Category: Community Involvement

Banking on a brighter future: Profile on Andres Bedoya of BBVA Compass

Last week, we announced that MDPM Consulting will join forces with the North Texas Hispanic Dental Association, MassMutual, BBVA Compass, and Optimal Economics Capital Partners at a business seminar geared toward dentists, CFOs, and industry controllers on Thursday, September 10, here in Dallas. MDPM Founder and CEO, Jill Nastasia, will discuss what online marketing can do for your dental practice. The evening — which includes dinner and a plethora of networking opportunities — is an exclusive event that you won’t want to miss. Only 50 seats are available for this free business seminar, so register online now!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll feature each of the event sponsors here on our blog. This week, we’d like to introduce Mr. Andres Bedoya, who is the business banking officer and vice president of the Dallas/Fort Worth market for BBVA Compass.

Mr. Bedoya is a business banking officer who has helped many business owners in the north central Texas area reach their financial goals. During his 16 years in business banking, Mr. Bedoya has provided many clients with customized solutions for their companies by listening to their individual needs. With a background in financial sales and an education from Cornell University, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and Universidad de San Buenaventura, Mr. Bedoya’s goal is to interpret your company’s aspirations and identify how BBVA Compass can help you meet your strategic goals.

Mr. Bedoya and the team at BBVA Compass understand that the healthcare industry has unique financial needs. At BBVA Compass, you’ll find expert financial partners who are ready to provide you with solutions tailored specifically for your hospital network, healthcare system, practice, or association. BBVA Compass Healthcare Solutions are designed to improve your cash flow, save time, and facilitate growth so that you can continue to put your patients and customers first.

Learn more about BBVA Compass solutions at www.BBVACompass.com.

This free business seminar on September 10 is the first in a four-part series that we invite all dentists, CFOs, and industry controllers to attend. Read more about the event, and register online here: marketing-dental-practice.eventbrite.com.

On behalf of MDPM Consulting, Mr. Bedoya/BBVA Compass, and the other sponsors, we can’t wait to see you there!

Cause Marketing for Dental Practices

Today’s dental practice owner is faced with a number of challenges. You wear several hats as a business owner — an entrepreneur as well as a dentist or dental specialist. It is a real challenge to be all of these things at once, which can result in something slipping.

The area that slips is typically the execution of your marketing plan. The problem is this: without an effective marketing plan being executed consistently throughout the year, you will struggle to maintain a steady flow of new patient acquisitions and maybe even to retain the patients you already have.

There is an even bigger problem you face. Nowadays, even when you do all of the right things with your marketing plan — and stay on top of executing your plan — you will still struggle to grow your practice.

The main reason for this is that consumers (potential patients) are overloaded with information and give their attention to only the things that are important to them.

Your challenge is to get and keep their attention.

Assertion

One of the most effective ways to capture and retain the attention of your audience is to appeal to the things they are interested in. In many cases, dentistry is not what they are interested in, even when they need it the most.

The reality is that people have passions — things they connect with on an emotional level. It is through these passions that you will find your most successful dental marketing campaigns. One type of passion is the support of social causes on either a global or a local level. Cause marketing is the way to align your dental practice with the causes being supported by the audience you are trying to reach. Read More

Do Good, Do Good Business: Dentists Who Give Back

If we’ve learned anything from the meteoric rise of the one-for-one business model made popular by TOMS, it’s that do-gooders do good business. Not that profit should be your sole motivation for taking on a social initiative, but it certainly helps. The business of dentistry is challenging these days, with practices across the country reporting fewer new patients and difficulty coaxing their existing patients into the chair for anything less than a dental emergency. Adopting a social cause looks good, does good, and feels good for dental teams and patients alike. Here are a few dentists who’ve nailed it.

Dr. Steven Ellinwood and Dr. Todd Briscoe of Fort Wayne, IN engaged in a friendly competition to see whose practice could raise the most nonperishable food for a local food bank of their choice. Dr. Ellinwood, whose office chose the Associated Churches of Fort Wayne to receive donations, is no stranger to giving back to the community. Ellinwood participates in several charitable events each year, including canned food drives, bowling fundraisers, glove collections, and a Halloween candy buyback program. Dr. Briscoe’s team championed a smaller food bank nearby.

