by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Feb 3, 2014 | Blog, Business, Social Media
Back in the day, doctors and dentists were taught to believe that any form of advertising was bad, it seemed unethical to “chase” clients. If a dentist had a marketing plan, it was “building a referral base”. But word of mouth is one of the hardest plans to control, and word of mouth takes time–it is never a fast process and the results are difficult to measure.
What is necessary for a successful marketing plan? “Social media is absolutely necessary in today’s market,” says Dr. Jacqueline Allen, whose endodontic practice started small and has grown as he acquired a total of 3 practices over the last 12 years.
Print isn’t really the medium of choice anymore. Once upon a time, a listing in the phone book was the first advertising medium a dental practice purchased. Today, web-based media is vital: Google, Google +, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and consumer-driven sites like Yelp. Social media is the common denominator among patients seeking medical providers. In today’s market, using social media is a matter of survival. Even the well-respected Mayo Clinic has a social media discussion page.
How do you know what to say on social networks? “Look at your audience,” says Dr. Allen. “If your patients are largely older people, the comfort of your patient reception are is important. Our elderly patients often will have a friend or spouse drive them to their appointment, the driver waits in our office until the procedure is done. Uncomfortable chairs spells unhappy patients, and that can mean a reluctance to show up,” she adds.
Letting your potential patients know your office is comfortable can be achieved by putting photos on your website, but it’s a lot more effective to put those same photos on a Facebook page, which is seen by a wider audience. A Facebook page also gives you a chance to say something about the comfort and why you chose the chairs. Explaining the choice of chairs moves the idea from feature (a characteristic of your office) to a benefit (something that makes your patients feel cared for). Showing your potential patients that their comfort is important to you says a lot about your philosophy of caring and will creative a positive opinion about you as a dentist.
Marketing yourself and your office is both a science and an art, and every dental marketing plan should include social media.
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Jan 21, 2014 | Blog, Business, Phoenix Endodontic Group
Do you have a marketing plan for your dental office? A dental marketing plan, a guide for the next year, is vital to your success. If your plan is not in place, now is a good time to start.
“Start with clear goals,” says Dr. Jacqueline Allen, from her Phoenix endodontic practice. “I like the SMART goal idea goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely,” she says. “A vague marketing plan, one that isn’t targeted to your specific skills and patients is one that can’t be realized,” Dr. Allen adds.
Specific means short and clear. Not “I want more patients,” but “I want to attract 20 new patients in the next three months.”
Measurable means you can figure out a simple, clear way to see if you are meeting your goals. A good method is one that measures change over time in quantitative (rather than qualitative) ways. There is nothing wrong with thinking, “I want to be a better dentist,” but if you don’t have a way to measure it, you don’t know if you are succeeding.
Achievable means you know you can reach your goal, even if you are not sure how you will do it just yet. Achievable also means the goal is right for your practice and achievable within a realistic time frame.
Relevant means the goal contributes to the overall well-being of your office and life. You might always have wanted to have a 100-gallon salt-water aquarium, but that doesn’t mean it will be a satisfying addition to the bottom line of your office.
Timely means setting a deadline, and taking action to meet it. All parts of your plan are focused on meeting that deadline.
Choosing goals means letting go of some ideas and focusing on others. The right ones will make the difference to your dental marketing plan and your future.
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Jan 10, 2014 | Blog, Business, Dentistry, Endodontics, Phoenix Endodontic Group
We would like to take a moment and wish all of our patients and referring doctors a Happy New Year. It is our wish that all of you are prosperous and successful in 2014. 2013 was a very eventful for the Allen Endodontic Group, we saw our practice grow and develop in many positive ways.
The continued success of our practice, along with changes in way patients today communicate and search for their healthcare provider have brought our practice to a “fork in the road.” Over the next few months, you will gradually see our brand (market) name change from “Allen Endodontic Group” to “Phoenix Endodontic Group“.
As mentioned, the evolution to the new brand name better aligns our practice with the needs and demands of the patients and referring doctors we serve. Our two locations in Phoenix and Paradise Valley, AZ give us a unique approach to serving these needs and we want to make it easier for people who are seeking the finest endodontic care available to find us.
Please be assured that NOTHING else about our practice has changed. Allen Endodontic Group was founded by Jacqueline S. Allen, D.D.S., M.S. in 2001, she remains the sole owner and primary endodontist in the practice. Since the beginning, Dr. Allen has focused on providing the finest quality treatment for patients and referring doctors alike. This focus will continue and will be stronger than ever.
Recent changes to the healthcare industry in the United States make it more obvious than ever that the need for high quality, patient focused providers will be greater than ever. While consumers are braced to accept a more “clinic” and impersonal approach to their healthcare needs, Allen Endodontic Group is determined to not fall into that trap and always be a cut above when it comes to the care we provide.
Please accept our thanks for all that you have contributed to our past success and join us as we will be known as Phoenix Endodontic Group.
Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Sep 13, 2012 | Blog, Business, Phoenix Endodontic Group
Don’t just survive, THRIVE!
Stocks are falling, gas prices are rising and small businesses are closing. It’s a grim outlook on the current state of the economy with an election looming and uncertainty lingering in the air. Don’t become a statistic. Discover how you can ensure your small business will survive the economic recession.
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Apr 5, 2012 | Blog, Business, Dentistry, Endodontics, Patients, Phoenix Endodontic Group, Root Canal, Social Media
Welcome to our Blog
Thank you for visiting our website and blog. This is new for us and I am sure we will be making mistakes along the way, but no doubt all of the “experts” tell us that communication with our patients and referring dentists is a sure way to stay connected to the folks we work with and provide services for.
In our first post I thought I would start by telling you what type of content you can expect to find when you visit our blog. This is the site for
Allen Endodontic Group and Jacqueline Allen, D.D.S., M.S. is the primary doctor in our practice. Dr. Allen does have a supporting cast which includes me, Kevin Conroy, Dr. Allen’s husband and CEO of Allen Endodontic Group. I will be the primary author of content on this site – I am
NOT a dentist – I possess a business background and handle all functions related to administration in our two locations.
