Helpful Tips for Marketing Your Practice

Normally our focus in on marketing professional development conferences and seminars.

However, today we shift our focus to the professional marketing their practice.

In this article Dr. Susan Giurleo discusses "Gentle, Yet Effective Marketing For Mental Health."

Among her suggestions are to avoid the overly slick and pushy marketing.

Instead, remember that the focus should always be on your client. Provide helpful and useful information and messages and you will find it easier to fill your appointment book.

The Value of Direct Mail

A recent article posted by the Huffington Post highlights the value of direct mail.

Direct mail is the method most consumers prefer for communication.

Though the cost per piece may be higher with direct mail, the return is normally greater, outweighing the associated costs.

For more reasons you need to implement direct mail, read the article here.

E-mail Vs. Direct Mail

While both direct mail and e-mail marketing are effective sales tools, they are not interchangeable, and should be used differently to maximize results.

E-mail is most effective at communicating with current clients. Since you already have a relationship you can use this to notify them of special offers and move product.

To convert a prospect to a customer you have to build trust which is more difficult with e-mail since many people are conditioned to view e-mails from unknown companies as spam.

Direct mail marketing is more effective at converting prospects to customers. With direct mail, you have a better opportunity to tell your story and engage the prospect.

Know your prospect. If you are targeting middle aged professionals, this demographic is probably most open to direct mail solicitation. Younger prospects are probably best engaged through social media.

For more tips check out the complete aritcle from Chief Marketer.

Tips for Social Network Marketing

Social Media Marketing has grown exponentially over the past few years and has become an inexpensive and effective way to increase awareness and market your business.

Brafton News reported that at the SMX Social Media Marketing Conference,Kevin Scholl, the Social Media Marketing Manager of Red Roof Inn, outlined tips to use this medium more effectively.

Respond to feedback, both positive and negative in a timely fashion.

Create content yourself, and use content created from your customers. Solicit feedback and try to get an interactive conversation started.

Reward or at the very least acknowledge those who are contributors.

For more tips read the article at Brafton News.

Direct Mail on the Rise

According to a report by the Winterberry Group LLC, direct mail spending rose 3.1% last year and is projected to grow 5.8% this current year.

As the economy improves, advertisers are increasing their direct mail budgets.

There appears to be a shift in focus from online advertising back to direct mail. With the abundance of e-mails flooding a persons in box, prospects are apt to simply clean out their message center and delete these messages without giving them any consideration.

For more information, read the complete article from Northwestern University's Medill School here.

More Tips for Improving Your Direct Mail

It is easy to forget that marketing is your communication with a prospect. You should remember that your direct mail should be treated as a personal conversation with the prospect. As such, it should be engaging, informative and interactive. All communications can be treated likewise and even your invoices can be used to recommend other products/services that may be valuable to your customer.

For more useful tips, see the whole article in Businessweek here.

Direct Mail Still Comes Out On Top

According to a recent study by Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization:
Direct mail accounts for 31% of all direct mail budgets.
Telemarketing comes in second at 29%.

Direct mail is facing competition from online marketing.
The problem with the various online marketing solutions, is results are harder to measure.

Read the full report here.