Start Your Dental Practice

Happy New Year SYDP fans! I hope the first few days of 2017 have gotten off to a great start! I'm honored to have you be a part of the SYDP community.

Now look, if you're like me, you're probably feeling super excited at all the things you're going to accomplish in 2017.

You're finally gonna start going to the gym. You're finally going to hit that monthly revenue goal. You're finally gonna hire your 1st, 2nd, or even 5th employee.

Maybe you even dare to dream of having a vacation.

Having goals and being excited are a good thing.

But as I say time and time again on the show, you have to execute. You have to do the hard work.

Too often, we look for the easy fix. The "everything done for us" solution for all our needs.

And give up when our motivation fades or we don't see the instant results.

Be honest.. How often does that work?

Probably never.

Which is why I'm super excited to share my conversation with Michael Arias to kick off the new year.

Michael is the founder of The Dental Marketer Site and host of the Dental Marketer Podcast where he teaches how to take your practice to the next level through actionable ground marketing strategies.

In the episode you'll notice, Michael is truly a "go getter" in every sense of the word and I don't think the word "excuse" exists in his vocabulary.

If you like today's show, you'll love Michael's quick quiz that will tell you exactly how many patients your practice should be attracting and what to do to get there. Get that here.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode

• How "Marketing Pipelines" Can Transform Your Practice And How To Get Started
• Why Throwing A Local Event For Your Community Should Be A Priority in 2017
• 5 Boots On The Ground Marketing Strategies That Actually Work
• How Targeting Local Businesses Can Be A Great Marketing Method
• The Importance of Authenticity When Marketing Your Practice
• 3 Current Marketing Trends You Should Be Trying
• Why Specific Incentives Are So Powerful For Your Practice.
• The No Excuses Way To Get More Patients In The Door
• Why You Need To Outsource Your Marketing And Sales
• How To Get Comfortable With Rejection

Free Episode Bonus:

It's clear from our conversation, Michael makes things happen, and I promise if you take action on today's episode you'll definitely see results.

If you enjoyed today's episode, you absolutely don't want to miss the awesome bonus Michael has put together for SYDP listeners. He's shared his short "How Many Patients Should My Practice Be Attracting" quiz, which will help you get crystal clear on how to get the most from your practice.

Just answering the questions alone, will be incredibly helpful in building out your 2017 marketing strategy.

Click here to access that now.

Quotes:

• "Work smarter.. Not harder." - Michael Arias
• "People love the idea.. But execution often lacks." - Michael Arias
• "Doing Business Without Advertising Is Like Winking At A Girl In the Dark" - Michael Arias
• "Bits of dentistry can be taught… but you can't teach a good personality." - Michael Arias

Resources:

• The Dental Marketer Podcast
• The Dental Marketer Site
• The Dental Marketer Twitter

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

A few weeks back, my wife and I were craving sushi and decided to turn to the all knowing Google for answers.

I pulled out my iPhone and typed," Best sushi in Little Rock Arkansas."

Within seconds, we had dozens of places to choose from.

After scanning the page for a few moments, we decided to go with the 2nd listing on Google.

We placed our order and the sushi turned out to be fantastic.

As the sushi place can attest, that's the power of Search Engine Optimization, or SEO.

Unfortunately, most dental practices consider SEO as an afterthought, when in fact it can often be one of the most important methods of marketing for your practice.

Today, I'm excited to have Mike Pederson, founder of Dental Boost back on the show. You may remember him from SYDP episode 51 where he shared the best practices for your dental website.

I wanted to bring him back on the show and have him share all things SEO. When thinking about your marketing plan for 2017 SEO is a great place to start.

[su_note note_color="#028000 " text_color="#ffffff " radius="5"]If enjoyed today's show you'll love Mike Pederson's Free Digital Assessment for SYDP Listeners. He'll do a live walkthrough of your site and give you suggestions on how to improve your SEO.Get that here.[/su_note]

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode

• The Bare Minimum Basics For Learning SEO
• 3 SEO Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make
• The SEO tactics that are working RIGHT now.
• Why You Need To Take SEO Seriously in 2017
• How To Know Which SEO Services Are Worth It
• The Importance of Focus When It Comes To SEO Marketing
• What To Know When Building A Website For The First Time
• Why You Should Give Back To Your Local Community
• The "Light Grey" Method To SEO
• How To Avoid SEO Penalties For Your Site
• Buyer Intent Keywords and Why They Matter

Free Episode Bonus:

Look, SEO can be tricky to get right, especially when you're juggling the other million things you need to do to run a successful practice.

