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Referral Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing: How to Encourage Patients to Refer Family and Friends

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Jeremiah Blanchard

Written by Jeremiah Blanchard, Content Lead, revised by Sara Jokela 2/20/25.

Of all the powerful tools that digital marketers can leverage in the healthcare marketing space, even alongside the most complex and developed marketing strategies, referral marketing is still one of the most effective methods for clinics to gain new patients.

Not only does referral marketing act as a strategy built from the testimonials of real patients, if done correctly, it can also be used to empower previous patients to share their knowledge and help get others real information that they can base their healthcare decisions on.

Healthcare decisions are never taken lightly. Often, these are well-researched and well-planned before a patient ever sets foot in your clinic. But with referral healthcare marketing, you can offer prospective patients the information they need to choose your clinic over your competitors, ultimately benefiting the entire health system.

All of this may raise a few questions. Why are referrals so effective? How do they work? Can you ask for or solicit referrals? And how can you implement an ethical and effective referral marketing program that will assist you in patient acquisition?

In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of referral healthcare marketing and show you how it’s done.

Are you curious about how you can improve referrals for your healthcare clinic? to find out how to leverage patient referrals.

What Exactly are Referrals in Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing?

In the world of marketing, there’s often a bit of confusion regarding leads and referrals. And while both of these can potentially help you bring in new patients, leads are much more challenging to pursue. However, referrals come from a trusted source – usually through friends and family.

Referrals are also likely to become repeat clients because they have first-hand information about an experience at your clinic from someone they know and trust. And this is the foundation of referral healthcare marketing – enticing or encouraging your patients to refer your services to people they know.

An effective referral management process is crucial for ensuring that referrals are handled efficiently and that patients receive timely care.

The bottom line is, referrals work to enhance your credibility and make it easier for prospective customers to place their trust in you. Referrals also show others that you’re doing something right, that you provided great service, and that you are definitely worth mentioning – a perfect foundation for building strong brand awareness.

Definition and Explanation of Referral Marketing

Referral marketing is a form of word-of-mouth marketing that leverages people’s trust to drive purchasing power. It is a marketing strategy that encourages satisfied customers to refer new customers to a business in exchange for incentives, such as discounts, rewards, or exclusive offers. This approach taps into the natural human tendency to share positive experiences with friends and family, making it a powerful tool for businesses to acquire new customers, increase brand loyalty, and drive revenue growth. By creating a structured referral program, businesses can systematically harness the goodwill of their existing customers to expand their reach and influence.

Importance of Referral Marketing in Healthcare

Referral marketing holds particular significance in the healthcare industry, where patient referrals can profoundly impact the quality of care and patient outcomes. A well-structured healthcare referral system is essential for ensuring that patients receive the specialized care they need. Primary care physicians often rely on this system to refer patients to specialists or other healthcare providers, ensuring a seamless continuum of care. By leveraging referral marketing, healthcare providers can improve patient access to necessary services, streamline the referral process, and ultimately enhance the overall quality of care. This not only benefits patients but also strengthens the healthcare system as a whole.

Benefits of Referral Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing

One great initial benefit of healthcare referral marketing is that you’re using your existing patient base to bring in new patients. However, you can’t just expect this to happen. You have to take an active role in building trust and rapport with your patients so that they will trust you enough to talk about your clinic to their friends and family.

At the most basic level, a few primary benefits of implementing a referral marketing program for your healthcare clinic, compared to other marketing strategies, are:

  • Improved new patient acquisition
  • Enhanced community presence
  • Enhanced customer loyalty
  • Enhanced brand awareness
  • Improved ability to retain your current patient base
  • Higher lifetime value with repeat patients

As you provide your patients with great service – the type of service that they can’t wait to share with their family and friends – the likelihood increases that they’ll recommend you to their peers. But you also have to take steps to identify and engage with your patients each and every time.

For example, do you know who your patients really are, what they do for a living, or what they do in their spare time? Do you know that their aunt Hazel has been complaining about lower back pain, or that their brother just won a major business award? These are the things that you need to know – but you can only know these things by getting to know your patients intimately. And you do this by being inquisitive and taking an honest interest in your patients.

In addition, the more you open up to your patients about your own life and take an interest in theirs, the more they’re going to trust you and this only increases the chances that they’ll talk about you with their peers – maybe even aunt Hazel, too.

Increased Customer Acquisition at a Reduced Cost

One of the standout advantages of referral marketing is its cost-effectiveness in acquiring new customers. Traditional marketing strategies can be expensive, with customer acquisition costs having risen by 222% over the last eight years. Referral marketing offers a more economical alternative. By incentivizing existing customers to refer new ones, businesses can significantly reduce their customer acquisition costs while still achieving substantial growth. This approach not only lowers expenses but also increases the return on investment (ROI), making it an attractive option for businesses looking to expand their customer base efficiently.

Creation of Loyal Customers Through Successful Referrals

Successful referrals are a gateway to creating loyal customers. Referred customers tend to have a higher level of trust and satisfaction from the outset, as they come with a personal recommendation. This trust translates into loyalty, with referred customers often becoming repeat clients who advocate for the business. Studies have shown that referred customers have a two-fold higher lifetime value compared to those acquired through traditional marketing methods. By leveraging referral marketing, businesses can cultivate a loyal customer base that not only drives revenue growth but also enhances the overall brand reputation.

Improved Brand Loyalty and Reputation

Referral marketing is a powerful tool for improving brand loyalty and reputation. When satisfied customers share their positive experiences, it builds trust and credibility for the brand. According to studies, 83% of customers are willing to refer a business after a successful purchase, and 78% of these referrals result in viable customer leads. In the healthcare industry, this translates to improved patient satisfaction, better quality of care, and increased patient loyalty. By leveraging referral marketing, healthcare providers can build a loyal patient base that drives revenue growth, enhances brand reputation, and attracts new patients, ultimately leading to a more robust and trusted healthcare practice.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Referral Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing

Recent studies have shown that nearly 75 percent of consumers agree that referrals have influenced their purchases and decisions. And it’s also been found that referrals have driven three to five times more positive results than paid ad channels or content marketing.

This is the power of word-of-mouth marketing. But when you combine referrals with digital marketing, you’ll not only improve your patient base, but you can also gain more recognition in your community. This is because referral marketing builds social proof. And we humans rely on others’ opinions much more than we may realize.

Implementing a referral management system can streamline the process and ensure that all referrals are tracked and managed efficiently.

The key to enhancing your referral marketing combines several factors. But it all starts with your rapport with your patients.

Know How (and When) To Ask for Patient Referrals

It would be great if referral programs just happened organically. And often they do without your knowledge. But you probably don’t want to play this type of random game, and instead, ask for referrals.

It’s also important to note that while it is ethical for you to ask for referrals, asking for patient reviews is looked upon as an unethical practice in the healthcare space and needs to be avoided. But knowing when to ask your patients for a referral is an art in itself.

A few ways you can ask for referrals include:

  • Right after a patient gives you praise or positive feedback, this is a great time to encourage them to refer you to their family or friends
  • If you notice a patient has left a great review or has posted about their positive experience on social media, this is a great time to encourage them to refer your clinic to their peers
  • Take advantage of thank you pages, snail mail, or follow-up emails and encourage a referral after you’ve cared for a patient
  • If you notice a patient is already a repeat customer, go ahead and encourage them to refer you to others they know

The key is to ask your patients to recommend your services when you know they’ve been satisfied and are happy – and when they have your brand on their minds.

Meet and Exceed Patient Expectations

As mentioned, it’s one thing to care for your patients, but it can be a total game changer when you take an active interest in your patients’ lives. For example, many years ago, it was common for a small town to only have one doctor. And these doctors were part of the community. Thus, they knew many intimate details about their patients’ lives. This built trust and the same principle is true today.

To really stand out from your competitors, you have to build trust and keep your brand at the top of your customer’s minds. And this can be done in a few ways, including:

  • Send them a discount for their next visit
  • Send them a birthday card
  • Ask for a follow-up visit free of charge
  • Offer a “reward” for any referral that they send your way

Though these may seem like small actions, they can all bring big results in the way of referrals.

Strategic Referral Incentives for Primary Care Physicians

Referral incentives are what get people talking. And this is where digital marketing can be of great assistance. And this is because no matter what incentives you offer, your delivery and messaging are key to getting noticed.

For example, you could offer rewards such as discounts on a visit, a free diagnosis, or even cash rewards for a referral. And you can advertise these incentives through newsletters, social media posts, or in email marketing campaigns. And digital marketing can enhance these deliverables and ensure that you’re using the right kind of language that highlights your values and your business.

Leverage Your Social Media Presence

It should go without saying that just about everyone is on social media these days. In fact, research suggests that over 80 percent of Americans have at least one social media profile. This, combined with the fact that nearly 60 percent of people learn about brands through social networks means that you already have a powerful tool to help drive referrals.

Digital marketing professionals can enhance your social media strategy and set you up for success for when you’re ready to roll out your referral marketing posts. And the simple fact is this – your social posts reach hundreds of people each day. And with great reviews highlighted appropriately, you can showcase referral incentives and potentially get a huge response.

Additionally, you may pique someone’s interest who isn’t even a patient of yours and they may share the post with others – enhancing awareness of your brand in the community.

Make it Easy

Nobody likes a rigorous or complicated process no matter what it facilitates. And this applies to referrals as well. The key is to make it as effortless as possible for your patients to refer their peers to you.

For example, if you have a website, build a referral link on your “thank you” or “about” page. If they pay for your services online – perhaps before or after a telehealth visit – make sure that they can share your brand in just a few clicks. Or if you have a blog, ensure you have a space set up to mention referrals – like a banner, a pop-up, or something similar.

Additionally, you can also send a quick, friendly reminder directly as a text message with your referral incentive. In fact, you can even automate this process using referral software that can easily integrate with any CRM or email program that you may use.

Enhance Your Referral Marketing Program With Beacon Media + Marketing

Referrals should be an integral part of your overall marketing strategy. After all, your patients are the foundation of your business. And if they have great things to say about you, we think that everyone should know about it.

Here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we understand the power of referrals. And we understand the methods you can use to enhance your referral marketing strategy. With our team of talented marketing professionals, we can take your referral healthcare marketing to the next level while you sit back and watch new patients walk through your doors.

