Client Interviews: Website Tips for Doulas and Midwives

I hosted a free call recently about the Doula Interview (find the call recording here!).  It is my belief that a website is best used as a living, active tool in support of your birth practice.  A well-designed website will actually help potential clients take the next steps to learn more about your care.  In the call this morning I promised to share a few tips to help you use your website to enhance the interview process, so here we go:

1) Think of your website as a resource to help clients prepare for the interview.

I recommend that you share a basic introduction to your initial interview & hiring process on your website so that potential clients know what to expect.  The more clear the process, the more likely they are to reach out and take the next step to learn more.

2) Let your website help you save time and energy.

You’ll be amazed how much time you will save when use your website to help schedule interviews & gather relevant information beforehand.  There are plenty of simple online booking tools you can use on your website to help clients both choose a time to meet (based on your preselected available dates) and answer basic questions beforehand such as due date and care provider.  Youcanbookme is one favorite tool.  Online bookings will save both time and energy, and help you be better prepared for the interview.

3) Use your website to build a relationship.

Near your booking form, include a photo of yourself, and testimonials from clients who have hired you about how they felt when they first met you at the initial doula interview.  For some potential clients it can feel very vulnerable inviting a stranger to meet & discuss their birth plans.  Use your website language & images to help create a sense of connection & value even before you meet.

4)  Create content to support your doula interviews.

Use your blog to answer some of the most common questions you receive in your doula interviews.  That way you can include the links after the interview as a supplement to the information you shared with them live, and they have another chance to poke through your website and learn more about you.

As well, you can create an introduction packet for potential clients in PDF format. This might include a favorite article about birth, a copy of your contract, a delicious postpartum treat recipe, and a handout or letter describing your care and packages and fees. You can send this by email if you wish, but why not host it as a PDF file on your website, thereby encouraging them once again to go back onto your website & hopefully look around a bit more at all that you offer?!

5)  Entice clients with a private resource area on your website.

Another idea is to create a private, clients-only section on your website with special resources & even coupons at local birth & baby businesses just for them.  You can tell families about this clients-only resource this as one of the perks of hiring you when you’re at interviews.

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These are just a few of the many creative ways that you can use your website to support interesting families in getting the information they need to hire you as their doula or midwife.  I welcome any other ideas you may have in the comments below!

– Sarah Juliusson, The Website Doula