The Chiropractic Marketing Connection

What is the first experience you offer prospects? For many chiropractors’ it’s a free consultation or an “introductory consultation”. Some charge for it, some don’t. These savvy chiropractors promote this consultation as “their offer” in all the marketing they do – everything from advertisements to coupons – it involves coming in for that first consultation. Prospects are driven to get an initial consultation.

Many chiropractors charge $100 for that initial exploratory appointment. However in their marketing – whether in coupons, ads, etc. – they give it away for free to entice people to visit. Talk about no risk – it’s free!

Some chiropractors get frustrated because they are giving away their services for free and they still don’t have any patients! What else can you do?

For all of us in the alternative health care industry, I want to challenge you that the “free consultation” may not be enough. Let me rephrase that and say it may be too much too soon. Many folks need to be comfortable with the fact that they are even seeing someone about their health that is “alternative”.

I recommend you offer some education about what you do before the free consultation. Ask and prompt people to download a free report or a free e-book that educates them on your niche in the healing arts and how it is helpful for them. THEN ask them to come in for their initial consultation.

Putting more educational information out there provides another layer between your marketing and the patient actually staying with you and becoming a lifetime believer in you and what you have to offer.

The people that don’t need this step and are ready for their initial consult will just skip that step. When they are ready to take action they will jump right in. But, if they are not sure about what they’re getting it is more likely they’ll  hesitate and be unsure of their decision – and ultimately not buy.

To your success!

Kelly Robbins

Kelly@AMarketingConnection.com

About the Author

Author of Healthcare Copywriting Secrets Revealed and The Practice Evolution Success Kit, Kelly Robbins is a healthcare copywriter and marketing coach/consultant. She also publishes The Healthcare Marketing Connection, a free e-zine on healthcare marketing tips. Contact Kelly to receive her free report, 5 Critical Mistakes Healthcare Marketers Make that Lose Sales and Plummet Profits at www.AMarketingConnection.com or 303-460-0285.

Thrive in 2009! Learn What You can do Right Now to Ensure Next Year is Profitable - I’ll Show you How on This Free Call!

Register now and you’ll receive a complementary copy of a 2009 marketing planning guide with the call!

You’ve probably been hearing from everyone now that it’s the end of the year, “now is the time to plan for 2009″. And it is. However, with the economy where it is today (panic mode for many) you can’t do the same things you’ve done in the past and remain profitable. We’re in a different place and we need to take different actions.

The key to thriving in 2009 is being strategic in the planning and the actions we take NOW. It’s important we slow down, take a breath and rationally make smart business decisions rather than jump on the next thing that sounds like a winner and lose our shirts.

Understand there are two things you can’t let happen because everyone around you is in a panic:
1.     You can’t keep doing the status quo and get different results.
2.     You can’t disappear from your target market’s radar because you cut back on marketing.

It’s important to understand that marketing that works in a prosperous or expanding economy is not the same marketing that works in a recessionary or contracting economy. People’s mindset changes and the factors that weigh decisions change. Especially for businesses that are considered “non-essentials”, which chiropractic care often falls into.

Just because your current marketing isn’t working as well as it used to doesn’t mean you should stop marketing completely, it simply means you need to make some adjustments to what you have been doing to meet the current needs of your market.

We are going to discuss those adjustments on our free call Tuesday, December 16, at 1PM Eastern/10AM Pacific. 
•         What does it mean to “become invisible” in a nonessential marketing when people aren’t spending money? How can you avoid becoming invisible?
•         Is it wise for businesses to change their marketing strategies right now or should they stay the course and wait out the storm?
•         What are best marketing practices for businesses in these tough economic times?
•         What is the number one mistake entrepreneurs make when they need to tighten their belt?
•         How can you take what marketing and advertising you already have and make it work better rather than reinvent the wheel?

Register now at: http://www.amarketingconnection.com/thrivein2009
 
We are going to talk about marketing plans. Not the two month, 35 page marketing plans fortune 500 companies put together. We’re going to teach you how to do an effective marketing plan in one day. If you do what I teach you correctly, this one thing will make thousands of dollars of difference in your bottom line and increase sales. 

In a free call on Tuesday, December 16, at 1PM Eastern/10AM Pacific, marketer and copywriter Kelly Robbins will be interviewed by Michelle Salater, expert online copywriter and marketer, and talk about your marketing plans for 2009 and share some best practices. You’ll also receive a complementary 2009 marketing planning guide with your registration.

Frankly, this call with us could be the kick in the pants your business has been needing. If you’ve ever attended one of Kelly’s free calls you know you’ll leave info-rich AND excited to rock the world! I hope you can make it - we’ve got some awesome work to share with you!

Register now at:  http://www.amarketingconnection.com/thrivein2009

Register now and you’ll receive a complementary copy of a 2009 marketing planning guide with the call! And yes, the call is being recorded, so if you can’t make it you can still listen later.
Learn how to make 2009 your best year ever on this one free call. We will be recording the call, so even if you can’t make it be sure to register!

To your success!
 
A Marketing Connection, Inc.
Helping you connect with your customers
www.AMarketingConnection.com

What’s the first thing people do when they even think they have a health issue?

Studies show over 80% of the American population heads straight for the internet. This is a fact. Whether you or your office is referred by another physician or a friend of the patient, people go straight to the internet to check you out.

Why do people do this? What are they looking for?

They want to know what is wrong with them and who in the world you are. Can they trust you? Are you legitimate? Are you really good at what you do or are you a newbie? Are you reputable? 

Knowing this, doesn’t it make sense to have a strong online presence no matter what field of healthcare you are in?

Many practices don’t leverage the internet as much as they should. Beyond “should we have a website”, practitioners should be doing several things to attract and retain clients. Blogging, publishing educational content (such as how to know if you are having irregular heartbeats), press releases, and more… make it really easy for people to find you and learn about who you are and what you do.

Let me share a story with you. Two years ago my daughter was diagnosed with something scary sounding by our orthopedic doctor (an osteoid osteoma). The orthopedic doctor didn’t know much about these and nervously referred us to a specialist in Denver. He assured us “Dr. M” was the best in the state.

Of course I came home and immediately googled “osteoid osteoma”, which I couldn’t spell and couldn’t find it online. Next thing I did was google Dr. M – who I couldn’t find either! I had to wait until the next day to call the office to find the name of the practice to look them up. Sure enough, they did have a website and Dr. M was on there and yes, he is a big shot in his field.

But, he should have been much easier for me to find. I shouldn’t have to wait, worried and stressed, until the next morning to learn these things. Dr. M’s office should have done a much better job of promoting his name (and the name of his practice, even though that wasn’t what I was referred to) online.

Can your patients find you?

You don’t need expensive pay-per-click advertisements or banner ads to be found easily online. There are several very simple and inexpensive, systematical techniques you can use to be found easily.

Contact us about our “New Media Marketing Package” specifically for chiropractors at Kelly@AMarketingConnection.com or 303-460-0285

About the author

Founder of A Marketing Connection and The Copywriting Institute, Kelly Robbins, MA, is an award winning author, copywriter and healthcare marketing coach/consultant. She also publishes The Healthcare Marketing Connection, a free e-zine on healthcare marketing tips. Contact Kelly to receive her free report, “5 Critical Mistakes Healthcare Marketers Make that Lose Sales and Plummet Profits” at www.AMarketingConnection.com or 303-460-0285.