Medical Billing Forum
Starting a Medical Billing Business => Starting Your Own Medical Billing Business => : jcbilling July 01, 2010, 02:47:13 PM
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Hey Charlene,
I was wondering how you handle the post when they request the resumer to be faxed. Do you fax over to them what you would email them? Or do you still email them at the email listed?
Thanks,
Charity
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i still email them, but will fax them a "e-brochure" regarding my business
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OK - thanks!
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Out of curiosity, when you guys are using craigs list are you looking for ad's within "medical billing"? or are you posting ad's for your business? I just ask because when I skim the classified's and come across ad's looking for billers or even office managers, I look to see if it wants resume (the ad) and then I fax my resume over with a cover letter about myself and my company. This has landed me a few clients, many times they really haven't thought of outsourcing and when you contact them your angle should be the cost savings vs. "in house" <g>
I really don't like craig's list, I just find it to be full of nut jobs.. no offense, I think I put an ad there a while ago and my inbox has never been the same with all the junk mail. I even remember getting an email from some guy who's email started with sexyfoxydoctor@... kind of left a bad taste in my mouth.
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well everything has a bad side, and when its free........ i know several companies who only advertise on craigs list because of the "cost' and how many people use it. i do a search on people seeking medical billers. i advertised on it once, took it down. There are many spammers on craigs list, so I have a designated email account just to use for that.
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I have been considering advertising on craigslist. Linda & Charlene you both have valid points. I don't want a lot of spam mail but I don't want to miss the chance to receive a client either.
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I have tried Craiglist and sent my resume along with coverletter explaining inhouse biller cost Vs out source but have not received any response yet from any one. As of today I sent about 15 emails to craiglist. Any tips in getting client from craiglist? Should I send them follow up emails?
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you have to remember those outlets are usually for finding "employment". You want to be careful not to OVERSELL on those lists, if a posting asks for a resume, send a resume along with a cover letter, brochure's, flyers, etc IMO will most likely aggravate/irritate the poster. If there is a contact, go ahead and contact with a follow-up, even a followup via fax would be ok if they only include a fax number. Try not to fax unless the fax number was given with the ad.
I don't put much stock in Craigslist, I think it's probably a better idea to rely on local newspapers or even out of town newspapers in many cases. JMO Just something about telling a client you found them on "craigs list" doesn't sit well with me.
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Linda,
Thanks for tip. I did rcvd response from one client who is loacted just 2 miles from me with her private email. She asked me how much for claim. Then I send her email requesting meeting. I also emailed her my Provider Information sheet so that I can give a quote. But after that she never contacted me. I send her follow up email lask week but no response yet.
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I'm kinda jumping in late here, but it sounds to me like you 'scared her off'. She asked a price and you requested a meeting and sent a form for her to complete. Sounds too much like she had to commit. I know personally if I ask a price and they follow up by asking me a bunch of questions, or avoid answering, I get annoyed. This happened last week. I called a vendor and wanted to know the price per month for a billing service. He followed up with a 'sales pitch'. He completely avoided my question. I gave him a couple more seconds and he still didn't give a price. That tells me that he thinks his price is so high that he has to sell me more before he gives it to me. Click - conversation over. The provider may have felt confident enough to respond since it was email and they could control how long the 'conversation' took place. Sounds like she ended the conversation. I'm not trying to be harsh, just helpful. In the future (because learning from our mistakes is growing) I would be quick to respond to fees so it doesn't look like you are hiding anything. Now that doesn't mean you can give her a quote without knowing more info, but you can respond by saying something like "I would need information about your practice to give you a specific quote but to give you an idea I have a medium sized practice billing approx 400 claims per month and the charge is between $1500 - $1750 per month. (all figures pulled from nowhere). Then ask the questions you need. That makes it obvious you are not trying to hide your fees, but that you do need more info.
But, I do agree with Linda, I have never gone the Craig's list route. I have heard of others that have done well with it, and it doesn't cost anything so you really don't have anything to lose. Personally, I haven't done a lot that way.
Best of Luck!
Michele
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Thanks Michelle,
I agree with you that I made a mistake. I got another email today from different practice, asking me a quote. In this case he did provided the information so I gave him a quote. Any suggestions to improve my mistakes and get these two accounts?
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Another thing to consider.. MANY times you will get other billing companies looking for information.. that's why I'm not too sure I agree giving a quote is even the right way to go, but like I mentioned, I just don't like Craigs list for this very reason. If I were to receive a request for a quote via email or I only had an email to contact a potential client, my radar is up and I don't think it's too much or overkill to go ahead and get additional information. Look at it this way, they, themselves have turned to Craigslist to find help right? Well they would expect SERIOUS inquiries to need additional information. JMO
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Linda is right, it could be somebody fishing. Try to be sure you are dealing with a provider (serious inquiry) before quoting. On the first one you could email her back (if she looks legit) and give her an estimate, but explain that you would need more info to give a good quote.
Michele
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Here's my 2 cents on Craigs List:
It takes alot of responding to ads to get a response back (usually 75-100 to 1 good lead) Think of direct mail results, usually 1%.
