In these tough economic times, news reports show that people are beginning to forego general checkups as well as elective procedures to save money, despite the toll it might take on their health.

To be an effective health care provider, you have to get new patients and clients. Without new people to treat, you won’t have a business. But most people hate to do sales or marketing.

So what can you do to market your business with little time and effort so you get new patients?

5 Simple, Highly Successful Tactics That Doctors and Health Care Providers Can Use to Get New Patient Fast

1. Conduct a publicity campaign. No one will know about your new procedure, breakthrough treatment or tremendous track record unless you tell people! Contact your local media – television, radio and newspaper and let them know you have treatments that can help people! Publicity is your cheapest tool, so use it consistently. Contact a reporter every week by phone to arrange for an interview. Chances are that there are many radio stations in your town that need to interview a health expert. It might as well be you! There are also probably many newspapers, ranging from big metro dailies with health reporters, to local suburban newspapers and alternative newspapers that would love to have you write a column for them. Start calling and you’ll get new clients! All it costs is a few hours of your time, or your secretary’s time to find the contact info for different reporters and call them. For a list of media that cover your audience, go to www.BullsEyePublicity.com To get requests for information from reporters go to www.PRLEADS.com

2. Speak at local civic groups. Associations like Rotary, Lions, Exchange, and chambers of commerce need to have medical experts talk to their members. If you choose this tactic, you’ll get a chance to build your visibility and credibility at the same time.  You can talk about the problems your treatments solve from weight loss, to back pain relief to aging issues. It’s up to you – and the meeting planner. Check with them to find out what their members are really interested in. Your payoff? Audience members become your patients. Extra payoff: They tell their friends who then call you for an appointment!  Again, all it costs is a few hours of your time or your secretary’s time. Once you start speaking, other groups probably will contact you to speak to their groups, so you’ll spend less time hunting. Here’s a link to a book I wrote that will show you how to speak at local civic groups and get new clients or patients: http://www.speakandgetnewpatients.com/

3. Create a CD explaining the virtues of your practice and give the CD to all patients. It will encourage repeat visits, build trust and rapport and answer basic questions. It could also talk about new treatments and options they might not have been aware of. For example, botox was once an unknown procedure! Also, ask patients to give the CD to their friends so you can get new clients as well as get more business from existing patients. Topics could include: “7 Benefits of Chiropractic Services,” “How to reduce lower back pain,” “Facts and Myths about bariatric surgery” (of course, you should put in your topics instead of mine!). You can record these CDs on your computer and have them duplicate it yourself if you are doing a handful. If you are doing 100 or more, you might want to use a local CD duplication company. Check the Internet or phone book in your area to get the best prices. Cost: Free if you record the sessions yourself. CDs cost $2-3 to reproduce if you ship this out. If you do it yourself, maybe $1 including the CD and label. Here’s a service that is low cost and lets you record sessions that you can download and record to CD or put on your website: http://tinyurl.com/48swp
4.  
5. Redo your website. If your website isn’t getting you clients, you need to hire a webmaster who knows a thing or two about marketing. Health care offices can definitely get new clients with a website that uses successful website conversion and direct response copywriting methods. A good website would have your bio, picture, and areas of treatment or specialization, at a minimum. Write articles and post them to the site so you can be perceived as an expert. Also, make sure your web site isn’t costing you business. I’ve seen too many websites make the mistake of not including office hours, directions, phone numbers an email addresses. Don’t overlook the obvious. Cost: Varies by scope of project.   Here’s a group that I recommend: http://www.websitereviewslive.com

6. Turn your waiting room into a Hall of Fame. Take each article you’ve written, or been quoted in, and frame them. Then hang them on a wall in your waiting room. This will make you look like the most famous person in the world. Extra tip: If you are quoted in an article with other people, highlight your quote in yellow highlighter ink so it will stand out. Cost: Frames cost about $20-$40.

If you follow these tips, you’ll have an easier time finding new patients and growing your medical practice.

About the Author:

Dan Janal has helped hundreds of wellness practitioners get publicity in daily newspapers with his PR LEADS service. Now, he’s consulting wellness professionals on how to turn their publicity and information products into profits. Go to http://www.PublicityLeadstoProfits.com and claim your FREE 1-to-1 Coaching Session with PR LEADS Founder Dan Janal.

Times are tough, but you can get through it. Recessions build character. Lean times call for a return to basics, to marketing and financial prudence.

Here are nine things I do make the world a better place and feel better about myself.

