Small Gab: What separates your practice from the rest?
Doctors,
I encourage you to give your team members a POP quiz and have them list out what they think separates your practice from other practices. This will give you more visibility on what each team member is communicating to your patients. Before the first patient walk into your practice, every team member should have this value proposition memorized. By having this value proposition memorized, the team member will be reminded what their duties are within the value proposition as well as be able to convey this value proposition to new and existing patients. If the team truly believes in this value proposition, then they will be more encouraged and motivated. Patients will believe in this value proposition if the same messaging is conveyed by each team member. Oppositely, if a team member is asked this question multiple times and they still can’t list out what separates your practice from the rest, then they are not the right team member for your practice.
For more information, contact Gab
Happy Dentistry,
Gab.
Doing Good = Doing Well
Social Responsibility is one of the most buzzed about topics in Silicon Valley. The most socially responsible companies are often times the top companies to work for or to invest in. It is important to not only do well in business but to also do good for the community that surrounds you.
Many of my clients have started to get involved in their communities. By doing so, my clients have not only helped their communities but have also continued to build their brand awareness and thus grow their business. My recommendation for 2014 is to do more for the community that surrounds you and your practice.
Here are the top reasons why DOING GOOD can benefit your practice:
1. Getting involved in the community increases your brand awareness.
2. It builds a positive workplace.
3. It encourages team work.
4. It encourages professional and personal growth.
Here is how you can get involved:
1. Join Give Kids a Smile.
2. Create your own “free dental check-ups” or “free oral cancer screening” day.
3. Contact your local dental society or Community Center for events that you can help with.
4. Sponsor a league.
5. Run/Walk in a community 5k/marathon to support health research. Get your staff members on your team and also encourage patients to join your team as well.
6. Get involved in oral health education in local elementary schools or middle schools.
7. Sponsor a cultural event in your community.
These are just a few examples of what my clients have gotten involved in. I can tell you from their experiences that it has been extremely rewarding for them personally and professionally. If you need any advice on how you can get involved in your communities, please email me at gabriela.dentalgab@gmail.com
Happy Dentistry!
Gab.
Total Social Media Bundle
I have had the opportunity to speak to many of my customers about the power of social media. Social media sites like Facebook allow you to continuously connect with your patients through a streamlined platform. The question I hear from many of you is: where do I begin with my social media campaign?”…so I have created a mini-bundle list of social media companies that work in conjunction with one another and can help you reach your social media goals. I am here to provide you guidance as you maneuver your marketing campaigns to include social media.
1. Demandforce: Demandforce designed a software as a complete marketing and communication platform to fit your practice needs. Whether it is review collection, reactivating lost patients or getting your practice found on the Web, Demandforce can help. Running your own practice doesn’t leave a lot of time to think about growth and retention strategies so Demandforce take care of that for you. http://www.demandforce.com/
2. Likeable Dentist: Likeable Dentists is a Facebook marketing solution that assists dental practices in using social media to build their brand and engage with existing and prospective patients. Launched in partnership with Likeable, Likeable Dentists includes four key components: content publisher, ad buyer, tab creator and an offline Facebook marketing kit. The content will educate and engage fans, while the Facebook ads and tabs will drive likes and ultimately new patients. The offline kits tie social media into the physical dentist offices. http://www.likeablelocal.com/dentists/
Happy Dentistry!
Gab.
The 10 Minute Huddle
The Team Huddle allows all team members to anticipate potential situations, concentrate on solutions, and understand the daily goals of the practice. The huddle also ensures that the team is less stressed, which can in turn enable a smooth and focused day.
The huddle should not last more than 10 minutes and must be conducted every business day, ideally in the morning before the first patient arrives.
Here is how it works effectively:
– All full-time employees need to be present. Record notes for part-time members arriving later in the day.
– Bring charts for the day to the meeting and go through what patients need during their visit: pharmaceuticals, pans/fmx, pending treatment acceptance.
– Keep the huddle short and sweet. Have each team member be in charge of a certain discussion during the team huddle.
– Huddle is not a time to discuss personal conflicts…the huddle should focus on specific day-of operations of the practice.
– Look for openings in the schedule, emergency times, identify new patients, review treatment plans, unique patient situations, financial arrangements, verify insurance coverage, look for family members who need to schedule appointments.
– Discuss and update the marketing strategy of your practice: social media, referral program, e-mail collections.
– Effective questions like: What happened yesterday we can improve on? What success stories from yesterday? are great ways to open up communication.
– Finally, discuss the production per day, and per month and list out 2-3 ways that production can be improved.
If you need help getting started, please let me know. I can help. Also- if you have Dentrix practice management software, there is an AMAZING report that you can print every day that will allow you to analyze and customize what you want to discuss during the team huddle. The report is a great way to stay focused on what you wish to accomplish during the huddle.
