Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a College

Counseling Practice

Presented by Cyndy McDonald, GuidedPath

Presented by…Cyndy McDonald• Educator and Entrepreneur• Founder of technology company-

GuidedPath (formerly MyCCA)• Founder of consulting practice-

McDonald & Associates• Founder of 2 national

organizations (HECA and AMP)

We are all in business of Customer Service

How do you shape your practice?• Identify early mistakes to avoid when building your

practice• Fuel the growth of your practice• Save money• Save time

Building a Practice takes tools

Find solutions through GuidedPath as a tool & resource

5. I have to know it all in the beginning.

You can be the expert without having all the expertise.

Don’t wait to start until you “know” it all to start.

Solution: Find expertise in one source

• GuidedPath offers robust, reliable data

• Promote professional expertise

• Dynamic search gives you data all in one place

• Saves time

4. I wanna hold your hand….Finding the balance between providing professional expertise and becoming a babysitter is key to success as an entrepreneur.

Goals:• Empower students• Engender trust in parents• Set expectations• Use online tool to manage

Solution: CommunicationUse an online tool to:

• Provide answers to parents

• Give direction to students

• Save time• Save money

GuidedPath helps set boundaries and minimize time commitments

3. It only takes a few minutes.Dedicating too much time to a student can yield $5.00 / hour pay.

• Don’t undervalue your time• Watch your real time commitments• Especially hard when you are

learning along with students/parents

• Track time• Timebox time

Pricing Services: THAT is the Question!Comprehensive• Pros/Cons

Hourly• Pros/Cons

GuidedPath offers tools for tracking your time and for invoicing.

Solution: Manage billing online

2. I can’t afford an organizing system until after I have clients.• Create system before you

get clients• Use system to set yourself

apart in marketing• Explore options to support

your goals• Save time

Solution: Organization online

1. Marketing Plan?

workshopsADS

web

site

marketing

Solution: Emphasize process

Solution: Using resources• Avoid these top 5 Mistakes• Invest in your business now to save $ later• Look for more trainings offered through

GuidedPath• Request demonstration on website or

contacting us at support@guidedpath.net