Marketing is NOT a Vending Machine with Sam Carlson - Chiro Hustle Podcast 682

In episode 682 of the Chiro Hustle Podcast, host James Chester dives into the deep end of chiropractic marketing with serial entrepreneur and innovative marketer, Sam Carlson. As the co-founder of both Patient Stream and UpHex, Sam has revolutionized lead generation and digital marketing for chiropractors and agencies alike. This episode isn’t just about tools and tactics—it’s a hard-hitting look at what actually works in chiropractic marketing today and what doesn’t.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sam explains why marketing is NOT a vending machine and how that outdated mindset sabotages patient acquisition.

• He shares the “Qualified Lead Formula” and breaks down the anatomy of a high-converting ad campaign.

• Discover how one client, Dr. Ray Peavey, doubled his volume and added $55K in cash using just one powerful shift in lead handling.

• Learn why niche-specific ads (like for neuropathy or spinal decompression) outperform general chiropractic offers.

• Sam reveals how UpHex enables three-click Facebook ads so simple, even his 10-year-old can launch them.

• Hear the case study that got Patient Stream featured by Meta and what that means for your clinic.

ABOUT SAM CARLSON

Sam Carlson, Serial Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of UpHex, is known for reshaping the way chiropractic clinics attract and convert leads. Through Patient Stream and now UpHex, he empowers thousands of agencies and small businesses with automated, results-driven advertising. He’s also the author of “New Patient School.”

DIVING INTO…

Marketing is NOT a Vending Machine

Sam debunks the myth that digital ads work like magic machines. Chiropractors often expect to plug in a campaign and instantly get new patients. But real marketing takes positioning, patience, and psychology. Sam uses a golf analogy: your ad is the driver that gets the ball in play—but what gets the ball into the hole is real human interaction.

The Qualified Lead Formula

Sam introduces a simple but powerful framework for chiropractors: go niche, speak directly to real problems, and target based on pain points, not generalities. Forget the “$21 exam and x-ray” offers. Instead, talk to the sciatica sufferer who can’t walk their dog or the neuropathy patient whose feet go numb by noon.

Meet Them Where They Are

Rather than educating cold audiences about the philosophy of chiropractic in an ad, Sam insists: speak their language first. Address their lived pain experience. It’s about strategic empathy—and it’s what turns browsers into believers.

How One Phone Call Saved a Clinic

The episode closes with a mic-drop moment: the story of Dr. Ray Peavey, who was on the verge of losing his 30-year practice. After six weeks of floundering with leads, Dr. Peavey got on the phone himself. One real conversation converted into a $4,500 care plan. He repeated the process, doubled his visits, and found new life in practice.

CLOSING THOUGHT

Marketing isn’t about magic funnels or secret buttons. It’s about showing up real, specific, and human—again and again.

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