Learn how implementing a few foundational marketing strategies ensures your visibility to potential patients.

Whether you are just starting your practice or have an established holistic business there are some foundational marketing building blocks that should be in place.

Update Your Contact Info in Key Places

Often overlooked, this simple step is a must in our digital and social media environment. These links, references, profiles, and pages draw attention to your brand and can bring in new patients. Make sure your name, email, phone number, and all URLs are updated in the following areas:

Email signature
Your website, contact page, and links to social media handles
Social Media Pages: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
Online local business listings: If you are looking for a new dentist, and you don't have any personal referrals, what do you do? - I typically search google and seek out reviews. How about you?
-   Setting up a GOOGLE Local Account Visit https://www.google.com/business/ This will also add a your business to Waze - the popular GPS app.   
- Setting up a BING Local Account
  Visit https://www.bingplaces.com and follow instructions.
-   Setting up an APPLE MAPS Local Account Visit https://mapsconnect.apple.com and follow instructions.
- Setting up a YELP Local Account
  Visit https://biz.yelp.com and follow instructions.

Word of Mouth is Still King

Word of mouth. You hear this advice from everyone right? And its true, there is no better marketing than word of mouth. Word of mouth works because people have benefited from your services so much, that they are compelled to tell others about it.   My question is how do we encourage word of mouth marketing? Here are some ideas I implement in my practice:

Acknowledge and Reward those who Refer
I expresses my gratitude to everyone who refers to me. I have done this through thank you emails, thank you notes, thank you gifts (flowers, gift certificates, etc). Note: I don’t tell people upfront that I offer these gifts because I want referrals to be as authentic as possible.
Ask for Google or Yelp Reviews
When a patient has a great experience with you, ask if they would mind sharing it with the public in the form of a review. In my opinion, reviews are the online version of word of mouth. You can make a regular practice of asking your patients to leave a review google or yelp. Note: yelps tends to hides reviews (even legit ones).

Community Marketing: Get involved in your local area

Supporting your local community can build awareness while helping your neighbors and other local businesses. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Walk The town and introduce yourself to the owners and employees of local businesses. Ask them if they would like to leave their card in your waiting room. Have your own cards handy too incase they ask.
Run a fundraiser for your community. Think about who your ideal client is and make a fundraising event just for a cause that may interest them. Fo example you could organize a special day where a percantage of income goes towards a great local cause.
Talk your walk by engaging in public talks.
Prepare a 20 minute talk or demonstration and share it for free in the community. Hold the talk where your ideal patients hang out. It could be at a local library, Natural Food Stores, Community Education Programs, local networking groups, local businesses (integrative docs, chiropractors, yoga centers, wellness centers, gyms, etc.).
Participate in health fairs: Health or local fairs are a wonderful way to promote your practice. If done well they can be an exceptional place to build your practice
Other holistic business relationships: Think about where your ideal patients hang out and form relationships with these businesses. For example local Doctors, Chiropractors, Yoga Studios, Gyms, coffee shops, cafes, natural food stores, etc.