The Madow Center Patient Translator

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Do patients always mean what they say and say what they mean? Of course not!

So for your convenience, we are proud to present…..
The Madow Center Dental Translator

When a patient says…..

“My last full set of x-rays was nine months ago…”

What they really mean is…..

“Pretty soon you’ll be receiving a ten year old blurry over-duplicated unreadable set of cone-cut bitewings with coffee stains.”

When a patient says….

“I’m allergic to everything except Vicodin and Oxycontin…..”

What they really mean is….

“Just hand over your prescription pad and get it over with.”

When a patient says….

“My insurance covers one hundred percent of everything…”

What they really mean is….

“I’ve got the crappiest PPO on the face of the planet and you’re not even on the list.”

When a patient says….

“His father is responsible for the bill….”

What they really mean is….

“That creep screwed me over four years ago and he’s about to do the same to you!”

When a patient says….

“I just have one quick question for you…”

What they really mean is….

“You’re about to be running twenty minutes late.”

When a patient says….

“Let me think about it….”

What they really mean is….

“You will never see me again.”

When a patient says….

“I need to come in today – it’s an emergency…”

What they really mean is….

“I’ve had some non-issue for the last three years but I know that you are super-heavily booked today so I decided to call.”

When a patient says….

“I don’t want any ‘Novocaine’….”

What they really mean is….

“I’m about to squirm, scream, and bite your fingers.”

When a patient says….

“My kids will be fine in your waiting room…”

What they really mean is….

“Hurricane Sandy part two is coming….better call FEMA.”

But…..

When a potential patient on the phone says….

“How much do you charge for a cleaning?”

Or…. “Do you take my insurance?”

Or…. “Do you do braces, see kids, or anything else….?”

What they really mean is….

“I WANT TO BECOME A NEW PATIENT IN YOUR PRACTICE!”

Believe it or not, ninety percent of the time these calls are handled incorrectly and the potential patient vanishes, never to be heard from again. How are these calls being handled in YOUR practice?

Coach Rich
Coach Dave

Dr. David Madow and Dr. Richard Madow are actual dentists who have been helping dental offices become more successful for over 28 years. They are down to earth, real people who personally connect with their clients and are proud to call them friends. If you have a question for this column, please write to them at coaches@madow.com. We are now offering a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

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November Ideas From Coach Betty

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There is still time to make your final quarter of the year your best one yet. To help make that happen, here are a few dental marketing & practice management tips & ideas for the month of November…

Candy Buy Back

Many of you will be starting off the month of November hosting and celebrating your office Candy Buy Back events. Consider doing a Facebook Live Video to promote your event. Be sure to alert the local TV news, online & print newspapers and social media sites about these events.

“Plaque Friday”

Why have Black Friday when you can have “Plaque Friday?” Offer special pricing on teeth whitening, electric toothbrushes, ortho consultations, or a new patient visit.

Dental Education Opportunity:

November is National Diabetes Month

Over 30 million Americans have diabetes. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop serious gum disease. Use this month to educate your patients about the connections between diabetes and gum disease while they are in the chair and or via email, office newsletters, and your social media sites.

International Stress Awareness Day: November 7th   

Share tips on how to reduce stress & the relationship between stress and oral health. Service/Treatment Feature: Mouthguards.

Flossing Day: November 23rd

Post fun floss facts & tips on your social media sites. Make a video and share on Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest demonstrating proper flossing techniques. And if you’re not totally sick of seeing videos of people doing the floss dance…well, go ahead and incorporate a little dancing into your educational videos. Because…why not?

Cosmetic Dentistry Opportunity:

Many of your patients will soon be attending holiday parties/events and typically with these special occasions comes a lot of picture-taking. Now is a great time to help them see how they can easily get their smile ready for the camera with teeth whitening and other cosmetic treatment/procedures. Be sure to make Dental Gift Cards/Certificates available for purchase.

November Reminders: (I know I sound like a broken record with this first reminder, but it is too important to your success to ignore…)

Incomplete Treatment & Insurance Maximum Renewals

Do you have any patients with incomplete treatment or ones that are due/past due in hygiene with remaining insurance benefits that are going to run out at the end of this year? Do what you can to help them see the need and value in scheduling an appointment this month before the end of the year rush really shifts into high gear!
If you’d like a sample “Use it or Lose It” letter send us an email and we’ll get it to you.

Social Media Post Ideas to Boost and Encourage Engagement

11/4: Daylight Savings Time Ends

11/8: X-ray Day (Share why you take/need x-rays.)

