How To Be An Online Counselor

Spiritual coaching and counseling is the perfect career for a person who is in tune with his inner self and enjoys helping others. If you are interested in using your spiritual knowledge and deepening your relationship with others to assist them in finding inner peace, then starting a spiritual counseling business can be a lucrative and fulfilling career. With a little tech savvy, you can have your online spiritual counseling business in operation in just a few weeks. There is a high level of competition in the field, based on the ease of acquiring certification, and according to Barron's Salary Guide for 2010, the average earnings for a virtual therapist range between $26,000 and $35,000 annually.

 

Earn your certification in spiritual counseling

Attend classes in person or participate online.This is important as it will lend credibility to your business and allow you to formally learn all aspects of spiritual teaching. You may have taken a certain path to your own enlightenment, but it is important to understand and be certified in the many different nuances of becoming a professional coach.

Find and secure a web domain and hosting account

There are many services offering packages that make it simple to design your own website. If you aren't technologically savvy, there are web host providers that come with templates and add-ons making it easy to build discussion boards, forums, a blog and even an online payment gateway to allow your customers to purchase counseling sessions online. Some easy to use host companies include Intuit, 1 and 1 and Siteground. Once you have chosen your web domain name and website, you can begin submitting your information to search engines.

Research what other spiritual coaches are doing with their websites

Many coaches offer videos and downloadable e-books on their websites, as well as live chat sessions, surveys and assessments. The more interactive your website is, the easier it will be to determine who is visiting your site and allow you to reach out proactively to potential customers.

Optimize your website for search engines

Ensure that each of your web pages is embedded with keywords associated with your business. Depending on your budget, you may opt to pay for sponsored search results. To gain additional exposure, partner with some bloggers who report on topics in your field. Offer to exchange links or banner advertising.

Harness the power of social media 

To build a client base, create a Facebook page, and ask friends and families to connect to your business. Participate in discussions on LinkedIn and post relevant information on Twitter. By engaging in the community, you not only build your business's reputation, you also ensure that you are keeping your knowledge and skills sharp.