Are you to drive more referrals for your healthcare clinic? to find out how you can enhance your patient referrals.

The Future of AI in Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing and Patient Acquisition

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Jeremiah Blanchard

Have you ever wondered why the pace of technological advancement seems to speed up every couple of years? In 1965, Gordon E. Moore – a co-founder of Intel – made an observation that would come to be known as Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law states that “the number of transistors on a microchip will double about every two years,” essentially offering a hypothesis for why we can expect the speed and capability of our computers to increase exponentially.

The only problem with Moore’s Law is that it is now being outpaced by our technology. And with new advancements in AI, it is thought that Moore’s Law will be rendered obsolete by 2025. In addition, it’s also been projected that the rate at which Big Data is growing across all industries will require artificial intelligence just to keep track of it.

Artificial intelligence is just beginning to be leveraged by businesses for a variety of tasks – and marketing is one space where AI can be a huge asset. But what does the implementation of AI mean for healthcare marketing? Will AI change marketing in the healthcare space? How can AI help your healthcare business scale and grow?

The truth is, AI will likely change how consumers shop and purchase services in the healthcare space. And in this guide, we’ll explore how AI can create amazing opportunities for healthcare brands.

Would you like to learn more about the future of AI in healthcare marketing? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today to find out more.

Trends in AI Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing

The digital marketing space is one of the most rapidly evolving industries today. And with the increasing presence of AI, the technological advancements that marketers are able to leverage are mind-blowing.

Younger generations are steeped in tech. They’re learning new and complex technology from a very young age. And with younger generations becoming fluent in emerging tech much faster than ever before, it’s imperative for marketing companies to realize this and use AI to their advantage.

When it comes to healthcare marketing, much of the same trends that can be seen in other major industries are just as evident.

Focusing on Personalizing the User Experience

Market trends are always changing. But with AI and its ability to predict consumer behavior, professionals in healthcare marketing are finding new ways to make their clients stand out.

By using AI-collected data, marketers can deliver targeted ads, content, and other deliverables all while tailoring a user’s journey to their individual preferences. And this can also include utilizing personalized messaging in a variety of channels based on AI data collection.

Immersive Content Experiences

With the rise of new platforms such as augmented reality and virtual reality, healthcare marketers are beginning to think about how to create engaging content that leverages these emerging platforms.

A couple of examples of this may include a virtual tour of a healthcare clinic or constructing digital telehealth experiences. And content experiences of this level may even be used to attract younger consumers who are more accustomed to shopping and browsing in the virtual world.

Chatbots

As mentioned, targeted messaging is critical for getting consumers to notice a brand. And healthcare marketers can utilize chatbots to offer consumers the ability to get their questions answered in real-time. However, with new advancements in AI, chatbots are getting a complete makeover.

Though chatbots usually have scripted messages, AI-enhanced chatbots have real, human voices and can converse with users – learning from each interaction.

Automation

Healthcare marketers need to have access to multiple campaigns across several channels. This can take hours of work on its own. But through the help of AI, marketers are able to analyze data and understand how effective each campaign is in a fraction of the time.

In addition, AI is able to generate personalized recommendations of products and services and generate content (and personalize it) based on collected data. And AI can even send these deliverables over to your target audience whenever you choose.

How is AI Helping the Healthcare Industry?

Not only is AI giving healthcare marketers a huge competitive advantage, it’s reshaping the healthcare space in significant and beneficial ways. And while many people may still view AI with a wary eye – nervously awaiting the day when the machines “take over”– right now, AI is helping humanity far more than harming it.

But where can we see AI’s footprint in the healthcare space? And how is it really helping?

A few areas where we can see AI at work are:

  • Data and records management
  • Improving patient care
  • Pharmaceutical product creation
  • Virtual assistants

Data Management

Storing data, along with collecting and analyzing it takes time – lots of time. But AI is changing the game and making data management faster. This equates to providing more proficient health services and correspondingly adds to an arsenal that a healthcare marketer can leverage when looking to get clients more patients.

A great example of data management with AI is the DeepMind Health Project launched by Google to crawl medical records to help boost efficiency.

Patient Care

The fact is, human-based operations are synonymous with errors and processes that contain flaws – even in the healthcare space. The more AI is able to organize treatment plans and enable physicians to make diagnoses and decisions based on sound data, the more efficient a healthcare brand will become. And with greater brand presence, marketers can utilize this when highlighting and scaling a marketing program.

Pharmaceutical Product Creation

It’s no secret that pharmaceutical development often takes decades and billions of dollars. But with AI and machine learning, drugs can be developed in a fraction of the time that they used to take.

For example, many people were alarmed at how quickly a COVID-19 vaccine was developed and tested. But many people fail to realize that this was made possible through AI and its ability to test millions of molecular structures in months instead of years. And this same technology has also been used to redesign medicines to treat the Ebola virus.

Virtual Assistants

If you’ve ever been to a healthcare clinic or hospital, you’ve probably waited several hours to be seen. And this has always been a major pain point for consumers. One of the biggest challenges that a healthcare provider will face is improving the interaction between patients and caregivers.

AI technology can streamline the traditionally slow processes between patients and caregivers, and help physicians and nurses to avoid unnecessary visits. With AI virtual assistants, caregivers can monitor their patient’s conditions and treatment.

How Can AI Help With Patient Acquisition?

Of all the things that a healthcare provider needs – aside from office space, qualified practitioners, supplies, and equipment – the one thing they need the most is patients. And patient acquisition has traditionally been a clumsy process, but not anymore.

In the past, the patient acquisition process was performed (and plagued) with a great deal of guesswork. With AI and the power of predictive analysis, healthcare marketers can now use advanced algorithms to predict consumer intent and utilize other tracking methods that have the uncanny ability to predict how consumers will behave – and even divide them into groups.

By using AI predictive analysis, grouping prospective customers give a marketer the ability to develop and modify programs tailored specifically for a target group. And it should go without saying that knowing your customer is one thing, but knowing your customer’s next move is an entirely new level of power that can lead to much higher conversion rates.

Not only can AI predictive analysis drill down to recommend the right product or service for the right person, but it can also help you target those who will be most interested. The bottom line – acquiring new patients through the use of AI places you at the highest level of competition.

What are the Predictions for AI Marketing in Healthcare Beyond 2023?

We’ve already mentioned that the pace of technological advancement is exponential. But with AI, marketers who embrace this new technology and understand it while it’s still in its infancy will be much better positioned to get their healthcare clients exactly what they want – and at a much faster pace.

Though the future of marketing will likely include a higher level of data security and online privacy that may present a challenge to marketing professionals operating in any space, the future is sure to see a surge of AI marketing which will also likely usher in a new era of SEO tactics. And with AI as the new kid on the block, this technology will likely be better able to keep up with the pace of changing consumer trends far more efficiently than with any traditional methods.

In addition, with AI-driven data and tools, healthcare businesses will become much more competitive. Patients will know all about a healthcare provider without ever having to walk through the door. And this will also require some of the best marketing talents to keep clients on par with their competitors. This will also result in healthcare companies needing to attract the best talent to keep up with larger patient numbers.

The key takeaway here is this: Embracing AI now, learning its advantages, understanding its capabilities, and implementing the technology today will only serve to enhance marketing efforts and put you in the lead – way ahead of healthcare businesses that choose to stay on the sidelines.

Enhance Your Mental & Behavioral Health Marketing Efforts with AI and Beacon Media + Marketing

Here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we welcome innovation with open arms. We understand that AI may be a great unknown for some. But we also know that it will be those who leverage this technology at the outset who will be poised to change their clients’ lives for the better – and the lives of all of their patients.

Our team is composed of talented professionals who look for exciting new opportunities to embrace new technology and allow it to enhance their own natural skills and productivity. And with an innovative team at your side, you’ll have the technological edge that you’ll need to grow and thrive in an extremely competitive market – all enhanced by AI.

Does AI sound like it could be a game changer for your healthcare marketing efforts? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today to learn how we can help.

How to Evaluate a Digital Marketing Agency: Sales Reservations, Red Flags, and Questions to Ask

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Jeremiah Blanchard

Written by Jeremiah Blanchard, Content Lead, updated and revised by Sara Jokela 3/18/25.

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a sales pitch then you already what we’re about to say – it’s not a warm and fuzzy feeling.

The fact is, knowing that you’re actively being sold something can often bring along a cheap, grimy feeling. It’s nearly anxiety-inducing. You can sense the other person buttering you up in hopes of you letting your guard down so they can get their hands right into your wallet. They’re looking to intrigue, entice, and make you think that you just have to have what they’re offering. But the problem is that this alone is a huge reason why many people have reservations about working with a digital marketing agency.

Everyone in the modern business world should understand that nobody wants to be sold to. And this is because as humans we operate primarily from the foundation of trust. We build our close personal relationships off of trust and loyalty, and these same principles apply when we enter into business relationships.

Working with a digital marketing agency is a huge partnership to enter into. But how can you know you’re entering into a good partnership? What questions should you ask of yourself and of the marketing agency you’re vetting? Are there any red flags to look out for? And how do you know which company is the right fit for you?

In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the questions you should ask when looking to be more competitive and take your business to the next level.

Are you curious about how digital marketing can take your business to the next level? Contact Beacon Media + Marketing today and ask about the process.

Understanding Digital Marketing

Definition of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is a form of marketing that leverages digital channels to promote products or services. It involves using each digital marketing channel, such as desktop computers, mobile phones, and other digital media and platforms, to reach and engage with target audiences. In today’s fast-paced digital world, digital marketing has become a crucial component of modern marketing strategies. It allows businesses to connect with customers and prospects in a more personalized and efficient way, making it an indispensable tool for achieving business growth and success.

