Welcome to Dixie’s Monthly Marketing Tips!
We’ve said it before: Knowledge is power. We want to empower you with information about dental marketing to help you and your practice be successful, so welcome to Dixie’s Monthly Marketing Tips! We’ll be updating this page each month with helpful tips about advertising your dental practice to potential patients and promoting your services to existing patients. Also included in the line-up will be announcements about new products and services that we offer (plus specials!), and interesting, sometimes random facts.
To Kick-Off September...
To kick-off September, it’s time to huddle up, team! Now is the perfect time to gear up for your 2009 marketing campaign. You might ask, Isn’t it a little pre-season to get started on projects for 2009? We ask back, Has your logo gotten tired in its fourth quarter? Does your new patient flow need some new recruits? Is your website lonely for visits and in need of more fans? Off-season training is the best time to get ready for game day. Our sales coaches can help you develop a killer 2009 playbook, and our team is suiting up to work on a custom, updated logo for you, a strategic direct mailer, and a warmed-up website to increase ticket sales. During the remaining months of this year, we can get these marketing projects and much more ready for action! So when January rolls around, you’ll be set to watch the game unfold.
More Reasons to Start Now
Typically, the ending months of the year tend to be less conducive to direct mail marketing success (at least for dental offices). As a matter of fact, the end of November and December are like watching a whole game in slow motion. January, however, is a GREAT time to mail (and this holds true through the end of April). Dental insurance benefits have been renewed, the holiday rush (and holiday expenses) have passed, and New Year’s resolutions are running out of the tunnel to take on the opposition. By beginning the design process now, you’ll have plenty of time to collaborate with us on eye-catching and appealing marketing pieces that effectively represent you, the team we pick to win. Another home team advantage to starting now is that we’re currently offering interest-free payment plans to help you fit the cost of marketing into your budget.
Another “Off-Season” Play You’ll Want to Run
We’ll talk more about this in October, but keep in mind that just because November and December are slow for dental direct mail doesn’t mean that you should just sit on the sidelines watching the clock. A year-end letter mailed to your current patient base is a great way to remind people to come in for recall before their dental benefits turn over. The holidays are also a nice time to run a special for teeth whitening or other service to get people’s game faces on for holiday parties and family photos. An internal push for referrals is another end-of-year drill for filling spots in a slower holiday schedule. We have a product designed to accomplish all of these goals, so call us to ask for samples if you’re interested.
Post-Game Thoughts
Now is the time to flex your marketing muscles. We truly believe that marketing is a team effort, so don’t underestimate the power of a smooth hand-off, especially to marketing professionals you can trust to root for you. Marketing touchdowns don’t start on the field—they’re the result of a passionate team, thorough preparation, and a cohesive, well-executed strategy.
Give us a call today, and ready... Break!
Random September Facts
- With football season starting, remind your team to ask moms about getting athletic mouthguards for their children who play sports.
- Consider putting up a promo board in your reception area or a flyer on the table about tips for moms when packing school lunches... Most kids don’t brush their teeth after lunch when they’re at school (and let’s face it, most don’t make it a point to do it when they’re at home either), so moms should ensure that the foods in their kiddos’ lunch boxes aren’t promoting tooth decay. Fresh, crunchy fruits and veggies are good snacks that are low in sugar, and cheese has the calcium teeth and bones need to grow strong. It’s also better to limit sticky, sugary foods and beverages, too, such as gummy candies, sticky granola bars, and soda.
- September’s flower is the morning glory. You may want to consider keeping a vase of them, or any flowers of your choice, in your waiting area. Most grocery stores (and Costco) have pretty, yet inexpensive bouquets.
- In China, September 20th is “Love Your Teeth Day.”
Look forward to Dixie’s October Marketing Tips Halloweening their way to you next month!