This isn’t just an ordinary blog where you read someone else’s opinions and then go on about your merry day.
Oh no. This is something far more powerful. This is a brainstorm blog.
We’ll toss out various ideas on topics related to dental marketing and management, and let the group discuss. Do new patient discounts attract the right new patients? Is spending a lot on signage worth it? What nutty strategies are working for other dentists?
So stay tuned… because no topic will be off limits!
Wednesday, 21. October 2009
Looking forward to bouncing ideas off of my colleagues! Should be fun…
Tuesday, 3. November 2009
Right with you on that!
Tuesday, 10. November 2009
I am looking into a letter to the new movers in our area. Any ideas on this?
Wednesday, 11. November 2009
I would like to start to get my staff on board with our marketing program.
What ideas are out there to get them fired up to perform to there potential?
Wednesday, 11. November 2009
The new movers letter sounds like a great idea. I haven’t tried that as yet…What kind of return is anyone getting from such a campaign?
I too am looking forward to get a good dialog going.
Wednesday, 18. November 2009
I have a unique problem – I’m too busy. How can I attract competent dentists to join my practice in the middle US, not urban and not rural, population 50K+? New equipment, digital, all the bells and whistles. Lots of new patients and still a good economy.
Sunday, 22. November 2009
We’re trying a new approach – we ordered nice coffee mugs as a promotional item. We are sending a hand written thank you note along with a business card and magnet to new patients. The note asks specifically for what we want – first thank patients for coming to our office, then telling them we love referrals, and requesting that they give the cards to family, friends, co-workers, etc.
So far, several patients have called back, surprised, and thanked us for the gift. They have been happy, and now that they “know” what we are asking for, hopefully, we will get additional responses of new patients. We’ll see if Jim’s idea asking for what we want works.
Any suggestions on how to improve on this or what to do better?
Monday, 23. November 2009
Roger, I think you hit upon a growing issue – too few dentists available. Hard to find good associates or partners. It might be hard to sell our practices 5-10 years from now.
Clinton, a hand=written card is powerful, especially in this digital age. Your pre-gifting idea is excellent. New patients, still basking in the honeymoon glow, are more inclined to recommend us.
I used a similar idea with a few local MDs. I gave a couple of nice books for their reception rooms (with our logo inside the front cover).
As a referral reward, we’ve been sending an edible arrangement of fruit to their place of work (chocolate-dipped strawberries). The idea was to create a buzz.
We’re currently switching over to Jim’s idea of sending a gift certificate for selected local merchants. We’re trying $35 – the same cost as sending the fruit.
Tuesday, 1. December 2009
As a pediatric specialist approaching the holidays, what do you GP’s and referring dentists value most in holiday gifts? Do you like it better when the it is a staff inclusive gift or just to you? I am inclined to think the staff inclusive gift is a better idea as they are often the ones who refer, not the actual doctor. My practice is built mainly on internal marketing as opposed to referrals as it is a vary saturated GP and pedo market.
Friday, 4. December 2009
Gary, great idea with the gifts – but why not both the doctor and staff? Doctor = personal, staff = collective. You’re covering both ends, and with strong leadership in the practice, the policy is normally set by the doctors and enforced by the staff.
Since your practice is built on internal marketing, I’m sure you run some type of Smile Card/letter program – as a pediatric specialist, have you adjusted the frequency of those Smile Card mailings? Do you send post treatment letters in addition to quarterly mailings? Also, do you run some type of email newsletter?
Tuesday, 8. December 2009
We run a blog. I’ve done a facebook side ad, but I think I didn’t put a hook/incentive. I was just driving them to my website. Didn’t get much directly from that. Not sure what you are talking about with smile card/letter, just not sure what you are referring to. We have not ever sent post treatment letters, have done news letters before as well as some direct mail marketing. We average 105 NP a month. I’ve decided this year to do florida lottery scatch tickets for staff, and do a bit wider hit based on referrals. Thanks for the feedback..I look forward to seeing what you were referring to with the smile card.