altMD's Marketing Mentoring Services

At altMD it seems like we are always talking to some outsider or novice who has little idea of how fast growing and how big the market for Integrative Healthcare really is.  Yesterday, I was speaking with an advertising agency and they asked this exact question and I answered it in my usual way, quoting government statistics, numbers from private studies, and primary (new) research that altMD has conducted over the past year.  After my overview of the numbers and trend stats, the agency came back with a pointed question, asking me to translate all of the various percentages and figures into actual Americans using CAM.

Doing the CAM Math for them in real time, here is the amazing figure I presented.  I estimate that this year – in 2008, over 188,371,200 Americans 18+ will have at least one (1) Integrative Healthcare Treatment.  Does not include multiple visits.  Does not include children.  Does not include sessions with a personal trainer at Studio One to One, or fitness classes with Kelli Calabrese, or downloading holistic nutrition recipes from a cool school like Bauman College, or a Yoga Studio membership with Victor or Shannon in Cambridge, MA, or reading The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living or any number of the thousands of great books on health & wellness …or visiting great websites like altMD.  It does not include a lot of things but one thing is clear.  Like the President of that ad agency said – this CAM thing is HUGE!!

And growing strong and fast! 

At altMD we are proud to be here.  To help get the word out and connect needy patients/clients with our wonderful Members who help millions of Americans every day. And Canadians.  People helping people worldwide.

We're here!  We're HUGE!  Get used to it!   Someday soon, 188,371,200 people will be a drop in the bucket.  At altMD, we will be there and look forward to that day.

flag

Swami Sadashiva Tirtha is my friend and Founder of Ayurveda Holistic Community

While his Ayurveda Holistic Community website on altMD has a small amount of fine-tuning to be completed, Swamiji just made history as the first site awarded our highest level – VIP Gold.

Dr. Tirtha achieved this recognition due to his focused effort and full-utilization of the altMD platform and our amazing toolset… AND at this particular snapshot in time, he has surpassed all other Members in terms of maximizing our infrastructure.  Because of his focused resolve to market his business so beautifully AND leverage the altMD platform to do so, we award and reward him with VIP Gold in recognition of his savvy achievement and... ...he is our Person of the Week!

flag

At altMD, we call the first step in a new Member’s ‘Getting Started’ process Discovery Day. While our informal member-focused process serves many purposes, it is meant to give new specialists and wellness businesses the face-time and opportunity to learn more about altMD and our free services, and give us the chance to learn more about you and your individual needs.

Either on the phone with us in a fast 10-minute call or via email, Discovery Day is a “meeting-of-the-minds” that addresses a few target questions aimed at your business and personal goals and aspirations.  The reason we include personal goals/aspirations as part of our initial discovery session is that our approach to marketing is also holistic and we want to understand your sweet-spots and what you like to do – not just who you are today professionally as we can easily obtain a new Member’s current situation and experience by reviewing her website or with his Bio or CV.  To get to the heart of the matter, we like to review a new altMD Member’s goals through the prism of your now as well as where you want to take your life and the work you do. 

Whether we meet on the phone or via email, the questions only take +/-10 minutes to informally chat about with time for questions asked of altMD.  AND please know in advance there are no right or wrong answers – this is an informal session and each meeting is different as it is customized to the needs of our new Member.

For more information or to set-up your Discovery Day with altMD, please call or connect via email.  Ready when you are to begin this journey together. 

Bonus Info:  Why is it called Discovery Day if it is only 10 minutes??  While we do not want to reveal too much more about our “secret sauce” – DD is just the kickoff to what all new members seem to tell us is an enjoyable, informative and mutual exercise.  And many new members change their perspective for their use of altMD after the meeting.    

Finally – with permission but also respecting her privacy, here is the absolute best email we received from one of our early Members after her Discovery Day was complete:

“I want to thank you for today because I really learned a lot and I’m very comfortable now with everything that is happening.  I was worried that your free offer was just a come on and it would end up costing me.  I am also happy that I can do all this at my own pace.  Now I understand.  Free turns out to be free.  I heard that before and it ended up to be a waste of time and left a bad taste. I will now tell my friends to email you. Thanks for keeping your promise.”  Heather – Holistic Practitioner, Midwest

flag

What is Marketing 101?

