Thursday, December 4, 2008

No Cost Chiropractic Marketing

By Matthew Loop DC

I never thought I would see the day where the best type of chiropractic marketing is absolutely 100% free, but the day is finally here! With the invent of social media, the methods for acquiring new patients and monetizing your chiropractic practice have changed dramatically. It's never been easier to connect with a highly targeted demographic of the population like you can on social networks like YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, etc. The insanely cool thing is, all barriers have been broken and you encounter little resistance because people that are on these social networks are there to meet other people.... plain and simple!

During my last three years of successfully using social media websites to bring in new patients and create multiple sources of income, it's been amazing just how much impact one can have in a virtual community. I mean, what I used to think about branding yourself and what I know now are two different things. Before, I was convinced that blanketing my local community with postcards, using radio advertisements, and going to chamber of commerce meetings was the premier way. Now, I look back and think what a fool!

Through social media platforms like MySpace, YouTube, and Facebook, I can connect with hundreds, even thousands of people every day and have much more of an impact. It simply comes down to leverage and time multiplication. I can leverage and multiply my time very effectively and consistently put my message in front of hundreds of thousands of people in the community.

For example, if you were to view one of my MySpace profiles, you'd see that I've amassed over 6,400 friends, 3,000 of which are in my local community. When I send out bulletins or post videos, they are propagated to all of these people. There is no better way to initial viral marketing for your chiropractic practice than to begin using social media like I have done. Free chiropractic marketing at it's best is what I call it.

If you're still spending a ridiculous amount of money on advertisements, postcards, yellow page ads, newspaper drops, and so much more, then you're on the fast track to financial ruin. Chiropractors can't afford to waste their money during these difficult financial times. You need to be making more money, and spending less in the process. Over 90% of chiropractors are sinking under the weight of the same marketing strategies that don't work. You don't have to drown with the rest of them!

When you have the courage and know-how to use cutting-edge marketing techniques that truly get the job done, then you put yourself and your practice in the position to soar to new heights. These innovative practices involve Web 2.0 and social media marketing. You can watch your practice reach new levels practically overnight, and create multiple forms of streaming income from other sources while you're at it. When a marketing rep tries to tell you that they know it all, but don't use these innovative techniques online, then the fact of the matter is that they know nothing. Don't trust them and their old ways.

It's easy to start this process by simply starting your YouTube account, and taking a tour of the 3rd most popular online site in the whole world! We are a visual world, and that means that people prefer to see videos about things than read about them in the newspaper. This can really work to your advantage if you know how to tap it. Go to YouTube.com and click on the "sign in" link to begin your account.

Right after you've filled out the necessary information, you can start to look at other videos and comment on them. This way you can get a sense of what's out there. Choose a list of favorites when you see something that strikes you. The sheer volume of footage will amaze you, and you start to understand the potential and power of Web 2.0. - 15478

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