Do you want to move your nutrition practice online? Maybe you’re considering it but you’re just not sure. Like most things in life, business decisions don’t have to be all or nothing and that includes the decision to move your nutrition practice online. You don’t have to do a ‘pros and cons’ list weighing up different factors at play, before deciding to move your nutrition business online.
You don’t have to be 100% online, or 100% in person. Your potential clients can come from both.
It is becoming increasingly common in private practices to run a hybrid model. A hybrid model expands your client base, adds to your existing business income, and helps to future-proof your business.
If the idea of running an online nutrition business or having an online nutrition program has crossed your mind or you’re actively considering the idea, why not just give it a go?
If you already have an in-person practice, it is not difficult to transition to an online or hybrid business model. You’ve already done most of the hard work (including qualifying to be a nutritionist, identifying your ideal client, and starting your own business).
All you’re doing is adding an additional mode of delivery through your online presence.
Build on the momentum of your existing business, and take your nutrition business to the next level by transitioning to an online or hybrid business model by offering meal plans, nutritional care, online courses, and more.
Why Bring your Nutrition Business Online?
Technology has transformed many aspects of modern life, including how we give and receive healthcare which is great news if you’re a dietitian, nutritionist, or other health professional.
Increased Access to Care for Clients
Getting to a clinic for face-to-face consultations can be challenging for some clients – whether it’s because they live too far away, work extended hours, have caregiving responsibilities, or are simply pushed for time. (Not to mention the extra challenges brought on by the pandemic).
An online nutrition business is one way that we can provide people with the opportunity to receive the professional support that they need, no matter where they’re located. Appointment times are more flexible, you have the freedom to offer telehealth nutrition services, and you can connect with prospective clients all over the world using software like Zoom. It also helps to remove many of the barriers which might prevent your prospective clients from seeking care in the first place.
An Online Nutrition Practice Expands Your Educational Reach
Aside from one-on-one telehealth consults, an online nutrition practice gives you the opportunity to run webinars and group programs to expand your educational reach as a professional. It enables you to teach, and offer your expertise to more people.
Clients may also have access to you at a lower price point than that of a private consult, so you are able to support clients who might otherwise be unable to work with you in any capacity. You may consider a hands-off introductory nutrition program at a low cost with simple meal plans to prepare your clients for the next step to working with you at a higher level. In other words, you don’t have to be there in person every step of the way in the client journey process.
Improved Client Retention and Outcomes
The tools offered by telehealth service software prompts and supports you to engage with your clients more often, leading to better client retention and outcomes.
Telehealth nutrition services may include enabling you to take notes during your virtual nutrition counseling sessions, offer group webinars as a lead-in generation tool (that is, a freebie or an offer to attract new clients and grow your email list), and programs to help you create virtual programs or educational series.
With an online nutrition practice, you can automate much of the process like the application to work with you, scheduling appointment times, enrollment in courses, access to online food logs, and more!
Increase in Demand for Virtual Health Services
Unsurprisingly, over the past few years, there’s been a dramatic demand and rise in virtual health services. This is true for primary care physicians, dermatologists, radiologists, and psychiatrists – and nutritionists are no exception.
Transitioning your practice into an online or hybrid model should be a central proponent of your online business strategy as you move forward as a business owner.
Move Your Nutrition Practice Online
In moving your nutrition practice online, you want to make sure you’re offering a quality service to your clients. It’s important to have a sound online business strategy and business plan to support this.
When moving your business to an online nutrition practice model, you may need to consider:
- Compliance with state telehealth laws, including whether your current professional liability insurance covers you for telehealth consults. Consult your insurance provider if you’re unsure about your coverage and compliance.
- The services you’ll offer as part of your telehealth services when you move your nutrition business online. These may change from what you already offer, whether that’s one-on-one private consults for virtual-only clients, inclusions as an added benefit for existing face-to-face clients, webinars and/or group programs.
- The logistics of running telehealth nutrition services – such as how you’ll bill, what software you’ll use to run it, tools and equipment you’ll need, and perhaps holding a few trial runs to ensure a pleasant customer experience.
- Your ideal client may shift as you are able to help more people in group settings, self-paced online courses, flexible meeting times, and more. The decision to move your nutrition practice online opens up a lot of opportunities to work with your ideal clients that you don’t have when you only help people in a traditional private practice.
Building your Client Base with your Online Nutrition Business
When you’re starting out in the transition to move your nutrition business online, it is a good idea to choose a few clients to offer trial virtual sessions, so you get comfortable with providing these sessions and are able to work through any technical issues that may arise.
You may consider sending your existing mailing list a postcard or an email announcing your transition to an online or hybrid model. Other marketing materials like your business cards or brochures can also feature your online nutrition practice.
One of the primary purposes of building the capacity to take on clients virtually is so that you are able to grow your customer base. Your online presence such as blogging and social media marketing will play a big part in your online business strategy in attracting and marketing to new clients.
To learn how you can fully utilize the web as a client attraction tool and create an online course, download the free guide I’ve developed for you here >>>
Seven Mega Mistakes to Avoid in Creating and Selling Your Online Course
It’s time to take your dietitian business or nutrition business to the next level, by transitioning online.
It’s truly one of the easiest decisions you can make for your business.