A fellow blogger on altMD, Peter Behel – a ‘Biofeedback & Nervous System Wellness’ Specialist from California, asked that timely and relevant question today via email that we will answer right here… in a moment. 

Peter is what I call a “3rd Generation” altMD Member.  Peter came forward last month on the 19th.  He found altMD online and asked to join; we launched his site the following day.  Four days later, he introduced a colleague, Katherine Kirk – who is a 'Psychotherapist" from Santa Rosa.  She emailed us and we welcomed Katherine with open arms; and launched her site the following day. Earlier this week, Katherine introduced Michiko Spring to altMD, and she sent an email.  We've scheduled her “Getting Started” meeting on September 4th, right after the Labor Day holiday. Michiko is an ‘Art Therapist’ who works in Sonoma County; and her site will launch on September 5th, the following day.  That’s why Peter is “3rd Generation.”  He found us, he liked us, and without any prodding by altMD, he helped his colleagues and helped build us. Where there was 1 there are now 3.  For now – No pressure, Michiko!! – Peter is "3rd Generation” altMD.

Today Peter asked via email about what I consider Marketing 101? 

While Peter is an amazing scientist and biofeedback specialist – like many of our Members, he has no formal training in classical marketing. Another altMD Member said it well, I think. In his “Getting Started” meeting earlier this year, Justin Mandel said to us... “All I had was one marketing course in school.  At the end of the term, all I got out of it was one bad home-made brochure!”

Just like the 150+ modalities that we promote, altMD’s primary modalities – technology and marketing – are based on systematic rules and step-wise and predictable approaches, both as art and science.  Online Marketing 101 to altMD is like the nervous system is to Peter.  Luckily we do not have to be experts in biofeedback to understand and respect Peter and his craft.  Nor does Peter need to be an expert in marketing or technology to be a great specialist.  As a Member, he has asked us to support him with our marketing and technology skill-set and tools.  So he can focus on his patients and his business.  And altMD will provide these services – totally free – for generations to come.

Our pledge to Peter and all our Members is this...  As you stay connected and engaged, you will find that altMD addresses and deals with all the everyday marketing challenges you face.  We will deliver the guidance and practical solutions you need to both understand and conquer them.  That is our pledge. 

For 3rd, 4th, and many more altMD Member-generations to come!

flag

Getting yourself Organized can be FUN!  Maybe not during the task itself but once you have accomplished it, and reaped the rewards of an efficient and productive "process" - it is certainly worth the time and energy you put into it!

Today I organized all of my blog articles into an efficient system to make it easier for my constituency to find what they are looking for and get the helpful hints that you need to move forward on growing your health care business.

flag

In today's Internet - what we used to call testimonials are now called "Reviews" - a better word for how the Internet is evolving into a more interactive, and user-generated-content medium. 

I feel fortunate to have received feedback from my customers - both positive and not-so-much.  The experience of sharing mutual feedback deepens business relationships with clients, many of whom will become friends and colleagues.  Feedback helps one to continually refine methods and approach to stay customer-focused in your work. 

When planning our family vacation this year, we found TripAdvisor to be very helpful as we were able to review what other travelers said about the places we wanted to go and stay.  We were able to learn from these other fellow-travelers experience and handpick places and things to do that matched the kind of experience we were looking for.  AND avoid places that did not meet our needs and goals.  We not only used the reviews on TripAdvisor but also became reviewers ourselves, hopefully helping both fellow travelers and the business owner who treated us in an extraordinary way.  Here is our review of Cote Canal and Owner Caroline.

Everybody knows what it feels like to get poor service and have a bad experience.  Internet reviews are a way to help potential customers learn more about you and for happy campers to share their stories and offer you their support.  Here are some reviews that customers have given to Marketing Mentoring Services at altMD.

Reviews...

"Joel offers great advice for putting a medical clinic on the Internet map. In one short hour my healing clinic was number one in a search for the main modality I practice. His directory service is invaluable and his knowledge and experience in this field is high. He has great business sense and watches trends to know that health & wellness and natural approaches to healing are the wave of the future. I highly recommend that you put your trust in altMD, and the promoting and marketing of your health & wellness business in Joel Fellman's experienced hands."
Laura Denny, RBT - The Light Wave Center.  

