May 7, 2008
- Orthodontic Marketing - What Defines Your Actions In Life?
During the past year, I have been on the fast track learning how to master the art of marketing on the Internet and completing my eBook "Marketing Your Practice Through Different Eyes" A Multi-Media Team Guide - How To Recession Proof Your Practice To Increase Referrals and New Patient Starts.As you all know…I am releasing my book this month at the AAO meeting in Denver, as a FREE download to all my following. (If you aren't attending the meeting…no problem… I will forward you the link to download the book, after I get back. If you are going…stop by and introduce yourself to me and my husband Jack, at booth 2036. I have some great new ideas and products to show you.)
April 17, 2008
- Bill Gates Hits It Right On With Today's Generations…
Both my brothers are school teachers, one retired and one still going strong with over 25 years of experience . But one thing they both have in common is their frustration with the attitudes and entitlement issues of today's generations. This includes both parents and students. It is difficult for teachers to educate students when they are constantly confronted with skeptical parental support and the entitlement attitude of Gen Y and Global Tweens can be very trying, to say the least. When we get together, this is often the topic of conversation. I have a 25 year old myself who has a warped sense of entitlement when it comes to life and I only have myself to blame…
April 4, 2008
- FREE HUGS Or Beautiful Smiles..It's all the same
I was reviewing a collection of YouTube videos I bookmarked for my free multi-media marketing book I will be releasing at the AAO Convention in Denver in May…when I came across this video. I decided not to wait and write this blog post instead. It had an impact on me when I watched it 3 months ago and it obviously had a viral impact on the 25,649,101 that have watched it to date. There were no where near that many viewers three months ago when I first viewed it….it's gone viral because of the emotional affect it has on our own perceptions and what we, as individuals, need more of in life.
March 19, 2008
- Beautiful Smiles Are Like Diamonds in Orthodontic Marketing
Buying decisions, no matter what the product or service, is based on emotion…DeBeers, who is responsible for 40% of world wide diamond productions and has a retail presence in 25 countries world wide, did extensive research on why men and woman buy diamonds. Their research shows that men and woman buy diamonds for totally different reasons. And though their reasons are different, they are both based on emotion, not on size, color, clarity and long term value. The same is true when patients and parents are seeking the services of an orthodontic provider. They are looking for a beautiful smile and straight teeth. They aren't looking for perfection, but the emotional feeling and self confidence one feels after their teeth are straightened.
February 24, 2008
- Is Your Orthodontic Practice "Remarkable" or Ordinary?
My brother sent me this email today and I couldn't help but laugh….Maybe because I always feel like I am experiencing senior moments myself. The news article at the end of this post, hits home with many baby boomers, like myself.We all experience unusual moments in life, read articles, receive emails or watch a movie that you just can't help but talk about or pass on to others, especially with the Internet. It is so easy to forward information, jokes, websites links, YouTube videos or whatever on to friends and family, just like this one.
But lets look at this "through different eyes"
February 11, 2008
- Ideas Are The Starting Points Of Future Success; Document With A Digital Recorder
If you are like me, your greatest strokes of genius occur when there is no pen and paper handy to jot it down. My creativity seems to peak when I am either in the shower, driving down the road, or walking the dog. Many potentially great ideas have been lost by the wayside, stored within the clutter of my mind, until I finally smartened up and bought a digital recorder.
February 6, 2008
- History In The Making Through Word of Mouth
Unleash The Power Of "Word of Mouth" Marketing
Politics is one area that I have never found very exciting. I would much rather spend my limited free time in other pursuits. With that being said however, I found the primary elections for presidential candidates very interesting yesterday. Not only interesting from a political point of view, but a marketing point of view.
I was flipping through the main channels, ABC, NBC and CBS trying to capture a quick overview of what was going on, throughout the evening. I happened to land on ABC, where the discussion was turned over to a correspondent in the studio who was tracking the FACEBOOK crowd, online, with her laptop. The FACEBOOK social online group is mainly composed of the GEN Y population, ages 20 - 30 and predominantly college students.
January 23, 2008
- From the Information Age to the Recommendation Age in Orthodontics
In the past it was difficult to find information on many subjects, especially orthodontic treatment for the consumer. In order for parents to make an informed decision, they relied heavily upon referrals from general dentists to guide them through the selection process, based on their dental knowledge and experience. Today, we have too much information. Patients and parents can search on the Internet and find out anything they want to know about orthodontics. Now they are overwhelmed and look for guidance from people they trust…friends and family.
January 10, 2008
- "GLOBAL TWEENS" In the Current Orthodontic Market Place
Today’s children are increasingly aware and well informed, and have become decision-makers in their own right. “Global Tweens” between the ages of 8-14 are much more sophisticated and savvy than prior generations. They are the first generation to be raised totally in the digital age of computers, DVD’s, ipods, cell phones, text messaging and the ever expanding Internet. It is easy to underestimate their highly developed preferences and the effect they have on global marketing, especially since they do not like being treated like children and play a big part in the decision making process, along with their parents.
