Blogger BlogNet52438

I have talked about how not to use your online therapist locator statistics as a measure of your success. This week I was working with an interior designer who is starting her business. I recommend she join BNI, a referral organization for business owners. When she learned that BNI cost $370 a year plus the costs of the weekly breakfasts, she did some fast numbers and said "What a bargain! An average client will spend between $2,000 and $5,000 with me. If I get one or two clients a year, it will be a phenomenal investment."

Some therapists tell me that their online therapist locator listings "aren't working." When I ask what that means. I begin to understand their frustration. Their expectations aren't realistic. I will tell you that many therapists in North America are starting to notice a slow-down in the number of referrals they are getting from the internet.

I think this is due to:

1) the economy
2) the summer season and
3) the number of therapists marketing on the internet is increasing.

Last week, I searched 90210 for a therapist on Psychology Today. There were 223 of them. That is a lot of profiles, and believe me, no one is going to look through all 223 of them to find a therapist to contact. The pool is very large. (An interesting note, on Find-a-Therapist there were 76 therapists in that same zip code.)

Are online therapists still a good investment? Some are free such as California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists' "Therapist Finder," so make sure you are on your association's free site. I do recommend you be on at least 3 to 5 online therapist locators. So let's say you are paying about $300 a year for one of these paid locator services. How many new clients would you need to make sure you were getting your money's worth?

Is this beginning to sound like a word problem from 6th grade? Hang in here with me...

If you get one client a year from your listing and that client spends a total of only $300 with you, you would break even on that investment. But of course, I don't want you to just break even.

Let's say you get 3 clients a year from your listing and in total they spend a total of $9,000 with you. You spent $300 to make $9,000. There aren't many financial investments where you can invest $300 and get back $9,000.

So, don't be too quick to decide your online therapist locators "aren't worth it." You may be noticing a slow down but please look at your numbers from an annual perspective. That will give you the bigger picture.

Casey Truffo, MFT is an award-winning speaker and coach to therapists on five continents. She is the author of Be A Wealthy Therapist: Finally, You Can Make a Living While Making a Difference. Founder of BeAWealthyTherapist.com her vision is to teach therapists how to ethically and honestly earn a good living.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (949) 309.2590 or visit our website at http://www.beawealthytherapist.com

This article may be reprinted as long as full attribution is given.

They are everywhere, YouTube, AOL Videos, Flicker, Metacafe and many more. We are talking about people just like you making and posting videos for the public to view.

With the availability of almost any subject, and I mean almost *any* subject, a video can address why not use the opportunity to have some fun, learn a lot and perhaps make a few extra dollars along the way. It may even help pay for all that equipment you've been wanting.

Speaking of equipment, actually you need very little to start. Of course, you will need a camcorder and computer to upload to the video server. Nevertheless, take heart; you do not need anything near broadcast quality equipment, especially when just starting.

When looking for a camcorder, carefully consider the MiniDV format. While the newer MiniCD and internal hard drive camcorders do offer convenience, these formats do not lend themselves to the easy editing like the MiniDV. One thing you do not want to use is anything with analog tape, such as VHS or Super 8. While these were once/are popular formats they are not digital, therefore editing is much more difficult with these systems.

Another consideration is a camcorder with an external microphone jack. While almost all entry-level camcorders will shoot an adequate video (adequate may not necessarily be professional), without a mic jack the sound will suffer. Videos with only adequate video and poor sound will not be successful; indeed, it may even be a determent for your future videos if someone buys your poor sounding video first. Remember---Sound Matters!

One entry-level camcorder I have used and can recommend is the Canon ZR800. Currently (March '08) the ZR800 can be purchased for under $200 US Dollars. This camcorder has a mic jack and is likely the only one you will find for less than $500 that will have one. In addition, the picture quality is OK for a DIY video.

Another critical must have is some type of lighting setup. A very common lighting unit is a converted halogen shop light. These lights can be found at many big box stores such as Big Lots, Lowes, Wal-Mart, etc. While they provide a lot of light, it is a harsh light and needs to be toned down somewhat for video use. One good way to do this is bounce the light off a nearby wall or use foam board to reflect the light back to your subject. In a pinch, aluminum foil over cardboard or a reflective auto sunscreen will do.

Now back to the microphone (mic). While you can spend hundreds or even thousands for a top quality microphone, likely that is out of the question for most people just starting out. One suggestion is look on eBay for a lapel condenser microphone or a shotgun microphone. One piece of advice; if you are using the ZR800 you need to get a condenser microphone with a built in power supply. This built in power supply (pre-amp) is usually powered by an AA or similar battery.

When I first started, I used a microphone that cost less than $20. While I do not recommend you go this cheap, it does show what you can do on limited funds. Trust me on this one, the $20 mic sounded MUCH better than most built-in camcorder microphones.

You need some way to get the video from your camcorder into your computer; Firewire is the most common and preferred way. When you purchase your camcorder check to see if a Firewire is included or if it is purchased separately. Here's a tip. If the camcorder you are considering does not include a Firewire cable, buy one off eBay. They are much less expensive there than at the local Best Buy/Circuit City type of store.

Furthermore, make sure your computer will accept Firewire, otherwise you may need to install a card to accept the cable. It's an easy install.

You already have a movie editor if you are using Windows XP or Vista. It's called Microsoft Movie Maker. Movie Maker is an easy to use, excellent piece of software that will take you a long way on your film making journey.

The final piece of required equipment will be some type of backdrop. An uncluttered wall or even a bed sheet will do. Just make sure there is nothing in the background that will distract from your message.

Think you are ready to shoot your DIY video? STOP! Now is time for planning or storyboarding your production. Time spent here is some of the most valuable you will spend. Think about shooting your video in 4-5 minute sections to keep viewer attention. Plan what you are going to say, do you need any props? Special set up? Etc?

The last step is practice, practice and more practice. Check YouTube for more great ideas on film making. Best of success to you and your projects.

This newsletter may be shared with others in its entirety. However credit must be given to John Robertson and the following text must be included.

John Robertson is a misplaced TEXAN currently living in Mississippi. His interests include woodworking, metalworking, hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He is also a part time videographer and produces How To DIY Videos. Check his website http://www.TinkerJohn.com for more ideas and plans.