In the 6 Figure Practice Program, we implement and systematize everything you need to have in place in order to create and maintain a thriving private practice, including the vision, strategy, success mindset and even dealing with the ups and downs of having your own business.
In order to succeed in any business (and private practice is no different), it’s essential to stand out from the competition.
It’s not enough to have a system to have a steady flow of potential clients (even though it’s a big part of what we create in the program);
You also want to make sure that if it’s a good fit they actually become your clients.
In the 6 Figure Practice, we discuss and implement all the important ways to stand out from the competition.
Standing Out From The Competition
One of the most crucial aspects is exceptional customer service.
High-quality customer service begins from the first moment you’ve received an inquiry, whether via email, text or a phone call.
As a couples therapist in Boulder, CO and a business coach in Boulder with a full private practice in a town that is saturated with therapists and coaches, I understand that I have to provide the best service I can.
Since your counseling or coaching work is literally based on communication, the way you communicate from the beginning will be assessed by your potential clients as an indicator of your actual work.
The Dalai Lama says that everyone wants the same thing: To be loved and respected.
How can you show that appreciation, gratitude, and respect for someone who took their time and effort to learn about you and then reach out to you to inquire about your services?
If you get clear on how to implement that every time and strive to be better (even if just by a small margin) then every other coach or therapist in your area, the chances that clients will choose you over the other 2-5 coaches/therapists they’ve contacted tremendously increase!
One of the participants in the 6 Figure Practice Program asked a very important question that I would like to adress here.
She asked:
Sasha, I have a question in regards to the first call. In the video you suggest to call as soon as possible.
Does that apply if clients reach out during the weekend?
Would you wait until the next work day to return the call?
It has been my experience with some therapists that are not available during weekends…
I view business development as a learning experience, in which it is important to experiment, at least to some extent by trial and error.
That being said, I believe that by using the experience of mentors, coaches, consultants, and business development programs, I can make substantial shortcuts to be more efficient with my experimentation from the get-go.
I want to share with you what I shared with that participant, first, to help you succeed in private practice, and also for the benefit of your potential clients.
Great question.
First of all, it’s your personal decision.
Ask yourself, what is the outcome that I’d like to achieve, what is the price I’ll need to pay for it, what is the most efficient way to achieve that outcome, and am I willing to pay that price?
To use your example, let’s say that a client reaches out to me during the weekend.
The outcome that I want: To create an oppurtunity to talk to them for 20 min on the phone so that if we both feel it’s a good fit, I could take them through my system of client creation (if they don’t actually become my client then I can’t really help them and I can’t really grow my private practice).
The most efficient way to achieve the outcome: To send them a text / email within 5 minutes from the moement I saw the inquiry with the soonest 3 available times for next week to choose from (if I can’t or don’t want to call to schedule a time on the call).
What if I am busy, for example eating dinner with my beloved?
Well, I don’t look at my phone during that time anyway, and it’s on silent.
My prioirities are very clear in that regard.
The price I’ll need to pay for this outcome: About 1 minute of my weekend time.
Am I willing to pay this price for this outcome? Hell yes!
Do I want to do a full phone consult during the weekend? Generally not, unless I am experiencing “a dry season” with less clients reaching out, or if you’re a new therapist or coach without enough clients.
Regarding the therapists who do not respond at all during the weekend? It’s a respectable decision if they can afford it.
In my mind, if someone makes the effort and takes the time to reach out, why not do the same thing on my end and let them know that their inquiry is important to me, and schedule an actual time with them?
And, based on personal expererience, there’s a big chance that by the time the unavailable therapists respond I’ve already had a consultatation with them.
Once again, this is my personal opinion and at the end it’s your decision to make, and probably it would differ based on how you weekend looks like anyway.
By the way, what do you personally think?
What do you do when clients are reaching out during the weekend?
What are the results?
And how do you maintain the balance between helping your potential clients in their search and having good boundaries?
I would love to read your comments below.
To your success!
Sasha Raskin