Mental health services are on the rise. The recent pandemic has triggered higher levels of anxiety and stress worldwide, and folks in need of professional, external help do not know who to contact. In such demand, then, how can you make your practice soar above competitors and pique the interest of those potential patients?
While online marketing strategies are sure to boost visibility, you’ll also want to explore other alternatives such as offline marketing. Increasing your online and offline presence delivers more exposure to your consultation practice, supports coherent messaging across all contact points, and drives a higher return on investment (ROI). A single-campaign initiative alone, for example, affords you the possibility to use the same promotional material, copy and images to reach wider audiences in a multichannel approach without extra costs.
For these reasons, Amelia Virtual Care has brought our top offline marketing techniques together in this one post. We want your practice to succeed and more. If you’re looking to build a stronger offline image, then keep on reading! You won’t miss out!
What is offline marketing?
Before we dive into different offline marketing ploys, let’s define what offline marketing comprises. Unlike online marketing, which employs SEO best practices, Google Ads and more, offline marketing leverages traditional offline media channels.
Television, radio, billboards or in-person events are just some examples.
While you can use the same online and offline campaign, you should remember that offline marketing strategies often aim to support online efforts.
1. Time to re-brand
Is it possible that your consultation practice needs re-branding?
Many mental health professionals make the common mistake of forgetting about the look and feel of their business. Time passes, and the practice’s logo (like the relevancy of the practice itself) fades into the past. However, as your patients evolve and grow, so too should your consultation practice.
Branding may not seem like much at first; it’s a mere logo, color palette and perhaps a slogan. However, that very image reiterates your practice’s vision, mission, values and market. Take, for example. McDonald’s.
Instead, the American-based company shifted from using the well-known red background and yellow arches to a deep green backdrop. McDonald’s choice for rebranding stemmed from its desire to reflect a more eco-friendly image and work culture, i.e., recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.
If the raison d’être of your practice changes, re-branding may be worth considering. Even with minimal changes, perfecting your brand could attest to your credibility and reposition your practice better among competitors.
2. Get referrals from clients
Clients do not only need to be your patients; they can also become your biggest advocates. If you provide services that help your patients to experience positive, healthy growth, you’ll perhaps find that those same people are willing to spread the word about your practice as well.
Do not be shy. You may be surprised that some clients have even spoken about your services to their close ones. In these cases, leverage this opportunity to ask them to refer their friends or relatives to your practice.
However, if the idea of a direct referral request seems off-putting, then offer session gift certificates for special occasions. You can place a poster in your practice that explains the prices and benefits of these vouchers and remind clients of the possibility.
3. Host community workshops
As an expert in the field, you have the opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge through community workshops. These workshops can be free of cost or charged at a low rate. Regardless of whichever option you choose, you’ll have face-to-face time with local community members. This may not seem like much, but it can be your chance to forge relationships with potential prospective clients.
Similarly, workshops are a great introductory way to present a concept, such as mindfulness, and allow attendees to become familiar with your clinical approach/style. As clinical sessions can be intimate, some individuals may feel more willing to sign up for a private consultation if they have an idea of who you are as a mental health specialist and person.
Offline marketing is not the only strategy you can implement to boost your practice. Integrating evidence-based virtual reality technology, such as Amelia Virtual Care, could further pique patients’ interest and support your sessions. If you would like to learn more and try a demo for free, we would be glad to work with you! Feel free to contact us!
Other articles that might interest you:
- The Advantages of Online Therapy
- Why it’s important to have a good website and what it should feature
- 8 apps that will make your life easier as a psychologist