Benefits of Digital Marketing

Advantages of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is a powerful tool in any marketing arsenal. Here are some of the key advantages:

  • Increased Reach and Visibility: Digital marketing allows businesses to reach a wider audience and increase their online presence. By utilizing various digital channels, businesses can connect with potential customers across the globe, breaking geographical barriers.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to traditional marketing methods, digital marketing is often more cost-effective. It enables businesses to achieve a higher return on investment (ROI) by targeting specific audiences and optimizing marketing efforts based on real-time data.
  • Measurable Results: One of the standout benefits of digital marketing is the ability to track and measure results. Businesses can monitor the performance of their marketing campaigns, analyze data, and make informed decisions to improve their strategies.
  • Personalization: Digital marketing enables businesses to personalize their marketing efforts. By tailoring messages and offers to individual customers and prospects, businesses can create more meaningful and engaging experiences that resonate with their audience.
  • Flexibility: The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and digital marketing allows businesses to quickly adapt to changes in the market. Whether it’s adjusting a campaign or exploring new digital channels, businesses can stay agile and responsive to market trends.

Types of Digital Marketing Channels

Overview of Digital Marketing Channels

There are several types of digital marketing channels that businesses can use to reach and engage with their target audiences. Each channel offers unique opportunities to connect with customers and drive business results. Here are some of the most effective digital marketing channels:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and increase organic traffic. By improving the visibility of a website on search engines, businesses can attract more visitors and potential customers.
  • Search Engine Marketing (SEM): SEM involves using paid advertising to increase visibility and drive traffic to a website. This includes pay-per-click (PPC) ads that appear on search engine results pages, helping businesses reach their target audience quickly.
  • Social Media Marketing: Social media marketing leverages social media platforms to promote products or services and engage with target audiences. By creating and sharing content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, businesses can build brand awareness and foster customer relationships.
  • Content Marketing: Content marketing focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and more, all aimed at providing value to the audience and driving engagement.
  • Email Marketing: Email marketing is the process of sending targeted and personalized messages to customers and prospects via email. It is a powerful tool for nurturing leads, building customer loyalty, and driving conversions.

These digital marketing channels can be used individually or in combination to create a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that drives business results. By understanding and leveraging these channels, businesses can effectively reach their target audience and achieve their marketing goals.

What Types of Reservations Do Business Have When Choosing a Marketing Company?

Marketing is a huge partnership. And it could easily be argued that it’s one of the biggest and most important business relationships you can enter into. As such, you should take things slow, find out everything you can about your chosen marketing company up front.

When it comes to reservations about working with a marketing company, the biggest obstacle that occurs is an overall lack of trust. This is common because trust is foundational and it takes time to build. As such, you should be skeptical, and you have every right to look at a digital marketing company with wary eyes, to ask questions and get answers.

A few additional reasons why a business owner may have reservations about working with a marketing company include:

  • You don’t know much about the digital marketing process
  • You don’t know what questions to ask
  • You have a hard time letting go and allowing someone else to take your business to the next level

Additionally, understanding the scope and impact of digital marketing efforts can be daunting for those unfamiliar with the field.

This short list is only the tip of the spear. The fact is you might have a plethora of reservations of working with a digital marketing company.

A Poor Previous Experience

You may have worked with an agency before but saw no results. In fact, you may even think that you got burned, or even that you were robbed. This is a common reaction when you pay for something and you aren’t given the results (or deliverables) you’d been assured you’d get. You may even think that all digital marketing agencies are the same, and you may be worried that you’d be making another mistake.

We’re here to tell you, not all digital marketing agencies are the same. And this is why it’s crucial that you enter the process slowly and well-informed.

No Understanding of the Process

People who’ve never worked with an agency before may have no idea what to expect – or they might have misconceptions. This includes understanding the intricacies of digital marketing campaigns and how they contribute to overall marketing success. And this can be a huge reservation when embarking on a business partnership. When you don’t understand how something works, it’s easy to doubt whether it works at all.

It’s important to remember just as you’re the expert in your industry and you know your business best, a digital marketing agency has the highest expertise in how to build your online presence and make the biggest impact with your target audience.

With the right digital marketing company, you’ll be guided through the process every step of the way. You’ll never be left in the dark, and you should always be encouraged to ask questions.

Difficulties Letting Go

Businesses are children to their owners. And rightfully so. You’re the one who’s envisioned, nurtured, and built your business from the ground up. It’s natural to be scared that someone else will misrepresent your brand if you give them creative control in certain areas.

However, remember that your marketing agency is your partner. By entrusting your marketing with the experts, you’ll have the time and capacity to focus on the most important aspects of your business – while experiencing all the benefits and growth that come with a solid marketing plan.

And just because you work with a marketing agency doesn’t mean you need to completely give up the reins. You can still give suggestions, share your vision, and ask plenty of questions. And a great marketing company will communicate well and ensure you’re never surprised. From quarterly reports to regular meetings, your marketing company should keep you in the loop.

No Clue About Budget

If you’ve never worked with an agency before, you may not fully understand the cost of services or deliverables – especially if you’ve been doing everything yourself when it comes to marketing. But you have every right to know exactly where your money is going and why the costs are set.

Understanding industry standards is the beginning of understanding how digital marketing operates, what it can offer, and why the pricing is set the way it is. And a competent and trustworthy digital marketing agency will inform you of this and ensure you fully understand what you can expect to pay before moving forward on any project.

Limited Knowledge About Tools, Language, or Social Media Marketing

The more you feel that you don’t know something, the more uncomfortable you’re going to get. And this is why one of the biggest reservations of working with a digital marketing agency regards the tools and specific language we use.

Let’s face it, when you get a lot of acronyms thrown at you all at once, it can be overwhelming and perhaps even a bit intimidating. Because not many people outside of the digital marketing space know what SEO, PPC, CMS, SEM, or even KPI means. In addition, you may have never heard of WordPress, SEO Surfer, Ahrefs, or SEM Rush – and these are all essential tools that are used in the digital marketing world.

The good news is you don’t need to know everything there is about marketing to see results. While it could be helpful to brush up on some of the basics, your marketing company should be willing to take the time to explain its strategies, share its results, and discuss its reasoning.

Struggling to Connect in the Sales Process

Here at Beacon, we believe there is a marketing partner for everyone. We’ll be the first to admit that we’re not the right partner for everyone and that it’s vital for both parties involved to make sure the match is just right. Maybe you’ve found a marketing agency that looks great on paper, has amazing case studies, and all the rest, but you can’t seem to meet eye to eye.

What worked for another company might not be what you need. Maybe you need a marketing agency that’s more responsive and willing to explain their process to you. Or maybe you need a company that can completely take the reins and get results with as little involvement from you as possible. And remember that relationships matter when it comes to partnerships. Ultimately, you need a partner you can trust and enjoy working with.

13 Red Flags to Look Out for When Choosing a Marketing Agency

Wouldn’t it be nice if ALL of life came along with red flags placed in the right places just so you could avoid danger? Well, fortunately, they do exist. You just have to know where to look. And one of the great things about a poorly run marketing agency is that they’re pretty easy to spot if you know what to look for.

A few reds (and yellow) flags to keep an eye out for include:

  • No SSL certification on their website
  • No photos of the team
  • No Glassdoor reviews
  • No Google reviews
  • Yellow flag: No work on the website that is similar to your industry – indicating they may have to learn your industry
  • Yellow flag: If the forms you fill out have low UX this could indicate poor management
  • The website lacks proper grammar, includes template/cookie-cutter examples, is not customized
  • No case studies (need to see some evidence of an agencies work)
  • Companies that claim to specialize in everything
  • Lack of contract or terms
  • Very long contract/ locking you in (Anything more than 1 year is suspect)
  • Promising instant results (if you get instant results no need for a contract)
  • High-pressure sales tactics – a good agency won’t need to push you into their services

Though these red flags may be evident up front, there still exists a small caveat – you won’t know if an agency doesn’t deliver until you’re in the relationship. And this may be evident right up front as well. But entering into the relationship is the only way you’ll know if the partnership is going to work.

Assessing a Digital Marketing Agency’s Capabilities

When evaluating a digital marketing agency, it’s essential to assess their capabilities to ensure they can meet your business needs. Here are some key factors to consider:

Digital Marketing Services

A reputable digital marketing agency should offer a range of services that align with your business goals. These may include:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Improving your website’s visibility on search engines to attract more organic traffic.
  • Social Media Marketing: Engaging with your target audience on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to build brand awareness and foster customer relationships.
  • Content Marketing: Creating and distributing valuable content that attracts and retains a clearly defined audience, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics.
  • Email Marketing: Sending targeted and personalized messages to your email list to nurture leads, build customer loyalty, and drive conversions.
  • Digital Marketing Campaigns: Developing and executing comprehensive marketing campaigns to drive traffic, generate leads, and increase conversions.

By offering a diverse range of services, a digital marketing agency can create a tailored marketing strategy that meets your specific business needs and helps you achieve your goals.

Technology and Tools

A digital marketing agency should have access to the latest technology and tools to help them deliver effective digital marketing strategies. These may include:

  • Marketing Automation Software: Streamlining and optimizing marketing processes to save time and improve efficiency.
  • Analytics Tools: Tracking website traffic, engagement, and conversion rates to measure the success of marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions.
  • Social Media Management Tools: Scheduling and publishing content across multiple social media platforms to maintain a consistent online presence.
  • SEO Tools: Optimizing website content to improve search engine rankings and attract more organic traffic.
  • Content Creation Tools: Producing high-quality content that resonates with your target audience and drives engagement.

By leveraging these advanced tools, a digital marketing agency can implement effective digital marketing strategies that deliver measurable results and drive business growth.

Questions to Ask a Digital Marketing Agency Before Hiring Them

The best part about hiring a digital marketing agency is that you’re in control. You have the power to turn over every rock before you ever sign a contract or shake a hand. And you should leave no stone unturned when it comes to handing over any element of control of your business to a partner. Understanding the role of a digital marketer and their expertise can help you make an informed decision. Digital marketers are crucial in creating effective strategies, utilizing automation, and adapting to new trends like AI and the metaverse.

What’s Your Project Management System?

If you ask this question and a marketing agency doesn’t have a project management system, this is a big problem. In today’s world, there’s just no way you can handle digital projects with a whiteboard and a handful of post-it notes.

The type of project management system an agency uses is critical to understanding how they operate as a business. So, it’s best to do your homework in this area.

What is Your Communication Cadence?

How often an agency communicates with each other internally and with you as a client is extremely important. Without an agreed-upon communication cadence, you’re going to be left in the dark when you want answers. And this is never a good way to operate in a business partnership.

