Are you making these Psychology Today profile mistakes?

Today we're going to be talking about some mistakes you might be making on your Psychology Today profile.

And while I'm generally of the Bob Ross school of thought that many mistakes in life are just "happy little accidents"... these mistakes can actually prevent your profile from doing its job:

Reaching your perfect clients and patients!

(Oh, and be sure to stick around to the end, because I've got a bit of a plot twist for you... ;)

Okay, let's do it:

Mistake #1: Stressing about the Psychology Today algorithm

It seems to be an unfortunate fact of life that where there is an online platform, there
is an algorithm, and where there is an algorithm, there is endless opportunity to stress
about said algorithm!

I've seen all kinds of advice out there:

switch out your profile picture once a week!
change up the order of your specialties!
make miniscule changes to the first line of your narrative profile!

Honestly, I don't think any of it is worth your precious head space.

Resist the urge to fall down the algorithm rabbit hole, friend! With just a few exceptions, which I'll share in a minute, I don't think it's worth stressing out about tiny changes that may or may not influence your profile's ranking on the platform.

Your time and effort will be much better spent focusing on promoting your practice in
more substantive ways.

On the other hand, you also want to avoid...

Mistake #2: Ignoring your profile completely

You may be tempted, especially if it's working well for you, to just forget your profile even exists.

Especially if you're being billed automatically... you truly might forget that you even have a profile on the platform!

But, there are a few specific cases in which you really do want to make sure you're proactively going in and updating your profile:

1. If you have changes to your availability. (For example, if you know you're not
   currently accepting new clients or patients, it's really important to go in there and
   specify this clearly, right at the top of your profile to save prospective clients and patients a lot of frustration.)
2. If you have changes to your fee structure or the insurance you accept, of course you want to go in and make sure that information is all current, as well.
3. If you're pivoting your specialty or focus, or the type of client or patient who you most want to work with, it's definitely worth taking the time to go back and rework your whole profile to make sure it's really speaking directly to them.

Mistake #3: Spreading yourself too thin

...casting way too wide a net, listing out every single topic you could possibly address in therapy.

Now, this can be especially tempting to do when you're just starting out, trying to grow and build your practice.

But, I say it's a mistake for at least two reasons:

1. Most therapy-seekers assume by default that therapists are generally able to help them with a wide range of concerns.
2. When it comes to something that really matters to us, we tend to trust specialists more. 

So, it's really important that you highlight a precise area of focus.

Doing this is going to help build trust and it's going to equip therapy-seekers (i.e., your dream clients and patients) to self-select into the experience of working with you!

Mistake #4: Writing for your colleagues instead of for your prospective clients and patients

This one's a big deal... such a big deal, in fact, that I have a whole collection of posts on this topic:

• Super-simple copywriting tips for beginners (2021)
• Worst health + wellness website mistakes
• Professional jargon on your practice website?
• How to write great private practice website copy

The main issue with writing for our colleagues instead of for actual therapy-seekers is that we're much more likely to use professional jargon or just communicate in ways that sound a little stilted and robotic (i.e., not at all how you sound when you're in the therapy room with your clients!).

For example, instead of saying:

"I enjoy using humor in my therapeutic work"

...you could say something like:

"We'll laugh together in session"

...or better yet:

Just be funny! Right there on your profile!

Let your natural personality come through and you will be amazed at how seamlessly it connects with the right people.

And the final Psychology Today profile mistake?

Mistake #5: Thinking you need one at all

That's right, friend: A Psychology Today profile is 100% optional!

From the platform itself to the company that runs it, there are lots of reasons why you might decide to leave or stay on it.

(Some of these reasons are outlined in this excellent TherapyDen article.) 

Bottom line?

It's your choice! So, just don't go thinking you need a paid platform like Psychology Today to drive referrals to your practice... because you don't. :)

Let's take action!

Here's your action step for today:

• Review your own therapist profile. See any of these mistakes? Set a timer + do what you can to address them!

Cheering you on!