You can become a doula by following a few steps. These tips can help you get more clients and grow your business. Start by assessing your needs and costs. After that, join networking events, social media, and take certification courses to boost your credibility. Don’t forget to include a website to showcase your services. Make sure your website has contact information for potential clients and offers a free trial period.
Costs
There are costs involved in getting clients as a doula, which can be prohibitive if you’re a newbie. The best way to begin generating leads is to host introductory classes and monthly meetups. Both of these can be free or very inexpensive. You should also have multiple ways to collect payments. However, you should not compare yourself with other doulas or talk ill of your competitors. Having a negative attitude will not help you succeed as a doula. You must continually expand your knowledge and improve your skills. Dress professionally and neutrally, and don’t forget to make your professional image shine.
Having your own physical location is not necessary, but it can help. The cost of a doula education can reach over $1,000. Continuing education courses, conferences, and other educational requirements can also add up. Having a location isn’t essential, but you still have expenses to cover. Keeping your business expenses down will help you get more clients. But you’ll still need a website and a blog to promote your service. And while many doulas don’t have a physical office, you can still have clients in your home.
There are several creative ways to pay your doula fees. Some doulas work on a sliding scale, allowing clients to spread out their payments over a longer period of time. Another good option is to barter with clients. For instance, a mom might offer to create a doula’s website for free. This way, she can gain more experience without having to spend a lot of money.
Social media
If you’re a postpartum doula, you can’t afford to miss out on the social media scene. This is because potential clients check out your profile online before they make contact with you. Social media is a great way to share your experience and offer support to local birth professionals. They will share your posts with their audiences. It also helps to comment on other doulas’ posts.
Setting up your business page on Facebook and LinkedIn is relatively easy, but there are many pitfalls to be aware of. These platforms are free to use, but you should be aware that the algorithms make it difficult to get your posts noticed. Facebook also requires advertisements, which can be tricky, especially if your profile has lots of pictures. Instagram is the visual social media site that encourages beauty and imperfection. Almost 1 billion people use it every month.
Another way to promote your doula business is to join networking groups. Many doulas have a business page on Facebook, while others have personal profile pages. Although facebook is the most popular form of social media, the effectiveness and visibility of these pages has decreased recently. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from networking and can build a list of topics to blog about. So, get busy and start promoting your services!
There are many ways to promote your services, and you can even get referrals from existing clients. You can set up a booth at baby fairs or vendor events where parents are likely to meet many different types of people. Besides promoting your services through social media, you can also use video testimonials to gain exposure. If your video is entertaining and relatable, expectant families will be more likely to share your post.
Networking events
While birth documentaries may be fun, they won’t bring you many clients in the long run. Networking is a very important part of being a doula. You can’t be friends with everyone and expect to be the go-to person for every birth, but you can find ally-types who appreciate your work and are willing to help you get more clients. Here are a few networking events to attend.
Join a local birth professional group and post on Facebook. People tend to post questions about their labor and birth experiences on Facebook, so you should answer them. You should also create videos about your services and answer frequently asked questions. Go online and read reviews to find out what your prospective clients are saying about you. Networking events are an excellent way to expand your network, so make sure you make time for them.
Networking events can also help you get a name in your community. If you attend these events regularly, you will gain many new contacts and clients. Don’t forget to thank everyone who gives you a referral. These people can be nurses, friends, colleagues, or clients who pay you. It’s important to be genuine and focus on the work you do. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about personal experiences, politely decline their business. If you meet people who share your passion for childbirth, you can schedule other appointments and renew your work.
You can also go to networking events to meet other doulas in your area. MassDoulas’ yahoo group is moderated by Joyce Kimball, a home birth midwife and birth worker. Joyce is an excellent resource for networking and she regularly attends events to help other doulas in the area. The benefits of networking events are endless:
Certification
One way to increase your chances of getting clients is to become certified as a doula. Getting certified as a doula is a great way to display your professionalism to potential clients. While some organizations require certification after a period of training, others require further requirements. Certification is an indication of your professional competency and demonstrates your commitment to the field. In addition, it shows clients that you have gone through a rigorous educational process.
After you’ve obtained your certification, it’s time to start generating new clientele. You should talk to friends and family to get referrals. Also, try to craft a one-sentence elevator pitch that summarizes what you do. This will allow you to network and meet other doulas in your area. Make sure to be friendly and helpful when speaking with new people. A genuine smile will go a long way!
Before pursuing a doula training program, you should consider what your state requires. There are several different certification organizations, and you should find one that suits your needs and budget. Some of them offer scholarships and distance learning programs, but many of them require you to pay extra to get certified. In either case, certification will enhance your professional image and give you greater credibility and a more uniform training among all doulas. Moreover, becoming certified will also make it easier to receive insurance reimbursement for your services.
If you’re planning to work as a doula, it’s essential to attend training courses that will enhance your skills. It will increase your chances of gaining more clients. Depending on where you live, you can work as a doula during the day and even during the night. However, you’ll have to dedicate a good amount of time to becoming certified. While you won’t make money from doing this job, your time will be well spent.
Continuing education
Continuing education is an excellent way to increase your knowledge and expand your services. There are a variety of ways to gain continuing education as a doula, from attending birth related conferences to enrolling in online courses. While you may be able to find a traditional conference difficult to schedule, online courses are a great option for those who need to attend a lot of trainings and have a busy schedule.
There are a variety of online training programs available, including instructor-led courses and self-paced courses. The courses cover all the necessary information needed to begin offering doula services to clients. Most training programs include hands-on care and a comprehensive exam. Some online programs also offer CEUs or certifications in a variety of fields. It’s helpful to consider a variety of courses to ensure you’ll be able to offer the best service possible.
While you’re focusing on obtaining your certification, it’s also important to keep your skills up-to-date. Some workshops focus on communication, working with primary care providers, and creating a safe space for clients and the families you serve. Other workshops focus on preparing families for a home birth, including teaching the basics of doula supplies and preparing them for birth. By attending a continuing education course, you’ll learn the best ways to communicate with clients and expand your service.
While many training courses focus on the postpartum period, you can also find courses on the birth and postpartum period that relate to these areas. Online courses are also available and are very affordable. Most of these courses are available at the ProDoula Learning Channel and include virtual training sessions. You can even access a trainer through email during regular business hours. In addition to getting access to free online courses, online programs also provide a convenient price point and convenient schedule.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.