Top 10 Tips To Market & Build Your Professional Practice

In building and running a professional practice (or any small business or a home-based business), there are many items that must be monitored closely. As a small operation, you can't afford to find out too late that a critical aspect of your business has gotten off-track! This list looks at 10 items to emphasize at the start of a new year, or any time you want to rapidly grow your business in a short period of time.

This Top 10 is really two groups of 5 items each. The first 5 items are tools, things to have on hand that will help you grow your business quickly, while items 6 through 10 are personal qualities or personal styles that create a powerful sense of "attraction" for new clients.

1. A business plan. Include a clear mission statement, describe the services you provide, the population you serve, the benefits you provide, and financial projections.

2. A marketing plan. Include a description of your targeted market groups and budgets for time, energy and money to reach those specific groups of people.

3. A comprehensive set of brochures, exercises, hand-outs and "give aways". If word of mouth is the best advertising, make it easy for your clients to say the nicest things about you! Make sure every client has valuable information, tools and ideas to share with friends. Put real value in your literature.

4. A plan for networking. A huge part of success is just showing up! Whether it's civic activity, volunteering at your child's school, or in your house of worship, show up! The more you put into your community, and the more you contribute, the more you will get back.

5. The perfect office. Are your waiting room chairs comfortable? Are your magazines current and appropriate? How about the wall paper, the music, the carpet? Your office should tell each client that when they choose you, they are getting the best!

6. Over-respond to every situation. Give far more than expected. Answer every question, then send a relevant article a few days later. Return phone calls immediately! Promise less, then deliver twice what you promised.

7. Eliminate the cost of delay. Never wait "until you can afford" new equipment, a better office or more training. The cost of delay includes too many missed opportunities. If you need it, and you'll do it eventually, do it now! Get on the internet, get a computer billing system, upgrade your phones. Delay costs you money, time, energy and limits your creativity. Do it now!

8. Take superb care of yourself. Exercise and eat well, get plenty of rest and hang around the most delightful, challenging and exciting people you can find. See one less client per day, and spend that time adding value to your remaining clients.

9. Market yourself shamelessly. Market your practice with style, with passion, good taste, and a low-key honesty that is shame-free and comfortable for everyone around you. The community needs your skills far more than you need a job ? clearly communicate what you do and how well you do it. Your community needs you! Let them know how to find you!

10. Tolerate no distractions. A clear vision and passionate commitment to your priorities makes life simpler and you become incredibly attractive to those who share your vision. Clean up any distractions and serve your clients with absolute integrity and total commitment. People know when they are getting your best.

Always focus on what you want for your business in the months ahead. We don't generally get everything we wish for in life, but being clear, focusing on the important rather than the convenient or the familiar, and being smart and working hard can take us further than we imagine. The clearer you are about what you want, the more likely you are to get it.

© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: "Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It's all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com

---

10 Elements Every Direct Mail Piece Should Have

Don't want your direct mail to end up in the... Read More

Beware: Marketing Sinkholes Ahead!

Life provides your business with enough opportunities for failure. Don't... Read More

Getting Your Services Used

Every day I talk with professional service providers who do... Read More

Direct Mail Postcard Rules

It's a fact that your customers are your best leads.... Read More

Buzz Word

Offline, it's called word-of-mouth advertising. Online, it's known as viral... Read More

Tricks of the Trade: Design your Booth for Maximum Impact

The fight for your customer's attention at a tradeshow has... Read More

Love My Dentist

I love my dentist! When is the last time you... Read More

Resistances To Marketing a Practice-Part 1

If you are a therapist, counselor, or an alternative or... Read More

Radio Ads That Get Results

Radio advertising can be a small business's best friend. It's... Read More

What You MUST Understand About Your Web Numbers

Two years ago, when I first started selling online, I... Read More

Freebie Seekers? Turn Them Into Clients and Referrers - or Turn them Far, Far Away

Many service business owners these days are "giving away" their... Read More

Words that Sell

We all know the English language contains hundreds of thousands... Read More

Creating And Maintaining A Mailing List

Starting to collect proper information to create a... Read More

The 7 Areas of Marketing Waste - Are You Committing These Marketing Sins?

If you want to reduce waste and grow your business... Read More

Your Secret Marketing Weapon

As a professional service provider, you're paid for what you... Read More

10 Tips to Grow Your Business Plain & Simple

"Try not to become a man of success but rather... Read More

Tradeshow Booth Cures - Knick-Knack Knockouts

Okay, we were kidding about the smoke, but not about... Read More

Marketing is More Than Advertising

Marketing is a business process about which much is written,... Read More

What Does Your Logo Color Say About Your Business?

And not only your logo, but also your website, your... Read More

Trade Show Marketing ? Getting Prepared for the Big Event

With the increase in number of tradeshows being held across... Read More

Are You Overlooking Your Hidden Profit Centers?

There are other names given to "Back-End Selling". You may... Read More

Non-Profit Success Requires Ongoing Marketing

In a crowded marketplace of ideas, it is important for... Read More

Why Referral Business Is So Valuable

With so much money invested on innefective advertising, it's time... Read More

Mailing Lists ? Keeping it Simple

The right direct mailing list targets people who want your... Read More

Getting Paid to Promote Yourself

We all know we can pay a magazine or a... Read More

Mortgage Marketing and Advertising ? The Magical Ingredient

Do you offer superior service, consistently close loans on time... Read More

21 Ways To Expand Your Subscriber List

Expanding your subscriber list, whether it be for your ezine,... Read More

Private Practice Marketing: 3 More Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started

1) Create systemsCreate systems for everything you do, especially those... Read More

What Does It REALLY Take to Be Making 6-Figures as a Service Professional?

Over the past 30 years, I've read so much on... Read More

Promotional Products

As a promotions director for a lot of super markets,... Read More

The Biggest Problem With Your Marketing Is...?

What is the biggest problem most marketers have? Who knows.... Read More

Most Wanted Response... How To Make It Work

"When I walked into the grocery store last Saturday, I... Read More

Systems - Marketing Your Business Successfully

Business Systems that work for anyone, are a fundamental necessity... Read More