Overcoming Resistances To Marketing a Practice-Part 2

Author: Juliet Austin

In Part 1 of this article, "Resistances to Marketing a Practice" the seven most common resistances helping and healing professionals (counsellors, therapists, naturopaths, homeopathetic doctors, massage therapists, body workers, etc.) have to marketing a practice were identified. This article identifies 10 strategies for overcoming these fears and resistances so that you will have a successful private practice.

Identify all resistances.

Awareness is the first step. Write down all your concerns about marketing your practice and then develop a strategy to tackle each one.

Be persistent. Make a commitment to succeed at your marketing your practice and hold that vision in your mind. Revisit this vision often. Believe in what you are doing and act as if you can do it, even when you feel it's impossible.

Have a clear marketing plan. Set clear goals for your private practice and review them regularly. You must develop a "consciousness of success."

Be clear on both the short and long term benefits of having a successful private practice. Write down all the personal and professional benefits you will experience by succeeding.

Expect the unexpected. Know that you will never have total control over the outcome of the marketing that you do. Not everything will bring you success in your private practice and you will make mistakes. In addition, be prepared to be rejected more often that you want or would have expected.

Detach from outcomes. This can be challenging. You need to have a clear plan, believe in it, and do everything in your power to bring it into reality. However, at the same time, it's important to detach from your plan as things will not always turn out the way you expected.

Acquire knowledge about marketing your practice. Learn as much as you can about marketing. Take classes, read, and learn from mentors and guides. The more knowledge you have, the more confident and successful you will be.

Market your practice while honoring who you are. Find a way to market your practice that honors your integrity and allows you to enjoy yourself. At the same time, don't be afraid to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Surround yourself with successful people who believe in you. Avoid naysayers who will only bring your energy down.

Seek ongoing guidance and support. Whatever you can do alone, you can do a lot better with the help of other people. Find people who have succeeded at building a private practice including colleagues, coaches, mentors and guides. Learn how they became successful.

Overcoming your resistances to marketing a practice is a process that takes patience and time. Like any other behavior you try to get rid of, just when you think it has disappeared, it rears its ugly head again. When your resistances do re-occur, pay attention to them make sure you address them. Don't let your resistances ruin your chances of having a successful private practice. Learn from them and use them to energize and motivate you.

Bio of Author

Juliet assists helping and healing professionals (coaches, therapists, counselors, massage therapists, chiropractors, etc.) who are struggling to market their practices. She helps her clients overcome resistances to marketing, learn and implement no or low-cost marketing strategies, create compelling promotional materials, and write effective website copy.

Visit her Marketing a Practice blog and her Website Design and Promotion blog for socially responsible businesses that she co-authors with Web Designer, Nathaniel Richman, of nrichmedia (nrichmedia.com).

The author grants reprint permisson as long as the article and by-line remain intact.

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