I have picked up several clients. One was a chiropractor, another an Audiologist, another a Incontinence Care Clinic, and I'm currently on a AR Recovery project for another. I also have another practice scheduled to come on board in 6 weeks - all from Craigs List.
In fact, some of the most professional offices I have worked with have come from Craigs List. I have gained some great friendships. Yes, there are weirdos that post on Craigs List, but there are alot of legitimate folks as well. Everything as its pros and cons.
I agree with Michele about answering their question about pricing. I too have scared away a few leads with your approach, and sometimes even when answering their question outright, you may not get a response. But I feel it is more tactful.
I wish you the best in your marketing!
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The Craig List is not to bad I sent my resume yesterday by using the 12 Marketing Stratgies #6 Ads for billers and they called me today and I have a interview tomorrow with the office manager it is A Chriopractic office of about 3-4 physicians and I do know they are egaer to make a decision tomorrow so I got to go in there and sale myself and explain the pros and cons of outsourcing there billing to me versus in-house billing
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TammyL,
Let us know how you made out!
Michele
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Hi Michele they were not interested at the time but asked me to mail them some information that they keep on file just in case things did not work out.
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Sorry! :( Well, maybe it is for the better. Sometimes accounts aren't what they appear. I believe everything happens for a reason.
Michele
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Were you upfront in your response with your resume/cover letter that you are an outsourced company? If not that might find you with a negative feeling. Think of it this way, if you were hiring and placed an ad, setup an interview and then told later that the person did not inform you and they were there to sell you, they have already felt caught off guard which is not going to be positive for you. My suggestion when responding to any ad is to submit a cover letter with resume to introduce your business rather than waiting until you get an interview. It's less deceptive in their eyes.
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No I was not upfront but I learned from this mistake it will not happen again that's for sure.
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I don't use Craigs List, however if I see an ad in the paper, and let's say it requests a resume, I will fax over my resume but I will also attach a cover letter explaining the cost savings of outsourcing. Some ad's will actually state they don't want outside company solicitations, and then I will just respect those listings. Be up front or else they are going to feel they were deceived and have wasted their time. JMO.
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I agree. We do the same thing with ads in the paper but we too are up front with the fact that we are an outside service. We also respect when they state "no outside solicitations". What are the odds of getting an account that says before the meeting "I don't want to outsource". That just increases your 'no's'.
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Agree. If you do get to speak with them it wouldn't hurt to ask them to keep your information and maybe pass it along to other colleagues :) That's why I think it's best to be UPFRONT, it may not turn out to be a client but could be a reference or referral.
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I like Craigslist personally but I've never used it fro business purposes per se so maybe that's not valid. Yes you do have to be careful there, lots of scams to avoid. But it is a free resource and i do believe in using all the resources available. I'm just getting started so maybe I'll change my mind as I gain experience but generally I like the place. I do also use a separate e-mail account for Craigslist and other sites, it's just a good idea.
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I have also placed an ad on Craigslist, under small business. However, I have my email listed as anonymous, but I do have my website posted in my ad. I have not had any luck yet. I have also seen a lot of providers post jobs on EBAY. I have not had any luck with that yet either. I also have an account on MerchantCircle.com, which I have seen a lot of doctors on there as well. I figure the more that I network, the better luck I will have. Does anyone have any other suggestions of ways that I can market. I do the cold calling, send info via mail, fax info when requested.
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Marketing is the hardest part of this business and the area most billing services struggle with. So many want suggestions and so many are willing to share. It is nearly impossible though to post suggestions, there is so much to say. Have you looked thru the older posts? We have had several discussions on marketing where others have shared some great ideas. I would try to locate them first as some were really 'out of the box' ideas. Marketing can be lonely and difficult. The biggest thing is you just have to keep going. Don't do one thing and stop and wait for a result. Do as many things and keep doing them until you get results.
Good luck!
Ironically I'm typing this from a marketing convention in Atlanta. ;D
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Welcome to Georgia Michelle! I hope you are having fun here! I appreciate your advise and I will search older posts and see if I can get some suggestions that maybe I am not doing. Thank you.
There is so many things to do here in Atlanta, I hope you can enjoy some of them. If you can go to the World of Coca-Cola, I would suggest that you do and see the 3-D Movie. Great show!
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Unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy the city! We were in conference from 8 am to 9:30 pm each day. We did walk up to centenial park on the first evening when we arrived, but it was already getting dark so we didn't see much. We'll have to come back to relax some time. 8)
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I realize this is an old topic but just wanted to add.....
I responded to 4 Craigslists ads looking for medical biller, one responded and was actually my first client :)
I look through Craigslist for my entire state weekly and respond to any new ads, it can't hurt!
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I tried Craigslist and got nothing but spam for months. I won't do it again.
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Did you post an ad or just reply to them?
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Hi, I'm new to this forum but not to medical billing. I have been self employed for the past 8yrs. For me Craigslist has always been a great source of leads an have landed many short term and long term med billing and consulting contracts. Most of the clients that I have from their did require me to go into their office for consulting purposes. Like many others here, I offer a variety of services, not just billing but also helping with start up practices, training in house billers an front office staff. It helps that I reside In the MD/VA/DC area so I am always responding to ads in the healthcare section.
Sasha