| No introduction, you want the the tips: | | | | thereby leaving it for scores of other people to see in |
| TIP #1: Put All Clients on Your E-mail List | | | | the course of a month. These medical professionals |
| Keep an e-mail list of your clients, both current and | | | | who you patronize owe you. Don't ask the nurse or |
| former. Get permission to send them a dead-simple | | | | the front desk secretary for permission. Ask the |
| newsletter from your private practice--one page! NOT | | | | doctor or medical professional in the middle of the |
| TWO! And, heavens to murgatroid--not four. | | | | anatomical procedure you're paying for. No, I am not |
| Encourage clients or patients to print, forward, and | | | | kidding. |
| distribute your newsletter to friends and family. Make | | | | TIP #7: Cooperate and Make Money While Increasing |
| this simple newsletter nothing more than mental health | | | | Referrals |
| tips, seasonal stories, common sense right thinking, and | | | | Offer the bottom section of your simple-dimple, yet |
| articles so good that readers hesitate not to fold it up | | | | punchy and powerful newsletter to allied professionals |
| into their pocket. | | | | as advertising space that includes one line of text. |
| If you e-mail your clients, send the newsletter to | | | | These should be professionals with whom you do not |
| yourself and "blind copy" clients. Only your e-mail | | | | compete. These professionals would love to pay you |
| address will show to avoid violation of patient | | | | for the exposure. Trade with them so you get |
| confidentiality. Don't make a mistake in doing this | | | | exposure to all of their clients and patients. You have |
| procedural step. | | | | just formed your own "linked-in" group. One or two |
| A safer and better way is to print and mail a copy of | | | | lines of text will do the trick. Have enough space for |
| your simple-dimple, yet punchy and powerful | | | | five to six advertising lines, and widen your distribution. |
| newsletter to your clients. Studies have shown that | | | | Everyone wins, especially you. We suggest holistic |
| postal mail in an envelope is read 15 times more often | | | | health professionals, therapeutic massage |
| than e-mail! Consider doing both. | | | | professionals, chiropractors, even vitamin stores! Your |
| TIP #2: Send Your Simple Dimple, Yet Powerfully | | | | local Walgreens may buy advertising space. It will |
| Punchy Newsletter to the top 50 (and 50 only) | | | | improve the "stature" of your newsletter and you can |
| Recreation, Mental Health, and Community Centers. | | | | make money to cover your newsletter's cost. |
| Send it to half-way houses, adult protective services, | | | | TIP #8: Send Hard Copies to Media Outlets Locally. |
| and other social service agencies. Only 50. Forget | | | | Your local community has media outlets-radio, |
| massive coverage. 50 will cost is $.44 x 50 in postage | | | | television, and newspapers. The reporters of these |
| plus envelopes. The key is do this each month--no | | | | outlets scramble in desperation to find any |
| breaks. You are building powerful top-of-mind visibility | | | | warm-bodied mental health professional that they can |
| and newsletter is going viral. Viral marketing is the | | | | interview when a crisis occurs or a national news |
| passing along of sale information from human to the | | | | event affects the psyche of the nation. The crisis at |
| next. Recreation and community centers frequently | | | | Fort Hood is a good example. It is happening as I write |
| post health and wellness information on their lobby | | | | this article. |
| bulletin boards, and may be happy to post your | | | | Other topics include stress, downsizing and survivor |
| newsletter. | | | | syndrome, or depression and the current 2009 |
| TIP #3: Ditto A Few Other Places | | | | economy crisis are good examples. They need |
| Grocery stores -- try them too. Many small businesses | | | | experts. That's you. Send your newsletter to a |
| with customer waiting areas like Jiffy Lubes, etc also | | | | reporter or "news desk" contact every month. When a |
| post on visible bulletin boards. These include oil change | | | | pertinent news event hits, phone your contacts |
| and car repair centers, hardware stores, coffee shops, | | | | I-M-M-E-D-I-A-T-E-L-Y! Say, "I am expert on ____. I |
| and more. Keep copies of your newsletter with you in | | | | am available for an interview if you need it." You may |
