Archive for September, 2008

How To Create your Marketing Plan

September 17th, 2008 • Casey Truffo • 3 comments • Related • Filed Under

Years ago, before I had a marketing plan, I used to wake up each morning wondering “What do I do today to build my practice?” It was confusing. I’d jump into creating a website or join a networking group without any clear focus - mostly because I was hungry for clients and unclear on how to get them.

My coach encouraged me to create a marketing plan. Having a simple marketing plan really makes life easier. It means that each week you know what to do to market your practice.

Here at Be A Wealthy Therapist, we are often asked *how* to create a marketing plan. It really isn’t that hard but it was probably something you were never taught.

So, I put together a video on How To Create A Marketing Plan. Check it out below if you’d like to view and comment on it. (Video is about 4 minutes long and is really good for beginners.)

Please note, the video was shot in Sedona where it was over 100 degrees!

Happy practice building!
Casey

Who are your thought leaders?

September 10th, 2008 • Casey Truffo • 13 comments • Related • Filed Under

As many of you know, this summer I opened The Therapist’s Leadership Institute - an organization dedicated to raising the image of therapists and psychotherapy within our culture. I am really excited to begin this new venture and sure could use any ideas you might have on how we might do this. Feel free to visit http://TherapistsLeadershipInstitute.org to see what it is all about.

As I focus on the idea of leadership, I remember attending my first Evolution of Psychotherapy conference. As a new graduate student, my professors encouraged me to register.

At that event, I was able to sit at the feet of many of the leaders I had studied in school. Until that point I was unaware that the field of Family Therapy was relatively new.

I smile as I remember how full of wonder I was. I would listen to one clinician in the morning session. He or she would sound so brilliant and clear and had exactly the right theory and technique for my clients. Then, in the next session, the speaker would say the exact opposite of the first speaker. The afternoon speaker sounded just as brilliant and practical. It made my head spin.

It was a glorious event and I will forever be indebted to Jeff Zeig and his team for that event and all the ones that followed.

I absorbed everything I could from many leaders - including Carl Whitaker, Jay Haley and Albert Ellis. Those men taught me so much about the art and science of therapy. They made me laugh and they could also bring me to tears with their success stories. With their passing, these leaders have left a great hole on our field and in our hearts.

And yet new leaders are emerging every day - just as brilliant and just as touching.

I am curious. Whom do you consider as a current leader in the field of psychotherapy? Who touches your mind and heart? And why? I’d love to hear what you think.

May our minds be challenged and our hearts opened as we continue to grow, prosper and touch lives and hearts in this field that we love.

In your service,
Casey

Internet - schminternet

September 3rd, 2008 • Casey Truffo • 1 comment • Related • Filed Under

Do you have an answering machine at your office? I don’t mean a fancy voice mail service - I mean a push-the-buttons-to hear the message machine.

Before I had an answering machine at home, I thought I had no need for one. I thought no one ever called me when I was out so what difference did it make? Imagine my surprise when I found out how many people did want to get in touch with me. I had been missing a lot of social opportunities by not having a way for people to connect with me when I wasn’t home.

When I started my practice, I realized (aka: hoped) potential clients would call and want to get in touch with me. To help them do so,I purchased an answering machine for my office.

Today, an internet presence is even more important for your practice than my first answering machine. It is the most popular way people will find you and decide if they want to come and see you.

Today, the internet is the new yellow pages - only much, much better.

Back when I started, the yellow pages was the main method of advertising. I had a small display ad in several phone books in our local area. It cost $300 a month. To me, that was a lot of money. And if something changed - my specialty, my address or phone number, the ad continued with the outdated information for an entire year. $3,600 a year and more than once I had ads running with incorrect information.

Does the idea of the internet scare you a little? Maybe it seems a bit overwhelming. Believe me I get it. If so, consider our new “Internet Marketing for Therapists Made Easy” Workshop. It is designed especially for those who have some anxiety or confusion about how to create a simple and effective website.

So, why should you have a website or internet presence? Why is it so much better than the yellow pages?

With the internet….

* You can be on the web with your information quickly - no more waiting for the yellow page publication schedule.

* You can choose your budget. You can have a nice website up for less than $1 a day. If you wish to have people find you on the web more often and more easily, you can add to your budget and purchase online locators (although some are free like CAMFTs Therapist Finder.) As you add services you add costs but you’d be amazed at how much $ 50 to $150 a month will buy.

But if you are like many therapists, you aren’t sure if you really need a website. After all, you get referrals now.

What we are finding is that many therapists who primarily have managed care caseloads are finding a website a handy tool. Potential clients are looking to the web to research the therapists on their panels. Either way - cash or managed care- you need a good website.

Think of the answering machine. You don’t know how many people you are missing without having a web presence.

Remember, they will hire you as their therapist when they can find you and feel you “get them.”

To your success on the web,
Casey

P.S. Don’t miss out on the early bird pricing. Register for the “Internet Marketing for Therapists Made Easy” Workshop by September 10th!