If you are a psychologist or a therapist and you want to offer a new product or service you first need to find, and learn from the people you want to help. This is a deeper dive into the first two steps of the "how to launch in 14 simple steps" episode. You can download your https://psychologists.drrosie.co.uk/launch-in-14-simple-steps (checklist to keep you on track with the 14 steps here.)
First step: get to know your ideal clientsA couple of episodes back I talked you through a strategy for making sure you get to know the people you are trying to help before you even think about designing a product or service, let alone marketing it. If you haven't listened to that one yet then go back and https://psychologists.drrosie.co.uk/the-business-of-psychology/ideal-client-avatar-psychologists-therapists-marketing/ (listen to that one here. )If you are a member of the https://psychologists.drrosie.co.uk/the-do-more-than-therapy-membership/ (Do More Than Therapy membership) there is also a short course on this strategy in the membership that walks you through developing and using your ICA.
Once you know who you are trying to help you now need to think about where you are most likely to be able to meet them and, most importantly, have rich and meaningful conversations with them.
Wherever you find them you need to be asking the IMPORTANT questions. These include:
What are you struggling with?
What have you already tried to do to solve it?
What gets in the way of your attempts to solve the problem?
What have you been offered that hasn't worked for you and why didn't it work?
What makes you want to solve this problem? What do you hope life would be like if the problem went away.

In all your conversations make a note of the language people use and make sure you replicate that in all of your materials and marketing, even if eventually you want to move people away from some of the key words they currently use. To help with this get permission to record your conversations wherever possible. You can then use a tool like rev.com to get them transcribed so you can pick out keywords.
Here are some suggestions for places you can go (on and offline) to try and talk to your ideal clients.
Step two: If you are already working with your ideal clientSet up zoom calls, explain that you want to help more people like them and you would value their in put. You will be surprised how many people want to help and even if you only get one person saying yes to this it will be SO valuable.
Take them out for coffee (COVID permitting)
Surveys (great in conjunction with other methods, Survey monkey is a free tool you can use for this)
Use the feedback and testimonials you collect at the end of your work. These will tell you what mattered most to the people you worked with so you can make sure your new offer is built around that and that you mention it when you come to market your new offer.

Step two: If they are people you don't work withAsk for introductions from colleagues at work, friends and family who may know the people you are trying to help. It feels very vulnerable but you need to tell everyone you know what you are doing and ask them if they know anyone who is willing to talk to you about your plans via zoom or coffee. It is essential that they are involved in the development of your idea so don't let fear stand in your way here.
Only AFTER you have done the above and had some in depth conversations you can try joining relevant Facebook groups. Ask permission from the admins and offer to provide something free to the group in exchange for being allowed to be in there if needs be. this could be a free facebook live or resource. Be in the group to LISTEN and learn the struggles and language used by the people in there. Do not try and sell anything, or even offer blog posts until you are a well established member of the group and have a relationship with the admins. If in doubt always message an admin and ask for permission before...