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 And if something changed - my specialty, my address or phone number, the ad continued with the outdated information for an entire year.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!