Juggling the demands of client work while navigating the complexities of maintaining an active social media presence can pose significant challenges for anyone. Add in the fact that, as a therapist, you’re acutely aware of the dangers social media has on mental health…what then?
Regardless of your feelings about social media, you probably know that your business needs it, but the struggle to keep pace with its dynamic landscape while managing a burgeoning caseload can be daunting.
When it comes to social media for therapists, here are the four strategies I recommend:
1. Repurpose past content
I consistently hear that one of the problems therapists grapple with is finding time to create fresh content regularly. One of my favorite approaches involves revisiting successful content from about 90 days ago. Your followers are unlikely to recall earlier posts, making repurposing content a time-saving solution. Recently, a colleague encountered resistance from a client who objected to using an image from two years prior. It’s a valid concern, but let’s reframe it: If the content was good and people responded to it before, they’ll likely appreciate the reminder again.
2. Invest in Canva Pro
Although free tools are appealing, Canva Pro offers essential features beneficial for busy people. The resizing and brand kit options, combined with user-friendly templates, streamline content creation. For example, if you’re trying to sneak a little bit of social media work in between sessions, the brand kit option will help you apply your brand’s colors and fonts to any of the templates in minutes! A tool like this is worth the $15/month investment.
3. Develop a hashtag bank
Finding trending hashtags can be confusing! Simplify this by regularly curating and categorizing hashtags. Storing them in a bank allows easy access for copy-pasting into posts, eliminating the need for constant research. Consider setting up categories for things like your therapy services, mental health concerns, and your passions.
4. Batch your content creation
Therapists are frequently pressed for time due to client commitments. Although monthly content batching is common, consider a more organized approach by batching specific content types. For example, design a series of quotes or testimonials at one time and schedule them out over a few months. Or, if you’re doing some research on a specific therapeutic method, create and schedule a series of five posts about the topic. Make the content in one sitting, but release it over time.
Your community is looking for encouragement on social media; show up in their feed as a trusted person. Juggling client work and social media responsibilities might seem time-consuming initially, but these strategic approaches can streamline the process.
If you’re looking for additional support as you DIY your content, explore our suite of tools, such as the DIY Club and Toolkit. Our mission is to help business owners improve their relationship with social media. These resources are already helping other therapists maintain an active and engaging social media presence alongside their client commitments.
Written by: Julia Block Pearson
About the author:
Julia Block Pearson, CEO of Stratos Creative Marketing, is a marketing strategist whose goal is to help business owners improve their relationships with social media. Oftentimes, business owners are frustrated because their social media efforts feel more like throwing darts at a dartboard than actual lead generation! At Stratos, our mission is to create content for clients that they’re proud of AND brings in leads.
