The Busy Practitioner's Guide to Growing Your Online Presence

You became a healer to help people, not to become a marketing expert. Here are practical, time-friendly strategies to grow your practice online without burning out.

Let’s be honest: you didn’t spend years learning your craft so you could become a social media expert.

You became a therapist, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, a healer—because you wanted to help people. But somewhere along the way, someone probably told you that you need to “build your online presence” to grow your practice.

And they’re not wrong. In today’s world, most people find healthcare providers online. But the advice out there can feel overwhelming: Post three times a day! Start a YouTube channel! Run Facebook ads! Write a weekly blog!

No thank you.

Here’s the good news: growing your online presence doesn’t have to consume your life. Let’s talk about what actually works for busy practitioners.

Start With What Matters Most: Your Website

Before you spend hours on social media, make sure your website is working for you. It’s the foundation of everything else.

A well-designed website that clearly explains who you help and how to get in touch is worth more than a thousand Instagram posts. Why? Because when someone hears about you—from a friend, a doctor’s referral, or a Google search—the first thing they do is look you up online.

Your website should:

  • Load fast (especially on mobile)
  • Clearly explain what you do and who you help
  • Make it easy to contact you or book an appointment
  • Feel warm and authentic, like you

If your website checks these boxes, you’re ahead of most practitioners. Everything else is bonus.

The 80/20 Rule of Online Marketing

Here’s a principle that will save you hours: 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.

For most wellness practitioners, that productive 20% includes:

  • Having a professional, mobile-friendly website
  • Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile
  • Collecting and responding to reviews
  • Staying in touch with existing clients (they refer others!)

That’s it. You can stop there and still grow a thriving practice.

Google Business Profile: Your Free Secret Weapon

If you do one thing after reading this, let it be this: claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.

When someone searches “therapist near me” or “acupuncturist in [your city],” Google shows local business listings. Your Google Business Profile is what appears there.

It’s completely free, and here’s how to make it work for you:

  1. Claim your listing at business.google.com
  2. Complete every section (hours, services, photos, description)
  3. Add photos of your space and yourself
  4. Ask happy clients for reviews (this is huge)
  5. Respond to reviews thoughtfully

This takes maybe 30 minutes to set up and a few minutes each month to maintain. The return on that small investment can be significant.

The Realistic Approach to Social Media

You don’t have to be on every platform. In fact, you probably shouldn’t be.

Choose one platform where your ideal clients actually spend time. For most wellness practitioners, that’s usually:

  • Instagram (if your clients are younger, or you have a visual practice)
  • Facebook (if your clients are middle-aged or older)
  • LinkedIn (if you work with corporate clients or other professionals)

Then, post when you can. Once or twice a week is plenty. Quality matters more than quantity.

What to post (keep it simple):

  • A helpful tip related to your work
  • Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your practice
  • Client wins or testimonials (with permission)
  • Your own reflections on the healing journey

Don’t overthink it. Authenticity beats polish every time.

Email: The Overlooked Powerhouse

Social media algorithms change constantly. Your email list? That’s yours forever.

Even a simple monthly newsletter keeps you connected to clients and reminds them you exist. They refer friends. They come back when they need you.

Your newsletter doesn’t need to be long or fancy. Share:

  • One helpful piece of advice
  • What’s new in your practice
  • A warm, personal note

That’s enough. Most wellness practices don’t need complex marketing funnels—just genuine connection.

Batching: The Time-Saver You Need

Here’s a strategy that works wonders: instead of creating content every day, batch it.

Set aside 2-3 hours once a month to:

  • Write your newsletter
  • Plan a few social posts
  • Update your Google profile if needed

Then you’re done for the month. No daily pressure, no constant context-switching, no burnout.

What to Let Go

Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what to skip. You probably don’t need:

  • Paid advertising (until your website and referral network are solid)
  • TikTok (unless you genuinely enjoy it and have the time)
  • Complex marketing automations (simple is better)
  • Posting every day (consistency matters more than frequency)

Give yourself permission to ignore tactics that don’t fit your life or practice.

The Most Powerful Marketing: Be Excellent at What You Do

At the end of the day, the best marketing is delivering exceptional care. When clients feel truly helped, they tell others. Referrals remain the primary growth engine for most wellness practices.

So yes, get your online presence in order. But never at the expense of the work that matters most.

Your time and energy are precious. Spend them wisely.

At Elevas Digital, we handle the technical side of your online presence so you can focus on healing. From beautiful websites to ongoing content, we’ve got you covered. Start the conversation.