Graphic design for your practice

Are you considering a new logo for 2010? Looking to hire a new design firm for your website, brochures, or new patient packets? I don't know about you, but sometimes I have a lot of trouble speaking the same language as designers.

With design being such a critical part of your practice's image; good, clear, communication between you and your designer is critical.

Here are some tips on how to find (and work well with) a good designer:

* Get referrals. My friends at Level8 Design Studio create beautiful work for all budgets. You can check out their latest projects at www.level8ds.com


* Look at their work. Visit websites or ask to see a portfolio so you can decide if the designer is capable of producing a look that suits you.

* Talk. Go through a project they did and ask them to talk you through the process. You'll get a sense of how long your project might take and what they'll need from you.

* Get an estimate. Rates are going to vary. Some designers work hourly, some work by project. Make sure you confirm what is included and ask about revisions. Some firms limit the amount of revisions you can make so make sure you have a clear understanding.

Let me know what additional questions you have about graphic design and I will get them answered for you in an upcoming post!

Make it a great week,

Sarah

How Public Speaking can attract new patients

Celebrating Holidays

Have you started planning your 2010 marketing calendar?  You should celebrate every chance you get! Here are some great events to build your internal marketing ideas for the whole year!


January 
New beginnings, resolutions, and parties – it’s a great time to share what is new with your patients – you could mail them New Year specials with a paper party hat inside or give them out in your office.

Make sure you put your contact information on the hats – (could be done easily with a stamp.)

New Years Day 1st

Martin Luther King Day 21st

Super Bowl Sunday – in office nfl picks

February 

Groundhog Day 2^{nd –} Get through 6 more weeks of winter with…

Mardi Gras   
Valentine’s Day 14^th – Romance service packages – 2-1 s

Random Acts of Kindness Day 
Presidents Day 18^th

March

National Nutrition Month

Daylight Savings 9^th

St Patrick’s Day 17^th – green things, luck of the irish – could include a prize drawing for services or a game

First Day of Spring 20^th – vernal eqinox is a great time to start a spring special – you can make a coupon for your email list or newsletter recipients that looks like a tulip

Easter

April 

April fools day 1^st – great for jokes and tricks

Tax Day 15^th

Earth Day 22^nd

Administrative Professionals Day 30^th

May 

May Day 1^st

National Teacher’s Day 6^th

Mother’s Day 11^th

Memorial Day 26^th

Cinco de Mayo – Pinata coupon

June 

National Rose Month

Father’s Day 15^th

First Day of Summer 20^th

Paul Bunyan Day 28^th

July

Take it to the beach – bundle or package services that in a beach towel or bucket

 Independence Day 4^th

Parents Day 27^th

August  

Friendship Day 3^rd

Women’s Equality Day 26^th

Back to school  - money saving coupons for parents are always helpful

September

Labor Day 1^st

Grandparents Day 7^th

Patriot Day 11^th

First Day of autumn 22^nd

October

Child Health Day 6^th

Columbus Day 13^th

Boss Day 16^th

Mother in law Day 26^th

Halloween 31^st

Maybe  a treasure hunt for kids around your office?

November 

Good Nutrition Month

Daylight savings time ends 2^nd

Veterans Day 11^th

Thanksgiving Day 27^th

December

Pearl Harbor Day 7^th

Human Rights Day 10^th

First Day of Winter 21^st

Boxing Day 26^th

Kwanzaa 26^th

What successful holiday promotions have you  run?

Measuring Your Marketing

World Kickball Tournament edition

Hi practice marketing all stars!

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that I am in Las Vegas this week with my kickball team competing in the World Kickball Championship! There are 72 bold, brazen, and daring teams here from around the country... Wish us luck!

You can check out the full story, and see my team All Stars Only, on ESPN:


While I'm here, I'll be visiting with 3 of my Practice Marketing Revolution coaching clients. If you would like a "Vegas Style" branding tip sheet for your practice, email me at sarah@npressnewsletter.com!

