25. 5 Quick Actions to Prep Your Practice for 2024

Here we are again! Q4 of another year that has us thinking about what is in store for our practices in the upcoming year. I am here today to not only encourage you to start thinking about what you want next year to look like but to support you with taking actionable steps that will move the needle in the right direction.

There’s still plenty of time left this year to not only plan for next year but to test some ideas, lead generators, or new offers you have been thinking about.

As this year comes to a close, it’s valuable to reflect on the past year—its challenges, triumphs, lessons, and transformations. Perhaps your practice saw a surge of new clients as wellness became a priority for many, or maybe you adapted your offerings to better suit the virtual world we’re navigating.

But the end of the year isn’t just for reflection; it’s also a prime time for preparation. While high-level strategies are essential to guide our direction, the true magic lies in the details—the concrete actions we take that translate our visions into realities. Think of it like a nutrition plan; having a general idea of eating healthily is good, but success is in the details that often determine positive outcomes.

Just as in a well-crafted nutrition plan, where we encourage our clients to move from intention to implementation, it’s time for us as practitioners to transition from strategic thinking to actionable tasks. Each tangible step we take now is a brick laid for a prosperous 2024. 

Today we’ll cover the specifics and discuss the five things you can do right now to position your practice for growth in the coming year.

We’ll cover:

• 5 Quick Actions to Prep Your Practice for 2024

1 – Review and Refresh Your Practice Offerings

The Power of Feedback:

Every flourishing practice understands that its clients are its best feedback loop. Often, the most impactful changes come from truly listening to those we serve. While we might have a clear idea of what our clients need, they’re the ones who can best communicate what they genuinely want.

Immediate Action:

Initiate a brief, concise survey to send to your existing clients. Use a straightforward platform, like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms. Ask targeted questions to understand their most pressing nutrition concerns, any additional services they desire, and feedback on current offerings. But remember, keep it short and sweet; the longer the survey, the fewer responses you’ll get. If you have an active Instagram account, you could also use the survey tool in stories – it can be remarkably effective!

Insights Into Innovation:

Once you’ve collated the feedback, identify patterns or recurring requests. Are many of your clients interested in learning more about intermittent fasting, plant-based diets, or perhaps gut health? Recognizing these patterns can inform the introduction of a new service or the tweaking of an existing package.

💥 Pro Tip:

Don’t just make changes—announce them! Once you’ve revamped or introduced new packages, make sure you communicate this to both existing and potential clients. It not only showcases your responsiveness but also underscores your commitment to staying updated and client-centric.

2 – Optimize Your Online Presence

The Power of a Digital Facelift:

Your online presence is often the first impression potential clients have of your practice. As technology and design trends evolve, so should your digital presence. Regular updates not only improve user experience but can also enhance search engine visibility, driving more organic traffic to your services.

Immediate Action:

Start by updating your website. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality. Make sure your website loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and has clear call-to-action points. Integrate fresh testimonials and ensure your list of services reflects your current offerings. While you’re at it, check that all links are working and that your contact information is up-to-date.

Update your social profiles. Take a look at your Instagram profile and optimize it [there is a worksheet in your Content Cure this week]. Refresh your Facebook cover profile. If you have a private Facebook group, review group rules and member questions.

Insights and Innovation:

The digital world is always evolving. Stay informed about current best practices for website design, user experience, and social media platform opportunities. Consider adding a blog if you don’t already have one. Regular, quality content can position you as an authority in your field and improve your website’s search engine ranking.

💥Pro Tip:

Visuals play a pivotal role in capturing and retaining the attention of website visitors. If you can, schedule a professional photo shoot to get high-quality images for your site. These photos can also be repurposed for social media posts, brochures, and other marketing materials. Investing in quality visuals can elevate the overall perception of your brand and appeal to potential clients.

If hiring a professional photographer isn’t in your budget, ask a friend or family member to spend a few hours with you and your phone camera – casual photos can also add a layer of relatability to your brand.

3 – Plan a Marketing Blitz for January

The Power of Timing:

January is synonymous with new beginnings and resolutions. As people transition from the indulgences of the holiday season, there’s a surge in motivation to adopt healthier habits. Tapping into this mindset can be a goldmine for nutrition professionals, as potential clients are actively seeking guidance to start their year right.

Immediate Action:

Design a New Year-themed challenge or workshop. Whether it’s a “Detox After the Holidays” challenge, a “Kickstart Your Health” program, or a workshop on setting achievable nutrition goals, create something that speaks to the post-holiday audience. Make it engaging, achievable, and relevant to the needs of those wanting to recalibrate their eating habits after the festive season.

Insights and Innovation:

Beyond just creating a challenge or workshop, think about its delivery. Maybe it’s a mix of live online sessions, downloadable resources, or even daily email tips. Innovate in ways that differentiate your offer from the flood of programs this time of year.

💥 Pro Tip:

Anticipation can be as powerful as the event itself. Start promoting your January event in Q4. Utilize your email lists, social media platforms, and even partnerships with local businesses. Offer early bird specials, bonuses, or exclusive content for those who sign up in advance. Creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity can boost enrollments and set the stage for a successful start to the year.

