Your Social Work Brand Question & Answer with Sean Erreger, LCSW

by Kristin Battista-Frazee, MSW

     Sean Erreger, LCSW, is a social worker and blogger interested in mental health, intersection with healthcare, suicide prevention, and youth issues. He is also interested in how technology can improve these areas. His projects relate to clinician self-care and therapeutic alliance.

Find Sean on Twitter: @StuckonSW

Sean's website: https://stuckonsocialwork.wordpress.com/ or https://about.me/sean_erreger

     Q:  I am interested in doing some speaking and consulting. My work is centered around a therapist's use of self, compassion fatigue, crisis intervention, and burnout. I also wanted to perhaps do some consulting around use of social media for mental health professionals.  My question is: "I have built my brand - now what?

     A: Thanks for your question for me and the Your Social Work Brand column. You seem really passionate about social work, and this is the foundation to any career aspiration or goal. The first step in branching out beyond your day job is knowing your target audience for your consulting services and leveraging your work skills to demonstrate how you can help solve a problem for your potential clients. Also, you have to be very aware of the competition in the consulting space you wish to enter. Ask yourself: who else is doing this kind of consultation? If you find people with the same expertise, figure out how you can do it better or differently.

     Next, you have to do some thinking about what value or specific skill you bring to your potential clients and how this differentiates you from your potential competition. Try to say it aloud and write this in a short sentence. Incorporate it in your bio and LinkedIn profile, and share in social media posts when providing resources on these topics you want to consult around.  After you lay a little bit of ground work, then crafting an elevator pitch and position statement that captures a mention of your consulting services becomes easier. By presenting this thought-out approach through your communications vehicles, you should well attract people who need your services. Your brand is always evolving, so just keep doing what you love, and you'll land in the right direction. Good luck!

     If you have a question or want to share your brand, please let us know. You can even submit questions anonymously.