"A one hour pro-active master coaching session with Joel saves thousands of retroactive trial and error strategies and DOLLARS!  He is honest, straight forward, focused on our goals and solutions and truly cares about the people he is providing solutions for.  The changes we are now making based on our work with altMD is already making a HUGE positive impact. Our commitment to excellence will grow with altMD as an important part of our team. Thanks altMD!" 

Andy Belanger and Dick Thom, Health of Business, Business of Health

“A non-stop stream of strategic marketing ideas from concept to implementation describes Joel Fellman’s approach to strategically positioning my practice and courses on the web via altMD’s platform. His enthusiasm and genuine care shines through in every contact. His amazing ability to mentor and orchestrate a campaign utilizing technology coupled with his vast marketing and business sense leverages every aspect of the company he promotes. I recommend altMD and Joel without reservation to practitioners who are interested in enriching their businesses via new contacts from the web and through innovative ideas presented by Joel and altMD.”

Jane Fecteau, Intuitive Healing, LLC

"We have been working with Joel and altMD for about a year now. They truly have considerable know-how and proven practical tools to help get you there, rapidly. Their level of enthusiasm for CAM is extraordinary. We would recommend altMD to any practitioner who wants to standout on the Internet! We give Joel 2 Thumbs Up"
Kevin Doherty, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., MSOM - Therapist and Owner, Boulder County Acupuncture
Kelly Robbins, Masters in Applied Communication - Owner, A Marketing Connection
Kelly and Kevin together, creators of the Practice Evolution Marketing Kit.  

"Joel Fellman is a gem. He has extensive marketing knowledge, remarkable business insight, and his passion and energy are contagious. His guidance has propelled my brand development and helped to position me as an expert patient advocate. I am thrilled to have found altMD and Joel -- worth their weight in gold!"

D. Chiaramonte, M.D. Founder – Insight Medical Consultants 

"altMD has been a great partner in helping the Naturopathic Medicine Community connect with needy patients via the Internet. We have found altMD.com to be packed with great info and tools for consumers, and I have recommended altMD to many of my colleagues and friends. I am most pleased with how altMD has helped Naturopathic Medicine portray our specialty - they have bent over backwards to both understand and deliver on our needs. Go altMD!"

Jane Guiltinan, ND - clinical professor at Bastyr Center for Natural Health
Immediate Past President of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) 

flag

I am a huge fan of using - where appropriate – “before” and “after” shots in healthcare marketing.  Nothing tells a story like a picture worth a thousand words.

When reviewing a new VIP Member’s Community Website on altMD yesterday, the before and after were striking.

BEFORE: http://www.altmd.com/specialists/Chopra-Center-At-Memorial-Hlth

AFTER: http://www.altmd.com/specialists/Chopra-Center

In the “before” all Dr. Chopra and Team had was a standard non-optimized listing.  In fact, this Center has recently closed and the listing will soon be deleted.

In the “after” – the new Chopra Center site leverages all of altMD’s great tools and functionality to assist them in attracting Wellness Professionals to their great Courses and Certifications.

The Chopra Center is also in our ProCenter advertising in a B2B way, directly to altMD Members looking for Continuing Education and adding services and modalities to their businesses.

While it is humbling to have Dr. Chopra’s photo so close to mine, it is also heart-warming to see him on our site.  When I was a Pharma Sales rep living on the North Shore of Massachusetts right out of College, a million years ago –
I had a “territory” that included over 400 doctors.  When it came time for me to choose a physician for me and my young family, I thought about all my customers – all 400+ docs that I saw every 8 weeks – and there was one M.D. who really stood out as someone very competent and special.  You guessed it.  Deepak Chopra.  And he became my family doctor all those years ago.  When I met him he had a private practice in Melrose MA and was Chief of Staff at the New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham, MA – next town over.