Cleveland dentist Dr. Michael Stern made headlines when he hosted the first Dentistry From the Heart event in Ohio. For an entire day, Dr. Stern and his team offered fillings, cleaning, and extractions free of charge for more than 100 patients. Since 2001, Dentistry From the Heart events in 48 states have provided treatment for 45,000 people, valued at $8 million. The event, along with other DFH events in other states, generated major publicity and spots in the local paper, magazines, television stations, and blogs. Learn how to host an event in your state here.

Using the same one-for-one business model as TOMS, BOGO Brush donates one toothbrush for each eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush purchased. When you consider that Americans toss 450 million toothbrushes each year, you can see why the 100% biodegradable BOGO Brush is so popular. Brushes are available singly or in a yearly subscription.

Consider partnering with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and its Give Back a Smile program. Give Back a Smile provides restorative dentistry for men and women whose teeth have been damaged or knocked out as the result of domestic violence. “Whenever I looked in the mirror I saw a monster. Today, I see a beautiful woman,” says one recipient, who lost a tooth and an eye at the hands of her ex-boyfriend.

I couldn’t resist including this one. Dr. Ken Harris of Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry split all proceeds from the sale of his “Nothing But a Smile” calendar to two cancer charities. The calendar, which featured nude images of a well-known rugby player and several male patients, ranging in age from 22-74 years old. Only in England.

How does your practice give back to the community? Leave a comment below.

About Jill: Jill Nastasia, CEO and Director of Business Development at MDPM Consulting, is a mother of two and a dental devotee. Questions about marketing, social media, or branding? Contact Jill at 972-781-8861, or send her an email.

Investing in People is Investing in Business

What’s more precious, money or time? The correct answer is both. When Jill and I founded Modern Dental Practice Marketing, we decided that we would invest in people as part of our business. First, I’ll tell you what we’re doing and what we’ve learned, then I’ll give you some practical ways to get involved with– and get new patients from– your community.

MDPM is a proud sponsor of the North Texas Hispanic Dental Association, a local branch of the Hispanic Dental Association. We built and maintain the NTHDA blog, Facebook page, and newsletter. In addition, we volunteered at the NTHDA’s booth at the Southwest Dental Conference, and just last weekend, we lent a hand at Give Kids a Smile. The NTHDA is made up of a wonderful, dedicated, and very generous group of dental professionals who value people above all else.

MDPM is also involved with the North Texas Dental Association. Throughout 2011, we will publish the NTDA quarterly newsletters. We work with the North Texas Latin American Physicians Association and will soon become active in the American Academy Oral Systemic Health. Jill is looking forward to being on the board and membership committees of various philanthropic dental organizations this year, as well.

Sure, being a part of these organizations makes us feel great. We love helping people! It’s also a great investment in our business. We’re networking and building relationships with like-minded professionals who also value philanthropy.

What does this have to do with YOU? Well, let me ask you, how involved are you with your community? Sponsoring a sports team is great, but unless you go to the games and let the team (and fans) know who you are, it’s not a great investment. In this way, time is just as important as money.

There are essential marketing services you need, and your time is not required for these: website, blog, newsletter, print ads, radio, TV, etc. However, we are in Generation G, and you need to get on board. Gone are the days of writing a donation check and getting a good return in the office. Today, you have to engage, get involved, show your generosity in more ways than offering cold, hard cash.

I’ve spoken to many dentists who take on a charity dental case, but don’t advertise it. They’re afraid they’ll be inundated with people wanting free dentistry. And it can happen! Some dentists are involved in their church, but don’t allow that side of their life to cross over into their dental office. Letting people know about your generosity and volunteering should be done deliberately, but in the right way. It takes a seasoned dental marketing professional to spin it in the right way.

There is nothing wrong with being involved in the community in the name of your business. Generation G is defined by a generation of consumers who want to do business with companies that are giving and generous. If your nature is to be giving and generous, you’re one step ahead.

