Marketing is like painting a masterpiece...the more consistent you are in your marketing systems, the more you’ll reap in return.
Today, I want to share with you with nine proven techniques that have helped stir up good Qi in my practice since I started...
Applying just one of these strategies could give your practice a much needed boost. Even if your practice is functioning well, I’m sure you’ll walk away with some interesting and beneficial information to help better your practice even more.
You probably have tried many different ways to attract, retain and reactivate your patient base over the years.
Marketing is not something you can just do once, and then have it reap benefit year after year. Marketing is like painting a masterpiece, the more you are consistent in your marketing systems, the more you’ll reap in return.
Below are nine proven techniques that have helped stir up good Qi in my practice since I started.
Try one new technique below every week and you will see your practice grow.
Strategy #1: Strive for 200!
Try one new technique below every week and you will see your practice grow.Set a goal for yourself of handing out 50 or more business cards per week. During an average week you come across many people, in line at the grocery store, at the gas station, on the street or even in the bank. Handwrite a note on the back of the card such as,
“Please come in for a free 20 min stress-reduction treatment”, or
“Bring this card with you for a free first visit.”
People will be less likely to throw away a card that has a handwritten free offer on it by the practitioner themself. Tell them they can pass it onto a friend or a family member if they want. Handing out 200 business cards a month is a great way to have your practice soar!
Strategy #2: Send a letter of introduction.
Send a letter of introduction to local chiropractors, personal injury lawyers, massage therapists, physical therapists and any other referral source you can think of. Include a short biography of yourself, the type of care you provide and the fact you want to network with them. Let them know you are interested in what they do and you would love to send some people their way. Ask them out to lunch or tea. Attempt to mail out at least 50 introduction letters a month and don’t forget to include a follow-up date when you will call them to make sure they received your letter and to see if they have any questions. Remember to place business cards inside!
You can download our free letter here.
Strategy #3: Send a press release to your local paper.
You can announce just about anything. If you’re new to a certain area, use a press release to let people know you’re there. If you have been in your area for a while let people know what you have been doing; teaching, continuing education classes to expand your care for the public or making a new addition to your office, etc.
Strategy #4: Get active!
Become known in your community as a wonderful volunteer. Help out your local food bank, non profit organization, homeless shelter, senior center, etc. Let your community know you have a willing and caring heart and want to give back to them! You can even use this a press release about your practice. Another good strategy is to do a fundraiser for a charity of your choosing. Announce to the community you are offering a certain percent of that month’s proceeds to that charity and encourage them to come in and participate. Next, post flyers around town that explain about why this charity is so important to you.
Strategy #5: Talk it up!
Conduct a monthly or bi-monthly health talk. This is a great way to get people in and really interact with them. Advertise this to your existing and inactive clients. Tell them to bring a friend, and let them know that if they bring a friend, both they and their friend get a free treatment. If you can’t do this at your treatment space, try a public library, yoga or dance studio. Make them free. At the end of your talk, send them away with some herb samples, brochures or literature relevant to what you were teaching about. You want to leave them with information that will reinforce what they learned.
Strategy #6: Don’t like to talk?
Join Toastmasters International. This is the best tool any person can use, especially if they are in private practice. It will provide you with the confidence, experience and organization needed in order to give an effective and powerful talk! You may even get a few clients out of it. Even if you don’t want to do any public speaking, improving your presentation skills will help you feel more confident when you talk about acupuncture.
Strategy #7: Join your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary club.
These are local people who are all working and living in your community and their purpose is to support and help people in the community. If you practice there, they may help to grow your practice with referrals.
Strategy #8: Write an article for your local paper.
Submit an article to your local health-oriented publication. Inform the public on what it is you are doing and the far-reaching effects beyond pain acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide. You can also gear your article towards a specific seasonal issue, depending on when the article is printed.
Strategy #9: Send a letter to your “good” active clients.
In it tell them you value their presence in your clinic and would love to fill your schedule with people just like them! They probably have friends like them, so include three certificates that will entitle the bearer to a free consultation and treatment. Suggest to this client if they hand out ALL three certificates, they will receive a free treatment.
So, there they are...nine strategies that can help jumpstart your practice and give it a little Qi boost!
Even if only a few of these strategies speak to you, that is OK. Just go with the ones that feel right. This way you can stay consistent.
See you next time!
Jeffrey Grossman, EAMP
“Marketing is like painting a masterpiece, it takes consistency and patience”