Back then I never dreamed of anything but typical Western Medicine being in my future.  With Dr. Chopra’s amazing work as an inspiration for so many people across the globe, I could not be more pleased that our paths intersect once again.  Before and After. 

flag

Kelly Robbins is this week's altMD Person of the Week!

Building your healthcare business and "standing-out" in today’s competitive environment requires persistence and patience. It also requires you to market your practice/office/studio/clinic/shop/etc., – which most wellness pros did NOT study or learn in school while studying their craft and specialty.

Marketing Your Practice Made Easy

One of altMD's "early adopters" was Kelly Robbins.  She has always been there for us as a marketing expert from almost the beginning and we have learned a lot from her area of expertise. 

Based on altMD's experience - whether you are a do-it-yourself healthcare marketer or outsource your marketing needs to pros, Kelly is an expert at helping healthcare businesses gain the attention of prospects in the increasingly busy healthcare environment - which, as you know, is becoming more and more challenging with each passing day.

Kelly and her team believe their proven, systemized healthcare marketing programs, marketing coaching, consulting and training, and healthcare copywriting expertise will show you that connecting with clients can be done easily and inexpensively.

Their goal as healthcare marketers and copywriters is to make your job easier, helping you to:

• Double your revenue
• Have a consistent presence in front of the press
• Reduce the amount of time spent on patient communications
• Teach while you treat
• Increase word of mouth referrals
• Create easy to read patient communications
• Systemize your marketing
• Have a strong presence on the internet (where 80% of patients go first to find health related information)

Working with Kelly and her team, I can attest to their passion and that they are a positive force for change for entrepreneurs involved in the holistic health field and those businesses interested in integrating these modalities with medicine. That is why Kelly Robbins is this week's altMD Person of the Week!

Kelly has offered an exclusive for all altMD Members - offering you a special 10% off any product or service IF you tell Kelly and her team that you are "from altMD."  Take advantage!  Learn more by inquiring here!  

flag

I had some computer issues the other day – running very slow – and looked for some software that might help me solve my problem.  On one of the good authority websites, they were recommending two products to download – one called Speed Up My PC and the other called Clean Assistant.

Putting my sluggish PC aside, as a marketeer – both of these names were definitely pretty good and said what they did – but I liked the first name best because I thought that this is exactly what I want to do – speed up my computer. 
I could certainly use an assistant to help but really, what I wanted to do was speed up my system and do it right now.  Speed Up My PC was a better name from my perspective because it was so action-oriented and it seemed that the “product” had empathy for my situation and needs.  [FYI – I downloaded both and eventually bought Clean Assistant because – no offense to Speed Up My PC – the Clean Assistant product worked great and solved my problem fast!]

Naming your Brand.  Branding your Name.

In an article he published on Entrepreneur.com, Phil Davis talks about what he sees as the 8 Mistakes To Avoid When Naming Your Business.

Phil writes: “Naming a business is a lot like laying the cornerstone of a building. Once in place, the entire foundation and structure is aligned to that original stone. If it's off, even just a bit, the rest of the building is off, and misalignment becomes amplified. So if you have that gnawing sense that choosing a name for your new business is vitally important, you're right.”  Here are the issues to avoid as Phil sees it: 

• Getting a "committee" involved in your decision.
• Taking part of an adjective and welding it onto a noun – like QualiServe or TranquiSpa or AmeriXxxx, XxxxTech, XxxxCorp and XxxxTron.
• Using words so plain they'll never stand out in a crowd.
• Using a map to name your company, like St. Pete Plumbing or Jefferson Street Massage.
• Turning your name into a cliché, like Summit Car Wash, Apex Yoga, Pinnacle Docs, or Peak Hydrotherapy.
• Making your business name so obscure, customers will never know what it means.
• Misspelling your name to match your domain name (as so many great domains are already taken) … like KwaliTronix or Best Akupuncture.
• Choosing the wrong name and then refusing to change it.

One of the free Marketing Mentor Services we deliver at altMD is helping you evaluate your current name and/or help you come up with a better one that defines who you are and what you do, and is unique so you stand out in a crowd and improve your branding.  For this and all of altMD’s personalized coaching and support services... please take a moment now to connect with me - your friendly neighborhood QualiTekMrktProGuyy. 

flag