Are you finally ready to take the next step and work on creating or marketing your website?

For the past several years, experts in the field have been saying that the key to a thriving private practice is marketing in general, and online marketing in particular. But knowing this truth, does not mean that you are not nervous, ambivalent or confused about using the internet to market your practice.

If you are like most of us, you don't come from a computer background. You may feel unsure about the prospect of diving into the technical and practical aspects of marketing your practice online. You may feel like you're in over your head, even when it comes to finding the right help.

If you feel lost in technical jargon and business-speak, you may need to slow down and keep your search focused on these three essentials:

1. Get help from someone who understands your field.

Marketing a psychotherapy practice requires thoughtful consideration of a mix of practical, business, technical, ethical and clinical issues. As therapists, we have unique needs and constraints in marketing our practices.

In particular, good marketing consultants should be familiar with some of the most common personal and professional concerns that most therapists feel about marketing. These include:

• Any self-limiting beliefs or conflicts around money, healthy entitlement, deserving and deprivation.
• Concerns about maintaining your professional voice and integrity.
• Fears of compromising clinical boundaries or ethics.
2. Get help from someone who will empower you, rather than foster dependence on them.

Many therapists feel so conflicted about marketing their practices, that they end up, often unconsciously, “splitting” off the marketing and business aspects of their practice. When you perceive your marketing as somehow “dirty”, “bad” or “manipulative," you are vulnerable to falling into the alluring trap of letting someone else take care of the whole uncomfortable aspect of your business for you. This unfortunate scenario can set you up for paying too much for services that don't serve you well, and don't get you the clients you actually want to see.

In particular, be careful when:

• You are offered "package deals."

While the numbers may look great on paper, the package may have more, or different, services from those you need and want, and may sign you on for more than you bargained for.

• You are asked to be an ongoing client.

Part of what makes website building exciting and effective, is that you can always try new possibilities; a new template for the design of your site, or a new way of putting things together. If you are committed to someone else, your options for change and growth might be limited.

• You don't learn how to do things on your own.

A good website consultant will explain to you, in plain English, what they are doing, so you can learn to do much of it yourself.

3. Get help that is tailored especially for you.

Get clear on what it is that you need help with. Where are you stuck? Do you need technical help with optimizing your site? Do you feel comfortable with the practical aspects of building a website, but freeze in fear and discomfort when you try to write about yourself or your practice? Do you need help with making an overall plan for how to generate the momentum that will expand your practice in new and exciting ways?

Whatever you need help with, look for help from someone who can work with your particular needs, and meet you where you are in your process. Look for someone who is willing to help you as much or a little as you want, and who will help you stay empowered and in control of how much you spend and how much help you get.

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