Starting a Private Practice | Your first month

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Starting a private practice

Starting a private practice is really tough.

When I first launched Mental Wellness Counseling, in Traverse City, MI it took me a while to get my first client. It was actually really disheartening. I was ready to give up and just do a traditional agency job. The hardest things in starting a private practice often are right before huge breakthroughs.

Here’s an infographic that walks you through your first year of starting a private practice:

Launch a Private Practice

Website Building When Starting a Private Practice

Build a website: When I first was starting a private practice website building would take me days to complete. I had to learn everything. What is HTML? What is hosting? What goes into a good website? Building takes time, do I even want to learn how to create a website for private practice?

Here are the basics of website building:

Hosting is the foundation where your data is kept. Think of it like the foundation of your house. It’s the information. I use Bluehost (affiliate link).

The domain is the address for your counseling private practice website. The URL for my private practice consulting blog (this one) is www.practiceofthepractice.com. It’s like the address for a house. I use Namecheap (affilaite link).

Website Design is the look for the website. I use WordPress to design all of my websites. When looking at website building, you want to have an easy-to-use format. It’s like the decoration for the house.

Starting a Private Practice Marketing Plan

When you are first starting a private practice, focus on telling everyone you know that you’re launching a private practice soon. Website building is just part of the process. You can always have “Coming Soon” with an e-mail opt-in form on your website. Here are some things to focus on in the second week of private practice.

When I first was starting a private practice, marketing was not my main focus. I missed out on a ton of opportunity because of that.Think about this: I’m currently making around $4,000 per month (as of April 2014) through seeing 6-7 clients per week. If you haven’t checked out my Monthly Income Reports, I report how to make more money, how I made money, and how you can make more money.

If I could have done effective private practice marketing when I first was starting a private practice in 2009, I could be months ahead of where I’m at currently. This is actually something I discuss frequently with my private practice consulting clients. If I had worked with a private practice consultant, I could figure out my return on investment based on how much income I am making.

Every month that I am seeing more clients is added income. Thus, if I wasted 6 months on the front end, that really is now costing me $4,000 a month x 6 months = $24,000. What a huge waste of time and money! Here’s what to do in the first month to make sure your private practice marketing is working!

An email list before starting a private practice

People want to be in the know. Even if your website isn’t finished, you should be collecting emails. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, principals, parents, therapists, they all want to know who to refer to. You can be at the top of their list right when you open your doors if you collect emails to keep people up-to-date. I use Aweber to automate this.

Here’s an article about The best e-newsletter.

Private Practice Marketing with a logo

To build a business reputation, it takes time, but a quick visual is so necessary! I used to think I could do it myself until I had someone join me recently. Holy cow! It has saved me so much time. Honestly, I can now focus on the parts of my counseling private practice that I love, rather than all of the things that it takes to begin starting a private practice!

Here’s a podcast about How to Get More Done

The hidden story of starting a private practice

When you are active in starting a private practice as well as growing a practice, it’s really hard to take your time. In fact, I found is very frustrating when I would listen to a business podcast, read a book, or hear a speaker. I thought I had to implement it all at once. In fact, it is the person that thinks through decisions, then actions, then adjusts, then acts, that makes the most progress over time.

Take your time, do some website building and begin starting a private practice with marketing, it is only the beginning of your private practice birth!

For a weekly email walking you through the process of launching a private practice, sign up for my Member’s Newsletter.

 

private practice consultant headshot

Joseph R. Sanok, MA, LLP, LPC, NCC

Joe Sanok is a consultant and counselor that helps small businesses and counselors with starting a private practice. He helps owners with website design, vision, growth, and using their time to create income.

Joe was frustrated with his lack of business and marketing skills when he left graduate school when he was starting a private practice. Over the past few years he has grown his skills, income, and ability to lead others.

To link to Joe’s Google+ .

 

Photo by US Navy