In auto racing school, you learn about looking where you want to go. Where you look (with your eyes), is generally where the car will go. It’s just a natural tendency that your body will go where your eyes are pointed. This is true with any physical activity. Likewise, your body will naturally steer the car where your eyes are fixed.
Have you ever had something on the side of the road get your attention? Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® Seth Godin has long been one of my favorite marketing authors. I’ve subscribed to his blog for quite a long time. And, I’ve read most of his books. I highly recommend them for my fellow Dental Warriors.
Godin talks about two markets… the one based on price and the one based on value. If you’re not the lowest price, AND you don’t want to race to the bottom Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® To win any battle, you first need good “military intelligence.” Now… jokes about oxymorons aside… I am always gathering intelligence in my efforts to grow my practice. And, in this economy good intelligence is VITAL. Last weekend I attended the 2-day Marketing Summit put on by New Patients, Inc. (NPI) in Orlando, Florida.
I’ve known the folks at NPI for many years. Howie Horrocks started NPI as a marketing service specifically for dentists. Joined by Eddie Facey and Mark Dilatush, Howie has put together a brilliant team of marketing minds. What I like most about them is the absence of “fluff.” The guys at NPI lay it on the line and eliminate the BS. They won’t make grandiose claims or promises. And, the other thing I like about NPI is Continue reading
Today I saw a new patient who found me via my website. She drove 1-1/2 hours to my practice. She probably passed at least a hundred dentists on the way here. She was not happy with the work of a previous dentist. So, she started looking online.
For someone to drive 1-1/2 hours today to see a dentist is quite remarkable. Some people DO still value dentistry and finding the right dentist, rather than the closest and cheapest. Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® Some of us practice in areas saturated with dentists. At last count, there were 25 dentists just on my street! Competition is fierce. Over the years, I’ve collected a number of ads I’ve found locally. It’s quite common to see specific dental services advertised for very low fees.
Our culture has trended towards turning dentistry (and all health care) into commodities. A crown is a crown is a crown, right? As a profession, many of us have played right into the commodity game. Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® On DentalTown.com, there is currently a thread discussing a situation where a patient became belligerent at the front desk. He was upset over having to update his health questionnaire. In his rage, he threw the clipboard narrowly missing the front desk personnel. He then leaned over the counter aggressively yelling at the front desk. Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® Patient perceptions of dentists can be quite interesting. While I’ve positioned my practice as one with a focus on cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry, I am very much a general dentist. I do a bit of everything and plenty of “bread & butter” type dentistry. I am a regular dentist. But, it seems I’ve been more successful in creating the perception of a “cosmetic dentist.” And, admittedly that has been intentional. But, it also can have some pitfalls.
A majority of my cosmetic and “big case” patients come via my website. During our first meetings, I am often surprised to hear the patient mention his / her “regular dentist.” Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® For a long time, I simply refused to pay the tremendous price for a diode laser. I did see a use for it in my practice. But the relatively limited uses (soft tissue procedures) didn’t justify the huge cost. I remember when diode lasers were running $15,000. Some were higher than that.
I also remember chuckling when the sales guys would go on about how I could make money doing frenectomies. I don’t know about you, but I just don’t see that many frenectomies that need doing in my practice. Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® A new patient came to my office for a cosmetic consultation last May (2010). She was looking for just the right dentist. And, she had been doing a LOT of research online. She was visiting the websites of just about every “cosmetic” dentist in southeast Florida. And, there are a LOT of them. I asked “Lilly” why she chose to see me (besides my rugged good looks). Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® A relatively slow day today….
Today, I had a patient return to my practice after leaving back in 2008. She said, “I foolishly looked at just the money and went to another office. That was a big mistake.” I won’t repeat the nickname by which she referred to the other dentist! Back in 2008, at her only visit with me (as a new patient), I had treatment planned a few restorative procedures. She went somewhere cheaper. Oddly enough, her husband, father-in-law, and mother-in-law continued as patients. Now she’s back complaining of sensitivity in the restorations done by the other office. She’s back, and Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®