What is the most effective type of marketing?

I am curious as to what other dentists feel is the best bang for the buck as far as marketing goes.
mgoodman
Official Townie
Member # 8250

Direct mail, discount coupons, being a plan provider and listening to Paul Homoly. mauty Official Townie–Member # 7989 Easy...number one--make patients happy and they refer more patients.
david_f
Official Townie
Member # 8158

DECIDE WHAT MARKET YOU WANT TO ATTRACT AND AIM AT THE MARKET. I wanted to attract more women in the 35 to 55 range, who were interested in cosmetic makeovers. I author an article every month in a fashion magazine called Delta Style in our area. It is delivered newspaper-style to 50k homes in the surrounding area with incomes greater than 60k in addition to being placed in all the upscale restaurants, beauty salons, and MD offices in my area. Artwork costs a one-time fee of about $1000. I use before and after photos of cosmetic cases I have done. Full page exposure only costs me $750 per month and usually produces 3 to 5 patients interested in veneers or replacing old black line anterior crowns every month. I also have a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages and a website: www.smile-creator.com.
DDFDDS
Official Townie
Member # 8825

Well, it totally depends on just WHO you're after. For me, I'm after ONLY the patients who really care about themselves and will be a good partner in their treatment--those who will follow through with recommended treatment. So for me, it's been direct mail. I can target it as finely as I want, and hit ONLY those who I want to hit. I can take as much room to tell my story and PROVE it as I want. And yes, the kind of patients I'm looking for WILL take the time to read it.

But I've got Howie Horrocks on my side too and the two of us together really come off with some incredible stuff. Howie and I change the brochure around periodically, whenever I get a little antsy. We primarily do two different types. One is a full color marketing based brochure, full color both sides, 8 1/2 X 17, in a 4-fold. This goes out to full carrier routes that average over a certain income. I also send this to new homeowners. The other is a four-page (two 8 1/2 X 11 sheets, printed both sides) letter. It is actually addressed to the specific individual. It goes in a window envelope with my return address on it with a regular 1st class stamp. This is HIGHLY targeted. No bulk rate here. It only goes to households with a 100K and above income.
Rod
Administrator
Member # 8032

Internally lit sign, as large as code allows, simple/professional logo design, and red digital LED time/temperature clock on top.
Bill S
Official Townie
Member # 7974