Google says that 73% of searches are for local content. If you are a solo practitioner, this is important information. It means that your clients are looking for you online – not in the Yellow Pages. And while you really do need a website and a blog, there are some ways to start your online presence even if you don’t have anything online right now.
Many practitioners are surprised to learn that they can get their practices found online even if they don’t have a website or a blog. Are you one of them? Then let me introduce you to Google Places one of the free Business Solutions offered.
Your free listing must go through a verification process before it is “live” on the web. This can take several weeks if you opt for the verify by mail option. It’s well worth going through the steps to get a live listing. Here are the additional benefits:
1) Descriptions: You can list information about your practice, like whether you offer weekend or evening appointments, your specialty areas or the geographical are you serve. Privacy: If you are a coach or other professional who works from home, you can also choose to make your address private in your listing.
2) Photos- You can upload up to 10 images per listing, in JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP. In some locations, you can even ask for a professional photo shoot for your business from Google.
3) Place Page Posts- You can post real time updates. Each post can be up to 160 characters. Use it to announce special sales, events, and new products.
4) Custom QR Codes: Smart phones use the QR code (think barcode) to take users to your mobile website.
5) Advertise: There is a limited program for enhanced listings in select cities for $25.00 a month. For this fee, your business will be highlighted on Google.com and on Google Maps.
6) Coupons: You can offer Google users special coupons as an incentive to visit your site and engage your services. Look for the “coupon tab” on your listing page.
7) Post Videos: You can add up to five YouTube videos to your listing with their URL.
These are 7 ways Google Places can help get your practice found online even before you have a website or blog.
I’ll be discussing Google Places and other free services to your practice found online on July 15th at 1:30 pm (Eastern) on the Third Thursday Teleseminar. I hope you will join me. The Third Thursday Teleseminar is for anyone who wants some accountability in their marketing efforts and who wants to stay on top of marketing their practice.
3 Benefits of Having a Marketing Mentor
By · CommentsAs a solo professional, one of the best things I’ve done is to get a marketing mentor. Each week I check in with her to report on my efforts. Here are the top 3 benefits of having a mentor:
1. Accountability. Before I had a mentor, it was so easy to put off marketing tasks. I thought of them as chores – something to be avoided if possible. Even if I marked off time on my calendar to do it, without accountability it was so easy to let it slide and fluff it off. With a mentor, I know that if I report no effort for the week, I’ll hear that pregnant pause before the question comes, “Tell me exactly how taking no action will bring you clients?” Plus, I’d feel like it was a waste of money.
Like an alcoholic the day after a bender, I promised to take action while resisting the structure, like AA meetings, needed for support. So there it is. I need to pay someone to nag me – or to offer the possibility of being nagged. Add in a dose of possible shame and I seem to be totally motivated. With that motivation, I can accomplish my marketing plan and stay on track because I’m aware of having to account to my mentor.
2. Not Reinventing the Wheel. By having a mentor, I don’t have to chase after every fad marketing idea. She’s been around and knows what works. Plus, she knows so many shortcuts! I can take advantage of all that she’s learned and refined through the years.
My mentor has built a successful online business that I would like to model mine after. She’s been through all this before – including the idea that some proven marketing methods are out-of-date. And she can reframe my whining from “I don’t want to hype up a fake deadline for registering” to “I have a registration deadline because I want you to take action and be committed.” It’s that power to push me forward just a bit that makes having a mentor so worthwhile.
3. A Third Eye. And a fourth too 
Having someone outside your business provides a broader perspective on what you are doing and how you are doing it. It’s always easier for someone else to see the underlying problems from the outside, isn’t it? Having a mentor can give you this outsider’s perspective in a supportive manner.
It’s this third eye perspective combined with her marketing experience that provides the real juice. With it, she can hone in and focus on things even before they become issues. That’s provided another benefit – having less stress about marketing and online technology.
If you are interested in having a marketing mentor, you can start painlessly by joining my Inner Circle members monthly teleseminar program. I promise not to nag, just to keep marketing on your mind. Each month I’ll share more DIY marketing tips and strategies with you on the Third Thursday of each month at 1:30 pm (ET). Plus, you’ll get get access to a special “Members Only” resource area on this site when you become a member. Click on the tab above to learn more about my Inner Circle.
Focus Your Passion & Market With Ease
By · Comments“If you want to change your life, you need to change your physiology and your focus”
~ Tony Robbins
If you’re feeling stuck or underwhelmed with your business progress so far this year, check out the video below and ask yourself how you can have more accountability in marketing your practice. It’s that structure that helps you keep moving forward with your marketing progress.
Don’t let the rest of the year slip by. If you’ve discovered your passion, come to the WordPress class on Monday and Friday next week and learn everything you need to set up and maintain your own blogsite. You can be blogging to your Dream Clients by next weekend. 
We’ve got other ways to keep you moving forward and progressing with your marketing your practice. Keep reading below the video.
If you want to add some juicy accountability to your DIY marketing efforts, join my Inner Circle Third Thursday Teleseminar series. I’ll keep you up-to-date with what’s new in online marketing for small practices. The first topic will be the changes to Google’s Local Business Center on July 12th at 1:30 (ET).
Inner Circle members also have access to a special Member Only area on this blog. The Member Only area has resources from previous Tech Therapy classes and from my mentor’s previous courses – everything you need to keep moving forward with your marketing plan.
3 Reasons to Use Self-Hosted Word Press
By · CommentsSelf-hosted WordPress or Word Press dot org is the recommended platform for being online today. Here’s why:
- You control your content – With the free blogging platforms like Blogger and even Word Press dot com, you have no control over whether your content is displayed. If you’ve been online for long you have no doubt heard someone related a sad tale about unintentional violations of the terms of service. One violation can mean – *POOF* your site is gone.
- You choose your domain name - The url address of your self-hosted WP blog can be any address that you own. And you can integrate it into your site if you want, so your address could be www.findyourpracticeonline [dot] com/blog or on a separate domain: www.findyourpracticeonlineblog [dot]com.
- You can customize just about everything. This is the primary reason to use WP for your site. You can customize the display of nearly every element of your site. From using a different template for your home page to the number and style of sidebars, there is a theme that can be tweaked for your practice.
If you are interested in setting up your own Word Press self-hosted blog and/or site, enroll in the next My First Word Press Blog class. In just two 90 minute sessions, you can have your blogsite set up and ready to go! If you want to be a blogger before your next quarterly tax return is due, sign up for My First Word Press Blog class.