Happy Dentistry,
Gab.
Product Gab: Dentrix Tip Tuesdays
75% of your new business comes from referrals! By utilizing Dentrix practice management software, you can actually record all of your referrals. This tool will enable you to be constantly aware of the trends in what patients are referring you the most. Please check out a great site that Dentrix trainers created to provide customers with tips and tricks on how to navigate through Dentrix more efficiently and really utilize all of the robust reports that it offers. This week’s Dentrix Tip Tuesday is all about referral recording.
Here is the link to Dentrix Tip Tuesdays: http://dentrixtiptuesdays.blogspot.com/2014/01/working-with-patient-referrals.html?spref=fb
Happy Dentistry,
Gab.
Gab’s Brand and Marketing Strategy: New Office
Aside from the process of building out your dream practice, it is important to build a brand/marketing strategy prior to opening the doors for new patients. Here is a suggested “basic” checklist of the things you will need to do in order to build a successful brand/marketing plan for your new office. If you would like to learn more about any of these items, please reach out to Gabi @ Gabriela.DentalGab@gmail.com. She can work with you to create a plan that fits your vision!
Find out your Target Audience: do a demographic analysis of the city
Build a Logo: your logo should be on every piece of literature you give out to prospective, new, current patients. Patients need to be able to associate your logo to your practice, so a consistent and unique logo is important!
Build a Website: Who looks through the Yellow Pages anymore? Because of the growth in technology and viral communication, people are “checking” you out on the internet prior to entering your office. Keep up with online reviews and appointment requests. Make sure you have a Silicon Valley-esque website design that is easy for patients to log onto and look through.
Get Social: Social media is the biggest viral communication channel out there right now! If you aren’t on Facebook or Twitter or Youtube, you are jeopardizing a very important way to communicate with new and current patients.
Build a Recall System: Ever heard of “Pearly White Teeth for Life?”
Build a Referral System: Reward patients for referring friends and family. Think outside the standard box of giving out Starbucks cards… gas cards, free electric toothbrushes, free whitening is the way to go!
Give them more than just a “reminder card:” Give the patient a cool article on oral health vs. overall health or a newsletter about the office when they check out.
Get Involved in the Community: Sponsor events, go to Art and Wine Festivals, sponsor football teams.
Get Business Cards for each Team Member
Host an Open House, customer appreciation day, summer fiesta…etc.
Happy Dentistry,
Gab.
Small Gab: Name badges
I can’t tell you how many times I walk into an office and team members don’t have name badges. Although name badges may seem quite simple and irrelevant in the grand scheme of the office, name badges provide a sense of familiarity and comfort for your patients. Lets face it, people are already on edge when they walk into a dental office…some would rather go through a car wash sans car before they get their teeth fixed. A small yet effective way to deal with a patient’s stress is to have them know who they are speaking to from the beginning to the end of their appointment. Name badges can help when a patient is saying wonderful things about a certain person to their friends and family, and it can also help with the awkward “I’ve seen this person every 6 months and I should probably remember her or his name but I don’t.” Name badges with the logo of the practice and the title of the person also shows unity and brand awareness…both extremely important pieces of your marketing strategy.
Happy Dentistry,
Gab.
2014 Hot Topics: Show Me The Money!
2014 Hot Topics: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
1. CAD/CAM Technology: This year, my goal is to help customers strategize how to increase their hourly production, as insurances are constantly paying you less and less … a big way to do this is to invest in CAD/CAM technology.
2. Lease Agreements: Negotiating new lease agreements can be quite frustrating. Henry Schein Dental has partnered up with a great company called Cirrus consulting. They help guide you to making the best financial decision on lease agreements.
3. Employee Compliance: Employee law is constantly evolving. Henry Schein has partnered up with a great company that can help you set up proper employee policies and guidelines.
4. Strategic Branding: I will be helping to strategize my customer’s marketing tactics. Making sure you have a great brand will be essential in the upcoming year.
5. New Patient/Insurance Evaluation: Having a strategy in place for new patient metrics will also be a hot topic this year. Being able to evaluate where new patients come from– whether referrals, online, or insurances, will allow you to make smarter decisions about what marketing strategies you should invest in.
6. Updating Your Office: My goal is to make you more money. Discussions on how new technology and equipment will give you the ROI you want will be a MAJOR topic of discussion this year.
7. Dentrix Essentials: I want each of my customers who own Dentrix practice management software to understand all of the amazing and robust ways Dentrix can help you grow your practice. There will be seminars and topics this year that will focus on helping my customers get the most out of their practice management software!
dentalgab 