In today’s business world, you simply have to have a robust communication system and a regular communication cadence if you hope to meet goals and be successful.

How is Reporting Delivered?

More importantly, ask how you’ll get your reporting – and what is to be included. Here at Beacon, we give customized reporting where our clients can access critical marketing data at any time from a convenient dashboard. And this is beneficial in so many ways.

The bottom line is, this is your data. And you’re going to use it to help make decisions. If you’re unable to decipher your reporting, or if you’re given access to reporting seldomly, then you may want to revisit your marketing partnership and set greater expectations.

Why Are Deliverables and Services Priced According to the Digital Marketing Strategy?

Ask about pricing and why. You have every right to know why you’re spending thousands of dollars on marketing. And if an agency can’t give you specific details on why prices are set accordingly, they need to at least give a qualifier on pricing before you consider moving forward with them.

Who’s Doing the Work, and What is Their Experience in Content Marketing?

Wouldn’t you like to know if the person handling your content marketing is at least competent at their job? You should, and you have every right to. Let’s face it, the last thing you’re going to want is for a team with little to no experience handling your account.

Ask about references, education, past work, and reputation. And if you’re not happy with the answers, you can move on.

Why Have Past Clients Left? Was It Due to Search Engine Optimization Issues?

Past clients hold troves of information for anyone looking to vet a digital marketing agency. And this is why checking out Glassdoor and Google reviews is critical to understanding how an agency operates.

In addition, a trustworthy agency will be open and honest about why clients have left in the past no matter the reason. And you could also ask follow-up questions to get even more clarity such as:

  • Was there an internal fix that was required?
  • Who are your most successful clients and why?
  • Who is not a good fit for you?

Is There a Guarantee?

We all love guarantees. And though not all agencies give a guarantee, some do. And if they do, this needs to be specific.

Chances are if a digital marketing agency is offering a guarantee, they’re likely operating at a very high level and are confident in their abilities to deliver.

Can I Interview My Account Manager Ahead of Time?

This question may be one of the most important. After all, your account manager will be your point of contact during your entire partnership. And wouldn’t you want to know the person handling your account a little bit better before agreeing to work with them?

In this case, ask to interview your account manager to see if you’re a good fit for one another.

How Involved Can I Be in the Process?

You may be accustomed to doing everything on your own. And this may make it hard to let go completely and allow someone else to take control of your brand. But many agencies will happily accept your input, whereas other agencies prefer to have full control.

Be clear and upfront with how involved you’re wanting to be in the process and choose an agency that can accommodate you.

What is the Onboarding Process and When Can I Expect Results?

Onboarding processes vary among agencies. The timing of deliverables will vary as well. But you should have a full picture going in on how quickly you’ll be able to get your program channels up and running, as well as a prospective timeline on when you can expect to see results from the partnership.

Making an Informed Decision

When evaluating a digital marketing agency, it’s crucial to make an informed decision based on their capabilities, services, and technology. Here are some factors to consider:

Evaluating Proposals and Pricing

When evaluating proposals from digital marketing agencies, consider the following factors:

  • Services Offered: Do they align with your business goals and objectives? Ensure the agency offers a comprehensive range of services that meet your needs.
  • Pricing: Is it competitive and transparent? Make sure you understand the cost structure and what you’re paying for.
  • Technology and Tools: Do they have access to the latest technology and tools to deliver effective digital marketing strategies? Advanced tools can significantly impact the success of your marketing efforts.
  • Case Studies and Testimonials: Do they have a proven track record of delivering successful digital marketing campaigns? Look for evidence of past successes and client satisfaction.
  • Communication: Are they responsive and communicative throughout the proposal process? Effective communication is key to a successful partnership.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose a digital marketing agency that meets your business needs and helps you achieve your goals.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Any Question

It’s often said that there’s no such thing as a stupid question except for the questions that you don’t ask. And you have every right to enter into any partnership knowing exactly where you stand. Once again, it comes down to understanding that not all agencies are a good fit for a client, and not all clients are a good fit for some agencies.

Here at Beacon, transparency is one of our core values. Our best clients give total control, and we get to work.

Other clients have very specific directions on what they want, and these clients are great to work with as well. It’s only when clients can’t relinquish control and everything tends to be micromanaged by the client that problems tend to arise.

At the end of the day, be honest about what you don’t know. Ask as many questions as possible. And pay attention to your experience with an agency right from the beginning.

How quickly did they get back to you? Was it an easy process? Is their website UX-friendly? Does the tone of the website match or connect to how their business operates? Is their team operating locally or based outside of the U.S.?

Base how an agency operates on your first impression – both digitally and personally. If you can’t navigate the website, the company may be hard to navigate as well. And if you had a bad experience over the phone or on a Zoom call, chances are your experience going forward may not be in your best interests.

What’s it Like Partnering With Beacon Media + Marketing?

At Beacon Media + Marketing, we’re not afraid to tell you if we feel we’re not a good match. Though we would love to work with every client who contacts us, we know that we simply can’t make everyone happy. And we’re well aware that some clients would do better with another agency that can cater directly to their needs.

In the digital marketing space, we understand that some clients have fears of the unknown. Some potential clients have been burnt in the past and come into a partnership in full guard. Our job is to vet you just like you’re going to vet us.

Here at Beacon, you can trust that our team of creative professionals will work diligently to get you the results that you’re looking for.

Are you ready to leverage digital marketing and make your business more competitive? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today to learn how we can help.

How Christian Mental Health Clinics Can Grow With Digital Marketing

Picture of Jeremiah Blanchard

Jeremiah Blanchard

Even in our modern age, seeking help for mental health issues still comes with a fair degree of stigma. Not only is this a very personal and delicate matter, it can also cause embarrassment and apprehension for anyone attempting to seek out support for mental health issues. And this is true in just about every community – including faith-based communities as well.

Religious leaders have always been willing to provide counsel for those in their congregations. And many members of faith-based organizations prefer the comfort of confiding in their religious leaders instead of a professional mental health practitioner. However, not all pastors, priests, or other religious leaders are educated in the mental health field. This is where Christian mental health clinics can help bridge the gap.

Your Christian mental health clinic serves a noble cause in the community – offering those within the faith community a safe place of compassion and healing. But to make your presence in the community more effective and reach more people in need, digital marketing efforts can be leveraged to bring greater awareness of the services you provide.

Could your Christian mental health clinic benefit from digital marketing? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing for a free consultation today.

How Can Christian Marketing Services Help?

As a Christian mental health clinic, serving God by offering help to those in need is likely a huge part of your and your team’s core values. But delivering the message the right way to those seeking your services can be a bit tricky. This is where knowledge of both the Christian community and marketing tactics can be a huge asset.

At the end of the day, the right message is going to be the key to attracting more people in need to your clinic. And in order to reach this audience, you have to know where to look. This is where professional digital marketing services can be a total game changer.

A few of the services that a digital marketing company can provide include:

  • Complete website design
  • Social media marketing
  • Paid ads
  • Brand reputation management
  • Monthly blog content production
  • Email marketing
  • Video ads
  • Reviews highlighting community contributions

One thing to remember is that current marketing trends stem from constant change. And this is true when marketing to faith-based communities as well. As such, it’s our job to keep abreast of these changes and offer you the best solutions for delivering your message and bringing people in need of mental health services right to your door.

The Power of Faith-Focused Messaging

As mentioned, focused messaging is the key to engaging with your community and building awareness around mental health and the services that you provide. But people in religious communities need to feel just as welcome in your clinic as they do in their church.

Faith-focused messaging allows you to talk about mental health from the Christian perspective – offering those seeking out your services the comfort and reassurance needed for them to feel as confident as possible when walking through your doors and talking to your practitioners.

For example, where an ordinary mental health clinic may have a focused message surrounding the importance of mental health and seeking treatment, a faith-focused message includes the importance of the community coming together and lifting one another up in times of need – just as Jesus once preached. And it is this message of neighborly love that will set you apart from other clinics in your community.

A faith-focused message reinforces the traditional Christian values that set you apart from other mental health clinics. It drives the idea of personal empowerment that having faith brings to those belonging to religious communities – and offers the element of hope that so many people who struggle with their mental health desperately need in today’s world.

The Christian Approach to Marketing

As a faith-based clinic, you likely want as many people in your community as possible to grow in their faith. And believe it or not, the Biblical principles of marketing can guide the process – offering you the ability to deliver your message genuinely, without coming across as too sales-focused, arrogant, or pushy.

It can almost go without saying that the teachings of Christ are about performing selfless acts of compassion, being humble, and helping those in need whenever possible. And though merely mentioning the words “marketing” and “church” in the same sentence may seem part of a complete oxymoron, Christ also taught that the spreading of good news is just as important as loving one another unconditionally.

For example, marketing is a concept that the Bible references on a few occasions. In fact, Romans 10:15 tells us “How welcome are the feet of the messengers of good news!” And it is this message that is part of the Christian approach to marketing.

In addition, Jesus frequently spoke to his disciples about spreading the word of God. And Jesus himself was a storyteller. This is also a huge part of marketing itself – the ability to tell stories, engage with the community, and deliver the message in an open, honest, and relatable way.

When you market your Christian mental health clinic, you’re not only allowing more people to find you and get the help they need, but you’re also glorifying the scripture and honoring the idea of spreading good news – lighting the path for others to follow and find the help they need.

Making an Impact on the Christian Community with Social Media

When you can reach more people, then you can have a positive impact on more lives. And with billions of users on social media platforms across the country, you also have the ability to make an impact far from the doors of your clinic.

By utilizing social media as a platform to deliver your message, you can engage with Christians from all backgrounds, and all ages. And when you target your message, you can reach groups that are in the most need, such as teens and young adults for example.

A few examples of how you can utilize social media to create more awareness of your services include:

  • Provide links to weekly newsletters
  • Link to popular and informative blog posts
  • Speak about your involvement in the community
  • Engage with those seeking mental health services
  • Share daily Christian inspiration such as quotes or passages from scripture
  • Invite people to join the conversation surrounding important issues
  • Help to normalize mental health by talking about it openly

Though it has been abused on many occasions, social media may be one of the greatest tools for spreading good news. And when you focus your efforts by partnering with a marketing company, you’ll have the research and resources you need to make the biggest impact in your community – and beyond.

Grow Your Christian Mental Health Clinic with Beacon Media + Marketing

At Beacon Media + Marketing, we’re dedicated to working for causes that we can stand behind. Not only do we want to help businesses realize their dreams, we want to see you thrive while strengthening your community in the process.

The professionals on your team will create your entire marketing strategy, perform in-depth research, brainstorm the best solutions, and work tirelessly to get you the results that you’ll need to succeed at spreading the good news about your Christian mental health clinic.

When you partner with Beacon Media + Marketing, we’ll handle all of your messaging and marketing goals and leave you to perform the work that God has called you to do – making the lives of those in your community better, and stronger in faith.

Are you ready to make the biggest impact through digital marketing for your Christian mental health clinic? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing for a free consultation today.

How to Improve Mental Health Awareness for Teens

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Jeremiah Blanchard

With the nationwide increase in mental health issues arising among teens and young adults, the need for bringing mental health awareness to teens is more important than ever. But as there is still a definite stigma surrounding seeking help for mental health issues, it can be challenging to encourage teens and parents to seek professional help.

Recent studies have shown that as much as 60 percent of teens have struggled with mental health at some point in their lives after age 13. And with these numbers on the rise, improving mental health awareness and offering teens a safe space to talk about what’s troubling them is becoming critical. But how do you improve mental health awareness in teens, and how can you apply this to your marketing strategy?

Thankfully, through compassionate and empathetic messaging, reaching teens who are struggling with mental health issues can be accomplished.

Are you trying to reach a teenage audience to promote mental health awareness? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today for a free consultation.

Marketing Mental Health Services for Teens

The average teenage mind is occupied with myriad things, and thoughts are constantly crashing into one another as they attempt to figure out who they really are and their place among their peers, their families, and in life. And all of this can not only be overwhelming, it can also significantly impact mental health – and be quite distracting as well.

One way to meet teens halfway when attempting to improve mental health awareness is to have these conversations where they’re likely to spend a large portion of their time – social media platforms.

Today, the average teen spends nearly a full workday online – nearly 8 hours. In fact, data published by JAMA Pediatrics found that screen time among teens rose from 3.8 hours to 7.7 hours in 2021. As such, if you want to send teens a message, social media is one of the best places to do so.

Common social media sites that teens frequent are:

  • Tik Tok
  • Instagram
  • Snapchat
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

When marketing mental health awareness to teens, meeting them halfway on social media not only grabs their attention, it begins to normalize the fact that they’re not alone. And the more positive content surrounding mental health awareness they’re able to read, the likelier it will be for teens to seek your help with counseling for mental health issues.

The Power of Hashtags in Teen Mental Health Awareness

In the past, hashtags were mostly used on Twitter to follow popular posts, causes, or other trending topics. But today, hashtags are everywhere – on just about all social media networks.

Today, even teens do their research. And though they likely know how to Google, many teens may be more likely to follow a hashtag and read content in this way instead of searching for specific terms. The great thing about utilizing hashtags for mental health awareness is that they can gain momentum; the more they’re shared, the more awareness will spread.

A few popular hashtags for promoting mental health awareness may include:

  • #teenmentalhealthawareness
  • #mentalhealthhero
  • #loveyourself
  • #teenselfcare
  • #selfcare
  • #stopthestigma
  • #suicideawareness
  • #mentalhealthmatters
  • #teenmentalhealth
  • #strugglingteens

By adding tags that teens will likely follow to your content, you may be able to reach more teens in need – and change lives in the process.

How to Talk to Teens About Mental Health

As mentioned, teens have a lot going on. Even though it may not seem to be much from an adult perspective, the emotions teens deal with on a daily basis can be mentally exhausting. And this is largely because many teens still don’t know exactly how to process those emotions. But when you can talk to them with empathy and compassion, you may be able to send a clear message.

It’s also important to note that no teen wants to be spoken to like a child. If anything, this type of talk will make them shut you out – complete with a complementary eye roll. But when you can speak about the importance of mental health, cite facts, and show them that they’re not alone and that it’s normal to desire help, this can become the breakthrough needed for a teen to seek you out for professional help.

A few ways to approach the subject of mental health with teens can include:

  • Talk about popular teen idols who’ve struggled with mental health
  • Host a podcast interviewing teens who have overcome mental health issues
  • Enlist an influencer who has struggled with mental health to promote awareness
  • Create content around trending topics where mental health issues have played a role
  • Create content that normalizes teens seeking help for mental health

When you can create content that teens relate to or will be attracted to, they’re going to be more intrigued and may take the first step in seeking out help.

Spread the Positivity

Not enough can be said about the power of positivity. This is because people gravitate toward what makes them feel comfortable and welcome. When you can incorporate this into your messaging, the likelihood of teens seeking out your help becomes much higher.

One way to do this is to share self-care tips. As mentioned, social media is a great place to share content that you hope will reach a teen audience. And even if it’s a blog post on self-care or a video showing how to implement a self-care regimen, your ideas may inspire teens to begin the process of self-care – including walking into your therapy practice.

You can also use your platform to help spread positive vibes. With a website, hosting a blog that speaks to teens directly, or one that offers a podcast where teens can listen to advice and hear the struggles of other teens can be highly effective in spreading both mental health awareness and positivity.

Above all, you want to be encouraging and supportive in all of your content. This helps to destigmatize seeking help for teen mental health, builds awareness, and shows them that they don’t have to internalize their feelings – that they don’t need to reach a breaking point before seeking help if they’re struggling with mental health.

Spread Teen Mental Health Awareness With Beacon Media + Marketing

Reaching a teenage audience isn’t the easiest thing to do. And this is because most teens are preoccupied with what’s going on in their immediate world. It’s only by entering that world that you’ll be successful in directing your message at teens – and this is where we come in.

Here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we pride ourselves on being able to promote mental health awareness and reach an audience that desperately needs your help. And our team of creative professionals knows how to break down these walls through focused and compassionate messaging – targeting teens and speaking to the issues that affect them on a daily basis.

With social media experts, creative content strategy, a team of great writers, and the desire to make a difference, here at Beacon, we’re ready to go to work for you to reach a teen audience and help you to promote your message so they can get the help they need.

Are you ready to make a difference and reach a teenage audience to promote mental health awareness? Contact Beacon Media + Marketing today for a free consultation.

A Guide to Personal Branding for Therapists

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Jeremiah Blanchard

Originally written by Jeremiah Blanchard, Beacon Content Lead. Updated and revised by Sara Jokela 12/23/24.

When you think of any well-known or popular brands on the market, you likely have a related image in your mind along with how you view that brand’s reputation. For instance, if you think of Nike, Gucci, or even Starbucks, you can probably envision their logo and your perception of the brand itself – also known as brand recognition.

While brand recognition and marketing are critical for any brand to become recognized and successful, so is personal branding. Establishing a clear brand identity is essential because your individual presence can also have a huge impact on your business and your client volume – and be helpful if you ever want to expand your practice.

As a therapist in the mental health space, it’s just as important for you to create a platform for yourself as it is for your practice. And as you’re likely the face of your practice, knowing how to showcase yourself in the best light is going to be integral to your overall success.

But how do you develop personal branding from a multi-faceted marketing approach? And what are consumers really looking for that will set you apart from other clinics?

Could you use help with personal branding for your therapy practice? Contact Beacon Media + Marketing today for a free consultation

What is Personal Branding?

Definition of Personal Branding

Personal branding refers to the process of creating and establishing a unique identity for an individual, in this case, a therapist, to differentiate themselves from others in their profession. It involves developing a consistent image, message, and values that reflect their expertise, personality, and approach to therapy. A strong personal brand helps therapists establish trust, credibility, and recognition with their target audience, ultimately leading to increased visibility, opportunities, and success.

Importance of Personal Branding for Therapists

In today’s competitive market, personal branding is crucial for therapists to stand out and attract clients. A well-crafted personal brand helps therapists:

  • Establish a unique value proposition and differentiate themselves from others
  • Build trust and credibility with potential clients
  • Increase visibility and recognition in their field
  • Attract their ideal clients and grow their practice
  • Develop a consistent message and image that reflects their expertise and approach
  • Enhance client engagement and increase sales by building a strong personal brand that resonates with your target audience

By investing in personal branding, therapists can take control of their professional image, build a loyal client base, and achieve their business goals.

Benefits of Personal Branding for Therapists

Personal branding is essential for therapists to establish themselves as experts in their field, build trust with potential clients, and differentiate themselves from competitors. By developing a strong personal brand, therapists can:

  • Increase Online Visibility and Credibility: A well-crafted personal brand enhances your presence on digital platforms, making it easier for potential clients to find and trust you.
  • Attract More Clients and Grow Your Practice: A unique and authentic brand helps you stand out, drawing in clients who resonate with your approach and values.
  • Establish Yourself as a Thought Leader: Sharing your insights and expertise through your brand positions you as a leader in your niche, attracting opportunities for speaking engagements, collaborations, and more.
  • Build a Loyal Community: A strong personal brand fosters a sense of connection and loyalty among your clients, turning them into advocates who refer others to your practice.
  • Increase Earning Potential and Career Opportunities: As your brand grows, so do your opportunities for higher earnings and career advancements, whether through expanding your practice or exploring new ventures.

What Exactly Are Consumers Looking For?

With such an emphasis being placed on policing misinformation in the modern digital era, many customers and consumers are keenly aware that the likelihood of being misled is fairly high – even in the health and wellness space. And this is why many consumers are seeking out profiles, credentials, bios, and other content that is going to tell them your story – or at least content that will let them know that you’re who you say you are.

For example, you don’t have to be a medical doctor to have a website claiming that you are. Though this would be a great example of fraudulent business practice, the fact remains that because the Internet is so vast and full of misinformation, you’ll want to ensure that your potential clients can trust you – and that you’re the real deal.

In addition, consumers are also actively seeking out content on social media, podcasts, blog posts, and client reviews about therapists. This is because your face and your story are important for building the foundation of trust – the first building blocks of any relationship.

Understanding Your Target Audience

Identifying Your Ideal Client

To create an effective personal brand, it’s essential to understand who your ideal client is. This involves identifying their demographics, needs, preferences, and pain points. By gaining insights into your target audience, you can tailor your branding, marketing, and services to meet their expectations and build a loyal client base. By treating your personal branding efforts as a structured project, you can ensure that each phase of development is carefully planned and executed.

To identify your ideal client, consider the following factors:

  • Demographics: age, location, occupation, education level, etc.
  • Needs: what are their specific needs and challenges related to therapy?
  • Preferences: what type of therapy approach do they prefer? What are their values and beliefs?
  • Pain points: what are their biggest challenges and concerns related to therapy?

By understanding your ideal client, you can create a personal brand that resonates with them, addresses their needs, and establishes you as a trusted and expert therapist in your field.

Understanding Their Needs and Pain Points

To create an effective personal brand, therapists need to understand the needs and pain points of their ideal clients. This involves:

  • Conducting Market Research: Identify your target audience and their specific concerns by analyzing market trends and data. This helps you tailor your services to meet their needs.
  • Analyzing Online Reviews and Feedback: Pay attention to what clients are saying about you and other therapists. This provides valuable insights into what clients are looking for and how you can improve your offerings.
  • Identifying Unique Challenges: Understand the unique challenges and pain points your target audience faces. This allows you to address these issues directly in your branding and marketing efforts.
  • Understanding the Client’s Journey: Map out the typical journey your clients take, from discovering your services to achieving their goals. This helps you create a brand that supports them at every stage.

Creating a Client Avatar

A client avatar is a detailed profile of your ideal client, including their demographics, goals, challenges, and behaviors. By creating a client avatar, therapists can:

  • Develop a Deeper Understanding: Gain a comprehensive understanding of your target audience and their specific needs, allowing you to tailor your services and marketing efforts effectively.
  • Create Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Use the insights from your client avatar to develop marketing campaigns that resonate with your ideal clients, increasing engagement and conversion rates.
  • Develop Services and Programs: Design services and programs that address the specific needs and challenges of your clients, ensuring they feel seen and understood.
  • Build a Loyal Community: When clients feel that you truly understand them, they are more likely to become loyal followers and advocates for your practice.

What Does a Personal Brand Identity Strategy Entail?

When it comes to personal branding, half of this is all about focused messaging. And the clearer and more authentic your message is to your target audience, the better the response will be.

Collaborating with experienced partners can provide valuable insights and resources to enhance your personal brand strategy.

Achieving measurable results is crucial, as it demonstrates the effectiveness of your branding strategy and enhances the value of your brand.

Let’s face it. Most of us know a phony when we see (or hear) one. And your potential clients are the same. It’s easy to spot a fake, and it’s just as easy to spot fake or inauthentic messaging. This is why working with a marketing company can be a huge asset for honing your message and delivering it to the world in the most honest way.

But in order to have a message, you also need a platform. And this is where you can leverage your website and social profiles to help deliver your message.

A few ways you can highlight your personal brand are:

  • A bio on your website
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Blogs (written by you or professionally ghostwritten)
  • E-books and guides
  • Social media posts

All in all, a personal brand message contains a few essential elements that all work together. And these include delivering a focused message, being genuine, being consistent, seeking to create a positive impact, and leaving potential clients intrigued about you and your practice.

Once you incorporate these elements into your strategy, you’ll be setting yourself apart from the competition by highlighting all of the amazing things that you’ve done in your career – and making potential clients curious about you and what you can offer.

Developing Your Brand Identity

A strong brand identity is essential for therapists to establish themselves as experts in their field and build trust with potential clients. This involves:

  • Developing a Unique Logo and Visual Brand: Your logo and visual elements should reflect your values and personality, creating a memorable and professional image.
  • Creating a Consistent Tone and Voice: Your communication style should resonate with your target audience, whether through written content, videos, or social media posts.
  • Developing a Brand Message: Clearly communicate your unique value proposition, highlighting what sets you apart from other therapists and how you can help your clients.
  • Establishing a Strong Online Presence: Utilize social media and a professional website to showcase your expertise, share valuable content, and engage with your audience.

Crafting Your Brand Message

A clear and compelling brand message is essential for therapists to communicate their unique value proposition and attract potential clients. This involves:

  • Identifying Unique Strengths and Expertise: Highlight what makes you unique, whether it’s your approach to therapy, your experience, or your specialized skills.
  • Developing a Clear and Concise Message: Your brand message should be easy to understand and resonate with your target audience, clearly conveying how you can help them.
  • Creating a Consistent Brand Voice and Tone: Your communication should reflect your personality and values, creating a sense of authenticity and trust.
  • Using Storytelling and Emotional Connections: Share your story and connect with your audience on an emotional level, building rapport and trust with potential clients.

By following these steps, therapists can create a powerful personal brand that attracts clients, builds trust, and sets them apart in the competitive mental health space.

Enhancing Your Online Presence

We can’t stress the importance of your online presence enough for businesses. After all, it’s largely through social media and review sites that clients may hear about you, and what your practice can offer. This is why you need to not only be engaging, you need to build a legacy and leave a positive impression no matter where your digital footprints lead.

Additionally, as the old saying goes, the best PR is often by word of mouth. And as you may already know, word travels fast on the Internet.

So how can you enhance your online presence? Consider the following methods for better engagement with your potential clients:

  • Create monthly or bi-monthly blog posts centered around subjects that your target audience cares about
  • Actively post on social media and respond to messages and comments
  • Create a podcast and speak about topics that your audience wants to learn more about
  • Link to review sites and respond to all reviews – even the negative ones
  • Guest post on industry-related blogs or colleague websites
  • Speak at conferences in your local community and nationally
  • Create informative videos and host them on your website
  • Engage with companies locally by participating in community events and collaborating on local projects to build a strong local presence

The key is to get yourself out there as much as possible. And while going viral isn’t the exact goal, if it happens, this will only enhance your brand recognition, both personally and professionally.

Creating a Positive Impact

As a therapist in the health and wellness space, companies and people naturally expect you to be positive so that you can help them with their problems and guide them toward better health. But before anyone is going to walk through your door, you have to create trust and establish authority. And this can be done in a variety of ways.

When looking to create your personal brand, delivering a positive impact on your community should be a main priority. And whether this is creating uplifting or helpful content on mental health issues, retweeting industry-related wins or any other method is up to you. But above all, being consistent and keeping positivity as a part of your overall message is going to be the key to attracting more clients and standing apart from your competitors.

The world is already full of negativity. But if you can be a light in the darkness, chances are that more people will take notice and naturally gravitate toward you – where they feel safe and welcome.

Create Your Personal Brand With Beacon Media + Marketing

Personal branding for therapists can be a time-consuming process. And as a therapist, it’s likely that you have current clients who need your undivided attention. This is where we come in. Because we know just how much work is involved in any personal branding endeavor and we have all the tools to show the world who you are and allow your therapy practice to thrive.

Here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we’re ready to help you craft your message and engage with your target audience by using a multi-faceted marketing approach. With our team of social media experts, paid ads experts, content writers, and marketing professionals well-versed in brand reputation management, you can rest easy and let us do all of the work to get your personal brand highlighted and set up for success.

Are you ready to get started with personal branding for your therapy practice? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today for a free consultation

Google E-E-A-T: Why “Experience” Matters for Your 2023 SEO Strategy

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Jeremiah Blanchard

We all know that Google loves rolling out new updates. And anyone in the marketing space loves digging into these new updates and nerding out on how to best apply the principles – right after we’re done freaking out. This is why last month we brought you several reasons why Google E-A-T matters, and how you can apply the principles of E-A-T in your marketing strategy.

Well, in typical Google update fashion, the acronym itself has been updated to include an added E – Experience. And though trust remains the most important component of E-E-A-T, experience is one element that all content should reflect.

Google E-E-A-T now stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. And you can look at this acronym as tiered, beginning with Experience as the first threshold and finally ending at Trustworthiness – the final and most valued element of E-E-A-T according to Google. But what value does “Experience” bring to your marketing campaign, and how can it help with your 2023 SEO strategy?

Are you applying the principles of E-E-A-T in your 2023 SEO strategy? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today to schedule a free consultation.

Why Does E-E-A-T Matter for SEO?

The acronym E-E-A-T comes from Google’s Search Quality Rating Guidelines but is only one factor that Google references in order to evaluate the overall quality of web content and rank it accordingly. However, as you might imagine, the quality of your content is going to play a huge role in how Google ranks a particular page in organic search results.

According to Google, when determining the overall quality of a web page, the most important factors used include:

  • The overall purpose and value of the page
  • E-E-A-T
  • Content quality (including the amount of content)
  • Detailed information about the content creator (or the website itself)
  • The content creator’s reputation (or the reputation of the website)

It’s important to remember that different types of content will require different levels or applications of E-E-A-T. And each of these factors has its own ranking profile. For example, if you have high expertise, you could also have low authority along with a mediocre ranking in experience or trust – or any similar variation. As such, it becomes critical to hone and balance your E-E-A-T, and fully understand the evaluation of each element.

How Important is “Experience” for Your 2023 SEO Strategy?

All in all, Experience is the lowest threshold that a website needs to cross to meet the first standard of E-E-A-T. This is not to say that it’s the least important factor as experience does weigh heavily on the effectiveness and value of a piece of content. However, in contrast to expertise and authority, experience is considered a lower tier by Google evaluators.

The main thing to understand is that experience adds significant value. And it is quite easy to tell when a content creator has little to no experience when crafting a blog post, article, or any other piece of content because some information may not be factual or even relevant to a reader.

For example, you may know a lot about wilderness survival, but have you ever been in a real survival situation? Do you know how to navigate the wilderness, or how to build a fire? This is where proof of experience can be a huge asset such as a video of you making a fire in the woods using primitive tools, or images including the step-by-step process.

When Google (and readers) can see that you have experience, this enhances your E-E-A-T, and can work to boost your SEO rankings – another great reason why adding proof of experience, or listing verified credentials is critical to your overall SEO strategy.

What is YMYL and Why is It Important for SEO?

YMYL – Your Money or Your Life, is another clever acronym that Google uses to categorize web pages that may impact elements such as your health, finance, safety, or happiness. And sites that have content falling into these categories are held to the highest standards of E-E-A-T when being reviewed by a Google search evaluator.

