| | | | | company |
| Here's an interesting question for you to consider: Do | | | | 1. |
| you want to keep your chiropractic internet marketing | | | | Let's face it, it can get expensive, but costs vary |
| in-house or do you want to hire a professional? There | | | | widely from company to company. Some companies |
| are pros and cons to both, and the answer lies in your | | | | out there are charging $600-$700 a month for their |
| particular situation. Let's check out the advantages and | | | | services. It is definitely worth your while to shop around |
| disadvantages of both. | | | | and research before you buy. |
| | | | | 2. |
| Advantages of in-house chiropractic internet marketing | | | | There is usually a commitment. Most chiropractic |
| 1. | | | | internet marketing companies will want you to sign up |
| There is a lower monthly cost involved in using | | | | for at least six months to a year. |
| someone already employed by you. | | | | 3. |
| 2. | | | | Account management can be a problem. With high |
| The staff knows your practice intimately. Your staff | | | | turnover rates at many companies, especially the big |
| has a good understanding of your clinic's particular | | | | ones, there may be a chance that you'll get handed |
| services and, therefore, is able to describe your | | | | from account manager to account manager just when |
| specialties easier than those who don't know the | | | | you were building a relationship of trust. You may have |
| specifics of your particular practice. | | | | to start over again, maybe even have to redesign and |
| 3. | | | | reiterate your strategy with the new manager. |
| You can communicate anytime. Being in-house it is | | | | |
| easier to set up times to have meetings or just to chat | | | | Now that you've taken a moment to look at the pros |
| about situations on the fly. | | | | and cons of both keeping your internet marketing |
| | | | | in-house or hiring a professional, the solution to SEO |
| Disadvantages of in-house chiropractic website | | | | and your internet marketing strategy will depend on the |
| marketing | | | | size of your practice, the time and staffing you can |
| 1. | | | | devote to it, and your overall long-term goals. |
| The staff may not be fully aware of what SEO | | | | |
| (search engine optimization) is, let alone how to | | | | Now, of course, we are an internet marketing |
| accomplish it. In that case, a lot of education and | | | | company that specializes in helping chiropractors with |
| training will be needed to make sure SEO gets done | | | | their internet presence. So, I will admit that I am a bit |
| right. | | | | biased on the side of your hiring an expert to do it right. |
| 2. | | | | If you are thinking of hiring a company to develop and |
| The staff may be overworked. Sometimes the time it | | | | implement your internet marketing strategy, it is |
| takes to do SEO can be underestimated. It is an | | | | tremendously important for you to hire one that |
| ongoing process that can actually be a full-time job. If a | | | | specializes in chiropractic clinics. Why? Because we |
| marketing manager has been told to do SEO as well | | | | understand the chiropractic profession intimately. |
| as his or her full time job, obviously that person will be | | | | Therefore, in the long run it will save you both time and |
| overworked and feel overwhelmed. | | | | money not having to explain what chiropractic is about |
| 3. | | | | to some general SEO company. There are several of |
| Attention needs to be paid to detail. This goes together | | | | us out there. |
| with Point #2. If the staff is overworked, they have no | | | | |
| time to check out search engine news and keep | | | | If you are going to go with an outside company, be |
| up-to-date on how the search engines have changed | | | | sure to read the fine print. Look at the bottom of their |
| the game each week and what needs to be done to | | | | page for a disclaimer. If they have one, read about |
| implement those changes to keep your clinic internet | | | | their "typical" results. You don't want to be fooled by |
| presence up in the rankings. | | | | outrageous claims even though such hype can be |
| | | | | enticing. Remember, your internet marketing strategy is |
| Advantages of using an outside professional | | | | just one stream of new patient leads. Even though |
| 1. | | | | chiropractic internet marketing is fast becoming a great |
| Chiropractic marketing companies are specialists in the | | | | source for new patient leads, and even though internet |
| field. They have experience in working on numerous | | | | marketing gets more important with every passing |
| clinics and their websites and optimizing them for SEO. | | | | day, and even though it is a crucial area in which to |
| They know, first hand, what works effectively and | | | | generate new patient leads, it is still not the only source |
| what doesn't. | | | | of marketing you will need to succeed in your practice. |
| 2. | | | | |
| There is a dedicated team at the company who will | | | | Whether you choose to keep your internet marketing |
| be working on your site and can give it the attention it | | | | in-house or to hire a professional, you want to be sure |
| requires. | | | | that the time and money you spend on SEO gets you |
| 3. | | | | where you want to go. A member of your staff that |
| The company has a specific plan and won't be just | | | | does your internet marketing for "free," while |
| jumping around, going from short term tactic to short | | | | squeezing those efforts in-between other tasks, may |
| term tactic with no organized strategy and no clear | | | | "cost" you in the long run. A professional whose sole |
| way to reach your desired goals. In other words, they | | | | focus is internet marketing, won't lose sight of your |
| have an "integrated" internet marketing strategy. | | | | goals. Internet marketing is essential to your practice, |
| | | | | so choose your chiropractic internet path wisely. |
| Disadvantages of a chiropractic internet marketing | | | | |