The web’s full of possibilities – but only some of them are worth your time, money and effort.
We’ve got a dozen suggestions for capitalizing on the best the Internet has to offer your wellness business, without spending a bundle:
1) Switch to a WordPress-based website
The single most important web innovation on this list, because it gives you back control over your website – no erratic, expensive web developers needed.
2) Use Google Alerts
Get free notifications anytime someone posts something on a topic you care about: your business name, a competitor, a particular wellness topic of interest.
3) Revisit your telecom bill
Switch traditional business telephone service to VOIP. Drop your cellular contract and switch to prepaid. Use free videoconferencing tools like Google Meet.
4) Put an email newsletter signup on your website
It goes in the upper right corner of every page, not down at the bottom where no one will see it. Test it to make sure it works. Customize everything your email service provider lets you customize – the actual sign-up page, the welcome message, and so on.
5) Send a regular email newsletter
Once a month is perfect. Tailor the content so that it’s unique to your business – your perspective, your clients, your programs, and so on. Sorry, plagiarizing CNN’s health headlines is NOT marketing your business.
6) Integrate your online marketing
Integrate your online marketing tools: set everything up so that your content’s showing up on your website, Facebook, Instagram and your email marketing platform!
7) Encourage online customer reviews
This, and your newsletter, are hands-down the two most effective online marketing tools for your brick-and-mortar wellness businesses. Here’s how to encourage them and here’s how to handle critical reviews.
8) Read the news
It’s easy to marinate in your favorite topic – wellness! – or fall out of touch about what’s happening in the world at large. Google News is a good place to start. Don’t skip the non-health sections, okay?
9) Try one online experiment
Pick one new thing – videos, webinars, podcasts, conference calls, online scheduling, etc. – and experiment throughout the year with ways this tool can increase revenue, reduce cost or provide a better or richer client experience.
10) Back up data online
Listen, stuff happens. If you’re like most of our clients, you’d be sick if you lost the proprietary program information on your PCs and laptops and had to recreate it.
So back it up, already. Every day. No excuses.
11) Network online
Every wellness professional in the entire universe should have a LinkedIn profile and actively update it. Here’s a LinkedIn guide for wellness professionals.
12) Use free software
If your needs are fairly basic, save money and simplify your life by choosing free cloud-based apps like Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.
