Here we are in 2010. Perhaps it’s good not to be overly concerned or impressed by such moments, since all moments are precious and juicy no matter when they are. That being said, it is hard to believe we are already so far into this century, that we have a mixed-race Harvard grad in the White House, that we are working our way through the worst economic downturn in many decades. Even with all the problems and divisive politics that our nation has, however, I think we have to count our blessings when we look at the devastation in Haiti, Darfur, and other severely poverty-stricken places around the planet. Then, as business-people, we have to think something like “how much more could I help the suffering of the world if I were more prosperous?” So don’t give up! Work on growing your business not just for the sake of your self and your family, but for how much good you could do in the world if you were more prosperous. Think like Bill Gates and Paul Newman!

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So here’s marketing problem #5: “We’ve spent a ton of money on advertising and marketing with our start-up, but don’t seem to be getting much bang for the buck.”

I have said it over and over in classes and at conferences: few of us choose our healthcare providers based upon ads in the paper, the Yellow Pages, or even online. It is a far more effective strategy to give talks, teach classes, write articles, volunteer, coach a little-league team, and otherwise find multiple ways to participate in a community of your choosing. Teaching, speaking, and writing make you a de facto “expert” and are far more likely to bring you patients than buying ads. Volunteering makes you approachable and trustworthy and likeable. If you can spend some money on marketing, perhaps some web-based listings on every health-provider listing service that comes up on the first page in Google and having a simple, easy to find website with good information and a free, 20-minute, no-obligation consult “to find out if you are a good candidate for acupuncture” is a better expenditure of your money and time. Take a look at the websites of other practitioners in your area and think about how you could distinguish yours and make it a little different, with a few more freebies, good articles, patient-friendly features, downloadable paperwork, etc.

For many more ideas on marketing your practice and everything else to do with running a successful practice, see Points for Profit: The Essential Guide to Practice Success for Acupuncturists by Honora Lee Wolfe, Eric Strand, and Marilyn Allen, from Blue Poppy Press as well as lots of FREE articles on business at the TCM Infoline at this website, www.bluepoppy.com. And thanks for being a reader at our blog. Many blessings for your success in 2010 and beyond.