If the "M" word brings to mind an inauthentic, sleazy, hard sell, "squeeze every cent out of your client" numbers racket, fear not. Marketing doesn’t have to be the antithesis of the heart-based work we’ve all been called to do. Marketing done right is nothing less than authentically connecting to the community you want to serve.
COMMUNITY
One of the most important factors for success in anything is getting support! I know wellness practices can sometimes feel isolating, so I created a group on Facebook solely for practitioners to connect with one another and support one another in growing their practices. It’s free, it’s easy, and you might make a valuable connection with someone: http://groups.to/thewellpractice/
WEBSITES
If you don’t already have one, you just gotta bite the bullet. In today’s world, websites are an essential. The web is now the main way people search for any service they are seeking out (at least 90% of my practice came through my website), and it’s also an essential for establishing professionalism and credibility.
Technology Therapy:
This lovely site is courtesy of the wonderful people over at Technology Therapy. They do an exceptional job and also help you navigate the waters of online marketing. If you want to integrate a full e-marketing campaign into your site, they are a fantastic resource for making sense of what will and won’t work best for you, and making it happen. www.technologytherapy.com
The Holistic Alliance:
The Holistic Alliance builds websites only for wellness providers and because of that they’ve stripped away a lot of the unnecessary stuff and hassle. You can have a professional website up in 5 minutes! It’s easy to edit, looks great, and they even have some marketing options built in (like e-newsletters and business cards). www.yourha.com
INTERNET MARKETING
Ascent Web Marketing
You want more people to find your website, and this company specializes in getting you found. For over ten years they have helped small businesses with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay-Per-Click advertising, Local Search, and more - and can work with any budget. And the owner used to be a wellness practitioner (and a fabulous one at that)! Free consultations are available and extremely insightful. I highly recommend!
www.AscentWebMarketing.com
BLOGROLL
www.naturalmedicinesuccess.com
PRINTING
For business cards, brochures, and postcards I recommend www.overnightprints.com or www.vistaprint.com