How to Establish Credibility as a New Doula: Tips from an Experienced Birth Worker
Have you been trying to figure out the secret to gaining trust and establishing yourself as an outstanding doula in the beyond competitive birth industry?
If you are ready to discover the proven strategies that will skyrocket your “street cred" as a new doula, then get out a pen and paper, this episode is for you!
The 3 questions we answer in today’s episode are:
What was the most challenging part of starting your doula business?
Any advice on starting out on social media? I’m making a childbirth education course and don’t know what to make my first few posts about.
How do you gain the trust of your audience when you are brand new and selling a product?
Every Friday, I answer your biggest questions right here on the Birthworker Blog AND the Birthworker Podcast.
To submit a question for next week’s podcast, click here.
If you're tired of feeling like just another face in the crowd, then you wanna listen up!
Question #1: “What was the most challenging part of starting your doula business?”
The excitement of starting a doula business is truly invigorating! I love thinking back to baby Kyleigh starting her little doula business. I had no idea how far my impact would reach, and it’s amazing to see how far I’ve really come in the birth space.
For me, the most daunting aspect was embracing my worth and value as a birth worker having never given birth myself. I felt like I didn’t have anything to bring to the table. I started my doula business before I even got pregnant with my daughter Lila, so it was a very transformative journey of taking my doula training, starting my business, supporting women in labor, all the way to having my very own freak-out-free birth in my own home.
I also remember struggling with all of the business decisions that I never learned about in my doula training like my website, starting an LLC, bank accounts, etc. The list goes on… And that’s why I created Birthworker Academy. I created the resource I wish I had when I was starting out. Insight from an experienced doula entrepreneur in the form of both educational modules and personalized business mentorship. This course has been my greatest pleasure to create, and if you are in the beginning stages of your doula business, click here to see if Birthworker Academy is right for you.
Question #2: “Any advice on starting out on social media? I’m making a childbirth education course and don’t know what to make my first few posts about.” -Alyssa
You can post about anything you want. It honestly does not matter, the important part is that you just start posting. Your first 100 posts are going to suck and that is okay. No matter how much time and thought you invest into those first posts, you’re going to end up hating them down the line when your style changes. Plus, they won’t be seen by that many people anyway.
The whole purpose of even publishing your first posts on social media is to gain momentum in your social media “flow.” Click here to read a previous blog all about how I make my social media process easy and pain-free.
So my short answer? It doesn’t matter what you post in the beginning, all that matters is that you’re posting AT ALL.
Question #3: “How do you gain the trust of your audience when you are brand new and selling a product?”
Trust is the foundation of any successful doula-client relationship. When you're new to the doula scene, you must establish credibility and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
My biggest recommendation is to be consistently publishing high-value content on your social media. Offering value to your audience through blog posts, videos, or live sessions that educate, inform, and empower is the fastest route to gaining your audience’s trust. Share evidence-based information, birthing techniques, and practical tips to showcase your expertise.
Here are a few quick tips:
1. Share your story. Open up about your own journey, what led you to become a doula, and how it transformed your life. Vulnerability breeds connection and allows potential clients to see your authenticity.
2. Share testimonials and success stories. Collect feedback from previous clients and share their stories of empowerment and transformation. Even if you’ve never made a sale with your online product, testimonials from your in-person services will 100% still help you land those online sales. Authentic testimonials act as powerful social proof and reassure potential clients of your expertise and dedication to serving women.
3. Engage and listen. Actively participate in conversations on social media and respond to comments and messages promptly. Show genuine interest in your audience's concerns and provide personalized guidance. Be the go-to resource they can rely on.
4. Collaborate and network. Connect with other birth workers, midwives, and childbirth educators in your community. Collaborate on projects, guest blog on each other's platforms, or host joint workshops. Building relationships within the birth community enhances your credibility and expands your reach.
The journey ahead may be challenging, but with passion, perseverance, and the right mindset, you can overcome any obstacle. Remember, you are not just starting a doula business; you are embarking on a mission to empower and transform women’s birthing experiences. Your voice matters, and the world needs your unique gifts.
thank you for listening
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Meet your host, Kyleigh Banks, a side-gig doula turned CEO of a multi-six-figure birth-focused business. Her passion? Teaching birth nerds, like you, how to build an incredibly successful doula business that allows you to quit your day job, stay home with your kids, and most importantly, make a lasting impact on the world.