If you need help getting started Mike has generously offered SYDP listeners a free Digital Assessment of your website, where he will walk you through your current site live and share some ways to improve your marketing and SEO.

You definitely don't want to miss this fantastic opportunity.

Click here to access that now.

Quotes:

• "Google's goal is to always serve the best search result possible." - Mike Pederson

Resources:

• The Dental Boost

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

One of my favorite quotes by Benjamin Franklin is when he says "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

And yet.. Time and time again, when I talk with owners who are struggling to grow their practice, it almost always comes back to a lack of a proper plan.

While I'm a huge fan of taking action (it's essential), a solid strategic plan can make all the difference especially when acquiring a practice.

Today I'm excited to share my conversation with John Cotton, Founder of Dental Team Performance. He's helped hundreds of new and veteran practice owners alike create and execute their strategic plan.

We dive deep into the what makes a strategic plan so powerful and why you need one regardless of whether you're just starting out or looking to grow.

If you like today's show, you'll love Chapter 4 of John's new book "How To Grow Your Dental Practice In The New Economy." He shares his best insights on case acceptance to completion. Get that here

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:

• The Importance Of Team Accountability And How To Implement It In Your Practice.
• Why You Need A Strategic Plan Even If You're 95 years old.
• The "10K Mistake" You Might Be Making
• Why You Need A Strategic Plan Even If You "Don't Have Time
• The Perfect Length For A Strategic Plan
• When To Strategic Plan When Acquiring A Practice
• How To Establish An Effective Employee Bonus System
• The Bottom Up Strategic Management Philosophy
• When To Outsource And When To Do It Yourself
• How To Define Effective Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)
• The "BAM" Method To Increase Team Morale
• How To Effectively Handle Raises With Your Team

Free Episode Bonus

If you loved today's episode, you're going to love Chapter 4 of John's book "How To Grow Your Dental Practice In The New Economy" which he has generously offered for today's bonus. In chapter 4 he shares his best practices walking you through case acceptance to completion.

So make sure you check out Chapter 4 of his book.

Click here to access that now

Quotes

• "You have to figure out how to get team buy in." - John Cotton

Resources

• Dental Team Performance
• [email protected]
• John's cell phone 205-949-8850

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

You can have the best staff in the world, deliver the best patient experience possible, and have the perfect marketing plan, and still struggle to grow your practice.

How? By choosing the wrong location.

Look, I get it. It's not easy getting your location right when starting out. Properly understanding demographics is tough.

Fortunately, there's a way to give yourself the best chance to succeed.

Today I'm excited to share my conversation with public speaker and 'Dental Demographer' Scott McDonald. He's the founder of Scott McDonald Associates Doctor Demographics.

In our conversation we dive deep into the science of demographics and how they can make or break your practice. Even if you're happy with where you're at, I know you'll get a ton out of our conversation.

If you enjoyed today's show you'll LOVE Scott's 3 Step Process To Finding The Perfect Location For Your Practice Get that here.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:

• How To Identify An Outgoing Going CPA (Joke)
• What Most Dentists Get Wrong About Choosing Where To Start Their Practice (And What To Do Instead)
• The Most Common Myths Of Choosing The Right Location For Your Practice
• How To Determine If Demographics Are Viable For Your Practice
• Why Choosing A Location With A Lot Of Competition Can Help Skyrocket Your Business
• The Ideal Ratio Dentist / Population Ratio And When It Doesn't Matter
• 3 Misleading Metrics That May Mislead You On Your Path To Practice Growth
• How To Plan The Future Of Your Practice Through Studying Demographics
• The Best And Worst Locations To Start Your Practice
• "The Pet Method" That Helps Build Rapport With Your Patients
• Why You Have To Do A Demographic Report When Starting Your Practice
• The One Thing That Makes A Dentist Location Viable
• How To Make The Most Of Your Demographic Report Data

Free Episode Bonus:

If you enjoyed today's show, you'll love Scott's 3 Steps To Finding The Perfect Location Practice Video. It's jam packed with super valuable insights on choosing the right location for your dental practice.

