Why Your Doula Calendar’s Empty (Even Though You’re Showing Up Online Daily)
The Truth About Why Consistency Isn’t Enough
I’ve gotta start today with a brag — and not about me, about one of the doulas in my Sell to Serve program.
She went into a consult this week kinda nervous, but she didn’t let it run the show. Instead, she slowed down, leaned into the consult flow we’ve been practicing, and just connected. So much so that the mama cried. Twice.
And here’s what’s wild: just a couple months ago she would’ve rushed through, info-dumped her whole package, and ended with, “I’ll send you the contract and you can let me know.” Basically… hoping for the yes.
But this time?
She opened the call like she belonged there, not like she was begging to be picked.
She asked powerful, relevant questions instead of nervous chatter.
She reflected back what the mom actually said instead of rattling off features.
And when it came time to pitch? She asked straight up if they wanted to work together.
And guess what? She got the yes.
This is the difference between winging it and knowing exactly how to run a consult. And honestly? The same principle applies to your content.
Because let’s be real:
👉 If your content isn’t starting conversations… it’s not converting.
👉 And if it’s not converting… it’s not worth your time.
So today, we’re going for the jugular: why your doula calendar is empty even though you’re posting every day — and the real fix.
My Story: What I Did Wrong
Quick confession: when I first started mentoring doulas, I thought, “I’ll just teach everything I know — branding, Instagram strategy, follow-up, consults, all of it.”
Sounds great, right? Except there was a problem.
I wasn’t known for anything.
If a doula was venting to her friend, “Ugh, I don’t have enough clients,” nobody was saying, “Oh, you need to talk to Lisa.”
They were saying, “Lisa’s cool… she talks about a lot of stuff…”
Ouch.
The turning point? Realizing that people don’t hire you for “all the things.” They hire you to solve one burning problem. For doulas, that problem was:
“Why am I getting consults, but no one’s booking me?”
So I niched down.
Now when doulas complain about ghosting, stalled sales, or empty calendars, my name comes up: “Girl, talk to Lisa. She’ll help you nail your consults and book more clients.”
That clarity is what grew my business — and it’s what you need too.
Why Consistency Without Clarity Doesn’t Work
Here’s the deal: consistency without clarity just makes you the unpaid educator of Instagram.
You might be inspiring people, but you’re not inviting them to work with you.
Pregnant moms are already overwhelmed and decision-fatigued. They’re not going to DM you out of nowhere and say, “Hi stranger, can you explain what you do?”
That’s your job: to open the door.
And there are three big mistakes most doulas are making that keep their calendar empty.
The 3 Silent Booking Killers
1. Inspiration Without Invitation
You post beautiful quotes, heartfelt captions, educational tips… and then you just walk away.
Sure, you’ve inspired them to think about birth, but not about hiring you.
The fix: Every post needs a conversation-starting CTA. Not just “link in bio.” I mean things like:
“DM me your due date and I’ll tell you the #1 thing to focus on in your trimester.”
“What’s one word you want to describe your birth? Reply and tell me.”
That’s what sparks conversations — and conversations lead to consults.
2. Talking to Everyone Instead of Your One
If your content sounds like, “Hey pregnant women, here’s some tips!” … congrats, you’ve just blended into the feed with every other doula.
Your dream client should feel like you crawled into her brain.
Instead of: “Reduce anxiety during labor,” say:
👉 “Does your birth plan feel like a Pinterest board instead of something you actually believe in?”
That’s when she leans in. That’s when the conversation starts.
3. Hiding Your Sales Process Like It’s a Secret
If someone has to work to figure out how to hire you? They won’t.
Be obnoxiously clear:
DM me your due date.
We’ll chat about your vision for birth.
Book your consult and feel supported.
Weave that into captions, stories, highlights, pinned posts. Make it easy.
Conversations = Clients
At the end of the day, your content’s #1 job isn’t likes — it’s responses.
You can’t book someone who’s lurking. You can only book the people who are talking to you.
So do the things that get them talking:
Story polls about birth preferences
Question boxes like, “What’s your biggest birth fear right now?”
Simple DMs like, “Hey, when are you due?”
Zero sales agenda. Just curiosity.
Mindset Shift
You’re not bugging people when you start conversations.
You’re not competing with other doulas — you’re competing with doing nothing.
And the doulas who book out? They’re not the ones posting the most… they’re the ones connecting the most.
Final Takeaway
Clarity creates conversations.
Conversations create consults.
Consults create bookings.
Free Resource for Doulas: 3 Questions That Book Clients
If you’re ready to stop winging your consults and actually book clients, I’ve got you.
Grab my free guide: 3 Questions to Ask in Every Doula Consult to Book Yourself Out.
These are the exact questions I use to shift consults from awkward to connected — and they’ll give you:
A natural consult flow that builds trust
The confidence to guide the conversation without rambling
The clarity to follow up in a way that feels genuine, not pushy
By your very next consult, you won’t be guessing. You’ll have the words, the flow, and the confidence to invite the yes.
👉 Download it now at thelisavee.com/top3 — it’s free, it’s quick, and it will change the way you sell your doula services.
