Marketing on a Budget
June 13, 2008 – 8:41 amTip #2: Be active in your community.
I’ll never forget the day my pediatrician told me I was too old to see him anymore. It was the summer after my freshman year of college, and I had called to make my own appointment (maybe a sign that I was indeed too old). But the receptionist on the phone said, “Honey, you are too old for the pediatrician’s office. You need to find a new doctor.” WHAT?! For my whole life this was the doctor who had seen every fever, held my hand for every shot, and told me I was going to survive when I was convinced otherwise. I hung up the phone shell shocked. I felt like it was my first challenge in the real world: find a new, adult doctor. But how?
I prefer to find a doctor by asking my friends, co-workers, or relatives for referrals instead of searching the Yellow Pages for a random one. And after living in a few different cities, I’ve found that the majority of people look for doctors this way. So, I think it’s important that, as you begin to develop your practice’s marketing plan, you find ways to get your name out to potential patients. One of the best ways to generate referrals is to be an active member in your community. Here are few ways to do this:
- Have a representative from your office attend local city council meetings. This is a great way to network with people in your own neighborhood (don’t forget your business cards –you will need them).
- Encourage your employees to volunteer for local charities.
- Sponsor a children’s sports team.
- Buy an ad in a local school’s newspaper or sports program.
- Decorate a booth at a county fair or festival.
While these ideas may seem limited at first, remember this: You have to start small to grow big.
-Mary
*This is the second post in an ongoing series of posts. Check back regularly to learn more “Marketing on a Budget” tips.
How is your practice active in your community?