Click here to access that now.

Quotes:

"It's not the data that's important, it's what you do with that data that matters." - Scott McDonald

Resources:

• Scott McDonald Associates Doctor Demographics
• (800) 424-6222
• Scott loves doing podcasts! If you'd like to have him on your show send him a note!

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I know, I'm still recovering from all the delicious food I had.

In addition to spending time with family and friends, I hope you were able to pause for just a few moments and celebrate everything you have to be grateful for.

Okay. Okay. Enough emotional holiday mumbo jumbo.

Today I'm excited to share my conversation with Dr. Trent McCord.

He is the founder of Mint Dental Care in Centerton, Arkansas.

What he has been able to accomplish with his practice in just under a year is nothing short of remarkable.

You'll definitely want to hear what he says.

In keeping with the the holiday theme, I especially enjoyed this episode because we talk in depth about giving back to the community as well as living a purpose driven life.

If you like today's show, you'll definitely love access to Trent's viral post, A Dope Does A Startup. Click here to read. Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode

• How a simple post Trent made on DentalTown took off.
• Trent's journey from dental school to practice ownership
• The biggest mistake Trent made when starting out (and how to avoid it.)
• How to overcome your fears of building your practice.
• Trent's 3 tips to improve your hiring.
• Why you should ALWAYS double check your hiring references.
• What drives Trent to build a thriving dental practice.
• How Trent stopped being a "people pleaser" and you can too.
• Why "luck" plays such a large role in your practice success (and how to increase it.)
• Trent's biggest piece of advice for new practice owners.
• How to choose the right location for your practice (it matters more than you might think.)
• Trent's five your vision for his practice.
• Why delegating can make or break your business.

Free Episode Bonus:

If you loved today's episode, you'll really get a lot out of Trent's viral post, A Dope Does A Startup.

Pay close attention to the dozens of thoughtful comments left by practice owners just like you. The power of community can make all the difference.

Click here to get the post!

Quotes:

• "That's part of our vision, to be a part of the community, and give back. It's so important." - Trent McCord

Resources:

• Breakaway Practice
• Mint Dental Care Arkansas
• [email protected]
• Phone: 405-834-6348

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

Time and time again, we talk about how important it is to execute if you want to run or grow a successful dental practice.

Hard, smart work matters.

But contrary to popular belief, you don't have work 100 hour weeks to make things happen. In fact, in our experience, that will only lead you to burn out.

Focusing and executing on the right things, is far more important than how much you work.

Which is why I'm so excited to share with you my conversation with Dr. Cole Brenny.

Cole is the founder of Practingdentist.com one of the most popular dentist communities online. He is also a practicing dentist and owner of Ivory Dental Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

You'll quickly notice in our conversation how much passion he has for the world of dentistry, and why that has allowed him to be so successful.

At the end of the episode, you'll also find out where you can get access to Cole's brand new book "Dental CEO" for free. He breaks down everything you need to know about branding, marketing, and creating the ultimate patient experience.

So be sure to listen all the way through this entire interview to get access to that.

If you enjoyed my conversation with Cole, be sure to get free access to his latest book, "Dental CEO" Get that here.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:

• How to have open and honest conversations (that will boost morale)
• Why dentist partnerships are like marriage, and how to keep the "romance" alive.
• 3 Big Areas To focus on to improve Your practice
• The marketing on steroids method of acquiring patients from another practice.
• How to shift from associate to partnership thinking.
• Why less is more when it comes to growing your business.
• The different types of dentist styles and why they matter.
• Why not getting a mentor is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.
• Best practices for acquiring a practice, even if it's your first time.
• The steroid marketing method of acquiring patients from another practice.
• Why Cole focused on "recreating the patient experience and how it transformed his business.

Free Episode Bonus:

Enjoyed the show and want to learn more from Cole?

Cole has generously offered access to his brand new book Dental CEO. He'll share everything you need to know to take your practice to the next level.

You definitely don't want to miss it.

Click here to access that now.

Quotes:

"You have to create the best patient experience possible." – Dr. Cole Brenny

Resources:

• Practicing Dentist

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

Cash. Is. Oxygen.

