Websites for Therapists

[Goldie6669]

Hi all
I have been thinking of getting a website for a while now but i'm just wondering if it's really worth it at the moment, because like most other people I am trying to look after my pennies right now. I don't mind spending money if it could increase my client base but i'm not sure how much impact a website would have. Can I ask those therapists with websites what your experiences are?

Thank you.
Sx

 

[ski]

Hi S - 90% of my clients come through my website. I honestly don't know how anyone can get by without one. Most people look for services online before any other media.

It does take a while for your site to get picked up by search engines but it's well worth it. You can also list your URL on many online free listing sites and online therapy directories and get traffic to your site that way too.

There are many postings under the business and marketing forum about websites - do a search and you'll come up with lots of recommendations and suggestions. It doesn't have to cost a lot. In fact you could set yourself up with a blog and pay nothing.

 

[aleza]

Hi Squirrel,

I've moved this thread to Business and Marketing as you should get a better spread of replies here from different therapists.

I'm the same as YogaYoga in the respect that 90% of my new clients come from my website, in fact I've ditched most other forms of advertising such as Yellow Pages etc. I think it's a case in this day and age that you can't afford not to have a website!

If you think of it in the context of where would you look if you wanted a service or product - most people will answer "I'd look on the internet". Admittedly not everyone would and the first port of call would always be referral but if you don't know someone who has taken up the same service in the same area then you do have to search. Personally, I put the Yellow Pages in the recycling the moment it comes, we just don't use it. I also never look in the classified ads in the newspaper, pay little attention to leaflets or posters in shops etc unless I happen to be actively looking for a service that is advertised there, but of course if I'm "actively looking" then the chances are I've already found what I'm looking for on the internet.

Of course, just having a website won't do anything, you need to optimise it in some way so that you appear high on the search engines. A lot of free links will help you to do this but it's also worth looking at cost per click advertising or using a SEO as well as paid ads on some websites although I find most online directory listings to be pretty pointless apart from getting another link to your site.

 

[dieadubyihbimseow]

I would say almost all my business comes via the web. The odd direct referrral and networking contact, but even they often go to google to find my contact details, or to check me out in more detail before making a more personal contact. I would say you can't manage nowadays without some sort of web presence. But of course, the presence itself isn't enough - it needs to look and feel right for your clients, and it needs to be findable - the former depends on the work you put into it before it ever gets on line, the latter takes a while, and a bit of effort getting links etc. So it won't bring business rushing in overnight, but IMO, its an essential part of business building. I know this probably sounds harsh, (and it doesn't directly refer to you, as I know you said you were willing to invest a bit), but I do some SME coaching, and small business owners often say they can't afford to invest £25 per month or whatever in having a therapy room, or in having a web presence, or something. My response to that is really they need to consider whether they can afford to BE in business, if they can't risk the initial investment that some of these things take. But maybe I've just heard it once to often this week, lol, and I'm turing into a grumpy old woman!!

 

[Melissa27Uk]

Completely agree with everyone above. My websites are the only advertising I do (plus loads of PR to get people to visit them!).

And from a potential client's perspective, when I'm booking treatments, I'd never pick up the phone to book an appointment if I wasn't able to check out someone's website first.

 

[Loo_Blink]

Thanks to all for their advice. So all in all it does sound like a website is worth the money. As mentoned I am prepared to invest if I thought it would help business but as i've already wasted a lot of money on things that haven't worked (i.e. renting a room, advertising etc) I cannot afford to waste anymore right now which is why I was asking for opinions before I went any further.

Thanks again, I will definately start looking into it.
Sx

 

[Stranger 4 You]

One key thing to remember when talking to your web designer is SEO (search engine optimisation). Not only do you want a site that looks good and promotes your site well, you also need it to be read by the search engines so that when someone is looking for your type of therapy in your area they put you on page one

 

[Harry Goodwin]

I do get quite a lot of business from my website but I did mine with freewebs.com - totally free service which you build yourself and its easy peasy. Have a look and see for yourself. Personally I'd go for it with a free one, you can always change later on once you are more established.

 

[Michael Parr]

Hi Kerry.