11/11: Red Lipstick Day          

11/15: Great American Smokeout

Have a fantastic November, and please let us know if we can help 2019 be your best year ever! (Hint: we can!!)

Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty

Betty Hayden is the lead coach at The Madow Center For Dental Practice Success. She has over 25 years of experience in the dental profession. Her expertise is in effective telephone answering techniques, profitable scheduling, marketing campaigns, communication, social media, new patient acquisition, practice growth, and much more. She is called “The Idea Woman” because she grows practices!

If you have a question for this column, please write to us at coaches@madow.com. And remember, we would like to offer you a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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Oh Dr. Melvin, You’re Such A Tiger!

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You don’t have to know much about golf (we sure don’t!) to know a little bit about Tiger Woods. He is generally considered to be the greatest golfer of all time, and is one of the highest paid athletes in the world. Tiger has spent more weeks at the number one ranking (683) than any other golfer – not even close. If we listed his records and achievements (and you read them) you would be late for your next patient.

And then it all came crashing down. Three back surgeries and some serious personal struggles took their toll. Tiger withdrew from tournaments, didn’t make the cut at others, missed some commitments, and couldn’t get his game off the ground. His ranking dropped… to 1199th!  While his fan base remained robust, many felt that he would never win another major tournament. He was under a form of scrutiny that would have crushed most people.

And then yesterday, Tiger won the 2018 Tour Championship!

Fortunately, most of us will never experience the ups and downs that Tiger has faced. But our own little worlds can be tough places. We have personal, family, and financial issues that are very real to us, and really can make things difficult. Let’s face it, life can be hard. And dentistry is no walk in the park either. Patients can be brutal. Competition is fierce. DSOs are real. And if you own a practice, you could be one crown prep away from missing payroll.

Tiger never quit. And most of all, he admitted he needed help. He faced his faults, and got help facing his addictions. And even though his golf greatness was obvious, he got coaching, always trying to improve his game. And from some amazing lows, Tiger is once again among the greats.

Don’t give up. Get comfortable with the fact that life has its ups and downs. And get the proper help when you need it. And if you want to chat about your practice struggles, let us know! We’re here for you!!

Coach Rich
Coach Dave
 

Dr. David Madow and Dr. Richard Madow are actual dentists who have been helping dental offices become more successful for over 28 years. They are down to earth, real people who personally connect with their clients and are proud to call them friends. If you have a question for this column, please write to them at coaches@madow.com. We are now offering a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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Marketing Ideas For A Great October!

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Marketing Ideas For October from Lead Coach Betty Hayden

Hello!
To help you plan for the best October ever, today I’m sharing some marketing tips and ideas with you. When implemented, these ideas will help keep things fresh and fun in your office. More importantly, they will exceed your patients and potential patients’ expectations which will allow you to focus on doing what you do best, helping your patients achieve healthy and beautiful smiles.
Why? Because exceeding your patients’ expectations will help keep them loyal to your office.
Here are some fun ideas for October –

Candy Buy Back

Options:

  • Collect candy in the office. This event is open to the public, and gets the entire community engaged.

Or you can do this:

  • Team up w/local school(s) and set up collection bins in each classroom where the kids can bring in their candy. The classroom with the most candy wins a gift card. Alternatively, get a local pizzeria to donate pizza for a classroom pizza party for the winning classroom.

If your office wants to host a “Halloween Candy Buy Back” event let me know and I can give you tips and ideas for a successful event from start to finish!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
How can your dental office participate?
Work together as a team to decide how you will promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here are a few areas to consider:

  • Collect donations for a charity
  • Decorate the office
  • Freebies – (ex: pink imprinted lip balm, little pumpkins, see more gift ideas on Pinterest)
  • Community – get involved with local BCA events
  • Wear pink and encourage your patients to wear pink
  • Involve your local news media with a press release

October is National Field Trip Month
Don’t wait for Children’s Dental Health Month in February to invite local schools to bring in their students for a field trip to the dentist. Bring them in during the month of October instead. You will be amazed how many schools will participate if you just ask. These are really fun events. Be sure each kid gets a branded “goodie bag.”

National Dental Hygiene Month
Throughout the month, make a special effort to work your hygiene continuing care lists. Send emails, texts, and make calls encouraging patients to schedule their hygiene appointments. Use your website and social media platforms to share dental hygiene tips and facts with the community.

National Face Your Fears Day: October 10th
Take this opportunity to share what you do to help make dental visits more comfortable for the fearful patient. Try to get some local media coverage.

