If you’re looking for a career boost or a shot in the arm then what I have for you today will most definitely do the trick!  Below is an online marketing model that is designed to boost your presence in the marketplace.  It may not be for everyone, and it will require a lot of work.  However, the potential outcomes and rewards are incredibly significant.

The model is based on a framework provided by Gary Vaynerchuk in his new book, Crush It! I’ve added my own twist to show how you can build a powerful online presence and have a lot of fun in the process.

Opening up to the possibilities within the online world begins with attending to your passion and interests.

Here’s an example of what this model might look like for a mental health professional specializing in grief and loss therapy.

Step 1:  Find a Platform

If you would like to get involved online I suggest you get a domain name (ex. www.griefcounseling.com) and get yourself a Blog.  You can purchase a domain name at GoDaddy.com.

A Blog (short for Web Log) serves as an excellent foundation for your online campaign.  It provides a platform for you to share your expertise and communicate with others online.

Several online Blog sites offer free templates (e.g., WordPress, Tumblr).  You can sign up and get started right away.  And if you find blogging to be a good fit for you then I recommend hiring a web designer to customize your Blog template and to assist you in integrating other social networking tools to your Blog.

Step 2: Enhance Your Blog & Build a Community

An excellent way to let people know about your work is to create something tangible like an e-book on tips for families who have lost a loved one.  Or you can provide a series of grief and loss worksheets/exercises to help people move through the grieving process.  Bloggers refer to this as Flagship Content meaning it is content that introduces you to web readers and offers something of value people will read and share.

Another important step in the evolution of a Blog is opt-in functionality.  You do this by offering visitors the same free e-book mentioned above when they subscribe to your Blog. This gives you the ability to build an online following.  There are a variety of email subscription services to choose from, and if you are interested in learning more I suggest you take a look at Mad Mimi.

Step 3: Start Generating Content Worth Reading or Viewing

Once you have the basics in place decide on a posting schedule (I post once a week) where you will write about a grief and loss topic.  Those who subscribe to your Blog through the opt-in feature will receive a weekly email from you.

You can also link your Blog to social networking sites like Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook.  This means that every time you write a new blog post it will automatically go to these sites for all your members to see.  This is how you begin to slowly build a presence online.

Note: Blog posts do not have to be written.  There are several successful blogs that are video based.  Choose the medium you are most comfortable with.

Step 4: Open a Twitter & Facebook Account

You’ll be surprised at how powerful these two tools can be for you.  In the model I am presenting, the true power of both these applications is in the ability to find online communities you can join and interact with.

Facebook also offers you a great opportunity to spread your message through the use of Fan Pages.  Fan Pages are a discussion for another day!  For more information click on this link: Facebook Fan Pages

Step 5: Find Online Communities Related to Grief and Loss

There are all kinds of ways you can conduct online research.  Here are a few to get you started.

-       Go to search.twitter.com and type in “grief counseling”, “children and grief” or any other related topic. Start following the discussions taking place and participate.

-       Go to http://blogsearch.google.com and type in “grief”, “grief support” or any other relevant keywords.  Google will show you a list of blogs dedicated to this topic. For every blog you find on this topic, leave a comment and begin participating in these discussions.  Be sure to include your name and website so people can find you.

-       On Facebook, type keywords into the Facebook search bar found in the top right once you login.  In this example you might choose to enter “grief” and click search.  Click on the “Pages” link in the left hand column and it will show you the Fan Pages dedicated to this topic.  You can also click on the “Groups” link in the left column to see the Facebook groups that are interested in your topic.  Make an effort to connect with these communities.

Closing

Work on these steps over and over again and build a routine for yourself.  If you’ve chosen a topic you are passionate about you’ll find that it is a lot of fun to do.  And if you are patient and consistent in your approach you will start to see a change in terms of your overall network.  It may be in the form of community members showing more interest in your work, organizations that contact you about consulting opportunities, or business partnership possibilities that present themselves as you interact with like-minded people in the field.

Give this process a try and see what impact it has on the work you love to do!