Q:

Dear Dr. Joel,

I regularly do in office promos like Valentines Day, Spring into 
Health, Chiro. B-day Celeb, Canned Food Drive around Thanksgiving, 
and Toys for Tots.  Not necessarily all every year, but quite a few.  
Anyway, we usually promote it within the office and that has 
worked well in the past but not the past 18-24 mos.  I don't know if 
we've gone to the well to often and drained it.  Should we start 
promoting these events outside the office via flyers and newspaper 
or someway else?

It seems as if we get alot of shoppers when we promoted outside the 
office in years past.

A:

Thanks for the e-mail. As you know .. we always have a fresh supply 
of new patients and they in turn have a fresh supply to new friends 
and potential referrals. Therefore .. you never go to the well too 
often. 

I would try to extend your promotions by including the community. 
Possibly have some flyers or posters within the local health food or 
gyms outlining the promotion. Provide all patients brochures or 
handouts to give to fellow employees or friends. Have an energetic 
e-mail campaign to let your patient know what's going on and why. 

You just need to be more creative and extend your ideas to the 
community. Place a modest fee .. no more than $20 .. for your 
evaluations and give it to a charity .. this will decrease the 
shoppers.

Hope this helps

Have a Great Day

Dr. M