In order to run a successful practice, not only do you have to provide exceptional service to your patients, you also have to master the art of collecting money.

Here at Dentist Metrics, we talk all about marketing, branding, and getting the most from your staff… But at the end of the day, collecting on your accounts receivable is what keeps your doors open.

Unfortunately, collecting from your patients, isn't always easy.

Patients in financial distress. Countless insurance calls. Maybe your new front desk hire makes a mistake.

As way say… running a practice is hard.

But.. time and time again, we see that the most successful practice owners have their ducks in a row.

They know how to collect their money.

Which is why I'm so excited to share my conversation with today's guest Andy Cleveland. Self proclaimed AR Ninja, Andrew is an accounts receivable consultant who has helped hundreds of practices master the art of collecting money.

In our conversation he shares a ton of tips and tactics on how to make sure you're getting paid, while staying professional.

If you like today's show, you'll love Andy's Patient Checkout Script To Increase Conversions Get that here.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode

• 3 Simple Tricks To Recover Lost Revenue
• Why Andy got into the dental business.
• The power of specialization in your business and life.
• When it's too late to collect payment...
• Why filing insurance properly is SO important to your business.
• Why outsourcing your insurance might make sense for you.
• The philosophy of continuous improvement.
• How to use escalation in your language to get paid more
• The best time to call patients to collect overdue invoices.

Free Episode Bonus:

If you loved today's episode, then you're going to love Andy's free Patient Checkout Script To Increase Conversions PDF.

Trust me. I've been sharing this script with some of my clients and their results have been nothing short of amazing.

Click here to access that now.

Quotes:

"The dental industry is grossly underserved." - Andrew Cleveland

Resources:

• Andy Cleveland
• Andy's personal phone number: Cell Phone -- 864-517-2233
• Email Andy for his free Patient Checkout Script Bonus - [email protected]

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

We all have different reasons for wanting to start a dental practice. Maybe you've always had a passion for the dental industry. Or maybe you love making a difference in your patients lives. Or perhaps, you just love the challenge of building a thriving dental business.

The truth is, whatever your reason, what you do matters.

But it's sometimes easy to forget.

We get so caught up in the grind to build our practice that we let it run our lives.

And yet, I truly believe you can have both a successful practice and a lifestyle you love. Which is why I'm so excited to share my conversation with today's guest Ben Kacos.

Ben is a private practice dentist and a coach and consultant for the Dental Success Institute. He is also the founder of ExploreEducationCE, a unique continuing education program which mixes dental education with an outdoor sports twist.

He's been fortunate enough to be mentored by some of the best in the business, and has some surprising insights on how to take your practice to the next level.

His unique story is something you won't want to miss.

If you enjoyed my talk with Ben today, be sure to get access to a highlight reel from one of his most popular keynote speeches. Click here to access that now.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode

• What to do with employees that aren't "coachable"
• Why Ben, choose less money to learn more when starting starting his dentistry career.
• The mistakes Ben made when he acquired his first practice.
• How to overcome the "it costs too much" objection.
• How Ben, was able to acquire his second practice at a rapid pace.
• The power of "simple systems" and how they can reduce your stress and make you more profitable.
• The importance of "scaling the unscalable" when merging a practice.
• Why Ben became a dentist coach and what he's learned.
• How to mix business and pleasure, and why Ben runs a duck hunt while teaching dental practice info.
• How to build relationships with other dentists in your town and location.
• Why you should avoid a "fee for service" practice when looking to buy.
• The importance of having a "clinical mentor"
• 3 Creative ways to build loyalty with your patients.
• How Fluoride can dramatically improve your practice.

Free Episode Bonus:

If you loved today's episode, then you're going to love Ben's highlight reel from one of his most popular keynote speeches. His enthusiasm and passion for dentistry really shows.

To get the highlight reel for his speech, email him here at [email protected] using the subject line [Highlight reel bonus]

Click here to access that now.

Quotes:

"Find a great clinical mentor… if you don't understand the clinical side of things.. The business won't work." - Dr. Ben Kacos

Resources:

• Ben's personal email: [email protected]
• ExploreEducationCE.com

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

One of my favorite guilty pleasures when winding down to relax, is to watch an episode of the hit the ABC T.V show Shark Tank.

