3.B. Online therapists directories for growing your private practice: What Hopscotch providers need to know

as a therapist, having profiles on multiple therapist directories is a must not only does being listed on therapist directories boost your profile and brand, but being searchable and findable across multiple online databases adds powerful credibility to you and your business online therapy directories are different from telehealth platforms like hopscotch while both online therapy directories and telehealth networks serve as resources for potential clients seeking mental health services, they offer different services and have different objectives an online therapy directory is a platform that provides a searchable database of mental health professionals who offer services online these directories typically allow users to search for providers through filtering for location, specialty, and other criteria, and often include information such as therapist bios, reviews, and pricing information on the other hand, hopscotch, a telehealth network , is a comprehensive platform that enables secure video conferencing and messaging we also feature appointment scheduling, insurance and payment processing, and electronic health record keeping, in addition to facilitating the therapy session itself, providing a community for therapists and a host of other resources! 5 reasons why therapists need to be listed on online directories here are five reasons why https //www joinhopscotch com/ encourages our providers to create profiles for themselves across multiple therapist directories it helps ensure your caseload continues to stay full even if your caseload is currently maxed out, having your therapy services listed on several prominent therapist directories is still essential the reality is that your caseload capacity is subject to change, and having an online presence ensures that you are where future clients will be looking it helps you grow your practice in alignment with your niche services directory profiles allow you to get crystal clear on your expectations as a service provider, and they are a great way to attract ideal clients it boosts your credibility consumers today are savvy, and they want service providers who have established, credible authority caregivers especially are more informed than ever before, and they are doing their due diligence they are researching your business and googling your name before they contact you, and the more places they can find you online, the more credible you and your business will appear it builds brand awareness being listed across multiple, credible, therapist directories helps diversify your online marketing strategy and grow your online presence additionally, it can also provide more ways for clients to leave online reviews it boosts your search engine optimization (seo) simply put, if you have a profile across multiple directories, you are way more likely to be found online when someone googles your name or searches for a service provider within your area or niche additionally, including citation details (such as name, address, and phone number) boosts your local seo for your specific geo location free vs paid directory listings having your name, qualifications, niche specifications, and information listed on multiple sites across the internet can be a low or no cost way to boost your exposure for any business opportunities from building your caseload to obtaining referrals or landing speaking gigs, having yourself listed across multiple directories is marketing gold, and a lot of the time, it’s free! deciding whether to pay for a listing is a business decision you will need to decide where to invest your time and money to meet your business goals however, something to keep in mind is that even if you pay for a listing, just one new client from that site could pay for your year’s listing fee but, it’s important to do your homework when it comes to paying for a listing here’s some things to consider relevance and target audience make sure that the directory is relevant to your business (online therapy) and niche (children, teens, anxiety, etc) if the directory focuses on a completely different industry or location, it’s probably not worth the investment consider whether the directory's target audience aligns with your business's target audience if the directory's audience is not a good match for your business, your listing may not generate the desired results traffic evaluate the monthly traffic that the directory receives you want to make sure that the directory has a significant amount of user traffic and that your listing will be seen by potential customers usually this information is summarized on the site’s about us/about page if it’s not readily available, contact them and ask for it cost ensure that the price is reasonable and that the potential benefits outweigh the costs placement determine where your listing will appear within the directory ideally, you want to be listed in a prominent location where potential customers are likely to see your business reviews look for reviews and testimonials from other therapists that have paid for a listing in the directory this can provide insight into the directory's effectiveness and whether it's worth the investment renewal/subscription vs one time feel consider whether the directory requires a recurring payment for your listing to stay active if so, determine whether you're willing to commit to paying this fee on a regular basis niche directories consider niche directories that cater to your specific audience these directories may have fewer listings, but they may be more targeted and effective listing options check whether the directory offers different listing options, such as premium or featured listings or basic/free listings these options may offer more visibility and benefits but may also come with a higher price tag performance tracking determine whether the directory provides tools for tracking the performance of your listing this can help you evaluate the effectiveness of the directory and make data driven decisions about whether to renew your listing directory's reputation research the reputation of the directory and its owner a reputable directory owner is less likely to engage in spammy practices that could harm your business's reputation contract terms review the terms of the contract before committing to a directory listing ensure that you understand the terms of the agreement, including any cancellation or renewal policies where to list yourself – what therapy directories are best? first, you want to enhance your reach by optimizing your public facing hopscotch profile on our directory we’ve provided a lot of guidance around this in our resource center from examples on setting up the best picture profile to how to write your description, it’s all there and, if you need additional help or