If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a million goals, plans and ideas and not enough time in the day to put a dent in any of them. I may pick one or two of my ideas and go gang busters working to get it going, and then another fun thing comes along and I get excited and go gang busters getting that one up and running.
There are a few downsides to this. The biggest being I am in the middle of a bunch of really great projects that aren’t done! It’s easy to see how this can happen next year too with all of us excited about our New Year’s resolutions. What happens to a lot of us is either my scenario above or the opposite happens – nothing because you don’t know where to start.
With that said, I have a recommendation on how to handle this strange phenomenon this year….make very small commitments that you know you can fulfill. By keeping your commitments small and simple you will have more flexibility to change, and more freedom to try different ways to keep your commitments.
Here are a few examples of what I’m talking about…
You may commit to doing one additional marketing piece or trying one new marketing strategy a month. Something simple. By the end of the year that really means that you will be trying 12 different marketing methods.
Another idea is to commit a certain amount of time to a specific project. For example, if you have a goal to write a book this year or develop products to sell online, set aside one hour a week (or a day – whatever you can commit too) that is devoted to meeting this one goal.
I am not going to say I am going to work out every day after I drop the kids off at school. Yes, while being healthy is important, making such a stringent commitment realistically won’t happen. A better commitment may be to promise myself that I will work out consistently this year. For me that could be two times a week as opposed to my sometimes every day and other times nothing for three months.
Other ideas of small goals that can make a big difference in your day are to:
– Only check emails at 8:00 and 6:00
– Have a cup of coffee once a week with a new friend or business acquaintance
– Take two hours off in the middle of the week that’s free time
– Do one self-improvement tool or book or something a month
– Post on other people’s blogs once a week
But the deal is whatever commitment you do make, you HAVE to stick to it. So keep your promises simple and realistic.
If you’ve taken the time to develop long term goals and strategies for your business (or your personal life) that is great. You’ve done more than most people I know. If you don’t want this years resolutions or commitments to fall by the wayside, break those long term goals into super short smaller commitments that you know you can keep.
In issue 50 of our ezine, The Healthcare Marketing Connection, I talked about discipline and keeping your word to yourself. Now is the time to be thinking about what commitments you do make and your ability (or inability) to keep them. For us entrepreneurs and small business owners, oftentimes ANY commitment we make is one we make to ourselves only. No one knows about them, and no on else will hold you accountable to keeping them. Plug your commitments into a calendar, schedule the time with yourself to get them done, and don’t make a commitment or resolution unless you know you will keep it.
No one else knows you are making it, and no one knows if you break it.
Except the all important you.
Contact us at Kelly@AMarketingConnection.com or call 303-460-0285 for more information.
About the author
Founder of A Marketing Connection and The Copywriting Institute, Kelly Robbins, MA, is an award winning author, copywriter and healthcare marketing coach/consultant. Kelly is the author of Marketing 101: Why Successful Alternative Healthcare Practitioners Specialize as well as co-author of The Practice Evolution Success Kit.
Kelly Robbins also publishes The Healthcare Marketing Connection, a free e-zine on healthcare marketing tips. Contact Kelly to receive her free report, “5 Critical Mistakes Healthcare Marketers Make that Lose Sales and Plummet Profits” at www.AMarketingConnection.com or 303-460-0285.
Your marketing promotions need to reflect this
Everyone I know is feeling stressed lately. I hear stressful comments daily about job losses, the terrible state of the economy and worries about family. For many everyday Americans stress is the number one thing affecting their lives and their health.
As a healthcare marketer it’s your responsibility to look for ways you can help people live healthier lives. It’s your responsibility to find ways to connect with the people that need you.
Know that most people are aware of their high stress and many are looking for ways to lessen that stress. Ask yourself what you can do to help your community reduce or better manage their stress?
In a recent study by the American Psychological Association, in June of 2008 more people reported physical and emotional symptoms of stress than in 2007 and nearly half said their stress had increased over last year. People reported more fatigue, feelings of irritability or anger, lying awake at night as a result of stress in addition to lack of interest or motivation, fatigue, feeling depressed or sad, and headaches and muscular tension. You can read more here.
If you are looking for new ways to connect with patients I recommend you talk to them about managing their stress. You can do two things:
1. Listen to what patients are saying when they come in. Sometimes people are sharing important information with you and it appears to be idle chit chat unless you are paying attention. I am asking you to really listen. What is causing them stress and what symptoms are you seeing in your practice? An example may be losing sleep. Perhaps you’ve had several patients tell you they haven’t been sleeping well. (Hint: This may have absolutely nothing to do with why they came in to see you.)
Here is what a quick Google search turned up for me on stress and sleep disturbances:
“A new poll finds almost a third of all Americans are unable to get a good night sleep because they are worrying about their finances, the economy or their jobs.” According to a recent article in HealthDay, Dr. Bruce Nolan, medical director of the Sleep Center at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, says sleep is sensitive to things that go on during the day…”
You take this information and apply it to your practice. How can massage or meditation or acupuncture help reduce stress? How can it help your patients sleep better?
Educate and share this information with your patients AND use this information in your marketing efforts in your community.
2. Use the information your patients are giving you to create packages and marketing promotions. If you hear several patients tell you they can’t sleep or their stomach is upset all the time and you think it may be stress related use this information to help them and others in an easy and affordable way. Create “stress reduction packages” or “reduce your stress day”. Create awareness and offer options to help.
I did this recently with my “Practice Specialization Package”. I had several clients come to me that didn’t need ongoing marketing services, they simply needed help narrowing their focus so the marketing they were doing was more effective. They needed help clearly defining their target market or niche. How many times do I have to get hit over the head to realize if five or six people are asking for something there are probably a ton more that could use the same guidance? (The answer is too embarrassing to mention) I created an affordable, easy and doable package and sure enough, practitioners are finding it very helpful.
What information keeps smacking you in the face that you aren’t recognizing?
Let’s look at two more examples of how you can use the theme of stress to create packages for your practice.
“Touching helps couples reduce stress. New research in Psychosomatic Medicine shows that couples may be able to enhance one another’s health by being more physically affectionate with one another.” Our new massage training for couples to reduce stress workshop can help…
Here’s one more final example,
“According to a study in the journal of pediatrics, living in a stressful household can increase a child’s chances of becoming obese. That’s why the chiropractors at Stanley Shores Chiropractic created a stress reduction package for families. Combining stress reduction techniques with a proper alignment and nutrition counseling creates an overwhelming sense well being and benefits families all around.”
Take an honest look at what you can do to help. The health of your community depends on it!
Would you like help coming up with a promotional ideas for your practice? Or not sure which niche to target? We are happy to help! You can sign-up for the Practice Specialization Package by clicking here or by giving us a call at 303-460-0285.
To Your Success!
About the author
Founder of A Marketing Connection and The Copywriting Institute, Kelly Robbins, MA, is an award winning author, copywriter and healthcare marketing coach/consultant. Kelly is the author of Marketing 101: Why Successful Alternative Healthcare Practitioners Specialize as well as co-author of The Practice Evolution Success Kit.
Kelly Robbins also publishes The Healthcare Marketing Connection, a free e-zine on healthcare marketing tips. Contact Kelly to receive her free report, “5 Critical Mistakes Healthcare Marketers Make that Lose Sales and Plummet Profits” atwww.AMarketingConnection.com or 303-460-0285.