I want to give you a few examples of engaging with your community through giving. Read More

SocialVibe and WordPress = Dentist Websites Giving Back

WordPress is pretty cool. That’s why it’s the blogging service of choice at Modern Dental Practice Marketing — and I do not get paid to say that. In addition to great functionality, customizable templates, and traffic reports, WordPress has widgets, one of which really impressed me.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SaURsxbpJU’]

When I came across the SocialVibe widget, I was working on my agenda, planning a November retreat for Jill and me. Of course, I noticed that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and all the year-end holidays are almost here. Everyone is going to get super busy. We’re also going to have less time and more to do. The thing is, these particular holidays are meant for us to be appreciative, kind, caring, generous, reflective on the quality (the real quality) of our lives and the impact we have on people. For dentists, it starts early. Halloween Candy Buy Back supports Operation Gratitude, the charity dedicated to showing appreciation to US troops on active duty overseas. But we can’t send some candy to a warehouse for others to sort and ship, then call our philanthropic duties done, now can we?

We are blessed, lucky, fortunate — chose your term. We’re that.

Today, MDPM added a SocialVibe widget to our sidebar. We’re supporting Children Helping Children, a charity that gets our American kiddos hooked up with underprivileged kiddos across the globe. Children helping Children not only teaches our richly blessed US kids about the orphans, disease, and starvation other kids face every day. The charity gives US kids a chance to help. And, I love this, it’s not all about money. Sure, Children Helping Children allows our kids to raise money that helps less fortunate children in a very practical way. But the organization also encourages our kids to exchange letters and pictures with the children they’re helping.

I remember having a pen pal in Germany when I was about 10. I mailed her Madonna bracelets, and she sent me scratch-and-sniff stickers with German cartoons on them. Pretty cool. Children Helping Children takes pen pals to the next level.

It’s very awesome.

Now, back to the widget. I installed the SocialVibe widget to support Children Helping Children. Anyone who does the activity associated with my widget will earn money for my charity of choice. The activities are sponsored by big brands. The one I did today for a breast cancer awareness charity was a trivia question. The one for Children Helping Children was a Hotmail ad in which I voted on some commercial clips. It took seconds.

Jill and I want to encourage YOU to add a SocialVibe widget to your sidebar. We’ll do it for you if you’re an MDPM client. Just go to www. socialvibe.com, sign up for a free account, and choose your charity. Whether you support animal rights, organ donation, cancer research, or the arts, there’s a charity for you. Simply send us your SocialVibe logins and the charity you’d like to support. We’ll add the SocialVibe widget to your sidebar, just above the RSS feeds or links.

Come on, guys. It’s free. Let’s get global this holiday season.

Jill Duty

The Dentist’s Weekend Warrior Marketing Tip

Here is a marketing idea you can implement by 10:00 Monday morning.  It is virtually free, and would only take about an hour of your time to set up.

The only catch is you have to act NOW!

As every new school year begins, local communities hold school supply drives.   A great way to get exposure for your practice, while serving your community, is to take part in the collection of these supplies.

Here are the 5 simple steps:

1) Call your local family services office or other charity and ask if they are doing a school supply drive.  Let them know you want to collect items for them at your office.  Regardless of how many collection spots they have or how close the first day of school is, they will gladly accept your help.  Ask them to email blast their donors that you are a designated collection spot.

2) Make a flyer to hang up in your office and email it to your patients. The local organization may already have a template.

3) Email your database of patients, post on FB, Twitter and on your Blog. Be sure to encourage others to pass the word along to their friends. If you are in a multi-tenant building, hang your flyers in the hallways and restrooms if possible.

4) Get a cardboard box to collect the donations. You can have your kids or your staff  decorate it for you. Somewhere near the box, have some of your business cards/marketing material available so donors are encouraged to learn more about your practice.

5) At the end of the drive, deliver the supplies. Make it a fun outing for your office, and take a camera along. When the drive is over, send out a big THANK YOU to everyone via email, FB, Twitter and your Blog.  You can also include a photo of yourself and your staff delivering the supplies.

Be sure to share any success stories with us at info@moderndentalmarketing.com. We would love to share your results with our readers.  Pictures are welcome as well!

5 Excellent Dental Office Promotions for Dallas – Fort Worth Dentists… and a Bonus Marketing Tip for Cosmetic Dentists

Want to grow your dental practice?

Online advertising—a dental website, blog, listings, optimization, and all that stuff—is essential in any modern marketing plan. You must remember, though, the Web is world-wide (thus the www). Let’s take a step back for a minute and thing about who your patients are. They’re the folks who live in your neighborhood, go to the schools in your town, and shop at the same grocery stores you do. Not all of them are plugged into the Internet 24/7. There is life outside of the computer for some.

