It can be hard for therapists to think of content ideas to post on social media. So here’s twenty ideas to help plus some encouragement.  

This series of blogs aims to help counsellors with their social media content.  Today’s is to give you ideas about what you can post.

If you’re interested in the theme of self-disclosure on social media, see this blog on what therapists can say

If you’re concerned that social media marketing may take up too much of your time see this blog on making time for social media posts

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

I have no idea what to post on social media

My first business page languished for years with no posts because I had these beliefs:

• It’s all been said before
• I can’t think of anything original to say
• Other people say it better than me

However, what I have come to realise is that:

• It hasn’t been said with my particular perspective
• It’s unrealistic to expect to be truly original unless  I’m doing high level research. And even researchers need teachers to disseminate the knowledge
• Other people may well say it better than me. However, they are not saying it now to my followers.  Perhaps hearing from me about it might make a difference to someone who sees my page.

It doesn’t really matter what anyone else is doing.  You need to do you so that your followers are helped.

And if you need help with your confidence, contact Josephine to find out how I can support you to grow your therapy business.

So what Content can I post?

Here are twenty content ideas for social media posts.  Use one of these every business day and you’ll have a month’s worth of content.

1. Awareness Days. You can search google by date and find out what is going on for each day of the month. Then think about how you can adapt it to your audience. For example, a recent popular post of mine was on “Mail Order Catalogue Day” and I used it to talk about how more people are going online and using online therapy. (We discuss upcoming awareness days and how to use them in the Therapy Growth Group – for more information contact Josephine)
2. A Reflection on something that is happening in your life. You don’t have to say it is about you if you want to avoid self-disclosure but you can use your own personal journey to help your followers.
3. Films/TV Programmes/Books. Talk about what is current or what you are reading and share ideas and ask for opinions
4. Comment on news items e.g., a counsellor’s viewpoint on a piece of celebrity gossip
5. Tips, tricks and tutorials. How people can help themselves in your particular area of expertise (for example, tips on managing anxiety or improving communication)
6. Share useful tools and explain why you find them helpful.  This could be anything from a meditation app to a kitchen implement.  The first helps your clients, the other makes you a real person
7. Your morning routine and why is it helpful or unhelpful (people love honesty)
8. Business Goals both short and long term.  Again this makes you real and includes your readers, giving them a stake in your success
9. Behind the scenes e.g., your work space
10. Your “why”
11. Share your business ideas and ask for opinions (e.g., thinking of writing a blog? What would people find useful?  Give them some options to choose from)
12. Showcase someone you admire, e.g., another business page or someone in the public eye.  Explain why they inspire you.
13. Humour – share jokes and have fun. People love silly things.  It is, after all, “social” media
14. Your failures – they make you real and relatable
15. Your content – e.g., blogs, an excerpt from training, something you’ve written for your website
16. Media – videos, photos, illustrations, infographics that you like
17. Blasts from the past. Ask your audience if they remember things, or ask them to contribute their photos
18. Selfies.  People love to get to know you a little.  Share a selfie if you’re out having a coffee or you’re someone picturesque.  If you’re waiting at the bus stop.  It doesn’t matter, turn it into a talking point.
19. Quotes (deliberately the last item on the list because that’s usually the first thing people think of!)
20. Deliberate Errors that get people talking.  Have you noticed mine?

Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash

Thinking of Content Ideas

One tip you may find useful is to make a time where you scribble down ideas, perhaps using the above list as a prompt.

Keep a list of ideas as they occur to you at odd times.  I had the idea for this and my next blog when I was doing my sit ups. Record the ideas on your phone, post it notes, in your diary – anywhere is better than nowhere.

Capture everything and then when you’re feeling uninspired and under pressure to get something out, you will have some ideas to turn to.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Just Get Started

“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step” (Lao Tzu)

When I first started creating content, I decided to record a five minute video on sleep tips.  I had three failed attempts to fit everything in.  It was at this point I realised:

• I knew enough to make a series of videos
• If I knew enough to make a series of videos, I knew far more than I’d been prepared to acknowledge
• If I knew far more than I was prepared to acknowledge, perhaps I did have something of worth to share with my page followers

We forget that we have spent years studying for our qualifications and that we have spent many hours listening to client stories too.  That’s a lot of knowledge.

Do you think it’s possible that you may know more than you think?

It’s only by getting started that you’ll find out.

If you’d like more support with marketing yourself as a therapist, why not join The Therapy Growth Group and have regular group coaching with Josephine?  Contact Josephine to find out more.