Cheers,

- Sarah

Crank up the smiles today!

Have you ever noticed how when you are in a good mood, your patients pick up on it? Your staff is more enthusiastic, patients more willing to pay for treatment, and at the end of the day you are a lot more fulfilled. What some doctors fail to realize is that their energy is often the lifeblood of their practice and when they have an "off day", it creates a ripple effect through their staff, patients, and ultimately their productivity.

Here are my top 7 things you can do to get out of a rut!

1. Start your day with a workout! 30 minutes of aerobic exercise feels great and puts a spring in your step

2. Wake up 30 minutes early and spend 15-20 minutes planning out your day. Create a vision of exactly how you want your day to play out.

3. Feed yourself positive mental nutrition. Read a motivational book or listen to a podcast on your way to work.

4. Call 206-419-5407 and learn about my Practice Marketing Revolution Bootcamp. Make the decision to spend an hour a week with me to unlock the secrets of the modern practice and wowing your Generation- Y patients.

5. Become future focused. Do not worry about anything that has happened in the past - there is nothing you can do about it.

6. Set Goals. Set 5-6  goals that get you excited. My favorite is the SMART formula. S = Specific M = measurable A= action oriented R= Realistic T= Timely

7. Smile! A good smile is contagious so start spreading it!

The bottom line is: It's not what you know or what you do. It's who you are being. If you get stuck, choose a new way to be.

The First Visit

Last week, we thought about the value of the new patient welcome package. Today, I encourage you to think about your new patient's first visit to your office.

• How is your new patient greeted? 
• Is each patient greeted warmly with a personal touch? I often find myself in practices that still insist on having a wall of glass between the administrative staff and the waiting area. Do you find a fortress of glass to be welcoming?
  
• Do you offer the patient anything while they wait? Think about the relief you feel when you receive a nice fresh glass of water while waiting to order at a restaurant.
  
• Is your waiting area clean and free of clutter? You've seen those waiting rooms with piles of outdated magazines? Yuck! Think about the message that might send your new patient, "they have magazines from 2006 lying around... I wonder how up to date their equipment is?"
• Is your new patient waiting in a room by themselves? I took my little brother to an eye doctor appointment last week and no joke, we waited 50 minutes in an operatory by ourselves with the door closed. Patients DO NOT LIKE being left alone. They have come to you for help. Think about the anxiety that builds for them while their eyes wander over all your clinical equipment and they eagerly await your expert advice and solutions to their problems.
  
• Do you take time to get to know your new patient and ask them about their goals for their health? 
• Do you ask about your patient's past experiences so you can customize your approach for this unique individual? 
• How many different touches do your patients have with your staff? Can you say with confidence that all of them are positive and referral worthy? 

Managing your new patient experience is key to developing a patient base of happy, raving fans. After each new patient visit, ask yourself: "Did we serve that patient so well that they will come back again?"

- Sarah Nelson

I would like to invite you to a FREE Practice Marketing Revolution Teleclass!

“How to Design a Unique and Buzz worthy Patient Experience So You Can Get More Patient Referrals”

** This is the first in a series of FREE teleclasses all about marketing your practice like a rockstar!

This one-hour call is packed with useful and effective information and strategies that will make a significant difference in how your patients feel about you and how many friends they refer to you.

People choose to refer to your practice because you give them an EXPERIENCE they enjoy and know their friends will appreciate too!

Now the question is, do YOU know how to create such an Experience?

Find out by joining us on:

Wednesday, September 30th

8:00 PM Eastern

Register by emailing mike@npressnewsletter.com

Looking forward to having you join us!

P.S.- Just imagine what it’s going to be like once you have designed and deliver an experience your patients truly appreciate.

And if for some reason you can’t make the call, you can get the mp3.  Be sure to register NOW so we can send it to you!

To Register and receive call details, email mike@npressnewsletter.com