| I have talked about how not to use your online | | | | The pool is very large. (An interesting note, on |
| therapist locator statistics as a measure of your | | | | Find-a-Therapist there were 76 therapists in that same |
| success. This week I was working with an interior | | | | zip code.) |
| designer who is starting her business. I recommend | | | | Are online therapists still a good investment? Some |
| she join BNI, a referral organization for business | | | | are free such as California Association of Marriage |
| owners. When she learned that BNI cost $370 a year | | | | and Family Therapists' "Therapist Finder," so make |
| plus the costs of the weekly breakfasts, she did some | | | | sure you are on your association's free site. I do |
| fast numbers and said "What a bargain! An average | | | | recommend you be on at least 3 to 5 online therapist |
| client will spend between $2,000 and $5,000 with me. If | | | | locators. So let's say you are paying about $300 a |
| I get one or two clients a year, it will be a phenomenal | | | | year for one of these paid locator services. How |
| investment." | | | | many new clients would you need to make sure you |
| Some therapists tell me that their online therapist | | | | were getting your money's worth? |
| locator listings "aren't working." When I ask what that | | | | Is this beginning to sound like a word problem from 6th |
| means. I begin to understand their frustration. Their | | | | grade? Hang in here with me... |
| expectations aren't realistic. I will tell you that many | | | | If you get one client a year from your listing and that |
| therapists in North America are starting to notice a | | | | client spends a total of only $300 with you, you would |
| slow-down in the number of referrals they are getting | | | | break even on that investment. But of course, I don't |
| from the internet. | | | | want you to just break even. |
| I think this is due to: | | | | Let's say you get 3 clients a year from your listing and |
| 1) the economy | | | | in total they spend a total of $9,000 with you. You |
| 2) the summer season and | | | | spent $300 to make $9,000. There aren't many |
| 3) the number of therapists marketing on the internet is | | | | financial investments where you can invest $300 and |
| increasing. | | | | get back $9,000. |
| Last week, I searched 90210 for a therapist on | | | | So, don't be too quick to decide your online therapist |
| Psychology Today. There were 223 of them. That is | | | | locators "aren't worth it." You may be noticing a slow |
| a lot of profiles, and believe me, no one is going to look | | | | down but please look at your numbers from an annual |
| through all 223 of them to find a therapist to contact. | | | | perspective. That will give you the bigger picture. |