In business, procrastination is a big problem! Lack of positive action, lack of a cohesive plan and lack of direction are all responsible for stealing your potential patients! In business, if we’re not busy enough, we need to hatch a plan to ensure that we utilise our time well and generally stay close to our desired booking capacity.
It may sound harsh but if you’re not getting your marketing out and in front of your potential patients, you are actually doing them a disservice. It is not their fault that they don’t understand what you do. It is not their fault that they only consider that you treat backs. And it is not their fault that they are putting up with pain and taking far too many pain killers either.
Proactive marketing is the only way to educate and inform your community about what you do.
How can we avoid procrastination?
Procrastination about what exactly to do in order to achieve a busier Clinic can keep some people stuck, unsure what to do and with little confidence about what their message even is. So nothing is done at all.
So if you’re finding that you’re procrastinating at the moment, here’s three things you can do to get unstuck:
- Diarise your marketing time. In my world, if it’s not in the diary, it just doesn’t get done. So I recommend a minimum of 2 x half hour slots per week when you get down to some serious marketing. If you’re not very busy increase them to at least 2 x one hour slots. Get them in the diary and make that time sacrosanct. Hint – get a marketing book and do a brain download of ideas you can quickly use during marketing time.
- Define your clear message. Get clear on what you want to get across to your potential patients. Assume that they don’t understand what you do and put together some simple statements. Ensure that your language is clear with no medical jargon to confuse people. Hint – forget listing conditions, just explain that you treat pain and help the body back to health! That is your most powerful message.
- Be consistent and relentless. Even when you’re busy, don’t stop getting your message out to your community. Social media is the fastest and easiest way to get in front of more patients. But it must be interesting, aimed smartly at your Perfect Patient and show you as the incredible expert that you are. Erratic marketing only leads to more boom and bust which is your biggest headache! Keep a blanket layer of marketing happening and remain visible in your area. Hint – keep listening in Clinic for what people consistently say or complain to you about and keep repeating that back out to similar people.
And if, ultimately, you really do need a leg up with a bespoke masterplan, that’s my very favourite work so get in touch and let’s see how I can best help you.
