Author Topic: Marketing ?  (Read 6987 times)

AllAboutU

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Marketing ?
« on: February 06, 2014, 05:07:28 PM »
I am currently a medical biller  with 6 years experience. I have a cover letter and resume drawn up, however, I need guidance as far as how I would use those to market my business. I am unsure of how to start that process. Right now that seems as if it may be the easiest way to get my name out there. I work full time from about 7 am to about 6 or 7 pm. I have bought and read the books Alice and Michelle wrote and I am at a standstill as far as how to start cold calling possible clients since I work 12 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week. Everything else is done: the contract, the business plan, the website ect. I have a list of prospects I'd like to call or fax my information too, what would be the best method to use since I am working during the hours other physicians are too?

Can anyone provide guidance? Thanks in advance :-)

Tanya

shanbull

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 176
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2014, 05:28:22 PM »
Scheduled faxes would be a good idea, so you can send them when it's convenient for you but have them arrive when it's most convenient for the medical practices (as someone who works in a clinic I would advise you to have the faxes arrive sometime in the morning). Calling is a bit harder to schedule, but you can pre-record voicemails to send to people so maybe you could have standard spiel message with info customized to the practice you're contacting, record all your calls at night when you're home and then send the messages so they're available the next morning for the practice. I'm not sure how to do this but I know it's possible. Of course this isn't the same as having a live person on the phone and is a bit easier to ignore, but considering the schedule issue it might have to do for now.

Regarding your resume, if you're already on LinkedIn make sure your information there is up-to-date, I would also integrate the relevant aspects into your website. Definitely research web search optimization for ideas on how to include the information to maximize its visibility in searches for people who want to find you. You can also have a business owner account on Yelp! and multiple other sites intended for reviews and ratings. A Facebook page wouldn't hurt either.
« Last Edit: February 06, 2014, 05:34:24 PM by shanbull »

PMRNC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4562
    • One Stop Resources & Networking for Medical Billers
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2014, 06:01:41 PM »
Quote
I am currently a medical biller  with 6 years experience. I have a cover letter and resume drawn up, however, I need guidance as far as how I would use those to market my business. I am unsure of how to start that process. Right now that seems as if it may be the easiest way to get my name out there. I work full time from about 7 am to about 6 or 7 pm. I have bought and read the books Alice and Michelle wrote and I am at a standstill as far as how to start cold calling possible clients since I work 12 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week. Everything else is done: the contract, the business plan, the website ect. I have a list of prospects I'd like to call or fax my information too, what would be the best method to use since I am working during the hours other physicians are too?

Can anyone provide guidance? Thanks in advance :-)

I started same way, was working full time 40-60 hours a week. I don't recommend faxing your resume unless you have seen an ad in help wanting or given permission to fax it over. The last thing you want to do is make your first impression with an unsolicited fax. I scanned help wanted ad's and now with online services like Monster.com you can find some positions and classified's that allow you to attach resume even. It's perfectly ok to use your cover letter to introduce your business and your resume to outline your experience. In addition you should still be doing direct mail as well. Every bit helps. Postcards, flyers, business cards, etc. I liked doing invitations where as I invited the practice to take advantage of a free consult with the full billing staff to go over any problem areas they have. I brought lunch or dinner and would accommodate their busy office schedules which worked out for me as well. As for cold calling, there's no way around it really, since direct mail only gets about a 1% return you do want to follow up with your mailings. You also want to make sure you have a contact point for the practices that want to get in touch with you. If you have a cell phone, use a friendly message that indicates you are busy or away from your desk and you will get back to them. Try to return calls or make calls on your lunch hour or break.
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

AllAboutU

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2014, 12:38:52 AM »
WWWOOWW!!! Thank you both!! I do not have a LinkedIn account but will get on that ASAP. Will also be looking into cold calling after hours, maybe get a voicemail to leave a message.

Linda,
LOVED the invitations idea. Mind if I use it ;D

thank you again!! This forum has been a wonderful guide!!!

