Wearing Many H
ats
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. -Helen Keller
Chapter One, Chapter Two, and Chapter Three of Adventures in Private Practice described my mid-life career transition from engineering to counselling private practice.
In January 2015, I joined William Cooke and Associates, after a year as “post graduate intern”. We are a mature practice, established in 1996, currently seeking business growth. Since I am the associate in need of more clients, I am by default the “Practice Marketing Manager”. My 20 years managing marketing technology in large corporations is helping, but marketing a small business is a different world.
I have redesigned our website, started a blog, ran a ‘Google AdWords’ campaign, created a print card, and am in the middle of a direct mail campaign targeting local health care providers. I implemented Google Analytics to give us better insight into who is visiting our site and what information they find helpful. I’m having fun, and feel like I’m providing a better and more authentic service to my clients. When I offer clients the idea to:
“Try something. If it works keep doing it. If not, try something else. But keep trying.”
I can say it with conviction, knowing that I am applying this idea in my own professional life.
How are things working out so far? Well, we had a nice website before, but a more modern site now. We are able to easily update content and post new blog entries. We’re receiving good feedback.
Our Google AdWords campaign has produced 60 clicks from people searching for grief counselling in Toronto, a practice specialization and the focus of this campaign. We don’t yet know if these clicks have brought new clients, but I hope 60 people found some measure of hope and comfort through visiting our website.
Google analytics tells me that someone from Russia found my blog posting Many Happy Returns-Returning to Work After A Mental Health Leave through a Google search. This person spent 10 minutes on our site and downloaded a copy of the presentation. It’s a powerful feeling to connect with someone this way.
I am hopeful and confident these activities will bring more clients to my door. I am patient (most days). I will keep doing things until they work or try something else.
Most importantly, I still put the majority of my energy into providing quality service for my current clients. Even at this early stage, the majority of my new clients are through referrals. I am grateful for these acts of trust from my clients and my first priority, always, is to be worthy of that trust.
Rhea Plosker is an Engineer and Counsellor. She works in private practice with www.williamcooke.ca and also works as a project consultant in health care and not-for-profit organizations and now also as a counseling practice marketing manager. Rhea can be reached at [email protected].
*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA