What is the best way to build a successful hypnotherapy business?

Building your hypnotherapy business is the most important part of being self-employed. As I say to my delegates on the hypnotherapy diploma course – you can be the best hypnotherapist in the country but if nobody knows you are there. You will not get any clients.

After you have done all the obvious building your website, setting up networking events, business cards etc. Then the work begins.

I have had a few business coaches, and they all tend to say the same things. Their first bit of advice is to put your prices up. The next bit is to specialise.

I have always answered the same; firstly, I do not want to increase my prices. I am happy with what I am charging, and as for specialising, I do specialise. I am a HYPNOTHERAPIST. That is what I do, and I have tools in my toolbox to enhance my skill set as a hypnotherapist. I don’t offer other therapies alongside my hypnotherapy business. I don’t offer counselling, EFT, EMDR or any other therapies. Not because they don’t work, but hypnotherapy is my skill set. That is what I specialise in, and I enjoy working as a hypnotherapist.

I have pointed out to business coaches how they don’t specialise in helping one type of business. They help all types of businesses.

However, to get my hypnotherapy business off the ground, one of the things I did was to have a separate website for weight loss.

I built my business targeting weight loss as people will spend money on losing weight. You have to look at all the pills and potions you can buy on the internet. Let alone all the new diets and healthy eating plans that are available.  Weight loss is a great area to grow your business and your reputation.

How can your website help in building your hypnotherapy business?

Your website is a shop window for your business. You need to add content to it regularly. It is not good to pay someone to build you a beautiful website and think it will automatically attract business.  You need to look after your website and keep it current informative and interesting.

At one of the networking groups I belonged to, one of the delegates gave a talk about websites, and the metaphor that she used has stuck with me.

She said to imagine in the middle of the floor; that a dog is sleeping. It looks cute, but the dog is sleeping and you take a glance at the cute dog and carry on with what you are doing.  Now imagine if I threw a ball at the dog. The dog would jump up and start playing.

Now we’re all noticing the dog!

Your website is the same. If you have your website on Google and do nothing with it. Google does not notice. However, if you add content or new pages, Google notices that your website is there.

When you have your website all pretty and new, don’t just leave it and assume that Google ranks you up to the top of Google. Go into your website regularly. Make changes, and add content. Put up testimonials people do read your testimonials. Keep it alive.

Think of your website as a shop window

When I had a coffee shop, whenever we made a change, painting the window frames, adding a new sign in the window, making a simple change, people would come in and say how long you have been here? We haven’t noticed this shop before!!

Building your business takes time and consistency. Your website is part of your business, and if you just put it up and do nothing with it. Google will not notice you are there. Google loves change, and Google loves content.