On the show, entrepreneurs from around the world go to the "tank" and pitch their businesses, hoping for one of the "sharks" to give them an investment.

Some get a deal. Others don't.

But I've noticed something interesting. The majority of companies that don't get a deal have one thing in common.

They don't know their numbers.

Now think back to your practice. Do you know your numbers as well as you should? Maybe you've spent some time on it. But knowing some of your numbers just won't cut it.

You have to REALLY know them.

Which is why I'm thrilled to introduce today's guest Rohit Garg. Rohit, is the founder of Practice by Numbers, a data and metrics tool that helps you translate your numbers into actionable insight you and your office manager can actually understand.

Rohit's story is fascinating, and I guarantee you'll find something to implement in your practice today.

If you enjoyed today's show, make sure to sign up for a free demo of The Practice By Numbers Software.

Rohit will use your actual numbers during the demo. Get that here.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:

• The power of instant feedback, and why it matters.
• A simple way to leverage competitiveness within your practice.
• The boiling frog analogy, and why it matters to you.
• The secret to setting achievable goals.
• How to A/B test different strategies with your practice.
• 3 metrics you should know off the top of your head.
• Why growing a practice is so hard, and the key to push through growth barriers.
• How 70 percent of dentist data comes from "unknown sources" and how to fix it.
• How tracking your numbers can help you communicate better with your staff.
• The cost of not knowing your numbers.

Free Episode Bonus:

As an added bonus for today, Rohit has generously offered a free demo of his software, Practice By The Numbers. He'll hop on a quick call with you and use your actual data for the demo.

I've been able to play around with it, and I can honestly say it's fantastic. Be sure to take him up on this offer quickly though, because spots are limited.

Click here to schedule a call today.

Quote:

"Creating busywork doesn't create accountability. It just creates busy work. - Rohit Garg

Resources:

• Practice By Numbers
• Practice By Numbers Facebook

Support The Show:

Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this show wouldn't exist.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.

This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

Is stress controlling your life?

Chances are if you're listening to this, you're more than familiar with the stresses of everyday life.

Student loans. Family obligations. Personal issues. Overcoming barriers with your practice. The list goes on and on.

It's tough. On top of that, running a successful dental practice is hard. It demands your best 24/7 and then some.

And at times, you may feel like giving up. According to recent statistics 1 in every 5 Americans consider themselves "extremely stressed," and that's of the general population. Not practice owners like yourself.

The good news is, you're not alone. Having talked to hundreds of practice owners, it's something each and everyone one of us deals with on a daily basis.

The even better news is that you don't have to let stress run your life. It's entirely possible to change your relationship with stress and be insanely productive and happy.

It's possible to build a business and life on your terms.

Today I'm excited to chat with Jen Butler, founder of Jen Butler partners -- A stress management and resiliency training firm. She's helped hundreds of dentist owners improve their relationship with stress and take control of their businesses and lives.

If you like today's show, you'll love Jen's "10 Ways To Be Less Stressed" guide. She'll share some of the best ways to reduce stress and get more done. Get that here.

Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode

• 3 Common stress triggers and how to overcome them.
• The "B word" that might be hurting your practice.
• Why your problems are more common than you think.
• 5 Things all successful practices have.
• Common limiting beliefs that are holding you back.
• The science of stress and why it's so important.
• How to improve your "adaptability."
• The best way to feed your mindset on a routine basis.
• Why you won't always be "On" and why that's okay.
• The power of the "unconscious mind" and how it affects you.
• Why the brain is built to focus on the negative and how to overcome it.
• The difference between "knowing" and "thinking and why it matters.

Free Episode Bonus:

Enjoyed today's conversation with Jen Butler? Than you'll love the free bonus she's prepared for you.

Jen has put together a free guide, "10 Ways To Be Less Stressed." I'm definitely going to be trying some of these suggestions out, and I know you'll get a lot out of it as well.

Click here to access that now.

Quote:

• "Dentistry isn't easy. So you have to be passionate to succeed." - Jen Butler

Resources:

• 3 Myths Dentists Believe That Hold Them Back From Success (Blog post)
• Jen Butler Partners (Her website)
• Connect On Twitter

Jen's Personal Cell Phone Number - 623-776-6715