Medical Practice Marketing in Stamford and other fast growing Connecticut cities is crucial, especially considering the increasing concentration of practices affiliated with regional hospital systems. The question is: how can an independent practice succeed in this environment. The simple answer is “it’s a challenge.” The more complete answer is “Many practices continue to prosper. Yours can, too.”
Medical Practice Marketing in Stamford takes on new urgency
Doctors and Dentists aren’t salespeople, and they’re not marketers. But don’t worry: marketing is simply defined as “how businesses communicate with, attract, and retain customers.” So you can do that.
Traditional Medical Practice Marketing in Stamford
Today, marketing has changed from just a few years ago, but “traditional marketing” isn’t dead. There are many more “traditional” marketing tools that have been used for decades that still work. The most popular and potentially successful marketing tools used by Stamford medical and dental offices include:
- A “logo.” Why not build a brand that your patients can easily recognize?
- Newspaper advertising: every Connecticut town and small city has its own newspaper. Local residents (like me) want to know what’s happening in town…or at least look at the local kids sports team coverage! Think about the Advocate, Stamford Daily Voice, and local online publications like Patch.
- Consider contributing a monthly column about issues of concern
- Be available to the media (and even invite them to interview you) at key times, such as allergy season, when a particularly tough flu season occurs, or with information related to your own specialty.
- Put that new logo on a brochure that includes a brief bio and touches on your areas of concentration.
- Join the Stamford Chamber of Commerce to meet local business people (stamfordchamber.com), or email me: I’m a Chamber Ambassador.
- Volunteer at a local organization
- Join civic associations (both Rotary and Lions are very active here)
- Meet other area medical and dental professionals and exchange referrals
- Speak at schools, community organizations, women’s club, the Parent Teacher Council (PTO), or your local elementary or middle school parent organization, and anywhere the community gathers. Offer to speak to students or parents.
- Direct mail: send out post cards highlighting seasonal health problems. You can even target the households just in your zip code. Ask John at Speed Printing.
- Signage: make sure your sign is eye catching and high quality. Quality reflects on the quality patients expect that you’ll provide. Try A to Z Signs
- Networking: send information to local “referral sources” such as realtors, other doctors/dentists, and schools. Consider meeting these individuals for coffee or lunch, or you could even host a small event at your office!
- Train your staff: they make the crucial “first impression” on your patients. Give them guidelines on how to greet patients, answer questions, and even answer the phone.
- Don’t overlook any opportunity: busy practices typically put up to 69% of telephone callers on hold (AT&T Research). So while callers are on hold, give them helpful information about you, your practice, and how you can help them be healthier, with “messages on hold.”
- Advertise in unexpected place: like on the shopping carts at the grocery store, or the bench at the bus stop.
- Talk with other local businesses who serve the same population that you do: nursery schools, ballet schools and sports centers if you treat children, retirement homes, and senior centers if you focus on seniors, etc.
- Is there a large employer you can help? Send the information and talk with their HR department about the services you offer. Many will display a brochure for you.
- Offer a “lunch and learn” on a topic of interest to the business.
- Local printers will help you design a simple poster that they may post
“New” Medical Practice Marketing In Stamford
Then there are the “new” methods: they’re new, but not impossible to learn and benefit from:
- Website: every medical or dental practice needs an attractive website. It’s as important today as a phone book listing was when you were growing up.
- Consider adding a blog: blogging is easy, once you get started. For an easy to understand article on how to get started, email me. I’ll send you the link. It’s how I got started.
- Social Media: we all know that social media is today’s “village square” where we all meet and talk. Simple steps can help you use Facebook and other popular social media sites to get known
- Are there websites or social sites that focus on your town? Follow it, contribute regularly, and consider advertising there.
- Email newsletters are great for keeping in touch with patients with short articles and suggestions that can help them stay healthy.
- Of course there are many specialists, local and through your professional associations, who can help you with Internet and Social Media marketing.
Any organization in any town needs marketing to communicate effectively with your community. The secret is taking the first step.
These are 25 simple suggestions that can help your practice succeed. Have questions? I’ve worked with lots of local medical and dental practices, and can explain any of these ideas, refer you to experts in their field, or help you with new ones. Call for a Free 15-minute Consultation: throughout Connecticut call 203-655-3920 today.
