Summary: <p>Online Counseling Business Practices<br> 2 Hours<br> Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes, PhD, LPC-MHSM, LMHC<br> Executive Director: AllCEUs Counselor Education<br> Host: Counselor Toolbox<br> Objectives<br> ~ Provide information about website development<br> ~ Discuss search engine optimization<br> ~ Identify ways to attract clients and market<br> ~ Review methods for accepting payment and setting appointments<br> Website Development<br> ~ Website development services.<br> ~ TherapySites.com<br> ~ Wix.com<br> ~ Choose your domain name<br> ~ GoDaddy.com<br> ~ Domains.google.com<br> ~ Any other site where you can purchase a domain<br> ~ Identify who is going to do all your IT stuff<br> ~ Identify your web host (where your website will “live”)</p> <p>Web Development<br> ~ Video and Other Client Services<br> ~ Must provide a BAA..Just having HIPAA compliant standards is not enough.<br> ~ Video (required for insurance reimbursement)<br> ~ As of 2017 some companies which offer this service include…<br> ~ Vsee<br> ~ Thera-link<br> ~ Luxsci<br> ~ Email<br> ~ SMS/Chat programs<br> Choosing the Format for Your Website<br> ~ WordPress<br> ~ Blog type format<br> ~ Easily updated<br> ~ Very little programming knowledge needed<br> ~ Purchase pre-constructed themes<br> ~ HTML<br> ~ Purchase pre-constructed themes<br> ~ Cannot be updated on the fly (static presence)<br> ~ Must use software on your computer or login to the website host to modify your website</p> <p>Site Development<br> ~ Keep it clean. Less is more<br> ~ Review other well ranked similar sites for ideas<br> ~ Use relevant (optimized) pictures<br> ~ Pay attention to the tone your colors set<br> ~ Get 3 friends to review<br> ~ Target visual zones using the 1-Mississippi test<br> ~ Figure out what your customers want and ask your beta testers to find it<br> Required Content<br> ~ Home page (your “lobby”)<br> ~ About Us<br> ~ Why would a client want to choose you<br> ~ What is your approach<br> ~ Hours and location (link to Google, yahoo maps)<br> ~ Services and Fees<br> ~ What you offer<br> ~ Cost of services<br> ~ Insurances accepted (in or out of network)<br> Content cont…<br> ~ Policies<br> ~ Informed consent<br> ~ HIPPA/HITECH policies<br> ~ Emergency after-hours number and/or procedure<br> ~ Contact us<br> ~ Phone number<br> ~ Secure email form (with disclaimer)<br> ~ Mailing and physical address<br> Content cont…<br> ~ General information and articles<br> ~ Provide useful content<br> ~ Become an affiliate of companies who offer related products (books, biofeedback devices, essential oils…)<br> ~ Use descriptive links to direct people to useful self-help and support websites<br> SEO Optimization<br> ~ Page key word density<br> ~ Pay attention to current search engine optimization trends (i.e. what Google, yahoo and other search engines like and don’t like)<br> ~ Don’t gray out a list of random key words<br> ~ Try to focus on less than 30 key words<br> ~ Use metatags and descriptions.<br> ~ Google “keyword selector” or “Keyword picker” to find current tools<br> ~ Pay attention to page titles<br> ~ Provide frequently updated, relevant, UNIQUE content</p> <p>SEO Cont.<br> ~ For more information<br> ~ https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo<br> ~ Google “overview SEO” for the most up to date articles<br> ~ Hire a consultant</p> <p>Marketing<br> ~ Twitter<br> ~ Instagram<br> ~ Pinterest<br> ~ Google AdWords<br> ~ Facebook Advertising<br> ~ Facebook Page<br> ~ Facebook Group<br> ~ United Way Information and Referral<br> ~ Specialty Organizations (PTSD, Addiction, etc)<br> ~ Psychology Today</p> <p>Payment<br> ~ Paypal<br> ~ Invoice<br> ~ Prior to purchase<br> ~ Credit Cards<br> ~ Merchant Accounts (Stripe, Autorize.net, etc)<br> ~ Paypal<br> ~ Insurance<br> ~ In Network<br> ~ Out of Network<b></b></p>
