There are many marketing services out there. My colleague in dental marketing Jeff Wilson (pictured) of Business Audio Source and OnHold Music Source provides the "What's Holding Them Back" solution to the equation...
As the dentist or practice manager, you've invested time and money in running a successful dental practice but are still coming up short of where you want to be. Bringing on new patients is an obvious way to increase your bottom line, however the patients you already have are generally worth more than the new ones you're trying to get in the door.
Current Patients Your current patients are in need of advanced dental treatments and makeover veneers but continue to put off treatment. Cost is likely a primary factor but many patients are just indecisive or simply procrastinate their treatment. If you bring up cosmetic dentistry services with your patients you will unwittingly turn some of them off without even realizing it. So how do you market to your patients, at a time when they are focused on their dental health while you have their complete attention and do it without the possibility of seeming desperate, pushy or turning anyone off? By using informative marketing messages played to your patients while waiting on hold.
You may think your patients don't typically wait on hold for very long... but, they don't have to! You can deliver your most compelling marketing messages in less than 15 seconds.
New and Perspective Patients If you're not attracting new patients your practice can only grow smaller. Despite the best dental marketing, most new patients find your phone number on a list filled with other area dental practices provided by their insurance provider. They'll pick the three closest to their home or work place and call to ask a few basic questions. What makes your practice stand out? In the few seconds your new prospect waits on hold, custom hold messaging can paint a vivid picture about your practice, your dental niche, and the technology you provide. An effective hold message gives your practice that add image boost to help land new patients.
On Hold Marketing Works The reason Custom On Hold Messages are so effective is because they target a captive audience, at the exact time they are actively engaged with your practice and most interested in your services. No one who calls your practice is calling to be put on hold. But, they accept being placed on hold and are listening for their turn to speak with a staff member. This is a golden opportunity to connect with your callers while they are totally receptive to your message. In fact, if you have anything less than a well produced custom hold production you risk annoying your callers.
The alternative to custom hold messages Statistics show more than 70% of the people who call a private medical practice, be it their dentist or primary care physician, are placed on hold. On average hold time is greater than 45 seconds. You don't have to play a custom hold message but you do have to play something. Here are the alternatives.
Silence - Silence equals nothing. If you do nothing, your callers will wait on hold in complete silence. Leave them on hold for more than a few seconds and they're likely to think they've been disconnected. A minute on hold in silence seems more like five. If your practice plunges callers on hold into silence, ask your receptionist how often calls on hold hang-up, or how often patients call back and wonder why they were disconnected. Wonder how many didn't call back?
Radio - Playing a radio station over the hold lines is a broadcast and licensing violation. It's also guaranteed to annoy callers with commercials, banter from DJs, and possible static in the connection.
CD/MP3 Player - You now have control over commercials, and static but you're still in violation of music licensing and are wasting an ideal opportunity to connect with your callers and market your services.
Custom hold message reinforces and increases the value of your current marketing strategies.
How much would your practice benefit with just three extra whitening treatments each week? Or, 5 additional "smile make-over's" every month? It's a modest goal that you can easily attain with the right hold messages. An effective message on hold campaign provides compelling information that plants the seeds of possibility in your patients mind. When they ask for more details about a particular treatment, you've just been given the green light and are now much more likely to be able to enhance your patients smile and oral health, not to mention your bottom line.
Bring the power of On Hold Dental Marketing to your practice. Packages start at just $39/mo. Includes digital player and semi-annual production updates
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_R_Wilson
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Posted by Dick Chwalek
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