Exceed Patient Expectations with October’s National Apple Month
Give-Away: set out a decorative bowl/basket of apples to give to your patients.

Community event: Create a hand-out for your patients listing the best local cider mills and apple orchards. Include any fall-themed events taking place in your community.

Who will you visit in the community?

  • Schools
  • Salons
  • City Hall / Police Station / Fire Department
  • Library

And anywhere else you think might be a good place to bring in new patients. At the very least, you’ll be building healthy & fun relationships with the folks in your community.

What will you bring?

  • Basket of Apples
  • Donuts and Apple Cider
  • Apple Pie
  • Toothbrush or Lip Balm attached to an apple-shaped gift tag.

Be sure that when you deliver these items, your office information is visible. Maybe include some sort of call to action special offer.

An apple a day won’t keep your dental office away!

Get your team together to make applesauce, apple pie filling, caramel sauce, or an apple/cinnamon sugar scrub. Put it in little jars with a ribbon and label with your office information. You can then give away as gifts to your new patients and or referring doctors/specialists.

Social Media (Facebook) Post Ideas to Improve Engagement
October 1st: National Walk Your Dog Day
October 5th: World Smile Day
October 8th: National Kick Butt Day
October 14th: Spiderman Day
October 16th: Boss’s Day
October 31st: National Knock-Knock Jokes Day

Wishing you all a fun and productive October!

Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty

Betty Hayden is the lead coach at The Madow Center For Dental Practice Success. She has over 25 years of experience in the dental profession. Her expertise is in effective telephone answering techniques, profitable scheduling, marketing campaigns, communication, social media, new patient acquisition, practice growth, and much more. She is called “The Idea Woman” because she grows practices!

If you have a question for this column, please write to us at coaches@madow.com. And remember, we would like to offer you a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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End Of The Year Insurance Letter – Use It Or Lose It!

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Hello all!! Lead Coach Betty Hayden here – welcome back to Coaches Corner! 

A question I am frequently asked is “Do you have a good end-of-the-year insurance letter?” After all, we don’t want our patients to leave insurance money “on the table” when they need treatment, and neither do they! 

 
Here is a good template for a letter you can send to your patients who have diagnosed but unscheduled treatment or are overdue for their preventive visit. Of course you should customize this to your office needs and culture.

Dear Theresa,

It’s that time of year again, when you are busy with school schedules, getting ready for cooler weather, and making upcoming holiday plans. During this hectic time, you may not be thinking about your available or unused dental insurance benefits.

Whether you have insurance benefits remaining or if you have funds set aside in a flexible spending account (FSA) or healthcare saving account (HSA), now is the time to schedule treatment so your co-payment amounts can be applied to this year’s deductions.

Make sure to use all available benefits to complete any outstanding treatment or for your all-important preventive dental hygiene appointment (“checkup and cleaning”). Almost all plans do not allow you to rollover unused dollars to the next benefit year, so it’s “Use ‘Em or Lose ‘Em!”

Call us today to schedule your appointment. We find that the upcoming holiday season is always our “busy time” and we are certain it is a very busy time for you too.

Beat the end of year rush and get in early! Just give us a call at 410-761-6454 to schedule. Do it right now before you forget!

Please know we are here to assist you and answer any questions you may have regarding your dental treatment.

Yours partners for better dental health,

Dr. Rightley and the team at Pasadena Smiles

A few more tips:

Personalize  – When mailing out remaining maximum letters, be sure to customize for each patient according to their treatment plan. This will help to re-create the urgency and value for treatment.  For some patients, it will take some type of additional incentive to get them to act.

Mailing Tip –  Use a bright-colored envelope and neatly hand-write the name and address. Use a “live” stamp.

Phone Calls – About a week after you mail out your letters, go ahead and start calling them to see if they received the letter and to schedule their appointment.

Document – Be sure to document that a letter was mailed, phone calls were made and what type of response you received from each patient.

Important Reminder – Before sending out these letters and making calls to your patients be sure to review your upcoming appointment schedule… Where is your open chair time? Will pre-blocking some open time be helpful? Also, before scheduling last minute appointments that require lab work, be sure to communicate with your lab guy/gal that they can in fact, get these cases back to you in time.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty

Betty Hayden is the lead coach at The Madow Center For Dental Practice Success. She has over 25 years of experience in the dental profession. Her expertise is in effective telephone answering techniques, profitable scheduling, marketing campaigns, communication, social media, new patient acquisition, practice growth, and much more. She is called “The Idea Woman” because she grows practices!  

