and they, in turn, may respond.

Discussion lists allow you to share information and news of interest among a large number of people with little effort.  (And, if you don’t find a discussion list to be useful to you, it’s easy to “unsubscribe” to them, too!) These are some of the ways that you may find them to be of use to you as you grow your private practice:

• Promote your latest project or offering.
• Gather resources.
• Seek opinions.
• Build a reputation for offering thoughtful feedback to others.
• Find colleagues with which to collaborate on future projects.
• Learn about new areas.
• Develop new interests / understanding.
• Connect with professionals in different parts of the country / world.
• Exchange ideas.

I use discussion lists (both personal and professional)

"Kids Surfing On-Line" by bebetoujours

on a weekly basis for all of the reasons listed above and want to encourage you to do the same.  On the lists that I belong to, I have gotten referrals for clients from therapists states away; I’ve sent and received volumes of resources on everything ranging from trauma and eating disorders to book lists and vacation tips; I’ve also learned about great continuing education opportunities and built name recognition for my practice at the same time!

Here are several of the professional discussion lists that I belong to:

• POWR-L is a discussion list focused on the psychology of women.  This list, hosted by the Association for Women in Psychology, is a dynamic and resource-focused list .  Membership in AWP is not required in order to join the discussion list.

• Counselors at Yahoo is open to behavioral heath professionals and students. Another dynamic and active forum that is very friendly to students and new professionals.

• Warren Corsen III’s Counseling Resources is open to clinical professionals, students, and educators in counseling and related fields.  Another student-friendly list emphasizing graduate and doctoral students.

• Boulder Psychotherapy Institute’s Networking List is primarily focused on resources / continuing education / networking opportunities within the State of Colorado for mental health professionals.

• Dramatherapy List is for individuals interested in drama therapy.  Although it is hosted by the National Association for Drama Therapy, membership in NADT is not required for joining this listserv.

If you decide to join an on line discussion group, you should know that every list has its own culture and most lists have a set of rules to abide by.  As with any other group that you choose to join, it is advisable to know the guidelines and expectations from the beginning.  Sign up and sit back for a few weeks just to audit the group and get a feel for the on line culture.  Once you are ready and have a burning question or thoughtful comment to offer, you are ready to jump right in!

Do you know of other professional discussion lists that may be of interest to mental health professionals?  If so, I hope you will share them with us here.  If enough of you respond, I will be happy to compile the list and re-post into one massive list for easy access!

Tags: Discussion List, Dramatherapy List, POWR-L, Social Media, Warren Corsen III's Counseling Resources

Since it’s almost Independence Day, today seems like a really good day to share with you my favorite secret weapon for getting unstuck with my marketing.  It’s calendars!  Yes, I said calendars. . . and here’s the reason why. . . .

I collect special days, holidays, civic and religious days of observance, days that others (like the greeting card industry) have created and I place all of these on a single marketing calendar or list of days.  When I find my marketing is becoming a bit predictable or stale, I pull out my marketing calendar and get a jumpstart!

Dog Days of Summer

"Dog Days of Summer" by Flyway Photo

For example, how could you use the Dog Days of Summer? I’m thinking I could hold an open house for my business with Dog Days as the theme . . . or I could take ice cream to my best referral sources in the community. . . or I could send out a newsletter with tips for coping during the Dog Days of Summer.

National Therapeutic Recreation Week

Here’s another example. July 12-19, 2009 is National Therapeutic Recreation Week.  If you are interested in building reciprocal referring relationships with recreational therapists, this is the perfect week to reach out to them!  You might want to make a few cold calls to their places of employment — nursing homes, hospitals, mental health treatment centers, day treatment programs, etc.  This is the ideal time to take them to lunch, send them informational materials about your practice, or recognize them in the community via letters to the editor, awards, etc.

Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day

"Family of Zucchini" by Ellie Van Houtte

And, here’s a third example.  August 8th is Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day.  No, I’m not kidding!  (But it did make me snicker a little.)  So, what can you do with a day like this?  Think about it!  You could drop off a basket of zucchini (with marketing info)  to your local food bank as a community service; you could take a handful of zucchini to your next door business neighbors; you could leave a big basket of zucchini in your lobby with a note for clients to “help themselves”; or you could write a guest column in your local newspaper underscoring the needs of families during this difficult economic time (and, in the process, encourage your community to share their zucchini or whatever else they might have with others).

What an inexpensive way to let people know that you are . . . a little bit different . . . that you think in a different way . . . .  And, what an inexpensive way to be remembered!

Calendars to Get You Started

Here’s a few calendars to help you get started on your own marketing calendar:

• Gone-ta-Pott Holiday Directory
• Today in History
• Earth Calendar

Let me know how you end up using calendars in your practice to energize your marketing and if you found this post helpful!

Tags: Calendar