Do you Advertise or Not?


I often get asked by practitioners, “Is it okay to advertise my services?” And in particular, “Is it okay to advertise on the Internet?”

Those in favour of advertising online will argue that we live in a technological age, free soapand that potential clients will reach for their phone, iPad or computer as the first source of information about what they’re looking for. It makes sense, they argue, to be where their clients are looking for them. The detractors will argue that the best sources of clients come from personal connections, people you already know, people who know you and what you can do. Some will argue that it is inconsistent with professionalism to advertise our services at all, and especially on the internet.

A colleague spoke to me recently of his own personal debate around the issue, as he wondered, “Do I want to be the sort of therapist that advertises on Google? Do I want my clients to see me as that sort of therapist? And do I want to attract the type of client that chooses their therapist from a Google ad?”

They are interesting questions. I wasn’t entirely sure what he imagined the potential client was thinking about a therapist who advertised online, but it didn’t sound good. And for that practitioner perhaps his wonderings suggest that online advertising is not for him.

Clearly advertising, whether through Google ads or other media, works for some therapy and counselling practices, or they wouldn’t continue to use it as a form of promotion. And also clearly, neither those practices nor the clients they attract believe it to be incompatible with the service offered.

So a better question might be whether you are satisfied with the results that you are getting from whatever form of promotion you are currently using? And if not, are you open to trying something different? Then, you have a choice; try advertising and see what happens (you can always change your mind later), or leave it for another time, and try something else that’s a better fit for you. If you’re looking for alternatives to advertising online, there’s no shortage of suggestions on this site. Click on the Growing Your Practice tab at the top of the page for a link to blog posts that might be useful.

Would you like to grow your practice? Do you struggle to find a way of promoting your practice that fits for you? I’d love to help. Contact me here to make an appointment, or to avail of your free 20 minute consultation.