Medical Billing Forum
Starting a Medical Billing Business => Starting Your Own Medical Billing Business => : Brenda09 March 25, 2011, 03:48:02 PM
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I read this a couple of days ago but can't remember where. Someone suggested mailing marketing brochures to potential clients home address if available rather than their office. :-\I am not so sure that is a good idea. Wondering what others think of this.
Thanks,
Brenda
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Did you read it on this forum? I don't remember seeing that. Not sure how you would get the home addresses. Also, not sure how the potential clients would feel about that. On one hand I can see where it is difficult to get to the provider and sending to their home address would overcome that, but I don't know if they would feel that it was an intrusion. Curios to see others responses.
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I too don't remember reading that here. I too think it would be "intrusive" I personally wouldn't do it.
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I wouldn't send it to the providers home, seems a bit off to do that. They may get angry/annoyed and become turned off by an outsourced billing company all together. JMO
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No, I don't think it was this forum. I will try to find it and let you know. When I saw it I felt the same way as all of you, but had to get your opinions.
Thanks,
Brenda
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Did mailing brochures ever work altogether? For anyone here? I'm asking because I'm seriosly considering that option.
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Sure, Brochure's, flyers, postcards they "HELP" but they don't "Work". I've never mailed anything to any provider whom I have not spoken with (him/her or office manager) either before or after a mailing. I always try to put a name to my cover letter. I might make a call and just ask for the name of the office manager, if that came receptively, I might ask to speak with them. I include a letter with all my mailings along with the mailing and a business card and even a resume.
Here's one thing NOT to do. Do NOT mail postcards if you are just starting out. There is not enough room on a postcard for even a hint of our experience or education, there is nothing in a postcard that is going to back your business reputation or professionalism. I think postcards are more used for follow up mailings, or for running special's and letting those providers you have contacted in the past remember you.
I had the most success with walk in's and delivering newsletters which easily show my knowledge and experience, my resume and I've had really good success with invitations for dinner meetings, presentations and mini seminar's or open forum discussions. There's so much more to this industry than billing, focus on all the other things such as Healthcare reform, how it will effect providers, ICD-10, what are providers and staff doing to get ready? HIPAA, HITECH, etc.. I could go on and on but you get the idea. THINK outside the box. Anyone can send a claim, but it's those who have a full broad spectrum of the entire industry that are going to land the clients because their client's want to lean on them for more than just billing.
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Sure, Brochure's, flyers, postcards they "HELP" but they don't "Work". I've never mailed anything to any provider whom I have not spoken with (him/her or office manager) either before or after a mailing. I always try to put a name to my cover letter. I might make a call and just ask for the name of the office manager, if that came receptively, I might ask to speak with them. I include a letter with all my mailings along with the mailing and a business card and even a resume.
Here's one thing NOT to do. Do NOT mail postcards if you are just starting out. There is not enough room on a postcard for even a hint of our experience or education, there is nothing in a postcard that is going to back your business reputation or professionalism. I think postcards are more used for follow up mailings, or for running special's and letting those providers you have contacted in the past remember you.
I had the most success with walk in's and delivering newsletters which easily show my knowledge and experience, my resume and I've had really good success with invitations for dinner meetings, presentations and mini seminar's or open forum discussions. There's so much more to this industry than billing, focus on all the other things such as Healthcare reform, how it will effect providers, ICD-10, what are providers and staff doing to get ready? HIPAA, HITECH, etc.. I could go on and on but you get the idea. THINK outside the box. Anyone can send a claim, but it's those who have a full broad spectrum of the entire industry that are going to land the clients because their client's want to lean on them for more than just billing.
Linda,
I liked your idea of dinner invitations, presentations , mini seminars and open forums. This is age of networking so I agree that these tools will work. Please share more light on how to to arrange seminars and open forums. We will appreciate.
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I am more inclined to say my mini-seminars have become more of a round-table discussion or even a gripe fest..(whatever works). My brother in law owns an office bldg here locally and they have a huge open room I am free to use anytime I like. When I was living in PA I rented a small conference room at a local hotel for not that bad of a price (for one hour)
I then sent out invitation style cards and mailed to about 30-50 offices that I have either corresponded with in the past or had already sent initial marketing to. I included the doctors name and office manager if I had their name as well and/or billing staff. I put the time, the place and a mandatory RSVP with a note that only the first 25 responses would be able to attend (this entices them to act fast, space limitations, etc) I made sure they knew it was free. I offered refreshments depending on the time of day (coffee, donuts, etc) Either I had a topic picked out or I would just introduce it as an "open round table" to discuss billing/coding errors, etc. When I was in PA I had a good friend of mine who was a CPC and joined me for a few sessions picking up a few jobs herself. One billing company I work with has one tomorrow evening and has her accountant joining them to help with last minute tax issues. One of the main points she will drive home is the write/off savings by outsourcing :)
For dinners or lunches, i do these ONLY for clients I know to be worthy of potential..I've spoken with them, I've send them information and they are interested but they just need a little more reassuring or brown nosing if you want to call it what it is :) Right now I'm good with my billing clients but i am always looking for consulting work so I mainly use this marketing tool as means to get consulting work. I always invite the physician + One. This tactic can get expensive so really screen your potential clients and save this one for the ones you really feel good about! I have done Applebee's for some and then there are some that I will go an extra little mile for and take out to a nice Italian place or seafood place. Remember this is WRITE OFF :) :) Oh and I do these invites BY phone only and I don't set out for it, I wait until the conversation is going well and I know they want to know more but maybe they don't have time and I really feel them out over the phone.
I think it's also important to note that I have a marketing plan AND budget that I sit down with twice a year so I know ahead of time what I can afford and what I can't. I also keep EXCELLENT track of all my mailings, conversations, I know what gets results and what I've done that has NOT gotten results. I'm very organized in that aspect as I wouldn't be able to do these extra things If I didn't have a plan and a budget every year!
These have all worked for me and IMO though they are a bit more expensive, they are less labor intensive. I've had some of my best conversations with physicians over dinner or lunch! It also raises my confidence level and they most importantly will remember it and pass along the info to colleagues, so it's a win/win situation.
Always THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!