On 8/28 we had a great teleclass on HOW TO WRITE A GREAT PT LISTING.

Note: Replay of this recording is available for free for our Exclusive Members. It will be placed in the audio library.

If you aren’t an Exclusive Member, you can join us at: http://www.buildyourtherapypractice.com

If you want to purchase the recording, you can so at: http://www.beawealthytherapist.com/PTrecording.html

Here are my very brief “notes to myself” that I used to lead the call. Hope they interest you!

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A) Paradigm shift:
Marketing on the internet - (with online therapist locators and websites) is different than print advertising. 1) People scan - they are in a hurry, Know that they don’t need to read everything and we are good at scanning! They want to see things that break up text - pictures that are relevant and build your brand.2) People look for what is about them - that is what they care about first and foremost.

B) Coaching questions:

1) What do your clients need from you?

2) How does that relate to marketing on the internet?

3) Imagine that you are looking for a therapist on the internet. What problem might you be looking for help with? How would you describe it? What would you be so upset about that you would want to pay someone $400 to $600 a month to help you with?

++++ EXAMPLES +++++

Examples of good listings:

Leslie Doares: NC - 27607

Barbara Calvi : CA - 91302

Cynthia McKenna: TX - 78006

Roberta Wands: CA - 92507

C) Nuts and bolts:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So what do you think we could do to improve the listing?

Here are nine of my ideas:

1) Don’t try to be all things to all people.

2) Make sure you speak in 6 year old language - that is where our pain is stored - with emotion

3) Avoid un-hearable and clinical words.
4) Make sure when you put your fee range in, that you are planning to offer the middle or low end of that range.

5)Keep the total of your specialties to 5 or less. Less is more. Make sure the ones that you have relate to each other and to your personal statement. Use the blank at the bottom of specialties to put yours in if you have a nice niche. For example, I am encouraging those marketing to Lesbians to not click off the speciality “Gay Lesbian Issues” but make up a special one called “Lesbian issues” or “Counseling for Lesbians”

6) When you put in all the info about insurance - make sure that is what you want.

7) Don’t even look at the statistics. Keep your profile for 30 - 45 days as is and then if you don’t like the results, tweak it.

8) Be on at least 3 and preferable 5 online therapist locator systems - go to http://www.BeAWealthyTherapist.com to see a couple more that I recommend.

9) Put a picture.
D. Callers PT SITE Review.

E. Contest announcement:

1. Respond to this question “What struck you most from this call?” in the Comments section. On September 15, we will put all the people who commented into a hat and draw out two winners.

2. We will have two winners - one will receive a one year Premier membership on find-a-therapist.com - a $295 value - can be on 4 sites with them. The other will receive a free one year Psychology Today membership!

My coach Andrea loves to present me with provocative questions. She gets me thinking “beyond the dots” which is both exciting and, I have to admit, sometimes scary.She loves to ask: “What if you had all the money you wanted? What then?”

Today I spoke with a therapist who was complaining about her really bad agency job. She said “If only I would win the lottery…”

Most of us have probably said that at one time or another.

Have you seen that TV show Windfall? Where 20 people win the lottery and their lives are changed forever?

What if you had all the money you wanted? What then?

What would you do? How would your life change?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Please share them with us here or email me at Casey@BeAWealthyTherapist.com

If you don’t yet have all the money you want and would like to learn how to set and negotiate fees better with prospects and clients, you may interested in two opportunities:

For our Exclusive Members, we have an upcoming teleclass on September 21st titled “I can’t afford that! Do you take insurance?” - a 45 minute class on how to set, collect and negotiate fees and how to handle those “money objections.” If you aren’t an Exclusive Member, you can read more at: http://buildyourtherapypractice.com

Also on September 25, 2006, our new 6-month workgroup starts. Our first class will be “The 7-Point Plan to Improve Your Relationship with Money” If you are looking for a structured program to help you with money, your specialty, and your marketing plan - then consider joining us for this workgroup taught over the phone.

This will be the last time we offer this program in this format and at this price. You can read about the schedule, fees and registration instructions at: http://attractmoreclientsnow.com/workgroup.html

I hope that you get all the money you want! You deserve it!

And let me know - what then?

Blessings,

I can’t believe I did this.

This afternoon, Bob and I went out to the hardware store to buy paint.

As we walked back to the car, I was thinking about a zillion things, including the color I am going to paint my office. (It is called Summer Smile and is the prettiest shade of yellow.)

I opened our car door and smacked myself in the mouth with it! I whacked myself. My lip started swelling and bleeding. It was not only embarrassing - it hurt!

As I write this several hours later, I still have a fat lip.

What was I thinking? I certainly wasn’t focused on the task at hand.

One of the most important lessons I ever learned was that success comes from focus and intention.

This applies in sports, finances, and marketing. If we aren’t mentally “in the game,” we can lose the game.

I started to think about all the success stories I have been hearing from therapists lately. The single thing they have in common is focus.

Have a peek into my inbox…

Here is an email from Harriette Lowenstein, a therapist and ADD coach who discussed how becoming more focused has helped her.

“Casey, I worked to improve my Psychology Today listing and in 18 days, I received 7 inquiries and I decided to take 4 of them as new clients.

Plus you have helped me double my business by learning to focus on what’s important, like extroverted vs introverted marketing and keeping track of where my revenue is coming from, so I know where to focus my marketing efforts.”

How cool is that!

Here is one from Ellen who has created a lot of positive energy around attracting clients:

“Casey, I’ve got to say that at noon I had three referrals after joining the Exclusive Members Program at 8am and participating in the call at 9am.”

When I asked Ellen if I could share her success with you, she sent this email:

“Hi Casey,

Yes, you may certainly quote me AND I got another referral today.
Thanks again,
Ellen Odza, MFT”

So, I encourage you to think about “where your focus is.” Do you need a break from practice-building? Or is your motivation beginning to get stirred up again?

Whatever you need to do, get yourself in the game.

Speaking of games and having fun, our next 6-month practice building group (held over the phone) starts on September 25, 2006. We will be starting at the beginning with money, ideal client, tag lines and marketing plans. If you are interested, please visit http://www.attractmoreclientsnow.com/workgroup.html for the particulars. We are taking advanced reservations now.

My final words of wisdom - be mindful and focused everywhere in your life - and especially when you are opening heavy car doors!

Love and blessings,