The number one best way to market is referral marketing. First and foremost, “relationship” marketing is a proven win-win for both patients and dentists. Patients won’t refer if they feel they were not treated well, and dentists who strive to provide the best patient care experiences will receive the most referrals.

The second best way to market right now is online. Online marketing is green… websites, video, online resources and social media won’t waste paper (unlike masses of direct mail, a tactic commonly used in dental marketing). Most importantly, studies show over 73% of consumers already perform online research before they make purchase decisions- which includes purchases from shampoo to cars to health care. This means it’s extremely important for you to be found online. Further once found, you’ll want to have a variety of information about yourself available. In other words, make it really easy for someone to see how great you are.

Referral and online marketing can work hand in hand for your practice. Online marketing will allow new patients to research and “shop you” before their first visit and referral marketing will help ensure a good patient experience- and, hopefully, a long term relationship built on trust (the type that motivates referrals).

So, what are you waiting for?  Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, blogs and more await you. Don’t let the options overwhelm you, instead just choose one tactic to explore for now- and remember to have fun with it!

Have questions for Rita? Email rita@tangiblemarketing.com.  Get a copy of the Referral System How-To Guidebook for Dentists.

Last week, the Rocky Mountain News closed its Colorado doors. As newspaper subscribers and advertisers continue to drop away, and additional newspapers fold, where do you think dentists will invest their advertising dollars?

Hopefully not in TV, with the use of DVRs, who watches commercials anymore? Note: I’m not even going to acknowledge the phonebook. My prediction is the internet and social media. Advertising and marketing is continuing to move in the direction of pull not push. Even the word pull sounds inappropriate… instead how about permission based, relationship focused, social and visible marketing where both personality and purpose matter.

The marketing of the future will allow patients to effectively “shop” a practice before their first visit. New patients will likely choose the most authentically appealing dentist they can find. Whether by word of mouth, referral or internet search, people will want to peruse research and literally see their potential new dentist online before committing to a first appointment.

They’ll want to see video of the doctor, hygienist and office décor. Patients will expect to get a feel for the personality of the practice to determine whether it is the best fit for them. Does this mean the days of going to see a doctor without knowing what to expect are gone?

Need dental marketing help? Email rita@tangiblemarketing.com or call (303) 807-3827.

Marketing is much more than advertising and getting new patients in the door. As you launch traditional marketing tactics, consider these timely suggestions as well. Direct from recent hands-on experience… 

1) Remove negative press from your reception area

If you have magazines like Time, Newsweek, Fortune or newspapers in your reception room, get them out now. Most of the headlines and articles today highlight the bad economy. Patients will be less motivated to accept treatment with poor economic images at their fingertips. Replace negative headlines with health oriented magazines, such as Prevention.

2) Take a look at what annoys you in your office

Now is an opportune time to have that discussion with the receptionist who needs to step-up her casual-Friday look, the sour-apple assistant in the team or the treatment coordinator who can’t seem to find the time to make those follow-up calls. Perhaps you have none of these issues and have retained a magnificent staff? If so, congratulations! Even if your team is top-notch, everyone is able to continue to improve in some way, now is the time to recruit new ideas, implement fresh protocols and boost all aspects of practice.

3) Make sure your financial policies are in order

A few practices I work with are noticing slower compensation from insurance companies, slower paying patients, and more than usual defectors. According to a January 2009 Wall Street Journal article, it’s not uncommon for people to postpone paying in recessions. With this in mind, it’s more important than ever to ensure your financial arrangements are clear, in writing and have patient signatures.

4) Build alliances

Dental practices are not the only businesses seeking more clients. Take advantage of the opportunity to approach like-minded businesses who might want to co-market. For example, share the cost of a direct mail piece or newsletter with another referral based business that serves similar clientele. Then offer a special to each others clients. Note, specials do not have to be discounts… think “bundling,” ie: have your teeth cleaned and receive a complimentary something.

5) Try something different

If you are in the habit of listening to the news every morning, stop it. Try listening to something motivating, wait and watch the news after work, or make a no-recession rule at the office. It is easy to commiserate with your team, but many times this only leaves people feeling worse.

What are you and your team doing to beat the economy and doldrums?

Need help with your dental marketing? Email rita@tangiblemarketing.com or call Rita (303) 807-3827.

]]> http://www.dentalrelationshipmarketing.com/2009/02/24/5-fresh-dental-marketing-tips-to-help-boost-your-bottom-line-in-today%e2%80%99s-economy/feed/ 0 http://www.dentalrelationshipmarketing.com/2009/02/18/dentists-word-of-mouth-is-waiting-for-you/ http://www.dentalrelationshipmarketing.com/2009/02/18/dentists-word-of-mouth-is-waiting-for-you/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:31:42 +0000 Rita Zamora http://tangiblemarketing.wordpress.com/?p=265

Remember when people were saying, “Someday every business will need a website”… or someday everyone will have a cell phone and email account?

