Clients often use the internet and social media to find a mental health care provider, but with all the competing social platforms, it's hard to know where to invest your time. After working with and observing providers, participation in Facebook Groups is common among those finding success with Grow Therapy.
Why are Facebook Groups so effective?
Groups are a place to connect, learn, and share with people with similar interests or needs. This commonality among the members makes it much easier to identify and reach motivated potential clients. Here are some anonymized examples of posts in Facebook Groups looking for providers:
Which group(s) should you join?
There are many types of Facebook groups. These could be groups based on anything, including gender, race, sexual orientation, identity, shared interests, or based on location. It's best to start within your area and any specific demographics or niches you have experience with. Here are some examples of existing groups:
Colorado Girl Gang, Atlanta Scoop, Orlando LGBTQ Forum, Melanated and Spiritual Black Women, DMV Social (DC, Maryland, Virginia), Soda City Connector, LGBTQ+ of Virginia, Maryland Networking Group for Women, Men's Mental Health, Bad Bettie Project- Maryland, South Asian Americans Of Georgia, Christians in Florida and so many more!
What should you do before joining a group?
Before joining a group, there are a few things you should consider doing:
Ensure your personal and business Facebook page(s) is professional. Many prospective clients will seek as much information as possible, so reviewing your photos, past posts, etc., on either profile is essential.
Create a short, personalized paragraph about you and your business to post on these group pages as a comment. Make sure that it is concise and descriptive. Then, when someone posts about looking for a provider, you can copy and paste the paragraph quickly. Check out the examples below:
Weak comment: Hi. I'm a therapist in your area. Feel free to contact me if you want to schedule something.
Strong comment: Hey [CLIENT NAME]! My name is Ashley, and I am a CBT therapist in Denver. I focus on using [techniques] to help you live a healthier, more well-rounded life! My website is [INSERT WEBSITE], and my direct booking link is [INSERT BOOKING LINK]. Let me know if you want to jump on a quick call before booking!
🌟 Tip: Need help finding your booking link? Check out this guide.
What should you do after joining a group?
Once you are accepted into a group, please consider doing the following:
Introduce yourself with a short paragraph and a picture. This introduction is an excellent way to get your information to a large group of warm leads.
Check the group(s) at least weekly! It will typically only take a few minutes to glance through and identify leads.
Keep your personal and business Facebook page(s) professional and accurate.