Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Are you involved in community marketing? What’s the best way to get involved in it? How can you connect with your local doctors to create referral sources?
In this podcast episode of the Seven Figure Practice Series, Joe Sanok speaks about how to get referrals from primary care doctors to grow your practice with David Sternberg.
Podcast Sponsor: Alma
Going in-network with insurance can be tough. Filing all of the right paperwork is time-consuming and tedious, and even after you’re done, it can take months to get credentialed and start seeing clients.
That’s why Alma makes it easy and financially rewarding to accept insurance. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment.
Once you’ve joined Alma’s insurance program, you can see clients in your state of licensure regardless of where you’re working from.
Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/joe
Meet David Sternberg
David Sternberg owns a psychotherapy group practice in Washington, D.C., called DC Talk Therapy. In 2012, after 10 years of solo practice, he started DC Talk Therapy, and they now have 12 therapists and two full-time administrators. David runs the practice and still sees a handful of clients. In addition, he started a side business three years ago called Pen & Practice that helps private practice therapists with their writing needs and community marketing needs.
Visit DC Talk Therapy and connect on Instagram.
- What is community marketing?
- How to reach out to doctors
- David’s advice to private practitioners
What is community marketing?
I define [community marketing] as meeting with other people in the community who are possible referral sources, and so for me, by far the best referral source in the community has been primary care physicians. (David Sternberg)
Get into the medical community to boost your marketing efforts. David has found success in marketing with colleagues and people in the medical field, like:
- Primary care doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Acupuncturists
- Massage therapists
For David, the best source has been primary care doctors to get and give referral sources.
How to reach out to doctors
David has found in his experience of working with doctors as referral sources that their main goal is to find connections that can serve their patients well.
How can I help them and their patients? What are they hearing, and how can we be a resource for them and their patients? (David Sternberg)
Listen to what the patients need, and if it is something that you can help them with, like:
- Anxiety
- Marital issues
- Substance abuse
Send an email setting up a meeting, either virtual or in-person, offer to buy them coffee or lunch, and just have a conversation.
Then offer your services, or refer them out to someone who can assist them.
Be willing to connect people with one another, because you will still be remembered as the referral source, and that positive professional relationship will be strengthened, leading to further and future partnership down the road.
Remember that this relationship is one that you put a lot of effort into in the beginning. It takes a while for these referral sources to settle and strengthen, so keep reaching out if the connection is there to maintain it.
You also have to be very flexible if you’re going to do this kind of work. You not only have to be okay with rejection, but you’ve also got to be really flexible. (David Sternberg)
David’s advice to private practitioners
Running a group practice has a lot of highs and lows! It’s important to push through it, and remember that it won’t always feel so bad – or so good! Things change, so get better at adapting to change than just standing still.
Sponsors Mentioned in this episode:
- Check out Mentaya
- Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/joe
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Visit DC Talk Therapy and connect on Instagram.
- Save the date for Level Up Week: March 11-14, 2024!
-
Email Joe at [email protected] to suggest guests for the show
Check out these additional resources:
Events – click on the event’s dropdown
Sign up to join the free webinars and events here
Practice of the Practice Podcast Network
Free resources to help you start, grow, and scale
Apply to work with us — a decision-making matrix for your next steps
Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
Thanks For Listening!
Feel free to leave a comment below or share the social media below!