Due to the subject matter, if statements are misleading or inaccurate, this can not only affect the person reading the content, it can diminish the trust that a user has in Google to guide them when searching for information. Because at the end of the day, when you’re speaking to clients or consumers in any piece of content, you need to ensure that you’re not being misleading.

Additionally, according to a statement from Google, “We have very high page quality rating standards for YMYL pages because low-quality YMYL pages could negatively impact a person’s happiness, health, financial stability, or safety.”

A few types of common YMYL websites may include information related to:

  • Investments or retirement planning
  • Healthcare, mental health, or pharmacies
  • Ecommerce content
  • Content that discusses dangerous activities
  • Law or government agencies
  • Content that discusses age, race, nationality, disabilities, or gender

All of this makes E-E-A-T extremely important for SEO – starting with experience. And businesses that create content falling into the YMYL category need to make sure that the content is created by those with verifiable experience, sound reputations, and verified credentials.

How to Enhance Google E-E-A-T for Your SEO Strategy

Google updates essentially all serve the same purpose – to improve user experience and enhance trust in Google services. And E-E-A-T is simply another way for Google to build trust and give its consumers what they want.

At the end of the day, E-E-A-T is used to determine a website or content creator’s credibility. And it’s this preliminary evaluation process that allows Google to determine whether a website offers valuable content to its readers – or not.

When working to enhance your E-E-A-T, consider the following practices for SEO:

  • Build relevant backlinks (if you’re operating a healthcare business, you probably don’t want backlinks from a furniture website)
  • Frequently update your content for accuracy and relevance · Make it easy for clients to leave reviews and testimonials (authority and trust)
  • Bring in verifiable experts to create content
  • Acquire mentions from trusted and verifiable sources
  • List your credentials and those of your colleagues, or link out to a bio page

By working to enhance the trust and authority of your website, you’ll be making Google happy. And by sending Google all the right signals, you’ll be building trust, showing your experience and expertise, and establishing authority – all the ingredients that make for a great website and a higher SEO ranking.

Enhance Your E-E-A-T with the Content Marketing Professionals at Beacon Media + Marketing

You’ve probably worked really hard to gain the experience you need to start your business and create content that your readers love to read. And experience in the field is the first step in becoming an expert and developing authority and trust – all key components of E-E-A-T. And here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we know how to build your content the right way – without taking any shortcuts.

By highlighting your direct experience and expertise we can build your authority and trust. And this allows our marketing team to enhance your content and make sure that it meets Google and consumer standards.

With our talented team of creatives and marketing professionals, here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we have the tools to showcase your experience and deliver your content to your audience keeping best industry practices in mind.

Are you ready to showcase your experience and enhance E-E-A-T in your 2023 SEO strategy? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today to schedule a free consultation.

Recruitment in Mental Health: How to Highlight Your Amazing Work Culture

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Jeremiah Blanchard

Do the words fun, positivity, camaraderie, and inclusiveness speak to your company’s work culture? And do you just love showing up to work and seeing all of your employees full of energy and in great spirits? If this is the case, your amazing work culture can also be a powerful tool that you can leverage for attracting more customers and prospective job candidates.

The fact is, having a strong and beneficial work culture doesn’t just benefit you and your current employees. When shared with the world, your work culture can become an impactful message that attracts people to your mental health practice and bolsters your mental health marketing strategy. This is exactly the type of reputation-building message you should highlight. And according to Beacon Media + Marketing CMO Jennifer Christensen, “the same message you’re putting out there to attract more clients is the same message that you should be using for recruiting.”

Interested in growing your practice by highlighting your amazing company culture? Reach out to Beacon Media + Marketing today and schedule a free consultation.

Starting From Within

What are you doing in your company for fun? While the answer to this question might not seem to be effective when attempting to attract clients, believe it or not, highlighting every aspect of positivity can attract both clients and job seekers for your mental health practice.

“Using tools like Instagram to highlight your staff, staff achievements, and the things you’re doing in your company just for fun, this becomes a message not just about them, but about your company as a whole,” Christensen explains.

Taking another example, Ellie Mental Health showcases its staff members as part of each page thus making the team represent Ellie as a company – and offering full transparency. And according to Jennifer, “Actions speak louder than words, so showcasing your team becomes a pretty big deal and a major asset to attracting both clients and job seekers,” she says.

Ellie Mental Health Website Homepage

By nurturing your company culture from within and highlighting your culture within your marketing strategy, you can improve both morale and employee retention, and send a positive message to the world for all to hear.

How To Make the Message Count

When it comes to marketing your company culture, there are several methods that can be leveraged. But the key throughout needs to be the expression of authenticity as it exists within your company.

A few methods you can utilize to express the truth behind your company culture can include:

  • Video testimonials – from C-level staff as well as from all team members
  • Glassdoor and Google reviews – responding positively to all reviews and telling your story in an authentic way
  • Website messaging – highlighting positive aspects of the company
  • Social messaging – keeping the conversation centered on your employees and their achievements where appropriate

Keeping active and engaging with everyone who becomes part of the conversation about your company is critical to highlighting company culture in a genuine way. And according to Jennifer Christensen, “You’re never going to get absolutely perfect reviews, but it’s by making sure that you’re staying active and responding to those reviews, making sure that you’re addressing concerns and telling your story in a genuine way that makes the biggest difference,” she explains.

What Makes a Work Culture Amazing?

How do we define “amazing?” According to Christensen, “It’s different for every company. And that’s the main part of it because there’s no exact formula. We know that people care about flexibility a lot, as it’s become a cornerstone of a quality company culture. But at the end of the day, it’s all about being true to your values and true to who you are as a company.”

When looking at what makes a company an “amazing” place to work, there are entirely too many internal dynamics at play that make a company what it is. For example, while some companies are very deadline-oriented or sales-focused, this might be off-putting to many prospective job candidates. But this might also be the perfect fit for job candidates who thrive in these conditions, so knowing your company and your ideal candidate profile becomes critical for authentic messaging to be effective.

“The first thing about creating a fantastic company culture is brutally honest self-awareness. Asking yourself, who are you really? What are you trying to accomplish, and what are other people going to be a part of? The second part is the authentic human element. Showing empathy and extending this out to your entire team,” Jennifer explains.

Creating an amazing company culture also requires a mission-vision, offering prospective employees a glimpse at where they’re actually headed. And this allows them to decide if they want to be a part of your journey within the mental health space, or not.

Utilizing Positive Recruitment Methods

Believe it or not, personalizing the people behind your company in place of personalizing your brand name can go a long way toward authentic personal branding. And depending on your company culture, you can utilize several channels for this high level of personal branding.

A few channels to consider are:

  • LinkedIn
  • Tik Tok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

For example, while one business may be able to leverage Tik Tok for gaining exposure with younger job applicants, depending on your company culture, utilizing LinkedIn can be a great place to highlight your employees’ or entire team’s achievements and company goals. And this can also spearhead your recruitment efforts.

Additionally, a marketing company can help direct recruitment efforts and actually help you to build a more positive and inclusive company culture in the process. “Statistically, the more that you actually put your culture online and share it, the more it can positively increase your internal culture. So, there’s a symbiotic relationship that manifests as a result of expressing and embodying authenticity. And as employees pick up on this, it enhances overall company culture,” Christensen offers.

Expansion and Investing in Recruitment

If you’re running a smaller mental health practice or operating with only one or a few therapists, deciding how and where you should spend your money if you’re wanting to grow your business can be a difficult decision. But if you want to grow, you simply have to budget for both client acquisition and recruitment efforts – because both are equally important, especially today.

“Right now, we know we’re in a market where there are more jobs than qualified people in the mental health space. And if you want to grow at all, recruitment has to be a part of your marketing strategy,” Christensen says.

At the end of the day, marketing is already going to be an effort that you’ll be spending money on. And with all of the tools available, for any growth to occur, directing marketing efforts toward enhancing company culture will likely bring in both clients and job applicants.

Grow Your Mental Health Practice with Beacon Media + Marketing

We cannot stress the importance of highlighting your company culture to grow your practice enough. After all, job seekers want to know who you are and why they should work for you. And here at Beacon Media + Marketing, we understand the nuances behind company culture messaging.

From monthly blog posts, social media marketing, and developing a full marketing strategy that includes web design, growing your therapy practice can be made possible. Just give us the reigns and allow our team of creatives to do what they do best – to help you reach your recruitment goals and grow your business. We can’t wait to see your therapy practice grow and thrive!

Could you use help with growing your practice by highlighting your amazing company culture? Contact Beacon Media + Marketing today and schedule a free consultation.

A Guide to Compassionate Marketing for Eating Disorder Treatment Centers

Picture of Jeremiah Blanchard

Jeremiah Blanchard

The competition for consumer attention has never been as vast as it is in the modern digital age. And with the average consumer’s attention being directed and redirected thousands of ways any given day, compassionate messaging has become extremely valuable – and necessary.

Successful marketing is often the product of a recipe containing many essential ingredients. With today’s focus on social good, social justice, and being sensitive to emotional needs, consumers have their ears tuned to the primary ingredient – compassion. And if you’re not actively showing that your company holds compassion and accountability to the highest standard, you could easily face a downturn in profit and a reduced customer base.

Brands need to show the consumer that they’re doing more than taking their specific needs into consideration. And when marketing for eating disorder treatment centers, you need to show consumers that you understand their struggle – and that you’re not simply trying to make a profit.

Ready to let Beacon go to work to help you develop compassionate messaging for your eating disorder treatment center? Learn how we can help your clinic thrive with our mental health marketing services.

What Is Compassionate Marketing?

It may seem puzzling to think of marketing as compassionate. After all, the primary goal of marketing is always to achieve the greatest ROI, right? Well, not exactly.

Without the element of compassion, a marketing message may easily fall on deaf ears, or fall flat on the page. Without a deep, authentic meaning in your messaging, you’ll likely fail at establishing a deeper connection with your target audience.

Compassionate content marketing is concerned more with kindness and honesty than with numbers or conversion. This is a message that places the humanity of your audience as the center focus of your efforts. Essentially, compassionate marketing is an intuitive and creative way to help your audience identify with your brand, and not feel like outsiders looking in.

