Making an impact over the holidays

If you are discouraged by all the people who have full page ads, multiple television and radio commercials, don't worry.  Even with a reduced advertising budget you can compete with these other practices.


Don't worry- 80% look online before making a decision and 98% choose a company/practice/service/product based on who is on the first page of a search engine. What that means is if you are appearing on the first page of the search engine- it doesn't matter who paid for that expensive newspaper ad or television commercial- YOU will benefit from it!  


If you have a strong presence on the internet- especially if you show up in the # 1-3 position on the first page, you have a immediate advantage over your competitor.   Have you ever had someone tell you they "heard you on the radio" and you didn't have a radio ad?  That's the beauty of it- while I'm driving around town, in my car, I hear lots of radio ads.  I don't stop the car to write down the name of the company, their phone number or any other information- I wait until I get home, and look them up on the internet. Sometimes I can't remember the exact name of the company, and sometimes- even if I remember the name, I am interested in another company because they have a stronger presence on the internet.

How do you get a stronger presence on the internet? There are many different ways- appropriate metatags, quality back links, targeted content, and many web 2.0 strategies.  Don't waste your money on radio, TV and the paper- work to get your website to the top of the search engines for the most cost effective way to promote your practice.


Talk again soon,


Shirley Cress Dudley, MA LPC NCC
FACMPE
Consultant for Performance Online Marketing Services

AMA releases policy on physicians and Social Media

Did you read the press release from AMA?  They have established a policy for physicians on social media.

Here are some of the main points this new policy focuses on-

• Use privacy settings to safeguard personal information and content to the fullest extent possible on social networking sites.
• Routinely monitor their own Internet presence to ensure that the personal and professional information on their own sites and content posted about them by others, is accurate and appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries of the patient-physician relationship when interacting with patients online and ensure patient privacy and confidentiality is maintained.
• Consider separating personal and professional content online.
• Recognize that actions online and content posted can negatively affect their reputations among patients and colleagues, and may even have consequences for their medical careers

(information taken from AMA press release.)

How does this effect you, as a physician?    Really, not at all. This policy is a great reminder that physicians need to protect their private lives, keep them separate from their public lives. It also reminds us of the privacy policies created for our patients, and how you should continue to protect them.

Does it make participating in social media more difficult?  Not really. You should have been following this guidelines, on your own, anyway.  

Should I participate in social media, as a physician?  Definitely!  The world is on the computer, looking for your practice. The best way to find you is with an optimized website, regular blogs, and participation in social media such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  If you are hiding in your office, the world will still post comments about you on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin (and hundreds of other sites) but if you are actively participating along with them, you can see what's being said about you and respond to it.

Social media is here- join it.

Ophthalmologists- Why are keywords so important to my website?

What's really in a word? Does it matter? Absolutely!


If you don't understand what words your customer uses to search for you, then the words you are using are actually keeping your customer from finding you. HUH? Yes- I recently learned a new word- ocular plastic surgery. 
Impressive! 


But, if I wanted my droopy eye lids fixed, would I put in the words "ocular plastic surgery?" Probably not.  It's important for us to think like our customers, and use the words THEY would use to find us.  


That's why it's important to use professional online marketers- to help you find the right keywords for your practice, and also change these keywords as your customer and their searches change.


What about the word "ophthalmologist?" - Is that a great keyword?  
I can answer that question by asking you if, before you went to med school, "ophthalmologist" was one of the words you would have gotten right on the school spelling bee?  Probably not.  You probably thought of the "eye doctor" or "need glasses"- instead of using the word "ophthalmologist."

Think like your customer and you will be found more easily.


Shirley Cress Dudley
Consultant for Performance Online Marketing Services

What to do about negative reviews?

What should you do about negative reviews? Well, if you are in business, some patients will be happy and some won't. 100 percent of your patients won't be happy 100 percent of the time.

Some online review sites allow you to respond to each customer's review. It's recommended that you respond, privately, to each negative review. Sometimes a customer will modify their review once they've heard from an apologetic business owner.

Also, the best way to "negate" a negative review- is to get more reviews! Remind your patients, after each visit, that they put their review on Google, Yelp, or another review site of your choice. Put a link on your website to the review sites, to encourage their participation. Remind them in your newsletter to participate in the review process.

Everyone has negative reviews, at some time or another. Don't let one negative review bother you, read it and respond (whether directly to the reviewer, or respond by making changes in your practice.)

If you need more help with your online marketing, try a professional online marketing company, to assist you.

Talk again soon!
Shirley Cress Dudley
Consultant for Performance Online Marketing Services

No Website for the Dentist!

I visited the dentist a few weeks ago, for my six month check up. A couple of days before the visit, I wanted to call the dentist and ask a question, so I "googled" the dental practice name.......and.....NOTHING CAME UP! My dentist didn't have a website!

I decided my question could wait for the visit. As I was escorted to the designated area to have my teeth cleaned, I passed my dentist, staring in the computer screen. He looked up, briefly, to say "good morning!"

Teeth cleaned, and next appointment scheduled, my dentist dropped in to discuss my visit. I mentioned I was heading to the new shoe store, next to the mall, but forgot the exact address. He offered to look it up on his computer for me.

I asked why he doesn't have a website and he said "I don't really need one- do I?" I just smiled, as I walked back to my car- leaving him to gaze at his computer.

Do you need a website? YES YES YES!

Did you know that 80% of buyers search online before making a decision and
98% of customers make a decision based on who is located on the first page of Google?

98% of your customers make a decision about using you (which dentist to choose, which shoe store to go to, etc.) by looking online.

Get a website- TODAY!

Shirley Cress Dudley, MA LPC NCC
FACMPE

Consultant for Performance Online Marketing Services

How Social Media Helps Promote A Lasik Surgery Center- or other type practice

A Lasik Eye Surgery Center Asks:  How could you think Twitter , Facebook and other social media , help lasik surgery clinics to attract more patients ? 


Answer:  
Great question - Watch this video on Social Media, it has some great (and also shocking) information on social media: http://www.performanceonlinemarketingservices.com/socialnetworking


Yellow pages, print ads, radio and TV are no longer as effective as having a strong presence on the internet and an active social media following.  Even if you hear an ad on the radio, or see it on TV, the first thing you do is go to the computer to look it up, and also read what others are saying about a surgeon.  


Social Media Sites bring more traffic to the website, and more credibility to the Lasik Surgery Center.  Credibility due to social media sounds like an oxymoron- but it's not, people believe their friends and neighbors (even cyber-friends) before they believe an advertisement.


It' the new world- exciting, and also a less expensive way to advertise.
-Shirley
http://www.PerformanceOnlineMarketingServices.com

Welcome to Medical Online Marketing Blog

Welcome to Medical Online Marketing Blog. This new blog will guide medical practices in their internet marketing techniques.

• Do you know that your domain name (the www.....) REALLY makes a big difference to the search engines?
• Did you know that if you get the perfect website set up, and then leave it alone- that's not a good thing?

You'll learn the answers to this questions, and more, as you follow this blog.


If you have questions- send them to me - Shirley@PerformanceOnlineMarketingServices.com


Talk with you again soon!

Shirley Cress Dudley
MA LPC NCC
FACMPE, CMPE


Consultant for Performance Online Marketing Services