December 27, 2007
- 5 Elements to Orthodontic Marketing Success
I’ve seen it over and over…
orthodontists, treatment coordinators and team members who get nervous and uncomfortable when it’s time to assume the role of salesperson and promote their practice. Sales are the backbone of your practice’s health, and most entrepreneurs (or orthopreneurs) and their staff are not trained sales or marketing professionals. In fact, most business owners and their support staff are reluctant, resistant sales people, worried about being perceived as pushy, or worse yet, sleazy. As a result, they don’t get out and sell who they are and what they are all about to perspective patients.
December 16, 2007
- "Marketing Effectively": Getting to Know Your Orthodontic Patients"
To market your practice effectively, you have to KNOW your target audience and what problems they are trying to solve. People don't buy things. They buy solutions to problems; they want to fulfill a desire or meet a need. It should be specific and real…AND you should care about their problem and how best to guide them in the proper selection of an orthodontic team that meets their personal needs.So, what are your patients/parents trying to figure out, overcome, fix, heal, or prevent? What is their biggest concern when dealing with orthodontic treatment on a daily basis? How are they feeling about orthodontic treatment in general? And what is unique about your orthodontic practice and what services do you provide to solve problems? Don't get sidetracked by promoting yourself - stay focused on solving their problem… finding an orthodontic practice to create a beautiful smile and occlusion that will last a lifetime.
November 9, 2007
- Do You Lead or Manage an Orthodontic Practice?
I read a great article today, written by Linda Talley: The Leadership Coach. It is short, to the point and I would like to share it with you.
Keep in mind, when reading this post, how members of your orthodontic team, including yourself, would measure up…. Every member of the team, at some point in time, finds themselves in a position to lead or manage. I found it very enlightening.
10 Ways to Tell You’re a Manager Rather Than a Leader- When you are in a meeting, and someone mentions the word “Change,” you ask how much it will cost.
November 5, 2007
- Are Your Marketing Files Backed Up? Part 2How much time does it really take to backup all your computer files?
The size of your practice, your choice of orthodontic management software and your added programs such as digital imaging and digital radiography directly effects the amount of time it takes to backup your computer files.
Have you ever noticed how your computer system slows down when the backups are running? The amount of time required to backup larger systems can take as long as 2-3 hours on a highspeed backup drive. This will effect the overall speed of your software, depending upon what hour of the day you are running the backups.
November 1, 2007
- Are Your Marketing Files Backed Up? Part I
You can never be too carefull…. With the recent fires in California destroying many homes and businesses, I think this would be a good time to review recommended computer backup procedures for your orthodontic practice. Mother Nature can be very cruel and you never know when she may strike next.
October 23, 2007
- The PIE Approach to Orthodontic Marketing
It’s that time of year again…Time to get into the mood and gear up for the holidays. The 4th quarter has three holidays that are major marketing targets; Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is the perfect opportunity to be “ExtraOrdinary” within a group of ordinary orthodontic practices in your area.
October 9, 2007
- NESO Meeting in Boston…Was It Worth It?
It has been years since I attended a Northeast Society of Orthodontics Meeting. I normally attend either the AAO, Gorman Meeting or some type of practice management seminar every year. This year, I decided it was time to bite the bullet, venture out, and see for myself what was new and if anything had changed over the years at NESO.
It was a beautiful drive from Upstate New York to Boston. The leaves were just starting to turn and it gave me an opportunity to relax with my thoughts before a busy weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It went by much faster than expected.
September 30, 2007
- The Orthodontic Marketing Matrix - Do or Die?
In the movie, "The Matrix", Neo is given a choice by Morpheus to take the red pill, which will shatter his world but show him the truth about it or the blue pill, which will let him go on in his safe and secure cocoon of life.
Rethinking and restructuring your current orthodontic marketing and management strategies with the latest computer digital technology is similar to taking the red pill for orthodontists and their team. It’s not an easy pill to swallow. Working outside of your comfort zone in the digital world of interactive websites like those designed by Orthosesame™ and Televox™, paperless software management systems with finger scanners and 24/7 digital marketing with presentation software and PowerPoint kiosks, to name a few, are the current strategies recommended to those Orthopreneurs™ ready to tackle the 21st century.
September 13, 2007
- Welcome To Orthopreneur.com
This is a very exciting day for me. I am posting my first blog. It has been a major learning curve for me with this new blogging software. I am very familiar with standard website design and content. You write the information once and then you are done except for an occasional update, no big deal. Having to create new articles on a regular basis seems daunting, but I know I am up to the task.
Make sure you sign up for my Free Orthodontic Marketing Report and Marketing Makeover Tips. I have over 30 years of orthodontic experience, skills and knowledge that I would like to "pay forward". Go to my About MK section if you would like to read more details.