| your car for sudden insights and posting ideas. (Don't | | | | be on TV or the radio within hours. I've done |
| forget to keep a mini-stapler in your glove | | | | this--believe me, it works. (You will be happy you read |
| compartment -- one of those little red jobbers.) | | | | this article for this tip alone.) If you do a good job, and it |
| TIP #4: Promote Presentation Topics That People | | | | is an a.m. radio station, ask if you can have your own |
| Want And Will Eat Up | | | | hour once a month to answer mental health questions |
| At the bottom of your simple-dimple, yet punchy and | | | | from the audience. |
| powerful newsletter, give visibility to the topics that you | | | | Keep phone numbers of media outlets in your cell |
| are willing to speak on for FREE. Get a boost by | | | | phone or taped to the dashboard of your car because |
| mentioning your expertise in specific terms and | | | | that is where you will be when you hear a news story |
| offering presentations with yourself as the speaker, | | | | you will want to crash. Call this "crashing a news |
| especially on seasonal or hot topics. | | | | story". You've heard of crashing a party? |
| Read that again. Season, or HOT TOPICS. | | | | TIP #9: Send Copies to Your Competitors. |
| Do this: Go to "Google AdWords". Find the "Key Word | | | | Am I nuts? No. Every mental health professional in |
| Tool". Google "Google AdWords Key Word Tool". | | | | private practice refers clients or patients to other |
| Now, type in "Problem with" and see what comes up. | | | | therapists. Whom do they choose? Most of the time |
| Or, to the same thing with Twitter. You will find what | | | | the choice is made based on familiarity, as much as |
| the world is worried about. You will discover the most | | | | expertise. Reputation as well. And where does a |
| common searches that begin with these few words. | | | | reputation come from? One place - familiarity. Don't kid |
| (Writing this article for you, I just did this exercise. | | | | yourself. You know this is true. The name you hear the |
| Problem with - brought up "men" "women" "money" | | | | most is the best guy. Everybody thinks like this to |
| "teenager" "food" etc. Now do it again, and expand. | | | | some degree. So, exploit reality. Your name and face |
| You will discover what people want hear from you. | | | | must come to mind. These professionals will enjoy the |
| Put together five presentations that last 25 minutes | | | | newsletter and you will achieve "top-of-mind" visibility. It |
| each. You will promote these 25 minute presentations | | | | will take six months to achieve this effect. Then, Katie |
| (not 30, but 25 minutes) at the bottom of your | | | | bar the door. |
| simple-dimple, yet punchy and powerful newsletter. | | | | TIP #10: Send simple-dimple, yet punchy and powerful |
| TIP #5: Keep Copies in Your Waiting Room. | | | | newsletter to EAPs. |
| Keep copies of simple-dimple, yet punchy and | | | | EAPs are great referral sources, but it can be hard to |
| powerful newsletter in your waiting room. Clients will | | | | get an appointment with them to discuss your |
| pick it up, stuff them in a purses and pockets, give | | | | services. And you need more than one touch to get |
| them to friends, and pass them around at work. This | | | | noticed. Let your newsletter do the talking for you. |
| will put your newsletter in motion with leverage. This is | | | | Contact the Employee Assistance Professionals |
| called viral marketing. | | | | Association at 703-387-1000 and discover where the |
| TIP #6: Distribute Copies to Your Doctor, Dentist, and | | | | local chapter in your area meets. Collect business |
| Other Medical Practices That You Patronize. | | | | cards and send your newsletter to these folks. If you |
| Ask if you can place your simple-dimple, yet punchy | | | | join EAPA, you will find their addresses online. After a |
| and powerful newsletter in the waiting rooms of your | | | | few issues to these folks, it will be easier to obtain a |
| doctor. (A few copies on a coffee table, for example.) | | | | face-to-face appointment. Recipients will feel like they |
| Put one copy in a clear plastic, top-loading sheet | | | | already know you. They will think you are a celebrity. |
| protector. This shouts "DESK COPY" even without | | | | That's because of repetition and seeing your name |
| those words written on it. When clients and patients | | | | and your simple-dimple, yet punchy and powerful |
| see this copy, they almost never walk off with it, | | | | newsletter. |