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So after my very enjoyable maternity leave, I am having to go back to my job. Since I've been gone, I have heard that our director has been "strongly encouraging" over time-it's not paid it is comped-and 30 minute sessions to see clients (I'm a counselor). For those who have read my other posts about this job know I hate it. I don't understand why we are being forced to do 30 minute sessions and cram like 40 clients to see in a week. This is not beneficial to the clients or the counselors. And we can't see new clients for like a month out. So 30 min a month?! But I digress.
While I was on maternity leave I did some contract counseling because no paid maternity leave right? Yay; and found out I actually enjoy counseling and it's not the field I chose but rather the places and people that I am working for but now I don't know what to do. I would really like to start my own practice but since I have to put both children in daycare and it costs more than out rent I won't have any money to put a lot into advertising.
Anyone do any free or very cheap online marketing? I have been doing some research in online marketing because I don't know anything about it. I don't know where to start or how to drive traffic to any websites or social media. It will be all online counseling as I have been doing but it will be my own practice.
Since I also have to work full time I'm not sure how to advertise I can only do evening sessions until i can get enough clients to support quitting my full time job.
Online marketing is a minor and weak tool for nearly all businesses not specifically focused at online sales. It is a useful adjunct to other forms of client and business acquisition, but if you have the vague idea it's highly effective and "all you need to do these days"... you need to back up to square one.
Online marketing is a minor and weak tool for nearly all businesses not specifically focused at online sales. It is a useful adjunct to other forms of client and business acquisition, but if you have the vague idea it's highly effective and "all you need to do these days"... you need to back up to square one.
I work in the online marketing industry. I mainly write web copy, but I've also done social media posts, guest blog posts, affiliate marketing, things like that.
For online counseling, I might suggest starting with a great social media page (Facebook would appeal to those in their mid-thirties on up, but you'd likely want to focus more on Instagram or even Twitter if your target clientele is much younger than that). Don't get me wrong; build all of the social media pages, but feel free to focus most of your efforts on the one that is best targeted to your ideal client. Don't build more than you can keep up with; you need to answer questions that get posted and respond to comments (or hire someone to do that).
Work on building your reputation by writing (or hiring someone to write) some great, informative posts for the blog part of your website, and post the links on your social media pages. Place ads on that social media site. Be sure that you are using some keywords in your posts, but don't be a crazy keyword-stuffer. Once you get a bit of a reputation built up, try to find opportunities for guest posting on other blogs that have high traffic. (FYI: You will need to pay for that privilege in most cases.)
You could also start a YouTube channel (or a similar channel on another platform). Yes, you can make a few pennies doing that, but that's not why you should do it; it's for reputation-building. If you are comfortable in front of a camera, this can be even more effective than writing a blog.
You will also probably do well placing some PPC (pay per click) ads on Google. These can be expensive; I suspect that "online counseling" is going to be a very expensive (and very competitive) keyword. Make sure your Google My Business listing is accurate and write up a good description. You only have 750 characters (three short paragraphs at most), so make them count.
I'd work more on the reputation-building at first rather than trying to get too many clients. You need to build your business well before they will come.
I don't provide free or cheap online marketing, but you can PM me if you have specific questions. I don't mind helping out! Good luck!
What kind of counseling do you do? Do you need a different license or state approval to operate your own agency? Can you accept insurance? Or do your clients normally pay cash?
FYI, many companies offer paid maternity leave. Look into that if you plan on having more children.
I have heard of only two. Bank of America and some gas companies. None of which I think hire counselors.
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Good luck!