1. Tip big. People who rely on tips are at the bottom end of the food chain. They need the money more than you do. Without the tips, they can’t pay the rent, buy food or childcare. They grease the wheels of the people on the next level up the food chain, like small grocery stores, landlords and restaurants.
2. Eat out. Maybe not the five-star restaurant with the five-star price tag. But dine at the local Chinese restaurant or pizza parlor. If they go out of business, your city won’t have a downtown any more. You get shuttered businesses, urban blight and crime. It can get worse. Don’t let it.
3. Get a haircut more often than you do now. You’ll feel better and you’ll put money into the economy for people who are really hurting.
4. Wash your car. You’ll feel better and people who you meet will think you are successful. Nothing looks worse than a dirty car.
5. Get a new outfit. It’ll make you feel better and you’ll look up to date. No one wants to do busy out of pity. Don’t worry about being criticized for conspicuous consumption. You have a long way to go before people compare you to Paris Hilton or Donald Trump.
6. Donate money or time to the local food bank. There are people who need it. Really.
7. Invest in yourself. What got you here won’t get you to the next level. Read books. Take courses. Attend seminars. Get coaching. It’s not an expense. It’s an investment that will make you money.
8. Beware of swindles. If it looks too good to be true, well, look at Bernie Madoff. Bad economic times bring out the worst of people.
9. Bring out the best in people.
10. Go to a religious service. The camaraderie and reflection will do you good.

Dan Janal is an early thought leader in the field of publicity and the Internet. He delivers thought-provoking keynote speeches across the world. For information about his seminars, go to www.janal.com He is the founder of www.PR LEADS.com and several other sites for publicity and speaking resources. 

When I signed for Facebook, I left out certain pieces of personal info, like marital status, religion and politics. After all, who really cares? If this is for a business purpose, then those questions are more likely to raise concerns than cement bonds.

But after using FB for a while, it seems like the more fully developed a profile you have, the better you are rated. So I updated my marital status to married.

Low and behold, my friends started congratulating me on my new nuptuals! One good friend even asked if my wife knew about this. Cute.

So let it be known, that if you update a field, your whole network will know about it, and could think the info if new. No big deal, but it did cause a few laughs and a few raised eyebrows.

So, let it be known that I am not newly married, but have been happily married for many years. If you are really interested, then we are registered at Macy’s.

Only kidding.

Check out this video from my friend Steve Harrison

on the #1 secret for getting major national publicity at:

http://www.TheBigSecretToGettingPublicity.com/?10064

There’s nothing like getting some major publicity

to make sales soar for whatever you’re promoting.

In the publishing world, an appearance on a top

national TV show like Oprah, Today, Good Morning

America, The View or article in major publication

like Time, Newsweek, People or the New York Times,

can propel a book to the bestseller list almost

overnight.

But scoring publicity hits in major media outlets

like those isn’t easy.

There is however one big secret, which if you know

and use it, dramatically increases your chances of

getting coverage in the biggest magazines,

newspapers and radio/TV shows across the country.

No, the secret isn’t about writing the world’s

greatest press release or press kit.

No, the secret also isn’t about having a great

publicity idea or hook (though that’s important too).

Nor is the secret about hiring a high-priced

PR firm (though every top publicist knows and

practices the secret).

In fact, the chances are good nobody has ever told

you about the secret — but once you understand and

put it to work, you’ll find it much easier to get

big-time media coverage.

To discover the secret, go here now and see the video:

http://www.TheBigSecretToGettingPublicity.com/?10064

I'll be speaking at an  elite conference tol help experienced coaches learn how to achieve financial freedom. Coaching expert Christian Mickelsen will teach the coaches many hands-on skills for attracting and keeping new clients. He will also help remove personal stumbling blocks that hamper coaches’ effectiveness. Limited to only 35 participants, coaches will participate in numerous interactive exercises to take their businesses to the next level.

Dates: Feb. 4-8, 2008

Place: San Diego

Info: http://tinyurl.com/cempire

“The 4 day conference is limited to 35 coaches who want to learn the best business building strategies, skills, and psychology so that you can move your business into the "empire phase" where you're making a difference 24 hours/day, 7 days/week,” said Christian Mickelsen, founder of Coaching Business Empire conference.  

“Coaches who attend the conference will learn how to achieve financial freedom,” he said, “Not only will you be able to enjoy the comforts and freedom that more money brings, but after this event you'll experience an ease and effortlessness in how you work . . . a "naturalness" that's been hiding behind subtle anxieties, stress, or overwhelm that's been there for so long you may not even notice it anymore.”

Coaches will also learn how to release the "inner blocks" and barriers that could be keeping you from achieving the results you desire. And they’ll leave with a bigger "marketing brain" that will (believe it or not) foster a love of marketing. In addition to the marketing strategies, you'll also learn a marketing philosophy that makes marketing feel like you're actually coaching and making a difference.

Here are several conference highlights:

The "Successful Coach" Mindset --Master your psychology about "sales, marketing, money, and success." We will discuss the difference between the way we want to think and feel about these important concepts and the way we actually do think and feel.

How to shift your marketing from "getting clients" to “creating a ‘movement’ "

Hoow to quickly create high demand products and programs to leverage your time and energy (plus reach and help far more people).

How to write marketing "copy" that compels people to take action and make smart purchases (to buy your stuff).

How to eliminate the barriers to being successful with these techniques. These barriers usually show up as "writers block," "technophobia", and "perfectionism" (do any of these sound familiar to you?). Finally, you will practice these approaches on the spot.

How to make thousands of dollars  from every presentation you give (including your own multi-day seminars)

How to create a customized strategic action plan.

