If you are looking to get more clients this year, then guess what?
You can do so by doing what you do best  (connecting) –  and no technology required….

Dear Therapist Colleague:

Are you tired of trying to keep up with all the internet and online methods of attracting clients?  Are you ready to take a breather from learning new technology?

Then 2010 is your year. You can turn off your computer. Because attracting new clients this year will be about connecting and reconnecting with people in your community.

We have come full circle – to the way we grew our practices before the internet. Back in the old (pre-internet) days, referrals came to those who were known (personally and by reputation) in their community.

When I filled my practice, over 15 years ago, my main marketing strategy was “Community Marketing.” I built relationships with potential referral sources and I gave plenty of presentations.

Then the internet exploded and I encouraged therapists to get online to attract clients. Here we are, a few years later, and there are hundreds of thousands of therapists with online presences. How is one to stand out?

Well, the good news is that Community Marketing is making a come back. Especially since many  private practitioners are ignoring the community in favor of the web.  This is GREAT NEWS for you because marketing to those in your community uses your best skills – connecting with others! Therapists are ideally suited for this way of attracting clients.

By far, one of the most effective Community Marketing activities (if done well) is to give presentations. I strongly encourage you to get out there and let people see you – and get to know you – via speaking engagements – to get that phone ringing.

And I want to show you how to do it in the way that helped me to build my practice with my newest audio program:

How To Fill Your Appointment Book With Speaking.

(Click the arrow below to see the video.)

Got questions or want to share your thoughts about the video or speaking? Please click here to ask or share them.

Why Are Speaking Engagements A Great Way To Build Your Practice?

Speaking helps people get a sense of what it would be like to be in your office – spending time with you. We know that “attunement” is the best predictor of positive therapy outcomes. Imagine if you could give a roomful of people that sense of attunement during a community presentation? Imagine what that could do to build your practice.

Speaking uses the interpersonal skills you use every day. When you structure your talks in a way that allows for a lot of interaction, people get invigorated. This can be easy when you don’t try to be a ‘presenter’ but just be yourself – as you are in session.

Speaking allows you to connect face-to face. Our culture is longing for connection. Community presentations give people a chance to get out of their homes, meet with one another and with you. Providing a place for people to connect means they will connect with you too.

Speaking builds your credibility in your community.  One of my objectives when presenting is to be perceived as the ‘approachable expert.’ You can do this with a ’signature talk’ and your natural curiosity and compassion to connect with the audience.

Speaking can be a very efficient use of your marketing time. Addressing a roomful of people who have the problem you help with is a great way to maximize your marketing time.

Speaking connects you with potential referral sources. Give a presentation and build not only your prospect list but audience members (and the organizers) will remember you and consider you for referrals.

Speaking can be fun. Are you rolling your eyes at that? Well, it can be easy and fun when you have a formula that you can employ for almost any event you prepare less content and have more interaction with your audience you reframe speaking as ‘connecting with people who need you’ and you have a way to manage the inevitable nerves in a way that endears you to the audience.

Connecting with people is what you do best and easily. Imagine being that happy and relaxed in a room full of people who need you.

Too many therapists are working too hard when they prepare and deliver a talk. It can be so much easier – like facilitating a group discussion.  I created this new program to share with you how to get the most (fun and referrals) from this effective marketing activity.

Who should consider this program?

Clinicians who..

What will we cover in these 4 audio sessions (90 minutes each – 8 CDs)

How To Fill Your Appointment Book with Speaking audio program:

These four sessions will be filled with a lot of nuts and bolts content that you can implement right away. Here is a sampling of what we’ll cover… 1. Mindset Shifts about Speaking as a Marketing Tool: How to move through the natural procrastination around speaking How often to plan to speak to make this a successful marketing activity The ‘reframe the talk as a group discussion’ mindset shift How to identify a target market who’d most like to hear you

Be the lighthouse. Stand solid in your wisdom and your hope for people. You will magnetize clients.

2. Get (schedule) the speaking engagement

• The pros and cons of doing the talk on your own or to find a group and offer to present to them.
• How to get a venue and advertise your own talk
• How to best handle the registration process if you hold your own event
• How to find groups or organizations to bring you in as a speaker
• Who to contact at the organization – and a two-pronged approach to connect with him or her.
• How to reach out if the program director doesn’t respond quickly to your inquiry
• A sample letter you can model to send to program directors inviting them to have you speak
• Questions to ask the sponsor of an event so you know your audience and what to expect
• Whether to speak for free or for a fee

3. Preparation

• How to create attractive talk titles
• How to modify your talks for varying lengths of presentation
• How to reduce your preparation time
• How much content you really need (It is usually much less than you might think.)
• How to easily create a handout quickly
• How to create a feedback form that has the audience asking to connect further with you
• Your “follow up” plan for after the event. (This is the key to get clients from the presentation.)

4. Delivery My magic formula for ‘facilitating a group discussion’ rather than giving a lecture How to use your nerves to endear you to the audience and get them on your side early How to connect with the audience as they arrive so that when you start, you already have a connection A surprisingly simple technique that will have the organizers loving you How to use ‘powerful questions’ (a technique I learned from Dianne Legrow) that will have your audience saying “wow.” How to construct your talk – the Opening, Beginning, Middle, Close, and “after event” – this is a format you can use for almost every talk. Subtle nuances of the ‘pregnant pause’ and vocal variation – but don’t worry – this is NOT a Toastmaster’s class. How to leave your audience wanting more – and how to help them get it!

Don't make this too hard. With a road map, you can stop worrying about preparing and delivering ... and have fun while building your name in the community.

6. Follow Up

• Why this is the key to getting clients and how to do it in a non-intrusive way. (In fact I will show you how to have them ask you to contact them.)
• How to create the ‘follow up’ plan so you make sure those that want you, find you.

How does the Fill Your Appointment Book with Speaking teleseminar program work?

The program consists of 8 Audio CDs of 4 Audio Lessons (2 CDs per lesson).  Listen once, do a presentation and then listen again. I bet you will learn more each time you listen.

What is the tuition?

This four part audio program is $147 (if you pay in one payment) or two payments of $77 (one payment now and one in 30 days.)

My intention is make this as affordable as possible. The fee for this program ( for four 90-minute sessions – 8 CDs – packed with content) is less than it would cost to see a therapist for a couple of sessions. In fact, it works out to about 40 cents a minute.

Do you offer a guarantee or CEUs?

There is no money-back guarantee or refunds offered for this program. I have outlined the topics and content I plan to deliver and feel confident that this program will meet your expectations. If you have questions or are wondering if this is the right program for you, then please give us a call at 949.309.2590 ext 0 or send us an email at Support[at]InTLI[dot]com  - and please replace the [at] with @ and [dot] with, well, a dot) – and we can look at your options. Sorry, we are unable to offer  CEUs for this program.

If not now, when?

If it is time for you to get back into your community – and to connect with people who need you – in a way that allows you to use your best skills, then I look forward to hearing your successes! And if you feel our program might serve you, then join us and I look forward to sharing all this with you soon.

I can’t wait to share this with you.

To your success,

Casey

P.S. You have learned a lot about marketing and the internet. Isn’t it WONDERFUL that Community Marketing is making a come back? This is what you as a therapist do best….share your wisdom, your hope and simply connect with those who need you. This is your year – no new technology – no rushing to figure out how to get on the web – just being you … and connecting with those who need you.

As always, I am holding the vision for you.