How to Get More Doula Clients When You're New: Your To-Do List!

Introduction

A career as a doula can be an incredibly rewarding journey. Your passion for supporting expectant parents during one of the most significant transitions in their lives is remarkable, and it’s a skillset that deserves to be shared with more and more families! But getting clients can be hard, especially when you’re either new to the role itself or new to town. Breaking into the market, establishing your niche, developing a suite of offerings, and building your clientele can be daunting. In this blog post, I’m setting up your “to-do” list! Tackle each one, and you’re guaranteed to get more clients for your birth worker business!  (I mean, not literally guaranteed, but I bet you will).

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Establish an Online Presence Where Clients Can Find You, Meet You, and Book You!

In today's digital age, having a presence online is essential. Put yourself in your potential clients’ shoes: make it easy for them to find you, understand what you offer, get a sense for your approach and pricing, and–better yet–book you easily for an introductory meeting without a bunch of email back-and-forth. Fortunately, Nessle makes it easy for you to build just that sort of site. Establish your storefront on Nessle, and embed your service URLs into your existing website to make booking and communication easy and HIPAA-compliant, or just use Nessle as your one-and-only site from start to finish!

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Network Within the Birth Community

Building relationships within the local birth community is crucial and is, in my experience, THE best way to get a stream of inbound clients. Connect with midwives, obstetricians, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, and other birth professionals in your area. Attend local birth-related events, workshops, and seminars to meet potential clients and fellow birth workers. Collaborate with healthcare providers to offer comprehensive care to expectant parents.

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Use Social Media as an Extra “About Me” Page – But Don’t Let It Stress You Out

In my personal opinion, social media is pretty much just a bunch of noise, and most days, I wish I could just thumb my nose at it and say “good riddance.” The trouble is: SO many of our target customers are hanging out there, and if they’re choosing between a doula with just a website and a doula with a strong Instagram presence, guess who they’re more likely to pick. And why is that? It’s because they feel like they know the Instagram doula better. Sharing feels authentic and builds trust. A professional you know and like becomes an easier sell in your mind when you’re thinking about how to spend your money. 

But I know, I know. Social media is a beast you have to feed and feed, and it’s a slog, and you don’t want to be dancing on TikTok, and on and on. BELIEVE ME: I get it. And yet. I think there’s a great way to exist on Instagram as a doula without selling your soul to the devil. And it’s this: make an effort to post once a week in an authentic manner that shares about your life, your approach as a birth professional, what you’re interested in lately, or reposts content you’ve gotten value from. Unless you’re super INTO social media (in which case, by all means, go viral!), just think of it as an extra little “about me” page where potential clients can get to know you a bit better.

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Niche Down

Why would someone recommend you? What makes you different or unique as a doula? What’s your “thing”? Fill in the blank with the sound of your dream client talking: Oh, you have to meet my doula. I chose her because she’s the best in town at _________________. What is that for you?

Without a “thing,” it’s just that much easier for you to fade into the background. But how do you choose your niche? Here’s what I advise: take a look at your birth bookshelf or “recently read” article history. Is there a theme among the titles that jumps out? Is there one topic about pregnancy, postpartum, or parenting that you just get THRILLED when someone asks you about, because you could go on and on, enthusiastically, for days talking about it? That’s your niche. Now put it everywhere. Use it in your tagline. Mention it at least twice in your bio. Build an online workshop related to the topic. 

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Offer a Free Workshop

Now that you’ve found your niche and built an online workshop based on it, OFFER that workshop for free (on Nessle), spread the word in every Facebook group and with every contact you have in the birthing realm, and when you host it live, RECORD it! Then re-post it in your Nessle account as a free (or heck, paid) on-demand workshop offering. Hosting free or low-entry cost workshops or classes related to childbirth and postpartum care can be an effective way to showcase your expertise and connect with potential clients–and to share the flavor of your special approach, style, and niche with a broader audience. Consider topics such as birth planning, breastfeeding support, or postpartum self-care. These events not only provide valuable information but also give you the opportunity to engage with expectant parents directly.

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Collect and Share Testimonials

Positive testimonials from satisfied clients can significantly boost your credibility and attract new clients. Encourage your previous clients to write reviews or provide testimonials about their experiences with your doula services. Share these testimonials on your website and social media platforms to build trust and showcase your capabilities. Nessle makes this easy, but no matter what site or software you use, make sure you’re trumpeting the kind words that past clients have shared about you!

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Now Get Out There and Start/Keep Growing!

Building your doula clientele when you're new to your area or to the role itself requires dedication, persistence, and a strategic approach. By establishing an ever-bookable online presence, networking within the birth community, offering valuable workshops, niching down, and providing exceptional service, you can gradually build a thriving doula practice. Remember that word-of-mouth referrals and satisfied clients will play a significant role in your long-term success, so always prioritize the well-being of the families you support. And remember that we’re here to help you along the way!

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