I was talking to a delightful and recent hypnotherapy graduate today. I’m starting to mentor her as I do with many who are new to this wonderful profession. She asked me a question that I’ve been hearing for years and years… how do I get my practice started? Actually, since this isn’t our first meeting, she has already taken her first step. Step one is to determine your target market and then have business cards printed.
You will hear from some that a business card is boring and no longer necessary in our modern, techie world. I disagree. I long ago lost count of the number of people who have asked me for my card. A business card says that I’m in business and professional.
In order to determine your target market you will need to ask yourself a few questions:
Do you want to work with and have medical doctors refer their patients to you? If so, your card needs to look like theirs.
Do you prefer to work with the metaphysical community? Design a card that will appeal to that market.
Do you work only with women? Athletes? Students?
Do you have a specialty?
You may not know yet and that’s fine. Design a basic card that will get you started.Your name, title, phone number, email address and website if you have one. Pick a font that is attractive but also easy to read. The best placement for your phone number is the top left corner so that they are able to read your phone number when they hold the card.
The templates on most of the printing sites that I’ve visited don’t give you the phone number option in that location. However, you can use the “company name” option for your phone number.
There are a number of affordable ways to have your cards printed. Vistaprint is probably the best known. I would suggest that you spend a little extra to make your cards look as professional as possible.
Once you have a website you can generate new cards with the “brand” from your site. I now use the theme from my website on everything that I print. I wish that someone had mentioned that to me when I started out.
Remember, this is a work in progress. Have a small number printed to start out, perhaps 250. You can change your card to add new information as your practice grows and as you determine who you want to attract.
If you already have an office list the address on your card. If you are not ready to rent space simply use that area of your card for a simple, “by appointment” line. You will need a place to see clients but you can still be generating interest before you find an office.
Tune in again for my next segment on starting your practice.