If you have a question for this column, please write to us atcoaches@madow.com. And remember, we would like to offer you a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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Do Your Patients Need Another Reason To Floss? This May Be It.

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Thomas Corley, the author of “Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy People,” spent five years studying what rich people did differently than the poor. (For his study he defined “wealthy” as someone with an annual income over $160,000 and a liquid net worth of $3.2 million or more – the “poor” had under five thousand dollars in savings.)

He then went on to define nine habits that rich people had and the non-rich didn’t. He explained that just about everyone had a few rich habits, but it would be a good idea to increase that to fifty percent.

Here is a summary of Corley’s findings.

1. Rich people always keep their goals in sight.

“I focus on my goals every day.”

Rich people who agree: 62%
Poor people who agree: 6%

Not only do wealthy people set annual and monthly goals, but 67% of them put those goals in writing. “It blew me away,” says Corley. “I thought a goal was a broad objective, but the wealthy said a wish is not a goal.” A goal is only a goal, he says, if it has two things: It’s achievable, and there’s a physical action you can take to pursue it.

2. And they know what needs to be done today.

“I maintain a daily to-do list.”

Rich people who agree: 81%
Poor people who agree: 19%

Not only do the wealthy keep to-do lists, but 67% of them complete 70% or more of those listed tasks each day.

3. They don’t watch TV.

“I watch TV one hour or less per day.”

Rich people who agree: 67%
Poor people who agree: 23%

Similarly, only 6% of the wealthy watch reality shows, compared to 78% of the poor. “The common variable among the wealthy is how they make productive use of their time,” explains Corley. “The wealthy are not avoiding watching TV because they have some superior human discipline or willpower. They just don’t think about watching much TV because they are engaged in some other habitual daily behavior — such as reading.”

4. They read … but not for fun.

“I love reading.”

Rich people who agree: 86%
Poor people who agree: 26%

Sure, rich people love reading, but they favor nonfiction — in particular, self-improvement books. “The rich are voracious readers on how to improve themselves,” says Corley. In fact, 88% of them read for self-improvement for 30 minutes each day, compared to 2% of poor people.

5. Plus, they’re big into audio books and podcasts.

“I listen to audio books or podcasts during the commute to work.”

Rich people who agree: 63%
Poor people who agree: 5%

So does that mean the best way to get rich is to listen our brand new podcast, “The Dental Practice Fixers?” It sure couldn’t hurt!

6. They make a point of going above and beyond at the office.

“I do more than my job requires.”

Rich people who agree: 81%
Poor people who agree: 17%

It’s worth noting that while 86% of rich people (compared to 43% of poor) work an average of 50 or more hours a week, only 6% of the wealthy people surveyed found themselves unhappy because of work.

7. They aren’t hoping to win the jackpot.

“I play the lottery regularly.”

Rich people who agree: 6%
Poor people who agree: 77%

That’s not to say that the wealthy are always playing it safe with their money. “Most of these people were business owners who put their own money on the table and took financial risks,” explains Corley. “People like this aren’t afraid to take risks.”

8. They watch their waistline.

“I count calories every day.”

Rich people who agree: 57%
Poor people who agree: 5%

Wealthy people value their health, and more frequently have the knowledge and dedication it takes to stay healthy. They also smoke cigarettes with much less frequency.

9. And they take care of their smiles.

“I floss every day.”

Rich people who agree: 62%
Poor people who agree: 16%

Enough said.

It’s tough to get your patients to floss. Here is one more reason! And the rest of the advice isn’t bad either!!

Coach Rich
Coach Dave

Dr. David Madow and Dr. Richard Madow are actual dentists who have been helping dental offices become more successful for over 28 years. They are down to earth, real people who personally connect with their clients and are proud to call them friends. If you have a question for this column, please write to them at coaches@madow.com. We are now offering a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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We hate to sound like a broken record but….

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Sometimes the best ways to instantly up your practice are the easiest things to do.

So……we hate to sound like a broken record, but…..

If you listen to our podcast, The Dental Practice Fixers, you know that at the end of each episode we do a “Secret Shopper Call.” And although these calls are spontaneous and unedited, some of them have been cut out. Why? Because we called a fully functioning dental practice during normal business hours, and no one answered the phone!

We would get a message that said, “We are currently at lunch.” Or…

“If you are hearing this message during normal office hours, we are busy treating patients and can’t get the phone right now.” Or….

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

And what’s the next sound? Click! A $10,000 (average) new patient down the drain.

