Small changes can make a big difference once you’ve figured out what your priorities should be.
Here are the 6 stages of practice as I see them, with notes on the priorities for each stage.
I’ve defined 6 stages of practice, and I’ve also included notes on the areas I would see as a priority for each stage.
- Student – learning in clinic and through graduate cases
- Newly graduated – retain graduate cases and starting to reach out
- Early days – building a reputation locally and perhaps beyond
- Pretty busy – maintaining a steady flow of enquiries
- At capacity – fully booked a couple of weeks ahead
- Fully booked – more enquiries than you can handle
If you’re at Stage 1, it’s hard to imagine ever being at Stage 6! You’ll be wondering where to find your first clients, and, importantly, how to keep them.
If you’re at Stage 2 or 3, you might still be needing to work another job.
Stage 4 can feel good, though you will often find some weeks are busier than others.
Stage 5 is great if you can stay there. You might not feel your income matches the time you’re spending on work.
Stage 6 can be hard. You might feel ‘behind’ most of the time and family and friends might be starting to complain that you work too much.
Stage 1
- Ask friends and family for referrals and offer them a free call to find out more.
- Choose a domain name.
- Get your first website up and running.
Stage 2
- Keep graduate cases on at your student rate but tell them you have a higher rate for new people.
- Set up a booking system that will grow with you. Related post: Why I recommend Timely
- Pick some niche topics and start to write blog posts.
Stage 3
- Promote yourself locally and ask friends, family and clients for referrals.
- Explore networking to grow your connections.
- Set up a Google Business Account and ask for Google reviews.
Stage 4
- See clients on just 2 days.
- Go all out to encourage Google reviews.
- Start a regular newsletter if you haven’t already.
Stage 5
- Reflect on your client base to help you be clear about who you want to work with.
- Review your fees and consider adjusting the number of concessions you offer.
- Shift to an enquiry form to start filtering prospects.
Stage 6
- Refer on to colleagues or student clinics.
- Consider hiring an assistant for a few hours a week if you feel it would be helpful.
- Review your self-care to protect against burn out.
Wherever you are in your practice you’ve worked hard to get there.
Give yourself credit for what you’ve already achieved.
Reach out if you feel you would benefit from support in moving to the next stage in your practice: hello@yourradiantbusiness.com
