Dear Doctor:
Too many doctors I know have a misconception about the month of August. Dog days, everyone’s away on vacation, summer head, last chance to relax before reality sets in, all just excuses that make them overlook the opportunities this month holds for them.
Though you might not think it, August is actually one of the busiest months of the year statistically – a long month with few holidays or weather problems, a well-executed August sets the stage for a solid third quarter and a great finish to your year.
August marketing can take many paths. You have the “back-to-school” theme to develop, delivering scoliosis screenings to establish the habit for families in your area, whether or not the law insists on it. You can run a “weekend-warriors” clinic, for those who want to get the most out of their remaining summer playtime, where you help them patch themselves up and avoid injury with a little spinal awareness and a little care.
You can schedule family promotions, offer safe golf clinics, provide wellness tips for hot weather in a talk, ad or mailing, comment on typical nutritional and lifestyle sins of late summer, ask for referrals or speaking dates through summertime connectors like camp, sports teams and block associations – there’s no end to the number of productive new patient generating activities you can implement, with a better attitude about August.
If you’re just waking up now and realizing you may have looked past the richness and fertility of this month, it’s not too late – you’ll just have to get going right now. Quickly, decide on a goal for August, one that stretches you but still seems believable. Now, look at the new patient generating activities you already have in place – asking for referrals, presenting health care class, whatever you already do (if you can’t think of anything, that may be a clue) – and see how many new patients you can reasonably expect from those efforts.
Look at your goal – how many more would you need? This is where you choose additional new patient techniques to increase your results. Select one or more methods of attracting new patients, until you have enough activities planned to reasonably expect to hit your goal, and then some.
This simple goal-setting process will help you gain momentum, and instead of throwing August away, you can use it as a launching pad for a banner year of helping people and enjoying your success.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle
PS Our latest seminar, “Hands On Success, Adjusting Your Beliefs”, was a smash in Chicago -- please call 800-451-4514, or go to www.themasterscircle.com for more info.
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