Getting Patients for a Skin Clinic

by Steve Holmes

Posted: 10 years ago 11 replies

OFFLINE MARKETING

What would you do to get patients for a new skin clinic?

Very intrigued to hear your ideas!

I want to set up a cheese and wine presentation, can hold 15 people at a time in the actual clinic. Problem of course is they have little to no budget for marketing so how do I tell people about it the presentation yet alone the clinic?

#clinic #patients #skin

ewenmack

10 years ago

Go to another business which has the same ideal customer list
and offer to give 15 of them a free gift.

This would make it look it came from the other business as a gift
which gives them further goodwill to their customers.

The gift needs to be beyond the wine and cheese though,
say skin care products. They could ask their supplier
to give it away or some incentive.

Their suppliers may have a retailer advertising program
where they pay part of the campaign.

Best,
Ewen

[ 3 ] Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8820854].message }}

savidge4 10 years ago

First thing is the signage out front? 2nd is the store front itself. 3rd is printed materials. 4th the stores interior. Is there a cohesive message and look across the board? if the answer is no... well get it there. Paint, new cards what ever it takes.

A party is a great idea. but 15 people at a time? and how do you propose to even get those people there? Why not shoot for a Skin Clinic ladies night party at a local - close in proximity bar? Be sure the bar is female friendly.

Offer some free product, some cute little finger snacks. Place a banner in front of the store and the bar for Tuesday Nights Skin Glam Night. Get some flyers made and post them when and where you can. if there is a college nearby hand them out there.

You want to do everything you can to pack the bar. Oh, by the way, you pack the bar with women, the bar becomes a new customer of yours!

On a personal note I am going to have a website re-launch party for my business and am basically doing the same thing. Holding it at a upscale club on a slow afternoon for them, so it's free for me to use, fun will be had by all!
- Thanks
Signature

Success is an ACT not an idea
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8820899].message }}

Peter Lessard

10 years ago

Originally Posted by ewenmack

Go to another business which has the same ideal customer list
and offer to give 15 of them a free gift.....
Best,
Ewen

Joint ventures and exchanges with businesses that have the same ideal customer list is the fastest way to grow a business and you are only limited by your creativity. Just figure out some sort of incentive. A high end nail salon or hair dresser could be giving their clients gifts of discounts/products at your new business.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Ready to generate the next million in sales? The Next Million Agency

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8821578].message }}

IMBlest

10 years ago

Originally Posted by ewenmack

Originally Posted by plessard

I've actually thought about doing a joint venture where I will call Business Owner A and tell him/her that Business Owner B wants to offer a discount (or even a free product/service) to Business Owner A's customers and Business Owner A can offer this as a gift to his/her customers to create goodwill and in turn, Business Owner B can get new customers.

My questions to Ewen & Plessard:

1. Should I contact Business Owner A by phone or would it better to send him/her a letter explaining how it will all work?
I have Yanik Silver's joint venture letter template that I bought awhile back. But I was wondering if calling would be better than writing a letter.

2. Should the gift offer (discount/free product or service) be sent by letter or postcard to Business Owner A's customers? Either way, it will appear as if the letter or postcard is coming from Business Owner A.

3. How much would you suggest should the local marketing consultant charge Business Owner B for this?

Thank you in advance.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8821930].message }}

ewenmack 10 years ago

[QUOTE=IMBlest;8821930

My questions to Ewen & Plessard:

1. Should I contact Business Owner A by phone or would it better to send him/her a letter explaining how it will all work?
I have Yanik Silver's joint venture letter template that I bought awhile back. But I was wondering if calling would be better than writing a letter.

2. Should the gift offer (discount/free product or service) be sent by letter or postcard to Business Owner A's customers? Either way, it will appear as if the letter or postcard is coming from Business Owner A.

3. How much would you suggest should the local marketing consultant charge Business Owner B for this?

Thank you in advance.[/QUOTE]

Is this going to be your long term business model?

Are you going to be doing stuff which goes beyond
bringing in customers?

Best,
Ewen
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8822880].message }}
- IMBlest 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by ewenmack
  
  Is this going to be your long term business model?
  
  Are you going to be doing stuff which goes beyond
  bringing in customers?
  
  Best,
  Ewen
  
  Thanks, Ewen, for responding.
  
  Yes, I was thinking of doing this as part of my long term business model.
  
  But I was thinking of doing this for each business owner just as one service model to grow their business. In other words, I don't want to do this every month for one business owner.
  
  I was thinking of offering other things such as web design, mobile websites, sms messaging, direct mail etc to continue to help grow their business.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8823437].message }}

KingOfContentMarketing 10 years ago

You want to work on your publicity right away. Here are some story angles and random comments:

--Find out who the appropriate news editors are at the local daily newspaper, weekly newspaper, TV stations, radio stations and influential local bloggers. Develop relationships with them, get to know them. Don't just sent them press releases.

