Earlier this year I was hanging out 
with Laura Roeder in Creating Fame when she started talking about the comfort that comes with repetition in our marketing.
I thought about that and realized she’s right!
That’s why children love to have their favorite stories told to them and then re-told again!
There is a sense of safety that comes with familiarity.
As psychotherapists, it’s critical that our potential clients and referral sources get to know us and get comfortable with us before they are willing to book appointments with us or send clients to us.
It’s repetition . . . of who we are, what we’re about . . . repetition of our same old stories that can be an easy way for them to start to know, like, and then trust us.
(And, I’m skipping my spiel on nicheing today except to say that here is yet another reason you should be nicheing your practice:))
So, I’m wondering . . . is there an introduction of who you are that you need to repeat more often??
(Hint, hint – this is a good opportunity to introduce / reintroduce yourself below!)
Is there a story that you can repeat that shows exactly what you are about?
(Feel free to tell us below!)
Is there a core value that you hold dear in your work?
And, if so, are you telling your referral sources and clients why it’s important?
Tamara,
The know-trust-like cycle is indeed a critical one in the marketing world. It is how you succeed in converting a website visitor into a potential buyer or client.
The part in your post that I’m not sure about is the “repetition” piece. While I agree that every blogger/business person/therapist needs to have a story behind their raison-d’etre, I think that what may bring back a visitor to your site time and time again, is value as represented by you and your story…
This is something that you and your brand/blog live and illustrate so well. You live and breathe private practice, as well as provide valuable information and guidance to private practitioners. Therefore, therapists know that 1) it is worthwhile to return to your site for continued great info and 2) you are likely to be a great private practice supervisor/coach in light of all the information you share about these topics.
To your continued success and wishing you a happy new year!
Hi, Dorlee! What a treat to have your voice in the house this week!
So, when I’m talking about “repetition” here I’m including that understory that isn’t necessarily verbalized but is still ever-present, that you reference here – part of my story is that therapists can find great info here to support them in building and expanding a private practice.
That piece of the story . . . that recurring presence of useful information for therapists in private practice . . . is repeated.
I might note that you, too, have that same story line recurring in your own blog – Social Work Career Development – by curating great interviews with Social Workers, your Best of Mental Health posts, and providing other great content.
Dorlee, you know I’m a fan of yours and I’m looking for ways to partner with you in 2015! I hope you’ll keep me in mind if you have a great project that might support both of our communities!
Great perspective on getting and keeping clients and referral sources. I had not thought of it that way.
Thanks for this post! Having a niche is paramount in private practice. One difficulty I have had is that I have 2 niches, sometimes they overlap, and sometimes they don’t. For instance, I specialize in early childhood mental health, as well as children and families living with chronic health conditions. When I work with a young child just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I am using both of my specialty areas. However, I also work quite a bit with teens living with a chronic health condition and physically healthy toddlers and preschoolers. I have found I have two marketing streams.