Get Out There....and Market Your Practice!

First Impressions Are Everything!
Quality Marketing Materials Support Your Outreach.

• Design business cards to reflect your practice. Include your name, degree, contact information, and website link
• Develop a website to describe your practice, licensure, credentials, insurance accepted, fees, and office information.
• Design brochures to describe your practice, including areas of expertise and contact information.
• Develop a letter of introduction that you can quickly personalize for professionals and consumer organizations.

Nothing Will Fall in Your Lap - Get Out There!

• Establish relationships with other professionals. For example, offer to spend one day a week at a pediatrician's office for consults.
• Give free monthly talks at various public events, including community centers, church, local school or workplace.
• Always consider your audience. If you are speaking to consumers, use language consumers can understand.
• Write a regular column for your local newspapers.
• Send your letter of introduction, brochure, and business card to EAPs at local corporations, medical practices,
  school guidance counselors and clergy; and always follow up with a phone call or a visit.
• Always have business cards with you.

Build, Track and Maintain Your Referral Network.

• Apply for insurance panels that are known for consistent referrals.
• Build a database to track healthcare professionals or others who refer clients to you.
• Thank your referral sources - either call or send thank you notes.
• Refer to other healthcare professionals as appropriate; they may refer to you in return.
• Routinely stay in touch with your professional network (e.g., physicians, clergy, educators) regardless of recent referral patterns.

Emphasize What Makes You a Psychologist.

• Practice your presentation - be ready to deliver a 30 second sound byte on your education, training, credentialing, and practice emphasis.
  
• Do you have a niche practice? Emphasize those areas of expertise to your referral network (e.g. post partum depression, performance anxiety for athletes, the highly sensitive child).
  
• Assess customer satisfaction and outcomes through a validated questionnaire.
  
• Join or start a peer supervision group. Take advantage of continuing professional education/development opportunities.

Distinguish Yourself!

• Join and become active in the local, state, and national psychological associations.
  
• Become credentialed as a National Register Health Service Provider in Psychology.

Return to Developing Your Professional Practice

Updated: 8/15/2007