Healthcare Practice Marketing for Introverts. Many healthcare professionals are introverts, and that can make healthcare practice marketing and self-promotion challenging. But don’t despair! Here are some tips to help even the most introverted healthcare professional to market their private practice effectively.
First, change your perspective on your activities. Instead of getting overwhelmed at the thought of “marketing,” “networking,” or “promotion,” change your terminology. Are you more comfortable with “connecting,” “helping,” or “sharing?” It sounds silly, but words are powerful.
Second, take a close look at your effective healthcare practice marketing activities. With which ones do you stay relaxed? Which ones cause anxiety or stress? In general, focus more effort on those activities which allow you to stay calm and relaxed. If there’s a marketing activity which yields tremendous results but causes significant anxiety, look for ways to achieve the same results with less stress. For example, perhaps a health talk produces great results but you’re a nervous wreck for a week. Can you take a class on public speaking and become more comfortable? Or perhaps change the format to a panel discussion so you’re not the center of attention.
Third, consider adding marketing techniques and activities you haven’t tried before. Some ideas that may appeal to your introverted nature are: Writing practice-specific brochures for your target demographic, volunteering your time or services for a worthy cause, sponsoring a popular speaker on a topic important to your community, blogging, or joining a community service organization.
Fourth, remember that no matter what word we use, or what activity we employ, all relationships are built one person at a time. The same is true for healthcare marketing and building your private practice – it happens one person at a time. Those face-to-face interactions are oh so important.
Finally, don’t expect every event or activity to generate huge results. While some healthcare practices may develop signature events with extreme return on investment, that’s not the norm. Face-to-face interactions…day after day, month after month, year after year…add up. Take a long term view and realize that consistent effort over time will help you build the private practice – and life – of your dreams!
Are you an introvert in the healthcare field? What marketing ideas and activities have worked for you? Please share your experiences in the comments box below!
For more information on building community connections, I encourage you to read my new book Community Connections! Relationship Marketing for Healthcare Professionals. If you want more valuable information about how to Connect with YOUR Community, you can find FREE healthcare practice marketing content, PowerPoint Presentation Jumpstart Kits, workbooks, blog articles, and my FREE “Practice Marketing Planner” Now!
You worked hard to become a doctor, and you want to reap the benefits of that hard work. For many doctors, that means living the “doctor lifestyle” complete with big house, fancy car, expensive watches, vacation home; you get the idea. All of that not only adds up, but it might also be distracting you from paying off your student loans and investing.