At Modern Dental Practice Marketing, we plan, promote, and manage events for dentists. Getting people to have fun in (or very near) your office is a great way to show the community that you care. If you have great events, even once or twice a year (if not quarterly), your name will be the buzz of the town! Here are 5 ideas for fun dental practice events that will grow your patient base:

  • Easter Bunny Photos – Offer free photos of the kiddos with a tooth-brush toting bunny who, of course, has sparkling choppers. Pass out brushing charts and set the kids up on a cavity-free program while they’re there.
  • Arbor Day Festival – Any number of cool presentations about gardening, composting, rainwater storage, etc., and a potting bench for the kiddos to plant seeds. If your office is “green,” let everyone know!
  • Costume Contest – Everyone loves a costume contest! Host a parade around a community park, and give the winner a big treat.
  • Halloween Candy Buyback – See www.halloweencandybuyback.com for details.
  • Christmas Wrapping – Provide custom gift wrapping for a set time and for a set number of gifts (ex. 4). Make sure the tag says “Wrapped with care by Dr. You” and that the folks you’re wrapping for have snacks, drinks, and fun Christmas stuff to do while they wait.

BONUS: Want more cosmetic cases? Realtors are very image-conscious people, and they network like crazy. Plan a realtor appreciation happy hour at your practice after hours. Invite about 25 local realtors, and offer a deep discount on take-home whitening kits. At the event, well stocked with bubbly and hors d’oeuvres, announce an awesome referral program, and provide attendees with welcome packages for their clients.

The goal is new patients for you. Let MDPM make it happen. Call us today at 972-781-8861, or email moderndentalmarketing@gmail.com.

When Dentists Should–and Should Not–Use Facebook

Building a beneficial social networking presence for your (Dallas or Fort Worth area) dental practice takes time. You’ll need to invest in your Facebook account or hire someone like MDPM to do it for you.

That said, many dentists have unrealistic expectations of what Facebook can do for their marketing program. Understand:

  • Facebook wil not have much return on investment (ROI).
  • Facebook posts are not read by search engines like Google and Yahoo.
  • Facebook posts do not help with your website’s search engine rankings.
  • You will not get many fans who are not already patients of your practice.

If that busted your bubble, don’t stop reading yet. Facebook can be beneficial to your dental practice marketing if you’re interested in building a unique culture—an inviting, friendly, personal, relationship-building reputation.

In a recent USA Today article, Jeff Livingston of the Irving, Texas practice, MacArthur OB-GYN, hit the nail on the head. He said:

“If you go back two generations, doctors came to your house. They lived in your community. They probably went to the same church…what we’re really doing is going back and creating a more personal experience with technology.” Read More

Hey, Dentist… Which is More Important: Web or Community Marketing?

Why do you have to choose? Truth is, both types of marketing could really boost your patient base—and retention—in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. And never forget, the whole point is to leave an impression! Tried and true, good ol’ boy advertising does not appeal to the younger generation…the technical gurus who invest money in their health and appearance.

So let’s look at the balancing act between Internet and community marketing for dentists:

Internet Marketing for Dentists

  • Web marketing should start with a website that ranks well on Google for the keywords your potential patients most often use.
  • Beyond that, social networking, like Facebook and Twitter can be beneficial. However, you and your team have to use these resources correctly. Just posting random thoughts on a Facebook Fan Page and Tweeting about an article you read won’t effectively promote your dental practice. At MDPM, we offer one-on-one coaching for you and your team, so you can learn how to fit social networking into your schedule and get the most pop for your posts. There’s a simple formula that’s easy to manage, and you’ll find it highly effective.
  • You’ll also need a blog that feeds onto your Facebook page. The blog should be updated with keyword-rich, relevant posts at least once a week. The MDPM dental copywriters can make posts on your behalf, or I can teach you and your team how to write solid blog posts that appeal to dental patients and search engine spiders.

That’s a synopsis of web marketing for dentists. But when you consider that the Internet is international and your practice is local, you can see that community promotions are a necessary component to an effective dental practice marketing strategy—particularly in North Texas towns, like Keller, Colleyville, Southlake, Grapevine, Murphy, and Frisco. We’re in Texas, and what rules Friday nights? Football. That’s right. Read More