Even established chiropractors have seen a slowdown in their business because of today’s economic crunch. Threatened with financial jeopardy, many are looking for new, updated marketing tactics that set their practice apart from the same old marketing techniques used by others in the industry.
The very face of marketing has changed dramatically even over the past three years. The greatest contributing factor to this is the methods of communication that are being used by people professionally and socially. Only those who are willing to take the leap and establish themselves in the world of Web 2.0 will survive in the long run. Social networks like Myspace, YouTube and Facebook have become the online meeting place for people looking for everything from love to products and services.
For the past few years, I have been teaching chiropractors and other professionals how to leverage the power of social media and see massive, real benefits in their businesses. I am the author and creator of a system that has literally transformed the chiropractic profession and the way practitioners are marketing themselves.
Once word got out of my incredible success I had several well-known marketing consultants begging at my doorstep to tell them the strategies I was sharing with a select group of my fellow chiropractors. Some would even try to call from private numbers, but I would be able to deduce from their email or website that they were calling from consulting firms.
As I observed other chiropractors on these sites, I noticed that their first instinct was to spam other people with basic advertising. The problem with this, of course, is that people hate spam. Not only that but spamming is actually against the user agreement on most of these sites, and when you are caught, you’ll be booted off their network. The best thing to do is find a marketing mentor who is already skilled at navigating Web 2.0. Very few people do this, either because they already think they know it all, or because they really don’t understand how important it is.
The key to marketing in social networks comes down to credibility. If people perceive you as trustworthy, normal, and friendly you will be welcomed as a ‘friend’. If however, you attack your contacts with a traditional marketing campaign, you will fail miserably. You must be able to give your contacts and friends something of value. Serious thought needs to be put in to the design of your profile page, and the kind of information you place on it. To compete in Web 2.0 your pages must be interesting, informative, and most importantly-fun
Let me leave you with a couple simple tips about chiropractic marketing on Myspace. Never send a friend request without a polite message! This is Myspace 101 stuff that is very important since you want the person to know how you ran across their profile. Always include videos on your profile, as it makes people stay on your page for a longer period of time and holds interest. Now, I’m not talking of all chiropractic videos either. People want to know the real you, not just what your profession is!
Social networks will open you up to a whole, new world of fun and profitability if you have the proper and necessary guidance to do it right the first time
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