So (for those of you old enough to know what a broken record is) we hate to sound like a broken record, but….

Answer.

The.

Phone.

Every single time it rings!

And how about the ability of the person answering the phone to get the patient off the phone and into the appointment book? That’s a topic for another day.

But if you want a taste of what that is all about (and some good tips), be sure to listen to The Dental Practice Fixers. We do a secret shopper call on every episode, and they need to be heard to be believed!

Coach Rich
Coach Dave

Dr. David Madow and Dr. Richard Madow are actual dentists who have been helping dental offices become more successful for over 28 years. They are down to earth, real people who personally connect with their clients and are proud to call them friends. If you have a question for this column, please write to them at coaches@madow.com. We are now offering a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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Cures For A Slow September: Treatment Tips and Management Gems

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September can be a slow time for many practices. That’s why we have asked our lead coach, Betty Hayden, to come up with some ideas to make your September a great one!! But before we let Betty take it away, we want to let you know that she, along with Coach Kelly Lynch and us (The Madow Brothers!) will be in Baltimore, MD on Friday September 14, 2018 for our first ever Masterclass for Dentists!

This day will be an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to meet all of us and figure out some ways to grow their practice. And there is no charge at all except getting yourself to Baltimore. But there are two important things you need to know…

1) The Dentist’s Masterclass is for docs only. A doctor may bring a significant other or a key team member, but no team members may attend without the doc.

2) There will be lots of learning, brainstorming, practice troubleshooting, etc. But this course is intended only for those who are serious about working with us as their coaches. It’s not for “tire-kickers!” We would love to be right by your side on the road to practice growth, and this is your chance to see what that is all about.

We sent out an email about the Masterclass last week and it is already filling up quickly. If you missed it, would like to read it again, or would like to know more, just click here!

Okay – now on to Betty with her September tips. Thanks for reading!!

Rich and Dave

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
How does your schedule look for the month of September? For some offices, their schedules tend to fall apart in September. Whatever the case is in your office, I have some fun tips and ideas to help make September a fantastic month for you, your team, and your patients!

Unscheduled Treatment Plans – Reach out to all your patients with incomplete treatment plans or that are past-due in hygiene. Encourage them to schedule their appointment during the month of September.

Insurance Renewal Letters – Send out your “Use it or Lose it” reminder texts, emails, and letters. Pick up the phone and call your patients that have treatment planned and insurance maximums remaining that renew in January but haven’t scheduled appointments to start/complete treatment.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month – use this as an opportunity to educate your patients and the community about the importance of dental health care for Alzheimer’s patients in helping to keep them comfortable and healthy.

September is also the start of Football season – whether you’re a fan of football or not, celebrating football season with your office employees and patients is a great way to have more fun and exceed expectations.

  • Special Offers on Sport Mouthguards
  • Set up a photo booth area with fun football related props.
  • Post sports related dental health tips on your social media pages.
  • Cheer on your local football teams via your social media platforms.
  • Sponsor a local football team.
  • Have a raffle to win football game tickets or a football-themed gift basket to encourage Facebook likes, check-ins, referrals, and reviews on Google, Facebook, & Yelp.
  • Deliver football-themed snacks and gifts to local businesses and specialists.

Social Media Post Content Ideas for September:

1st: Random Acts of Kindness Day or Be Kind Day
9th: Grandparents Day
19th: Talk Like A Pirate Day
22nd: Bright Pink Lipstick Day
25th: National One-Hit Wonder Day
29th: World Heart Day

There you have it, some fun marketing ideas for the month of September. Please, be sure to stay in touch with me and keep me updated on any of the ideas that you use and/or if you have some thoughts on how to take these suggestions to the next level!

Sometimes despite your best efforts the schedule still falls apart. Don’t stress over it, instead use that downtime to do some training, team building and/or office cleaning/organizing.

Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty

Betty Hayden is the lead coach at The Madow Center For Dental Practice Success. She has over 25 years of experience in the dental profession. Her expertise is in effective telephone answering techniques, profitable scheduling, marketing campaigns, communication, social media, new patient acquisition, practice growth, and much more. She is called “The Idea Woman” because she grows practices!

If you have a question for this column, please write to us at coaches@madow.com. And remember, we would like to offer you a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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Why Are Concerts Better Than Sporting Events?

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What’s better – a concert or a sporting event? Tough question.

Here in Baltimore (home of The Madow Center For Dental Practice Success World Headquarters) we are lucky to have a plethora of both. There is a great music scene here with a huge variety of venues that attracts everyone from the largest acts in the world to our soon-to-breakout local favorites (Snail Mail anyone)?

