New Member

[Matty Silver]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Matty Silver and I am a Relationship Counsellor and Sexual Health Therapist. When I was in my early fifties I was retrenched and had to make a decision about what to do next in my working life. For several years I was a volunteer Lifeline telephone counsellor which I found satisfying and rewarding and decided to start a Counselling degree. I joined ACAP the Australian College of Applied Psychology and completed a Diploma in Counselling and Communication. During my practicum I worked with Impotence Australia, a non-for profit organisation which provides telephone counselling to help men with Erectile Dysfunction and their partners to decrease feelings of isolation around this sensitive condition. I decided that I would like to specialise in this area and started an on-line Masters of Health Science (Sexual Health) degree at Sydney University.
After finishing my studies, I got myself a website: www.mattysilver.com.au and rented a counselling room in Surry Hills very close to Central station. As many people have great difficulties talking about sexual issues I choose to specialise in telephone counselling, which is anonymous, less threatening, no need to travel and very convenient for people in the country. I wrote about 800 letters with flyers to GP’s all over Australia but hardly got any responses. I joined the Mental Health Professionals Network and after a while I realised that most doctors only refer to Psychologists and many of them now are now getting Medicare rebates. I also discovered that when I have very “happy” clients nobody will tell their friends or relatives that they found this terrific counsellor who was so helpful because they are too embarrassed to admit having sexual problems.
Overall I am getting clients who find me on the internet by Googling Sex Therapy or Relationship Counselling or clicking on my Google-ads, which are very expensive.
The Yellow Pages and other advertising is also expensive and did not work either.
I am not complaining because I love my job but I really would like some input on what I can do to attract more clients.

[FS Administrator]

Hi Matty,

Thanks for joining up and taking the time to introduce yourself!

Apologies that your post got mistakenly held up in our filters for a few days

As word-of-mouth referrals are still the biggest source of new business for most micro business owners, it's certainly a challenging situation for you when many of your clients are not comfortable talking about the help you provide them. It does sound like search engine optimisation and online marketing could be very effective for you.

Now that your introduction has made it to the site I do hope some of our marketing types may jump in with some ideas around this.

Thanks again for joining and all the best with the business growth.

Cheers
Peter

[Neddy]

Hi Matty - that is a great website you have there. It is friendly and very informative.

Now all you need to do is get on to page one of Google for the term "sex therapy" and you'll make a fortune. I'm not an SEO expert, but have you had anyone assist you with this?

Until you do so, Google Adwords is a necessary expense.

Good luck with it.

Cheers, Ned

[Matty Silver]

Thank

Originally Posted by Neddy

Hi Matty - that is a great website you have there. It is friendly and very informative.

Now all you need to do is get on to page one of Google for the term "sex therapy" and you'll make a fortune. I'm not an SEO expert, but have you had anyone assist you with this?

Until you do so, Google Adwords is a necessary expense.

Good luck with it.

Cheers, Ned

Hi Ned,

I have already several Google Ads, that is how I am getting most of my clients I just wonder howhat else I can do. Thanks Matty

[Samuel McCracken]

Hi Matty,
have you considered Facebook advertising? I think its more cost effective than Google ad-words and its much easier to drill down to your target demographic, maybe worth a try.
I understand your frustration about lack of referrals from G.P's, I'm a remedial massage therapist and although official guidelines state that G.P's should give referrals to remedial therapists for chronic back pain, in reality this never happens.
I think the suggestion about Search engine optimization is a good one and the most logical place for your clients to find you. there are plenty of s.e.o. experts on this forum so I think you should find that kind of assistance around here.
best of luck, Sam