Web Cape Cod

Cape Cod Institute 1999

July 5-9

John Grohol, Gilbert Levin & Virtual Faculty
Making the Web Work for You & Your Practice

http://www.cape.org/1999/grohol.html

July 8 th

Developing your own persona and personal network online:

Enhance name recognition and contacts in your local community and nationwide. Participants present and critique their own sites. Live interviews with Sandra Steingart and Mark Vardell.

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Outline:

I. General background:

I am a solo private practioner with offices in Sherman and Dallas, Texas. I have roughly 5 years of online experience. My interests in computer goes back to the mid 1980's and I remember using local bulletin board services to exhange information and download and upload files. In the past 3 years I have personally seen the enormous potential and use of the Internet. My first attempts at webpage design were over a year and half ago. By the summer of 1998 I had enlisted the help of a webpage designer whom I meet online to assist me in designing and creating my current page.

II. Why A Website:

Primary reason was private practice exposure.
The emphasis initially was to promote locally Sherman/Dallas practice.
The website soon I discovered was being visited by other professionals, maybe more so than clients seeking services.
To become a resource site interacting with other agencies and professionals in the area.

III. What the web site is and is not :

My web page is practice oriented and not research oriented.
The webpage is designed to inform and promote my practice.
I do not offer online therapy or counseling services at this time.
Many of the additional pages are designed as added attraction to the page...informational based as well interactive services.

IV. How :

This particular webpage is my second attempt. First one I created using a simple fill in form through my ISP web service. Later I modified it using hmtl web creation programs.
In the summer of 1998 a colleague told me about a freelance webpage designer online. I contracted her for an 8 page revision of the existing webpage. The services were to take my existing webpage and add more graphics, the java menu table, and add additional pages. The service did not include maintainence or revision which I primarily do myself. Any alterations since has been done using combination of html programs and WYSWIG....Frontpage Express.

V. Pros and Cons:

The actual number of clients directly referred by the Internet is marginal in my experience so far.
It seems when there is an increase in traffic to the webpage is related to the amount of traditional promoting practices I pursue, ie talks and workshops in the community.
A interesting benefit also is the ability to contact and be contacted by other professionals locally.
How much professional and practice information to include in the webpage seems to be a concern or dilemma for some.

IV. Do's and Dont's:

Promote your webpage and email address. Include it in all advertising and handouts including client handouts.
Do not change webpage address, ISP or e mail address too often.
Try not to see success for traditional practices only in terms of actual client referrals.
If you are designing your own webpage...start out simple and elaborate more as your skills get better.
Consider hiring a webpage designer or consultant to build, assist, evaluate or revise your webpage.
Consider free web space as an alternative to paying for space or web hosting if on a budget.
Get a counter and guestbook for your webpage.
Do not take graphics or copywritten material from other webpages. It is generally better to set a link that particular page. Ask permisson on even the simpliest things if you want to include them on your page.
List your degree and specific licensures.
Get listed on major search engines.
Maintain your webpage regularly.
Join professional, national and local mailing lists and include your web address in your information.
Consider getting a stand alone communication program such as ICQ or AOL Instant Message. A useful tool to build on online professional contacts and relationships.