PMRNC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4562
    • One Stop Resources & Networking for Medical Billers
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2014, 11:08:52 AM »
Quote
LOVED the invitations idea. Mind if I use it ;D

Of course not. I did mine in different colors and used bright but friendly colored envelopes and hand addressed them. Who can resist opening something that looks like a card or invite?  Those were the mailings I got the most return on.
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2014, 11:08:52 AM »

Michele

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5927
    • Solutions Medical Billing
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2014, 12:45:03 PM »
Another twist on the invitation is to offer a free analysis of their current billing system and/or their accounts receivable.  And with the invitations, we used to use actual greeting cards.  We had them made for us by a friend that was into marketing.  The outside would be a pic of something appropriate such as a person in a standing tube with money blowing all around and they are trying to grab it.  Then inside something like "need help figuring out where all of your money is going" or some other catchy phrase.  Another idea might be money slipping through a hole with a caption of "tired of losing money" or "is this a problem in your office".  But Linda is right, they can't resist opening that envelop when it's hand written and looks personal.
Sign Up for our FREE Medical Billing Newsletter
Get a 10% discount on Medical Billing Products by using Coupon Code: 10OFF
http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com

roxdione

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Follow up question - Marketing ?
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2014, 05:02:10 PM »
Did you use any of the suggestions in the queue regarding how to market you business?  Were you able to get any clients by doing so?

Michele

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5927
    • Solutions Medical Billing
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2014, 11:36:19 AM »
Did you use any of the suggestions in the queue regarding how to market you business?  Were you able to get any clients by doing so?

Not sure what you mean "in the queue"?  We've personally used many of the ideas in this forum.  Some worked well for us, others did not.  But one that didn't work for us may work great for someone else.  Cold calling is not my forte but others do it fabulously!  I'm not an extrovert.  You have to figure what works best for you and your situation.
Sign Up for our FREE Medical Billing Newsletter
Get a 10% discount on Medical Billing Products by using Coupon Code: 10OFF
http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com

roxdione

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2014, 12:40:27 PM »
I was referring to the greeting cards or invites, sorry about that.  Thanks.

Michele

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5927
    • Solutions Medical Billing
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2014, 12:04:21 PM »
We have done greeting cards in the past.  It was many years ago and I don't believe we got a great response, however, I still think it's a good option.  I would guess we weren't doing something right.  It was soon after we had started and there wasn't any help back then!
Sign Up for our FREE Medical Billing Newsletter
Get a 10% discount on Medical Billing Products by using Coupon Code: 10OFF
http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2014, 12:04:21 PM »

PMRNC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4562
    • One Stop Resources & Networking for Medical Billers
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2014, 03:23:25 PM »
I had great success with these. Mine were invitation style and handwritten envelopes that were pastel colored. They indeed LOOKED like an invitation of sorts.
I would send a custom created card, and invite them for a one hour lunch session.   I had a lot of success with this.  After my last mailing I did a follow up invite using this method and got additional responses to my first mailing.
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

williamportor

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 243
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2014, 05:24:10 PM »
The best advise I could give you is get a copy of Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson, it's available in most public libraries. This book is designed for small and start up business's. It's packed with a lot of low cost, and no cost marketing ideas. 

isabelreyna

  • Guest
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2014, 01:08:06 AM »
I being marketing my business for a 1 1/2 I have done mailing, calls, join commerce, put tile of advertisement on my car, going from office to office, LinkedIn, but what has work is google I have provider call and told me they looked me up on google. It has being the hardest think I have to do in my business and yes at one time I was working full time. I lost a few clients because of my ex job. Now I don't have a job or clients.... Good Luck to you. I feel like giving up sometimes but I spend too much money and I really can't do that yet.... :'(

tallmanusa

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2014, 11:39:55 PM »
So Isabel, after one and a half years of marketing, you have no job and no clients?

Is that correct?

Seems hard to believe.

Did you ever have any clients?

I know this business is tough, but that difficult?

Michelle1965

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 38
Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2015, 07:37:12 AM »
There are a lot of good ideas here. My question is I don't want to grow into some huge Medical Billing Company.  I just want to work for a provider who truly appreciates the effort, and passion I have for this business, and be compensated for it. I am a results driven individual, but every practice I have worked for so far didn't seem to care about my ideas, and I even got written up for expressing my concern. It's pretty sad actually when all your doing is trying to help them bring in more revenue! 
  I personally would like to market myself as either a remote biller for an hourly rate or a small business, but the trouble is I think all of the bigger billing companies have an advantage over us little guys!   How would I market myself and show my passion for this, in comparison to a big company?  Is there also any good software programs to create my flyers or postcards?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.   :)

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Marketing ?
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2015, 07:37:12 AM »