Ashley is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, specializing in GI issues (especially IBS, IBD, and SIBO), and helps people with chronic digestive issues uncover their root cause through functional testing so they can address their unique imbalances instead of guessing and avoiding the foods they love forever. She helps clients create a focused strategy to finally rebalance their inner terrain using functional food, supplemental nutrients, herbal medicine, and lifestyle upgrades.

Let’s dive in and learn more from Ashley about taking her practice online.

You started out in a clinic setting, eventually moving to an online virtual practice. What inspired you to take your practice online?

My clients inspired me to take my practice online! I was getting inquiries from clients across Canada and in the US asking if I would see them virtually. Even my local clients were asking for video calls to avoid commuting, with all the technology available, it just makes sense. I love working from home and the freedom that running a virtual practice allows. There is also significantly less overhead.

Recently you moved from big city life to a small town. What systems did you have in place during relocation to ensure you were able to maintain a successful practice?

In terms of tools, using Practice Better, That Clean Life, and Fullscript allows me to run my practice and support my clients no matter where they are. Because Practice Better shows clients appointment times in their own time zone, I never have to worry about miscommunication, I also never have to email back-and-forth with clients to get them scheduled. When I send them their protocol, I use That Clean Life to attach recipes and meal plans for the nutrition component and since Practice Better integrates with Fullscript, they can order supplements to be shipped right to their door.

You built up a solid niche and online community prior to your move. What role do you think this played in being able to relocate and maintain your business?

Having a niche allows me to be hyper-focused in terms of my marketing - people know what problem I solve for them and when they have that problem, they know I’m the right person to help. Over the years, even when I have not been in practice full-time, I always put energy into maintaining my community and sharing my knowledge. I don’t think that I would be able to have the successful practice I have today if I hadn’t consistently done that, so I think it’s really important to show up and share value even when you’re not selling anything.

You work with clients all over the world. What features of Practice Better do you use to keep things personal and engaging?

I definitely use the chat feature daily - checking in with clients and giving them a quick and easy way to access me is huge. I work in packages specifically because I want my clients to get answers to their questions right away, rather than waiting for their next session. If a client sends me a message asking for a healthy cookie recipe to make that weekend, I can grab a recipe from That Clean Life and send it to them via Practice Better within a few seconds. I find this more personal than emails and client emails aren’t getting lost in my busy inbox.

What advice would you give to other practitioners looking to move their business entirely online, with the goal of location freedom?

Make sure you have a solid plan in place for where your clients will be coming from! You don’t have the benefit of people choosing you based on location anymore, so it’s important to get clear on your messaging and niche down. Having an online practice means your pool of potential clients is pretty much infinite, and so are their options. Stand out as the expert in a specific niche and share a ton of value related to that so people begin associating you with that topic.

Do you have anything coming up that you’d like to share with the PB community? Where can our community go to learn more about you?

Word of mouth has been essential for helping me scale up my practice and build up my reputation as a specialist in therapy for sleep. Don’t underestimate the power of good reviews on Google Business!

How can other practitioners start building their own referral network and encouraging word of mouth among their clients?

In 2021 I’ll be launching a clinical mentorship for nutritionists wanting to specialize in the GI niche. When spots open up, that info will be available on www.ashleysauvehealth.com.

Thank you so much, Ashley!

You can learn more about Ashley by visiting her Instagram page.

Practice Better is the complete practice management platform for nutritionists, dietitians, and wellness professionals. Streamline your practice and begin your free trial today.