Niche Dental posts this 'mini-financial CE course' for dentists and website visitors...

• Article First Published on Aftco.net
• And also on NorhernDentalAlliance.com 

There were three dental specialists working together in a group practice in the Northeastern section of the U.S. The practice was well run and extremely profitable (providing approximately $900,000 of annual income to each of its stockholders).

Their accountant had formed their corporation and allowed it to remain a “C” corporation rather than taking the time to file for a Sub “S” election (which would have eliminated any possible double-taxation and/or unnecessary payment of taxes that can result from operating as a “C” corporation).

This dental marketing article, which I wrote in 2004 and posted on NicheAgency.com - now NicheDental.com – was originally titled, “Marketing To Every Potential Dental Patient Cheaply: Is that Right for You?”

Part One of my two part Rant Redux after...

I have updated my commentary somewhat - but mostly am interested in showing you how little has changed. Communication is communication is communication. Technology and the Internet - for the most part - just add another route to make it happen. They do little to 'change us' unless the heat is actually turned up in a specific area. Whiz bang does not magically make concepts like dentistry more understood and valued by the consumer without diligent, focused attention. While similar to a previous rant – I had not looked at this article for a few years.

PART ONE

Market 2 ALL Potential Patients Cheaply: Right 4 You? 

Niche Dental marketing consulting stands out because most other dental marketing is centered on contacting every possible dentistry patient.

While there are a number of dental practices that can benefit from this shotgun approach, Niche Dental sees your image as specific to a target group of consumers. Our communication approach is to hit a bull's eye not pepper everyone with a generic "dentistry" message.

The perfect dental marketing is cheap (almost nothing) and easy (works with little thought put into it). Much like good, lasting and healthy relationships. What were the qualities of your perfect match?

Coincidentally, I read in USA Today recently that the most used search phrase on Match.com is "cheap and easy". There you have it - confirmation you need to stay in the zone of missed opportunities.

Wake up... Wake up! Back to reality dude.

> Maybe Cheap and Easy; is neither great (or even good) dental marketing or words attributable to Match.com.

The Northern Dental Alliance is sponsoring the Minneapolis Society's Summer Golf Event at the Golden Valley, Minnesota Golf Club.

We hope to see many dentists and dental professionals at the tourney.

> The EFA Investment Approach

There is a science of investing. The body of knowledge for this science is often grouped under the heading Modern Portfolio Theory or MPT and it all began in 1959 with the publication of Harry Markowitz's classic book "Portfolio Selection."

Markowitz would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking insights. This work was expanded upon by Stanford's William Sharpe (another Nobel winner), Eugene Fama, Merton Miller, and many others.

While markets are complex adaptive systems too chaotic to allow for perfect prediction or control, we have learned much about how to control risk and capture returns. There is a science of investing, which I employ to guide the investment strategy of my dentist clients.

Adult and FAMILY Preventive Dental Care in West Chester, Pennsylvania

Total Confidence Dentistry provides comprehensive services for you and your loved ones in Chester County, PA.

Dr. Briglia and the entire Main Line PA area dentist team are ready to improve your dental health.

With the value advanced, comprehensive dentistry offers, patients should expand the search to find a dental office that best fits their oral health needs, smile enhancing goals and overall preferences.

Dr. Angela Ramirez’s new dental practice website, www.YourBocaDentist.com, provides consumers what they need today: Choices, Options and Alternatives.

• A Primer By Dick Chwalek, NicheDental.com

Efficiently Reduce Campaign Planning Complexity – Part III

Dental offices are like most small businesses: always looking for efficiencies. Problems occur when ‘less expensive’ in and of itself equates to a ‘successful’ purchase.

While comparing dentistry to ‘marketing’ is fraught with potential analogy weaknesses, it is reasonable to contrast dentistry with the complexities of human communication.

The three areas of Connective Communication^© (improvers, gatherers & creators) give the dentist and dental office owner the ability to look objectively at where their marketing budget should be allocated. 

Dr. Glenn Schreiber, a general dentist, has teamed up with Total Confidence Dentistry in West Chester, PA to provide our patients with tremendously vital endodontic treatment. His proficiency in Root Canal therapy, clinically known as endodontics, can eliminate pain while preserving natural teeth.

2010 Star of the North Meeting

• Minnesota Dental Association
• Saint Paul RiverCentre
• APRIL 22-24, 2010

The Star of the North Meeting presented by the Minnesota Dental Association is the Upper Midwest’s main state dental conference.

Thousands of dentists and dental professionals from around the region will be able to take in dozens of seminars from clinical to practice management. The Northern Dental Alliance encourages dentists from Minnesota and surrounding states to attend.

Effectively Divide & ‘Devine’ – Part II 

The Marketing π Formula Connective Communication^© creates a context and a filter (strategy) for separating complexity from simplicity. While there will always be dentists who will want to do it themselves with some portion of them being successful, the law of advertising development gravity is still in effect: the limits of time and marketing experience/awareness.

Time to accomplish all the tasks (which have not magically disappeared because of the web) and time to simply think about strategy is required. Additionally, the value of communication and dental marketing experience and expertise will always have value.

Most people associate fluoride with the practice of intentionally adding fluoride to public drinking water supplies for the prevention of tooth decay. However, fluoride can also enter public water systems from natural sources, including runoff from the weathering of fluoride-containing rocks and soils and leaching from soil into groundwater. Fluoride pollution from various industrial emissions can also contaminate water supplies. In a few areas of the United States fluoride concentrations in water are much higher than normal, mostly from natural sources.

