We all know that social media (like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc) is a vital strategy for finding new patients and expanding your practice.  But many therapists aren't sure how to get started.  Here are some of the top ways to use social media to help grow your private practice.

1. Create a Business Page

This may not be obvious to everyone, but both LinkedIn and Facebook allow you to easily create a separate page for your practice.  From here you can set up your hours, phone number, location, etc.  You can also easily post "from" this business page, and it will not be tied up with your personal accounts.  This is a must for any private practice.

2. Post at Least Twice Per Week

Posting relevant content within your niche is essential, as it shows potential clients that you are both knowledgeable about your area of expertise, as well as actively communicating to the community.  If you can post more often, all the better.  And if you aren't the strongest writer, that's OK:  simply sharing links to articles, blog posts, etc, with minimal commentary is all you need.

3. Create a Group For Your Area of Expertise

In Facebook, this would be a "group page", but every social media platform has a similar concept.  This is another way to generate interest in your practice from potential patients.  For example, if you specialize in Childhood Behavioral Health, start a group for parents with plenty of content for those with children who might fit into your niche.  As members join and share your posts, you may find easy referrals coming in.

4. Join/Follow Existing Groups for Therapists

Both LinkedIn and Facebook make it easy to find these sorts of groups and associations, and if you can find ones geographically close to your practice, all the better.  Make sure to be an active member:  comment and engage others in conversation.  This gets you out in front of your colleagues, who might be in a position to send patients your way one day.

Social media is an excellent way to reach potential clients.  Even if you only have a novice-level experience with Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc, it would definitely be to your benefit to take advantage of this free resource.