And when it comes to sports we have The Orioles (even though they are having a really sucky year they are still “our O’s!”), The Ravens, University of Maryland basketball, Hopkins lacrosse and tons of great local events.

So why are concerts better than sports? Well, it’s a matter of opinion of course. And even though we like sports, we’re both music guys at heart. But here is a major difference. Sporting events always have a winner and a loser. Someone always goes home disappointed. At a concert, everyone leaves happy!

One of our mentors, the great (and totally nuts) Gary Halbert once said,

“There are some games in life where the only way to win is not to play.” So true. Yet it seems dentists insist on playing games where it is impossible to win!

What makes you think you can help that patient who has been through ten dentists in three years and they have all been “terrible?”

How is it possible to make a PPO work when their fee won’t cover your overhead?

Do you really think a team member who has been sabotaging your practice for five years is going to have a sudden turnaround?

Sometimes you just gotta say “no.” And remember, there are some games where the only way to win is not to play!

Coach Rich
Coach Dave

Dr. David Madow and Dr. Richard Madow are actual dentists who have been helping dental offices become more successful for over 28 years. They are down to earth, real people who personally connect with their clients and are proud to call them friends. If you have a question for this column, please write to them at coaches@madow.com. We are now offering a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

To sign up for our mailing list CLICK HERE

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Marketing and Management Ideas for August

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Today we are going to hear from Lead Coach Betty Hayden! Betty specializes in working with both doctor and team to grow production, lower overhead, increase collections, foster accountability, and generate referrals. She also knows dentistry should be fun – and today she will offer up some ways to put smiles on everyone’s faces while growing the practice! Take it away Betty!!

The Back to School season, while dreaded by many children (and some parents and teachers too), it is a great time for your dental office to exceed patient’s expectations and educate the community on the importance of good dental health for their children as well as for teachers.

Here are some Dental Marketing and Practice Management Ideas for the month of August…

Theme:  Back to School With Healthy Smiles!

Target Audience: Teachers and School Aged Children

Focus: Preventive Dental Services.

What: Education, Promotion, and Special Offers

  • Send a press release to local papers and news stations with “Children’s Dental Health Tips for Parents,” such as healthy snack and beverage ideas, when to visit the dentist, what-to-do in a dental emergency, brushing and flossing tips, mouthguard information, sealants information, and more.
  • Facebook (live) videos sharing the aforementioned tip and ideas.
  • August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month – Send out a press release and promote social media posts that focus on kindergarten-aged children.

Book Fairs – Many schools will be hosting book fairs this school year.  And if your local school(s) are anything like mine, these book fairs draw a very large crowd.

Create fun, interesting bookmarks for your local schools that include your office contact information. Deliver these bookmarks as a gift to the local schools to use during their book fairs. Easy! Right?

Donations/Community – Use your office as a community donation site for school supplies or new & gently used books to be donated to local children and/or schools in need. Advertise in office, on your social media sites, to local businesses and the news media via press release that your office is collecting donations for school supplies or books.

This is a GREAT way to bring in potential new patients… when folks come into the office to drop off their donations, be sure to warmly welcome them, give a brief tour of the office, hand out small thank you gifts that are imprinted with your office information or have a raffle they can enter to win a prize.

~ Social Media Post Ideas to Improve Engagement ~

August 6th – National Fresh Breath (Halitosis) Day ~ Excellent Blog and Social Media Educational Post opportunity, as well as service/treatment opportunity in the office.

August 10th – S’mores Day ~ Patient Appreciation Gift Idea “We Need S’MORE Patients Like You. Thank you for your referrals!” label that includes your office information, attached to a mini s’mores kit. See our Pinterest board for ideas.

August 25th – International Tongue Twister Day ~ Share some tongue twister riddles on your social media pages.

August 27th – Just Because Day ~ Do something special for your boss or team members…just because.

What are you planning for August? Feel free to share your plans with me. I love hearing about all the different and creative ideas!

Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty

Betty Hayden is the lead coach at The Madow Center For Dental Practice Success. She has over 25 years of experience in the dental profession. Her expertise is in effective telephone answering techniques, profitable scheduling, marketing campaigns, communication, social media, new patient acquisition, practice growth, and much more. She is called “The Idea Woman” because she grows practices!

If you have a question for this column, please write to us at coaches@madow.com. And remember, we would like to offer you a complimentary 30-minute coaching session! Please CLICK HERE to schedule yours. Doctors only please.

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