Websites for therapists

Why Video?

In today’s fast-paced digital age, we are constantly bombarded with information from numerous sources, and finding the time and inclination to read can be challenging. However valuable and relevant your website content is, prospective clients who are busy, anxious and stressed may find it hard to sit down and read the written content you have worked hard to put together. In addition, some prospective clients may have learning difficulties and struggle with reading. So how can we make our content more accessible?

One effective way of improving accessibility and engagement is through the use of video. Through video, you can introduce yourself, share your philosophical beliefs, and even demonstrate your skills and knowledge, thereby communicating yourself in a more engaging an immediate way than you can with words and static images alone. Through video, you can begin to create a personal connection with your prospective clients; when they see and hear you in action, they get a better sense of who you are and how you work, and may feel more comfortable and confident about making contact with you.

Video content can be embedded in website pages or posts or shared through social media and viewed on a range of devices, offering convenience and flexibility to busy people who  may prefer visual and audio-based formats over reading lengthy text. Sharing video content on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook or Instagram can be a great way of expanding your online reach and attracting clients who might not otherwise have found your website. Videos tend to perform well on social media as they are more likely to be shared and to generate higher levels of interaction.

Not convinced?

Despite the benefits of video, most therapists have not yet embraced its full potential. Many are uncomfortable with technology and just don’t know where to start. Some have just not considered it as a possibility. Others may prefer to focus on written content, or may, quite simply, feel uncomfortable behind a camera (I get it – I hate being filmed!) If you’d like to take a risk and give video a try, perhaps you could start by writing a 20-second script to introduce yourself, then get a friend to video you with a smartphone (or do it yourself if you have a tripod or selfie stick). You could then upload the video to YouTube (set it to Unlisted if you’re not ready to unleash it to the world!), then, if you have one of our WordPress websites, simply copy and paste the video link into the body of your page or post, wherever you want it to appear. If you’re not ready for video, audio files can be added to your website in a similar way.

Be brave – I will if you will!