At the end of the day, you want your audience to already feel like they’re a part of the family before they ever step through the doors of your clinic. And empathic messaging is the key to establishing this level of trust and understanding.

Normalize the Struggle

Those with eating disorders are already protective of their condition. In fact, many eating disorder patients have trouble coming forward and admitting to anyone that they have a problem. This type of disorder is often held as a secret, and this is why compassionate messaging will allow an eating disorder treatment center to offer the level of comfort that an eating disorder patient is looking for.

At the most basic level, as an eating disorder treatment center, you need to normalize the struggle and let it be known to the world that these problems are not the dirty little secrets that many patients attempt to keep buried. This is a condition that needs to be talked about, and the following methods offer an opportunity for doing so:

  • Start inclusive conversations about eating disorders on social media
  • Ask your audience to offer their ideas about eating disorders through surveys
  • Use a podcast to help spread positive and compassionate messaging about eating disorders
  • Invite social influencers with eating disorders to promote your clinic
  • Offer free ebooks or guides for those struggling with eating disorders
  • Provide stigma-breaking, informative blogs on eating disorders

People suffering from eating disorders need to feel welcomed and understood. As an eating disorder brand, you need to not only accommodate your patients, you need to let them know that they’re not black sheep – that they’re safe and welcome. And by doing so, the more effective and compassionate your messaging will be.

Eliminating the Shame

Shame is something we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives in moments of social rejection, failed connection, or when we’ve exercised poor judgment and made a critical mistake. In fact, the feeling of shame often occurs when our highest ideal of self differs from how we perceive ourselves. And an eating disorder can make one feel riddled with shame, guilt, and even self-hatred.

As a mental health brand specializing in eating disorder treatment, eliminating the element of shame is often a primary goal when treating a patient, and the same should be true when developing your marketing message.

Messages promoting self-compassion, self-love, and body positivity may offer the best hope for eliminating the shame that many of those with eating disorders feel throughout the day. And the more you can connect with your audience and deliver messages full of love and empathy, the greater the response from potential patients you’ll see.

Setting the Tone With Visual Empathy

A primary method for truly showing the consumer that you’re a compassionate brand is through a combination of messaging and visually authentic designs that work to reinforce your message. And in order to achieve this effect, the imagery needs to suit the message.

The following examples of imagery may prove quite effective and inviting for potential eating disorder patients:

  • Images of people enjoying food together
  • Images highlighting a compassionate patient/clinician relationship
  • Images of diversity
  • Images of togetherness
  • Images of embracing one another

The most effective imagery when it comes to compassionate messaging embodies the principles of kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, thoughtfulness, and inclusiveness. And when implemented in a design, this imagery can help to alleviate the internalized feelings of shame and self-criticism that many sufferers of eating disorders face on a daily basis.

Address the Tough Issues with a Gentle Touch

As mentioned, we all know that eating disorders can be a difficult topic to discuss openly. And with the American Society for Nutrition noting that eating disorders are on the rise, this leaves you with a larger audience and many sensitive issues to discuss. Whether in blogs, email content, ebooks, or guides, these discussions need to be open, honest, inviting, and gentle to those sensitive about their eating disorder.

Potential areas to discuss in your digital platforms may include:

  • Social anxiety caused by eating disorders
  • Mood disorders
  • Body dysmorphia
  • Depression
  • Binge eating
  • Anorexia
  • Bulimia

A gentle and compassionate voice can go a long way in the effort to help reduce the stigma and cultural stereotypes that often come along with eating disorders. Essentially, when your marketing message focuses more on helping than selling, this changes the focus of the campaign and highlights your brand’s core values. And this is where partnering with a marketing company can be a powerful tool for focusing your brand’s voice and delivering compassionate messaging.

Scaling Your Eating Disorder Treatment Practice with Beacon Media + Marketing

At Beacon, we know how difficult it can be to come up with the right messaging and deliver that compassionate voice that your audience is looking for. But this is why our team is here.

From web design, paid ads, social media marketing, monthly blog posts, and developing your entire marketing strategy, growing your eating disorder treatment practice can be left in our capable hands. And you can sit back and relax (or focus on other areas of your business) while Beacon Media + Marketing creates your next successful eating disorder marketing campaign.

Our team of creatives and digital marketing experts each knows exactly what to do to develop compassionate messaging and allow you to reach your business goals, and we can’t wait to see your eating disorder treatment center thrive!

Ready to see how Beacon Media + Marketing can help your eating disorder treatment center thrive? Reach out and schedule your free consultation today!

How Much Does Content Marketing Cost? Why You Should Outsource Blogging to an Agency

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Jeremiah Blanchard

Owning a business is an exciting endeavor. Honestly, it feels good, right? And you probably have great ideas for growth as all business owners should. But when you begin looking to grow your business and get the most out of your hard work and effort, you may find that the digital marketing world is a bit hard to navigate. This can make anyone pause and ask a few serious questions.

Should you pay for content marketing? Should you write your own content? How much does content marketing cost? Do I really need a website? And how exactly can blogging help my business to grow and thrive?

If you’re unsure about how to grow your business, or how content marketing agencies can help your business to reach its full potential, we’ve provided a guide that answers all of your questions – and we’ll also show you how the cost of content marketing pales in comparison to the ROI you’re sure to see.

Are you considering hiring a digital marketing agency to grow your business? Contact Beacon Media + Marketing today to learn more!

Why Choose a Marketing Agency For Content Marketing

Maybe you’re a resourceful business owner. Perhaps you’re business savvy and you already know a good bit about marketing. But, are you prepared to handle marketing your business while also taking care of your clients, employees, and colleagues? That’s a lot of work for anyone. And unless you’re looking forward to burnout, you may want to outsource so you can take a breath and concentrate on your primary obligation – running your business.

Marketing agencies handle the hard and tedious work for you. And a competent marketing agency won’t ask you to think up strategies or point them in the right direction. A quality marketing company will be able to interpret your goals, be intuitive to your needs, and present you with the best marketing campaign for your niche.

The bottom line is, with a marketing agency, you won’t have to worry about any of the following:

  • Developing a content strategy
  • Performing SEO research (this takes a while!)
  • Writing multiple blogs every month
  • Crafting content that converts
  • Designing a website
  • Publishing a website to industry standards
  • Targeting your audience
  • Keeping up with emerging trends
  • Keeping up with Google algorithm changes

At the end of the day, marketing agencies perform a lot of work. And this is all work that you’d be doing without an agency by your side. Still, you may be concerned about the cost of working with a marketing agency. But when you consider the volume of work performed and the ROI you’ll get, a marketing agency becomes a highly attractive solution.

The Average Cost and ROI of Content Marketing

You probably wouldn’t be in business if you didn’t consider the cost of any investment. And rightfully so. You want to know where your money is going and what you’re going to get in return, right?

Though costs vary depending upon the agency, the average cost of a content marketing campaign can range anywhere between $5,000 dollars a month on up to $60,000 or more per month for a large enterprise. But when you only consider the dollar value, you’re completely forgetting about the potential ROI that comes attached to these prices.

The fact is, the average ROI for digital content marketing is around 4:1, or about 4 dollars gained for every 1 dollar spent. And with 400 percent as an average return on your investment, this is a great place to start!

Despite this attractive ROI, you should also keep in mind that content marketing may take time. But the average business usually begins to see a return on investment after one quarter – or between 4 to 5 months on average.

How a Professional Blog Can Benefit Your Business

If you want to engage with your audience on the local, national, and international levels, you need to have a blog. And this is because a blog helps to deliver your message to your audience, whoever or wherever they may be. But you can’t just string a few sentences together and expect people to flock to your website with an open wallet. Blogging is an art – and quality blogging provided by an agency can generate thousands of dollars per month.

Think about it like this: If you have a great message but it’s being featured on a poorly designed blog, your ROI could be impacted by as much as 50 percent. And this is because readers expect to be both visually engaged and mentally stimulated.

Remember, it’s not just the words on the page that draw in a potential customer. It’s the design, headline, strategy, infographics, videos, CTAs, and other included content that a quality blog should incorporate if it’s to be useful.

With quality blogging, you’ll get the following:

  • In-depth market research
  • Customer profile research
  • SEO optimization
  • Catchy headlines
  • Engaging, personable dialogue
  • Eye-catching imagery
  • Informative videos
  • Content that converts
  • Strategic CTAs
  • Internal linking strategy
  • High-quality backlinks

Blogging content also needs to be knowledgeable and informative. It needs to be engaging and conversational. And a blogger employed by a marketing agency has already proven their worth by crafting thousands of blogs in a specific niche. These are experts in their field, and the writing will literally speak for itself.

How to Choose the Right Content Marketing Team for Your Business

When you begin looking for the right digital marketing agency for your business, there are several determining factors that you need to take into consideration. After all, you want to work with a reputable company that gets results but also one that can provide you with the level of service that is committed to helping your business thrive.

Of course, cost is always going to be a factor. You’ll also want to consider the type of marketing plans an agency offers. And though the cost for these plans can be high for larger businesses as previously mentioned, for small to mid-size businesses this can range anywhere between $2,500 to $12,000 dollars per month on average.

Beyond the cost, a few factors when choosing a marketing agency should include:

  • Credibility
  • Background & Specialty
  • Expertise & Experience
  • Current clientele
  • Competitor representation
  • Management skills
  • Company reviews

As with any investment, it’s important that you do your research before aligning with any marketing agency for your digital marketing needs. And make sure you shop around to ensure you’ll be getting the best plan at the best price for your marketing budget.

How Beacon Media + Marketing Can Help Your Business Grow

At Beacon Media + Marketing, we’re in business to help you build yours. And we have a talented team of marketing professionals – from engaging content strategists and writers to a crew of creative content and web developers – all enthusiastically driven to be part of a winning process for your business.

We have a range of services that we offer, including website design and development as well as content strategy and blogging, social media marketing, paid advertising, branding, graphic design, and more. And your business can benefit from all of these services with our cost-effective marketing plans for any marketing goal you want to meet.

At Beacon Media + Marketing, we’re committed to your success and we want to be there to watch as your business begins growing and thriving.

If you’re ready to find out how Beacon Media + Marketing can grow your business and help you to succeed, reach out and get your free growth plan today!

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