Today, the new “must have” is a Facebook page. Are you on board yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Here are the statistics:

Growth

• More than 175 million active users
• More than half of Facebook users are outside of college
• The fastest growing demographic is those 30 years old and older

Engagement

• Average user has 120 friends on the site
• More than 3 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day (worldwide)
• More than 3.5 million users become fans of Pages each day

If you haven’t yet embraced Facebook then you probably don’t know that other dentists, health care practices and even hospitals are getting established as we speak. The cost is free, plus your time or a team members time to maintain.

Set up a page, post photos, practice events, etc. Show some personality; however be sure to keep your postings and content consistent with your practice philosophy or brand.

Need help with referral marketing?  Email rita@tangiblemarketing.com or call Rita (303) 807-3827. Oh, and look me up on Facebook!

Once you’ve mastered the basics in marketing (reference Part One of this blog article if you missed it), then you are ready for Level II marketing activities. Here are a few Level II marketing activities that consistently deliver.

Get A Website Already – if you still don’t have a website, get one. Experts say about 70% of consumers today will shop the web before they make a purchase decision. That means if people have a choice between you and someone who does have a website, they may choose them over you. Patients want to learn about your team, see a photo of the doctor, tour the practice, review payment options, etc. Need I say more?

Be Found On The Web - an internet marketing guru friend of mine said, “A website is like a giant billboard in outer space that no one can see if you can’t be found online”. Be sure to do some research before you invest in search engine optimization services, check their client testimonials or get a referral from a trusted source.

Advertise in Community Papers – these are newspapers or newsletters that your neighborhood or local community associations produce. Search for those within 5 miles of your practice. These papers typically get read cover to cover, as people want to know what is going on in their neighborhood. Advertising rates can be fairly inexpensive and the big benefit is the ads are well targeted geographically.

Stay tuned for Part 3 and more advanced marketing tips.  Need help?  Contact rita@tangiblemarketing.com or call (303) 807-3827.

If you’re like most dentists today you’re probably wondering how you can get more quality new patients without having to invest thousands of dollars. In one of my most popular blog posts “Recession Marketing for Dentists, What’s Hot & What’s Not” I shared the following recommendation:

Invest in referral marketing. If you don’t already have an organized referral program, get busy and create one. Actively promote your program- not just twice a year by word of mouth when patients are in your office. Be sure to promote the fact that you want referrals the whole year long. Ask verbally and in writing (No you won’t come across as a pest or seem desperate because most people are busy with life and won’t likely remember the last time you asked, even if you ask them many times per year). Make sure you invite referrals verbally, and also put your invitation in writing. Tangible forms of promotion help visual learners (about 65% of the population) to remember to refer. If you’d like to know more about this, check out my Referral Guidebook and learn step-by-step how to create a successful turn-key system for your practice.

But don’t just take my word for the uberpower of word-of-mouth marketing. Here are a few of my favorite experts, dental marketing gurus, thought leaders and a few non-dental related quotes to help inspire and motivate you today:

Have comments to share, questions to ask or need dental marketing help? Call Rita at (303) 807-3827.

]]> http://www.dentalrelationshipmarketing.com/2009/01/23/referral-marketing-works-for-dentists-but-don%e2%80%99t-just-take-my-word-for-it/feed/ 0 http://www.dentalrelationshipmarketing.com/2009/01/15/dental-newsletters-%e2%80%93-what%e2%80%99s-better-digital-or-hardcopy-versions/ http://www.dentalrelationshipmarketing.com/2009/01/15/dental-newsletters-%e2%80%93-what%e2%80%99s-better-digital-or-hardcopy-versions/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:13:17 +0000 Rita Zamora http://tangiblemarketing.wordpress.com/?p=214

The correct answer is both mediums used together is best. Why? You might ask, “With so many marketing companies now offering e-newsletters, isn’t digital the best option?” The answer is no, for several reasons. Digital or e-communication (as much as I love it) cannot yet completely replace all the benefits of hardcopy.

Tangible newsletters allow people to experience news in a much different way than e-communication. Most importantly, hardcopies allow us to get away with longer articles, more photos and richer content than digital formats.

There is just something more sincere and warm about holding a tangible note, card or letter in your hands rather than scanning it on a screen… For similar reasons, highly personalized hardcopy newsletters are still key relationship and trust building tools.

At the end of the day, you want to be sure your patients have seen and absorbed all you have to convey. Ensure your marketing communication is achieving every important objective by including both email and hardcopy news in your 2009 marketing plan.

Need help with dental newsletters for yourself or your practice? Email rita@tangiblemarketing.com or call Rita (303) 807-3827.