I've done a few websites in the past and I have a website hosting package that allows me to build and host as many websites / pages as I like BUT...I must say that I really like your current website. I especially like your rotating pictures. I always think that movement in a website is important. BTW, I'm not a website designer...I'm a driving instructor who is in the process of setting up in business as a clinical hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner who also offers coaching to individuals and small businesses, hence my presence on HealthyPages. I guess all I really wanted to say was...good job!

 

[Petrilliud]

I'm trying to build a website too and using freewebs...there is the option to pay and upgrade but a free one is a great way to work out a few ideas and see what you think is best.
best of luck x

 

[Clare [:]

I think a really important factor is for you to be able to update and tweek your web site yourself.

I've heard so many people say that they've had a web site designed and everything is fine for a while and then they find the designer doesn't respond or wants a lo of money to make small changes.

If it becomes a hassle to make changes, you won't and that's one of the things search engines look for - a constantly updated site.

Jane

 

[qfgdmkwq]

Absolutely .

Sometimes, I can go ages without thinking about updating (apart from event related info) and then I'll suddenly feel compelled to do a complete overhaul (like yesterday).

Updating regularly keeps it fresh. And if you use someone like constantcontact.com for your newsletters, they allow you to upload sent newsletters so people can view them on your website at anytime (adding fresh content on a regular basis).

 

[Elena m]

As a couple of people have mentioned, updating your website regularly makes quite a difference with the search engines as they crawl your site more regularly (I have several changed/additions due that I'm hoping to get on with tomorrow). However, be careful not to change the site so much that you are deleting pages as search results to broken links can be damaging to your site ranking. There is a way of making the old pages still come up and for the site map to still work on them. I'm not sure how to do this but my site seems to automatically do it (I did a major overhaul last year and couldn't avoid deleting a couple of pages).

If you can't think of any genuine changes to make and haven't updated for a while then it's worth even just rewording the odd paragraph or changing an image etc.

 

[TV guy]

My partner's just set up his website using www.one.com, and it costs pennies a month. When it comes to check-out, you actually get the whole first year for free, but pay about £6.50 set-up fee for the entire year. Got such a surprise at that, and at that price you really can afford to get one up and running. The degree of editing is good too, so you're never limited to some cheesy-looking template.

We're yet to see any clients, but we haven't put proper marketing in motion yet.
Only time will tell!

 

[Dani G]

Hi Bannick
There are two options - use a template, or create from scratch which gives you a blank screen and their programme. What we did was choose the plainest template, and then slowly work through it all deleting it all and adding our own thing. I'm unaware as to how to upload something from another design programme, but yes it's accessed via a control panel.
You also get an email account, which not many of the lower-priced ones offer.

Hope that helps (I'm completely thick when it comes to html design or even manoeuvreing around a simple programme if I've never seen it before)!
Love x

 

[rerothupbet]

Ah, not really of interest to me if I have to use their programme. When i said "control panel", I meant a programme that is actually called "control panel" and will have an access address/ login page address of www.extendcp.com
Did they email you details of the ftp address and password? That's all that would be needed to upload a site totally of your own design.

I'm thinking of building a couple of additional sites and although I'm really happy with the companies that I use for my current sites (I have 4 in total), if I can design my own site without the restrictions of using their software then I might be tempted to put the next one(s) with them. If, however, the service is that restricted then I'd rather pay the extra and have proper access.

 

[Pompal 09.]

For the sake of £10 for a year (just the set up fee +vat), I decided the best way to answer all my questions is to just try it. I've ordered a domain that was one of my low priority ones and doesn't matter too much if I can't get it to do exactly what I want it to. I'll let you know how I get on (just ordered it and it takes up to 24 hrs to set up).

 

[Nothing But Time]

So I tried it. Now waiting for their tech support people to get back to me
I think it's ok if you want to use their web building software, although it seems rather limited. As a semi-technical person rather than a technical person, it's an absolute nightmare to upload my site, really not worth the small cost saving compared to my other web hosting services (the main one I use has just gone up to £30 per year including hosting and domain renewal).

Hopefully they will sort the site I've registered with them so far but the additional time it's taken me alone isn't worth the £20 saving (which is only a saving of about £10 in year 2). That will teach me a lesson about trying to save a few quid!

 

[TwinMomof5kids]

Sorry Bannick!