--Watch for local stories about medical advances. The news teams always talk to a local doctor or specialist to get their insight. YOU want to be that person for skin care in your town.

--The technology in the beauty and skin care field is advancing every day. New techniques, new machines, new applications, new medicines. This gives you tremendous opportunity to get local press. Notice that on The Doctors and Dr Oz television shows they are always talking about the latest skin care method or procedure available. Become the source for that information in your town.

--See if you can offer a free article or column on skin care to the local weekly in your town or suburb. They will be more open to it than the big daily newspaper.

--You could also reprint the column as a one-sheet flyer. Drop in in the bag of every purchase for "added value." Add additional offers on the back of the flyer.

--Consider paying for an hour long interview show on local talk radio. Usually these are sold on the weekend where the stations have more avails (free time slots). You can hire one of the talk show hosts to host the show-- they essentially interview you or the the head doctor or whoever is the best "face" (and voice) of the business.

--Try to get on local TV daily talk shows or the daytime news. These shows have a lot of time to fill. There are only so many local pooches they can feature on-air from the local pound. You want to get on the air and showing the latest trends and hottest techniques in skin care.

--Think out of the box for your industry. I've heard many DJs over the years talking about their new weight loss program from local XYZ weight loss clinic. The clinic gives them a free program and of course the DJ talks about it on the air for weeks. See if you can do the same with skin care. Make it fun.

--Every TV station has a "roving reporter" "man/woman about town" who goes to all the local events and fundraisers. Stage an event at the clinic, or an off-site location, where you give away free facials or whatever. "Peel Away The Years" or "Peel Away The Stress" or something like that. Invite the local reporter and get free TV coverage.
- Thanks
Signature

Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
- Jack Trout
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8824441].message }}

Steve Holmes

10 years ago

Hi

Thanks for all of the responses.

I think it was an oversight on my part to not bring this skin clinic into context.

This is not a store or shop, it is a high end skin clinic in the most famous medical street in the world. The street has hundreds of medical businesses on just one road but only a few offering this new treatment for skin.

The skin treatment is pioneering, genuinely, and used by sports stars for cell regeneration and celebrities for skin rejuvenation.

You may not advertise on this road. You are not allowed to offer money or incentives for referrals. You cannot be seen to be cheesy or cheap.

With those restrictions in place, it makes it much harder though I do appreciate all suggestions thus far.

The list swap is a great idea although we only have a dental list and it includes celebs, famous people, dignatories etc so we can't just swap it.

I do like the idea of utilising another existing business in the area and offer something to them (like what???) in return for telling their clientele about our business.

Maybe It's the business owners I should invite to the cheese and wine so they can get to know the doctor and show them directly? The doctor is very enigmatic and personable, very well loved. Perhaps I should be utilising this as an asset? Sorry, thinking out loud...

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"Live like you'll die tomorrow, Learn like you'll live forever" - M. Ghandi

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8824725].message }}

KingOfContentMarketing

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve Holmes

Hi
This is not a store or shop, it is a high end skin clinic in the most famous medical street in the world. The street has hundreds of medical businesses on just one road but only a few offering this new treatment for skin.

The skin treatment is pioneering, genuinely, and used by sports stars for cell regeneration and celebrities for skin rejuvenation.

You may not advertise on this road. You are not allowed to offer money or incentives for referrals. You cannot be seen to be cheesy or cheap.

With those restrictions in place, it makes it much harder though I do appreciate all suggestions thus far.

Even more reason to crank up your publicity machine. You have a genuinely new skin treatment used by celebrities and sports stars??!!

Holy moly you've got a pr trifecta! The media and the public loves new medical treatments, new tech, sports stars and above all, celebrities.

Get on the phone with the local media. Get on the air, in the papers, and in local blogs catering to moms, women, family, fashion, style and health.

Create some BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Good luck.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
- Jack Trout

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8824810].message }}

Steve Holmes

10 years ago

Originally Posted by KingOfContentMarketing

Cheers mate!

It's West London so any assistance in where and how is always a plus!

I find most places I've contacted want a few grand just to do an advertorial, looking for the free ones who just want the content!

Thanks

Signature

"Live like you'll die tomorrow, Learn like you'll live forever" - M. Ghandi

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8824949].message }}

Steve Holmes 10 years ago

Target them by saying what if you don't mind me asking. What's in it for them to promote this business?
- Thanks
Signature

"Live like you'll die tomorrow, Learn like you'll live forever" - M. Ghandi
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8829622].message }}

Getting Patients for a Skin Clinic

Trending Topics

How do I effectively build and nurture an email list for affiliate marketing purposes?

Are Solo ADs the Most Cost Effective Way to Promote your Product?

Are billboards still effective in driving customers?

Been a while! Any of you Old Timers here?

How much does the rebranding affect CR ?