4 – Organize and Automate Client Management

The Power of Efficiency:

Efficiency isn’t just an advantage; it’s a necessity. Efficient client management not only streamlines your administrative tasks but also enhances the client experience. By automating and organizing, you can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time doing what you love – counseling and supporting your clients.

Immediate Action:

If you’re still managing client data manually or using fragmented systems, now’s the time to upgrade. Invest in comprehensive client management software – luckily you have plenty of options here!

EHRs like Practice Better or Healthie. These platforms allow you to schedule appointments, send reminders, share resources, and even invoice, all in one place. Begin by setting up automated emails for appointment confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups. Populate the system with essential resources that clients can access as needed. The downside to relying on these systems 100%, however, is that they make it hard to scale as everyone who participates in your program will need to complete an onboarding process to create a client account. Which is great if they are already clients and patients, but not so great for powerful marketing channels.

Here I recommend STRING Connect – a powerful platform leveraging technology to put all your marketing solutions in one place. Some of you are already familiar with STRING Marketing as we have hosted the founder, Stephanie Hofhenke, here on the podcast and collaborate on many projects with her team. We do this because we know marketing your practice is hard and we want to get you the support you need.

With STRING Connect as your hub you can create a marketing plan for an offer [lead pages, email capture and sequences, group chats, SMS text messaging, etc.] and deliver the program to a group of people all in one place. It’s an all-in-one marketing platform designed just for practitioners. A link for more information on this powerful tool is in the show notes.

Insights and Innovation:

While automation is about convenience, personalization is key to client retention. Ensure that automated emails have a personal touch. Segment your client list to send targeted resources or messages, ensuring each client feels seen and valued.

💥 Pro Tip:

Setting up a new system can feel overwhelming, but lean on the providers of your client management systems to support you. Most have training and some even have dedicated personnel to help you get started. Dedicate a full day or even a weekend to get everything in place. Migrate client data, set up email templates, and populate resources. By front-loading the effort now, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother and more efficient 2024. And remember, once everything’s set up, ongoing maintenance will be minimal.

5 – Establish a Solid Practitioner Referral Program

The Power of Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

Collaboration with other practitioners can be a HUGE driver of practice growth. When doctors, therapists, fitness experts, and nutritionists come together, the client receives a holistic approach to health. By establishing a referral program with other healthcare practitioners, you not only expand your clientele but also enrich the health journey of each client with a multidisciplinary touch. Also, any trust that the referring practitioner has developed, gets conferred to you!

Immediate Action:

Start by identifying local healthcare professionals who share a similar ethos and clientele. Approach them with the idea of collaboration, emphasizing the mutual benefits. You offer their patients a specialized nutrition perspective, and in return, you receive clients who already understand the value of expert guidance.

Insights and Innovation:

Always be prepared with resources or data that showcase the effectiveness of nutritional intervention. Whether it’s improved patient outcomes, enhanced recovery rates, or better management of chronic conditions – having this data on hand can be a compelling value proposition when approaching potential referral partners.

A compelling UVP [Unique Value Proposition] I used to deliver to referring doctors was that “I am not in the nutrition business, I am in the behavior change business. I will help your clients change their behaviors to drive positive health outcomes.” It was VERY well-received.

💥 Pro Tip:

Create professional-looking informational packets or brochures about your services, specifically tailored for other healthcare practitioners. You will include your referral forms in the packets. This can provide them with a clear understanding of how your expertise complements theirs. Regularly check in with your referral partners, maybe even set up quarterly meetings or host lunch-and-learns to discuss overall patient progress and explore ways to enhance the collaboration.

Another tip I can offer, based on my experience, is that leaving business cards is rarely effective at driving referrals. I created a flyer that I placed on a lucite stand in the practitioners’ office. It has my information with a telephone number and also a QR code to request an appointment. This avoided waste and the added expense of printing cards or other materials and I also didn’t have to go to the office frequently to refill.

Your Content Cure for This Week

Your Content Cure for this week includes content you can take action on for each of the five steps to prepare your practice for growth in 2024.

>> DOWNLOAD YOUR RESOURCES HERE<<

Key Takeaway

The Catalyst for Growth: 

As we inch closer to a brand new year, it’s essential to remember that the seeds of growth you plant today determine the success you reap tomorrow. While strategies, visions, and overarching goals are foundational, it’s these actionable, concrete steps that truly drive progress and sustain a thriving practice.

Why Now is Golden: 

Beginning these tasks now, in the calm before the whirlwind of year-end festivities and the rush of January resolutions, allows for thoughtful, thorough implementation. Also, laying down the groundwork in this quarter ensures that you’re not just reacting to the demands of 2024 but actively shaping them.

Your Next Step: 

Don’t let the momentum from this episode fade. Choose at least one actionable step you can take from our list and set things in motion. Remember, every big achievement starts with the decision to try. As you step into 2024, let it be with the confidence that you’ve laid a robust foundation for your practice’s growth and success.