business forum internet marketing signups Advertising Your Private Practice: 6 Tips for Maximizing Your Results-Part 2 - business forum internet marketing signups

As discussed in part 1 of this article, " Your Private Practice: Problems With Advertising," I usually dont recommend advertising as a main method of marketing for new counselors and healing professionals when starting a practice for . There are often more cost-effective ways to get the word out and be visible. For example, public speaking, writing articles, and networking, just to name a few.

However, if you are convinced you need to advertise or have a reason to believe that your ads will be effective as a method of marketing your practice, here are 6 tips that will help you maximize the results you will get from your financial investment.

1. When placing an ad, make the decision up front that you will commit to run it for 6 months to a year so that people get used to seeing it repeatedly.

You cantexpect to get results from an ad that you have only placed for a short period of time. Repetition is key here.

2. Your ad will be more effective if you gear it towards a specific target market.

For example, directing your ad towards a general audience is not as effective as directing it towards those who are experiencing a particular problem (e.g. loss of relationship, problem with alcohol or drugs). People want to see someone who has expertise with their problem. In addition, when they see an ad that speaks to their problem directly, they are more likely to respond to it.

3. Advertising works best when you place your ad in a well targeted publication.

Think of the type of client you want to attract and their problem(s), find out what they read, and place your ad in these publications. For example, if you work with parents of young children, you might want to place your ad in a parenting magazine.

4. Make the clients concerns the focus of your ad, not yourself or your services.

Open the ad by addressing the core problem(s) your clients are experiencing, so that when they read it, they say to themselves, "Yes, thats me. This is exactly the problem Im having." In the end, not only will you get more clients this way, but your clients will be better served as they will be more suitable for your particular services. In addition, be sure to mention a few key benefits people can expect to experience if they work with you.

5. Find places where you can advertise your private practice for free.

Some publications will allow this, especially if you offer free presentations to the public.

6. Dont rely on advertising alone to market your practice.

Advertising works best when used as part of an integrated strategy. Again, because of the 5-7 contacts principle mentioned in part 1, the more ways you market your practice, the more potential clients and referral sources will be exposed to you and your private practice.

Unless you have a large expense budget and follow the guidelines above or have reason to belive you are probably better off finding alternative means for marketing your practice. After you have an established practice, some well-placed ads can be helpful if used as part of an overall marketing strategy.

Bio of Author

Juliet assists helping and healing professionals (coaches, therapists, counselors, massage therapists, chiropractors, etc.) who are struggling to market their practices. She helps her clients overcome resistances to marketing, learn and implement no or low-cost marketing strategies, create compelling promotional materials, and write effective website copy.

Sign up for Juliet's free ezine, "Enlightened Marketing" at: http://www.julietaustin.com

Visit her Marketing a Practice blog and her Website Design and Promotion blog for socially responsible businesses that she co-authors with Web Designer, Nathaniel Richman, of nrichmedia (nrichmedia.com).

The author grants reprint permisson as long as the article and by-line remain intact.