We know what it’s like to be a therapist. We may even know what it’s like to be a client. But we often forget what it’s like to be someone that *needs* a therapist – someone that has to make a decision that will potentially have a significant effect on their mental health.
This is a person that is anxious, or depressed. It’s someone desperate to find a person they can connect with – someone they can trust to make their lives better.
Imagine you’re in this situation. You have depression. Life feels hopeless. You have a moment of clarity and realize that you need help.
What is the process that you go through to decide who to call?
Here in the 21st century, we use the internet. We research therapists in our area. We look for the ones that we feel most comfortable with. Then we Google them more – we look at their website, their Google Maps listing, their Yelp page. We check out their public Instagram if they have one, or check out their social media pages. We read about them on PsychologyToday, and on and on.
It’s a process that once took hours, but now can be completed in seconds. When I meet someone at a networking event, I can usually find out everything I need to know about them in the time it takes to shake their hand. That’s how fast and how easy it is to find information on people now.
OKAY! So What is a Digital Footprint?
Your “Digital Footprint” is what people can find about you if they are searching for you. It’s everything you have left behind about you on the internet. It’s the posts you’ve made under your name, the news articles you’ve been interviewed in, the directories you’re a part of, and more.
Anything that a person can find about you – the remnants and information on you that has been “left behind” over the years – is your digital footprint.
If you want your business to thrive, it often starts with that footprint.
If someone is looking for a therapist, you want them to find you:
- You want them to find your beautiful website.
- You want them to find positive reviews.
- You want them to find your photo, and maybe some organizations you’re a part of.
You may or may not want them to find your Instagram, and you definitely don’t want them to find those embarrassing photos from that one night in college. But most of all you want them to find *something* and you want for that something to be positive and reflect well on you.
Your digital footprint is incredibly important – far more than we want to believe. In an earlier post, I talked about how you are not just a therapist, you are also a brand, and I encourage you to read that post to gain a better understanding of why it is so important to take a step back and try to answer the question “why should I choose you?”
Your footprint is what answers this question. If they find a website with engaging information, directories with positive reviews, a social media account that is fun and recently updated, etc. They will not only call, but they’ll trust that you’ll treat them.
If they find an old, broken website, a bad review, and old photos from when you were in high school, they’re probably not going to call. Your footprint is what makes this determination for them.
What About if They Find Nothing?
You can’t really avoid the internet anymore, no matter how “old school” you may be. A lack of presence is a presence. If people can’t find out anything about you, that tells them something about you. Maybe you’re not in business? Maybe you’re struggling? Maybe you’re too new? Even the least tech-savvy person understands that successful businesses have a presence, and therapists are no different.
Crafting Your Presence
You can start a successful practice. You can run a successful business. You can achieve all of your dreams – the reason you went into mental health in the first place.
But it does require a shift in mindset and an understanding of what it means to run a practice, versus just working in the mental health field.
Let me help. My name is Audrey and I am here to help you break free from the struggles of public health agencies and embark on a fulfilling journey of starting, owning, and growing your own practice. Contact me today to get started.