View EPA-NRC Review 

Fluoride is one of the drinking water contaminants regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because it can occur at these toxic levels. In 1986, the EPA established a maximum allowable concentration for fluoride in drinking water of 4 milligrams per liter, a guideline designed to prevent the public from being exposed to harmful levels of fluoride. Fluoride in Drinking Water reviews research on various health effects from exposure to fluoride, including studies conducted in the last 10 years.

Complete Fluoride Tweet Below.

Connective Communication

A Primer By Dick Chwalek, NicheDental.com

The concept of Connective Communication^© incorporates these elements: improvers, gatherers and creators. The communication structure is visualized with these elements: a Pie Chart, three color slices and the π symbol  – image below.

This formula takes into account both simplicity and complexity in defining a path towards communication and marketing ongoing success, internally and publicly.

With many years of experience, numerous hours of training and multiple teeth straightening treatments performed, Traverse City dentist, Dr. Brian Klym has been designated a Preferred Provider by Invisalign.

Known as the clear alternative to braces, this comfortable and removable orthodontic system has helped Dr. Klym straighten the smiles of many of his patients.

Invisalign realizes trust plays a major role in the choosing of a doctor-no matter what type of treatment they perform-whether medical or dental related.

The invisible orthodontics pioneer carefully determines which general dentists or orthodontist specialists will be their Preferred Providers; updating the roster each year.

Dentists and other business owners are invited to a BABO (Bring a Business Owner) Event on Friday, March 19, 2010 (more details below).

The financial talk and business forum are sponsored by Rick Epple, CFP®, of Epple Financial Advisors, LLC (NDA member) and Margaret A. T. Cronin of Grandchamp, Guyette & Cronin, PLLC. 

Sooner or later, you, like every dental practice owner, will need to transfer ownership of your business. Selling the your dental office is the final part or your role in building it. For most business owners, this is an emotional event. It is also a complex process involving financial auditing, confidentiality issues, title transfers, price negotiations, all while continuing to run your dental office.

Marketing IS communication. Communication makes things work. Nothing occurs in our society or changes our approach to living without a heavy dose of communication. Dental patients, dentists, and dentistry practices all work (or don't) with gears greased by communication and the 'marketing' surrounding it.

Of course, our brains are always there to mess things up. The mind easily falls into stereotypes. The cerebellum will often travel down the rabbit hole of wackiness. Our prehistoric noggin presets can and will, without warning, leap over the logic wall. Therefore, we need to take the time to strategize rather than merely let our evolutionary senses propose pre-programmed reactions.

Heritage Construction Companies, LLC

Heritage recently joined the Northern Dental Alliance , a Minnesota based organization of independent consultants who assist dentists in multiple business development, office services, clinical, and personal financial security areas.

Each year Heritage Construction of Elk River builds many dental practices and other healthcare related offices throughout the Minnesota and the region.

Our three newest members are Promoted in the January/February Issue of Northwest Dentistry Journal via our full page Northern Dental Alliance advertisement. Included in this story is the color version the black and white that will start running in February 2010.

Review all the content and see the entire ad in the next section/paragraph.

The main services I offer are Dentist Marketing Coaching And Advanced Dental Communication Consulting. While many dentists will go the do-it-yourself marketing route or purchase a system (like Yellow Pages and its modern equivalents), I provide a different structure to create success for my dentistry clients.

My consultancy structure helps dentists avoid common marketing mistakes as well as understand what is best for THEM, and ultimately make THEM better marketers. An important element of consulting is its comprehensive stance and its close association with the client's goals rather than selling a product.

When selling a specific product or one type of service, it is extremely difficult to avoid conflict of interest. While nothing is wrong with selling a product or a system (which is mostly preplanned and has few customizable options), it becomes problematic when it really does not have much value to you.

An example is a very 'exciting new advertising idea' that has significant potential, but only for those who come in with the 'right basis’ for success. The seller's viewpoint is obscured by the success others have had and is not positioned to evaluate your 'readiness' for the service or product.

Dentist Brian Klym of Traverse City, Michigan has been taking courses over the last few years in the Misch Surgical program. In October, he received his completion certificate from the Misch Institute at commencement ceremonies conducted in Detroit.

An Open Letter...

> Based On An Actual Client Correspondence

Dear Dentists,

I came up with eight general goals/categories to improve and enhance your hourly, daily, monthly, yearly and lifelong success quotient. Each one is derived from issues, concerns, or logjams - you, your spouse, your team and/or I saw and discovered in our recent interviews.

Rather than identify where someone is doing or not doing something, it makes sense at this early stage to take an overall, goal-focused approach. Then as we have the team consults - we can address specific processes and areas of concern as they relate to these goals.

Watch for Northern Dental Alliance in your mailbox. Then call and start building success through new ideas. 

NORTHERN DENTAL ALLIANCE

- What you don't know can help your dental practice succeed!

• Redefining the way dentists do business

Visit us at www.northerndentalalliance.com

 > Build Your Marketing Portfolio: A New Dental Office

Members of the Northern Dental Alliance sat down with Micah Taintor of Ymker Building recently to discuss the value of the right kind of dental office.

One Marketing Tool = 3 Steps to Practice Growth

• by Laura Noonan of 800Response
• Presented by NicheDentalCollaborate.com

Looking for a way to cost-effectively boost your number of patients, billings and profits?

Look no further than your dental office telephone. The first challenge is to get that phone to ring. To do that you need to advertise. And, to get the most out of your advertising dentists should include one pivotal tool. One tool that will generate better response rates to advertising and brings in more calls – a toll-free vanity 800 number.

Just look at some of the well-known businesses that currently use vanity 800 numbers…1-800-FLOWERS and 1-800-CONTACTS. These brands successfully relay to consumers what they sell and who they are, and they are now the “go to” companies for flowers and contact lenses.