want us to review your profile, just reach out to now that you’ve got your hopscotch profile completed, there are a lot of therapist directories out there, and some are better than others you certainly do not need a profile on every single one, but a good rule of thumb is to have a profile on at least five of the most prominent and credible ones not sure which directory to trust? we’ve got you! hopscotch’s team of experts has scoured the internet and carefully selected some of the best therapy directories to be listed on here are a few to consider, some with free listing opportunities https //www zocdoc com/ you get a free zocdoc listing when you are a hopscotch network provider actively accepting clients if you’re looking to expand your reach to potential clients needing your services, then there’s really no downside to being added to zocdoc we do all the heavy lifting to get you linked and you’ll respond to and see clients the same way you always do, through the hopscotch portal you can learn more about the provider benefits of https //www zocdoc com/about/join/?utm medium=organicpro\&utm source=website\&utm campaign=patientsite header and https //www youtube com/watch?v=hqsyhjaawf4 ? if you’d like to be added to zocdoc or you have any questions about how to set up any features for your hopscotch profile please contact us at cllinicaloperations\@joinhopscotch com https //www psychologytoday com/us used by millions, psychology today is one of the largest and most prominent directories for psychologists, therapists, and mental health services providers additionally, psychology today includes other resources for colleagues, pediatricians, schools, and insurance company referrals hopscotch’s exclusive network of providers have access to their first 6 months for free on psychology today when you contact us for a link at clinicaloperations\@joinhopscotch com (ongoing membership currently costs $29 95 per month) https //www choosingtherapy com/ we like how choosing therapy profiles include a video introduction, and we also like that therapy seekers can filter based on insurance, specialty, niche, experience, and more this robust directory is free to join and is a great option for all therapists, regardless of niche https //www kidstherapyfinder com/free listing kids therapy finder is a pediatric focused directory that was founded based on the belief that finding quality virtual therapists and behavioral health related services for children should be a quick and easy process you can join their expansive directory for free! https //mintleaf co/for providers mint leaf’s attractive directory is very seo friendly, and their free version makes it easy for your ideal client to find you the best part? it only takes around 10 minutes to get started, and most service providers can get their profile live the same day they sign up https //www onlinetherapy com/list your practice/ for service providers keen to grow their online/virtual practice, online therapy is a great directory to consider membership is free and includes blogging opportunities, license verification credibility, and other features to highlight your practice do you know of any other great directories with free listing opportunities? let us know at and we can add them to our list how to list yourself – 5 tips for creating a stellar therapist profile to maximize the benefit of being listed on therapist directories, it’s important to keep a few things in mind from consistency to professionalism, here are five tips for creating a powerful profile for yourself on any therapist directory 1 be consistent across platforms to successfully and effectively grow your brand, consistency is paramount we strongly recommend you have the same profile picture, contact info (e mail, phone number, etc ), availability, specialties, niche, etc across all directories pro tip set up a professional voicemail box reply or greeting for when prospective clients call you be sure to routinely clean out your voicemail box so it’s never full, and do your best to respond to emails and phone calls in a timeline manner these details go a long way to ensure a positive and professional reputation 2\ ensure accuracy by keeping your profile info updated further to the previous tip, consistency and accuracy go hand in hand you should have the same info across all directories, which means if you make an edit or change to one, be sure to update the others pro tip the best way to manage your online presence is to stay organized consider creating a note on your phone to keep track of the different online directories you are listed on 3\ keep your branding in mind your profile picture, bio, and profile content send a clear message to prospective clients of who you are, what you do, and how you do it essentially, each profile is an opportunity to reinforce your brand clarity is the best strategy here, so avoid ambiguity by clearly articulating your niche and scope of practice read more in our resource center a therapist’s scope of practice what it is, why it matters, and how to expand it niche benefits for private practitioners a complete 6 step guide for therapists 4\ link your url to your hopscotch profile in the website section most directories offer a website section where you can include your personal website(s) be sure to link to your hopscotch profile url and, if applicable, your personal website as well need help locating this, reach out to 5\ add the insurances you accept to the profiles insurance info should be made available across all your profiles, and you can find this information at the bottom of your hopscotch profile under the accepted insurance and payment section potential clients who contact you through other directories can easily be added to the hopscotch platform using the “add a client” button at the top of your home screen in the provider portal, you’ll be able to quickly add new clients (children and adults) who are in network with the insurances you are able to accept just as we do for your hopscotch referred clients, we will take care of the insurance billing and administration for you in conclusion, online therapy directories can be a valuable tool for therapists looking to grow their private practice by being listed on these directories, therapists can increase their visibility, connect with potential clients, and establish credibility in their field whether you choose to list on a free or paid directory, it’s important to invest time in creating a compelling profile that accurately reflects your skills, experience, and specialties by following the tips outlined in this article, you can create a stellar profile that stands out from the competition and attracts new clients to your practice don’t miss out on the benefits of online therapy directories! take action today and start growing your private practice by creating a stellar profile that attracts new clients