To thrive in these economic times it’s best to focus your marketing dollars on retention, case acceptance, word-of-mouth and referral strategies. Concentrate your efforts amongst those who already know and trust you rather than attempting new patient acquisition from unknown and potentially skeptical audiences.

What’s hot: Invest in improving the patient experience. Now is the time to impress patients, as more than ever they will scrutinize everything you do and say. Consumers are paying more attention to everything they spend their money on. Some may question whether they should keep spending their money with you or go elsewhere. Invest in training for you and your team and be sure your patient relations skills are finely honed. There has never been a better time to implement new techniques to increase your case acceptance rates.

Invest in referral marketing. If you don’t already have an organized referral program, get busy and create one. Actively promote your program- not just twice a year by word of mouth when patients are in your office. Be sure to promote the fact that you want referrals the whole year long. Ask verbally and in writing (No you won’t come across as a pest or seem desperate because most people are busy with life and won’t likely remember the last time you asked, even if you ask them many times per year). Make sure you invite referrals verbally, and also put your invitation in writing. Tangible forms of promotion help visual learners (about 65% of the population) to remember to refer. If you’d like to know more about this, check out my referral guidebook and learn step-by-step how to create a successful turn-key system for your practice.

Invest in your online reputation. Google yourself regularly and see where your website rates. Also be sure to police yourself… confirm the first few pages of your search come out clean, accurate and don’t contain any negative patient feedback. It makes no sense to invest in search engine optimization if you don’t even know that negative patient feedback could be found alongside your name.

Consider investing in social media. While not for everyone, when done well- and authentically, participating in sites like Facebook and other social spaces gives you an opportunity to get your name and face in front of potentially influential networks. Have fun with it. If you know nothing about social media, ask someone on your team who enjoys this to help you. Again have fun, but at the end of the day be sure whatever you or someone else posts about you maintains your personal and professional brand and represents you well.

In this economy, what’s hot now is the return you’ll get from marketing investments related to customers/patients who already know you.

What’s not hot: Investing in brand building or awareness marketing such as radio, television or expensive magazine ads. The first problem is that these mediums are not generally geographically focused. The second problem is they require much repetition and thus very large investments before they penetrate enough to work. Even in good economies these mediums can be expensive and risky investments. With a population scrutinizing every dollar, becoming more skeptical about who and where they buy from and holding-off unless it’s an emergency, it’s better to avoid these types of marketing vehicles for now.

Have a question or comment to share? Email rita@tangiblemarketing.com. I’d love to hear from you!

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best, I rate Henry Schein® GURU a 10+. After years of personally presenting thousands of periodontal and dental implant cases to sometimes scared, financially challenged or “difficult” patients, I can say with confidence, “This consult tool is terrific and will begin to return on your investment from the moment you use it”. (No, I’m not employed by Henry Schein®. I just love practical solutions to long time problems).

A specific example of the power of GURU is… A patient is in need of a Sinus Augmentation. Ok, you can use all the good tangible visuals in the market and verbally explain it in succinct detail and still risk the patient not entirely understanding, or easily show the patient a brief animated program illustrating what happens to the sinus floor post tooth loss. GURU’s illustration is the best available in the market, I’ve already seen it cut down on the sinus augmentation explanation time and… bonus, the patient definitively “got it,” he understood exactly what his situation was and clearly saw what he needed to do about it- and scheduled surgery immediately post viewing the program.

There has never been a better visual of a sinus collapse or augmentation- at least that I’ve seen. Further, GURU’s visuals are friendly and professional, and the program is intuitively useful… there’s even an option to email the patient their personal treatment “program”. I love this tool and can’t wait to begin training my client’s teams to implement it in all appropriate facets of the practice.

What are your thoughts?

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison

Many dentists today realize the value of “wowing” patients during their standard two office visits per year; however few appreciate the value of connecting with patients throughout the year.

If you look to the specialists of dentistry, the oral surgeons, periodontists and orthodontists, you’d likely see examples of good relationship marketing (staying in touch with general dentists) throughout the year. If not, they’d likely not be able to maintain good communication, strong relationships or most importantly receive referrals from you. If you didn’t hear from the specialist more than twice a year, a general dentist might wonder if they are sending the wrong type of referral, if the specialist has become too busy, or perhaps wonder if they just don’t need – or want- your referrals any more. The same is true with patients of the general dentist…

Yes, staying in touch with patients throughout the year is work- it requires time, effort and investment. However the benefit you receive is increased referrals because patients:

Feel they have a relationship with you.
Sense you care.
Know you still want their business.
Believe you welcome their referrals.

How do you take advantage of referral marketing opportunities?

Are you looking for an effective way to stay in touch with your patients? Want friendly, authentic and proven marketing? Contact rita@tangiblemarketing.com to learn about our patient newsletter programs and keep your patients loyal, motivated for treatment and regularly referring.