Social Media Brings Change to Killer Chiropractic Marketing

By Matthew Loop, DC

When speaking with the average chiropractor, it is apparent that critical entrepreneurial thinking is still not stressed in school. Hence, why many doctors never make it in the long term in practice. In fact, the chiropractic profession has the highest student loan default rate of any medical profession. Most of the reason for this that the doctors are taught to be great technicians and have good diagnostic ability but that alone does not pay the overhead each month. Many believe they will just hang-up their sign and people will flock through the door. Well, I have news for the dreamers! Times are changing very quickly and the fast learners will profit heavily and grow their practices to astonishing heights while the laggards will be sucked under with the sinking economy.

Are you still using outmoded marketing and advertising techniques? Postcards, newspaper drops, and telemarketing are pass. Networking at the chamber of commerce or trade shows generates few if any real referrals. The absolute best form of marketing available today is actually 100% free, and has been proven successful time and again.

Three years ago I began using SEO / Web 2.0 marketing techniques. I was the first Chiropractor to bring these exciting new tools to our profession, and other doctors were stunned to learn that I was generating huge numbers of new clients with common websites like MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.

I have had various marketing consultants try to grab my secrets, which I've shared with only a select group of my fellow chiropractors. These consultants have tried all manner and method of tricking me by calling from anonymous numbers or posing as potential clients. They wanted to capture and sell my ideas, and I was more interested in making my ideas come to life.

During my research I observed how other chiropractors were approaching online marketing. They immediately signed up for their own profile and began spamming other members with their advertisements. Not only will this get you kicked off the website (since it is against the user agreement), but most people hate spam and the result will be the exact opposite of what you intended when you sent it in the first place. The only real way to make the most of these sites is to find a mentor; someone who has been there before and knows how to navigate the waters of Web 2.0.

If you want to succeed in social networking, you must be credible above all else. This means that your contacts and 'friends' have to feel that you bring some value to the community. Serious thought must be put in to designing your profile page, and the information that you place there. Your page should be interesting, captivating, fun and engaging.

Similarly, when using a site like YouTube where members can post their own videos, you have to be able to create content that is useful and fun. There is a lot of competition on YouTube, but for those who can garner a following, the benefits are extraordinary.

There has never been anything like Web 2.0 in the world of marketing. To understand how to use these sites, it is vital that you understand both the spoken and unspoken rules of participating on them. You will see immediate benefits when you finally understand how they work. The best way to do this is to find a mentor or a guide who can give you the support you need while you make yourself a part of this exciting new environment. - 21704

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