It’s a funny little industry we have, isn’t it? It looks like a business, talks like a business, yet we don’t treat it as a business. It’s rarely a week that goes by that we don’t hear ‘I put my ad on Psychology Today, but I’m barely getting any referrals. What do I do?

Most of us don’t get into this field to make money. We get it into it to help people. But we need to eat, pay our mortgages and buy our kids new clothes. Wanting to help people and wanting to make some money should not be mutually exclusive.

Spend Money to Make Money

The old marketing adage ‘you have to spend money to make money’ applies to us as well. Simply creating a website and a profile and making a few social media posts will not be enough to get a full case load. However, advertising works. That’s why no matter how the world changes, the advertising industry powers on. We don’t like to admit it, but we are influenced by marketing every day of our lives. So instead of sitting around wondering why we’re not getting new referrals, let’s do what every other business does; advertise.

We live in the golden age of advertising. Twenty years ago, you would have to put a costly ad in the newspaper or even buy a billboard. Today, thanks to Google, we can find our customers with the click of a button.

Pay per click advertising has been around for a bit now but it is now synonymous with how people find businesses online. The premise is simple; your ad will only be shown to people who want to see it. If you are looking for ‘therapy in Toronto’ you will see ads for therapists in Toronto. If you are looking for a new vase in Ottawa, you will only see ads for vases in Ottawa.

The same applies to therapy. If you know who your market is, Google will allow you to market directly to them through the search engine.

Importance of Key Words

Key words are the specific terms that people will type into Google to find your services. They could be ‘depression therapy’, ‘virtual anxiety therapy,’ ‘ACT therapy in Toronto’ or whatever your niche is. With a little time, the Google robots will learn exactly what your site is and will only be showing it to people interested in what you are selling.

There is simply no better way to advertise therapy services in this day and age. You don’t need a million people to see your ad; you just need 15 or 20 people who want what you are offering to see your ad.

We get it; you didn’t get into therapy to be a business owner. But unfortunately you can’t separate the two. Therapy is a business like any other. It’s a business based on helping people but a business none the less.

At OntarioSupervision.ca we know how hard it can be to start your own private practice. Take some of the guess work out and schedule a Private Practice Business Consultation today.