How to let go of old "negative" expectations and install new "positive" expectations that you can go home and manifest into your life and business.

About Christian Mickelsen

Christian Mickelsen is the author of "How To Quickly Get Started In Professional Coaching: The Surprising Truth About What It Really Takes!" and has been coaching for over 9 years. He's been seen in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, MSN, and the Boston Globe. He served 2 years on the board of directors for the International Association of Coaching, and has created numerous support programs to help coaches become financially successful.

For more information about the conference, see:

http://tinyurl.com/cempire

  PR Expert Shares Press Release Tips that Earn Results, Just in Time to Support Business Success in the New Year

Earning publicity is top-of-mind for small business owners across America coping with a daunting economy and the challenge of delivering their messages effectively in a dynamic media environment.  Those hungry to learn time-tested and proven ways to use press releases to build buzz can access a new and free audio file at http://www.prleads.com/pressrelease/.

PR Leads (www.prleads.com) Founder Dan Janal invited Publicist Nancy Juetten, founder of Main Street Media Savvy (www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com) to share her tips to empower business owners seeking affordable and effective ways to earn publicity for their products, services, ideas, or cause.

Juetten queried dozens of publicists from across the nation to learn their best tips and strategies and incorporated their insights into this well-attended teleseminar.  She also posted information-packed blog entries for December 1- 3 that addressed the topic of press releases in a deeper way. 

“Almost 300 people listened in to this call and many have raved about the useful tips, free resources, and suggestions that are packed within this one-hour teleseminar,” Janal said.  “Making this information available to business owners everywhere for free is a holiday gift that is timely and useful to share.”

Among the top tips, Juetten recommends the following:

• Press releases must convey real news. If you’ve got "puff" to share, don’t. It’s a waste of your time and effort, and it doesn’t add value to the newsrooms either. News is timely, newsworthy, relevant, interesting, local – and most importantly – interesting.
• The headline of your press release and the subject line of your email are the most important elements to inviting readership. If the headline is boring to you, it will most definitely be boring to a seasoned news veteran. Be creative in your approach. Have some fun. Look to the magazine racks for headline inspiration.
• The press release format is one that the news media is familiar with. That means presenting information in the order of most importance and writing in a journalistic style. By following this format, you serve the media decision maker as you help to shape your own story.
• Who you send your release to is as important as the news you share.

About PR Leads:

PR LEADS was founded in 2001 to help authors, experts and speakers get the publicity they deserve at a price they could afford. More than 3,000 clients who are thought leaders have seen their quotes appear in nearly every major, influential newspaper and magazine as a result of working with PR LEADS. PR LEADS also offers coaching and consulting for thought leaders on an individual basis.

Dan Janal is Founder and President of PR LEADS. He is responsible for growing the company from startup to more than 3,000 satisfied clients over the past eight years. He is responsible for skyrocketing sales and marketing, creating clever new products and services, establishing mutually beneficial industry alliances and delivering outstanding customer service and training. People who know Dan describe him as “warm,” “friendly, “helpful,” “insightful,” “witty” and “caring.” Visit www.prleads.com to learn more.

About Main Street Media Savvy:

Main Street Media Savvy is a do-it-yourself publicity blog created and maintained by award-winning publicist Nancy Juetten.  The blog offers business owners tips, resources, success stories, resources, and a family of information products – including the new Publici-Tea-TO-GO! gift bundle. The blog’s goal is to help business owners everywhere get seen, heard, and celebrated in their own backyards and beyond through the power of DIY publicity.  Visit www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com to learn more.

###

I bought a new computer yesterday which contained a new anti-virus program.

It nagged me several times to register and pay for the software. After seeing this message a few times, I decided to remove the software and stop being nagged.

The software did remove itself — only to be replaced with another nagware message saying "Your computer is at risk of viruses. Click here to protect yourself."

I believe this tactic is called "damned if you do, damned if you don’t!"

We have a terrific deal with our press release distribution partner, PR WEB. We can save you 20 percent on any press release you send in December. Plus, we’ll donate 10 percent to charity.

Simply send me your press release by email. I’ll bill your credit card on file, or call you for your credit card number. The release will be distributed within 2 business days after receipt and will go to the normal PR WEB distribution lists. I’ll even send you a link to the reporting statistics so you can see how many people or media outlets have used your press release.

Common Questions:

-There is NO limit to the number of releases you can send by December 23, 2009. No releases will be accepted after that date.

-You can forward this message to your colleagues.

- Any sized business can use this press release offer.

-You (or your PR person) will be listed as the contact person on the press release, so all inquiries will go directly to your company, not to me.

- PR WEB has three levels of service: $80 (Standard Visibility), $140 (Social Media Visibility) and $200 (SEO Visibility). If you are not familiar with PR WEB, use the $80 level.

- If you want to learn more about PR WEB, you can read more at www.prweb.com

 To get started, send me your press release: dan@prleads.com Include your phone number for payment information.

Remember, this offer expires on December 23, 2008.