My Kids Call It Nagging, I Call It Motivational Speaking

So this week I had to be a nag - I don't like doing it but someone's got to!  To be fair with one teenage daughter and one tween at home, most days I'm a nag, however this week I had to be a nag at work, which I really don't like doing.  

I knew at the end of this week our monthly newsletter was due but when I sat down the other day to get together all the content for it I suddenly realised there really wasn't very much.  Internal marketing: relying on our existing patients to help generate our new patients is something we rely on very heavily and it's something that we put a huge amount of work into.  About 95% of our patients come to us through word of mouth referral – either a recommendation from a family member or friend or because of reviews they've read about us online. If you're a patient you may notice that we'll often give you some business cards to take away with you to give to your family and friends and you may receive an email request for some feedback.  

A huge part of this is also our social media presence.  However, keeping the motivation going for the team to be on the look out for great things to post on social media and for our newsletter can be difficult, particularly when our team are so busy doing dentistry all of the time.  It's hard to keep an eye out for new opportunities, it's nerve-wracking asking patients to pose for a photo or to give a review, and it's difficult to find the time to take the photo once you've generated the opportunity.  BUT it's something that really builds a business.  So every few months when things start to flag we have a good old motivational meeting (nag!) and just remind the team how important this is to our business and consequently also to them.  That is the key to the meeting – what's in it for them.  More nice patients, more patients looking for the sort of treatment that's fun to do, a happier work environment, and a more successful business which leads to better training opportunities and reinvestment in the team and the business. 

It's exactly like when you come to see us every 3 or 6 months for your motivational meeting with your dentist or hygienist!  Usually at your last visit you've set off all enthusiastic with cleaned teeth and a head full of instructions on how to keep things in good shape.  You think to yourself this time I'm going to keep my teeth like this, nice and smooth, with no plaque or tartare build up.  (I know I do exactly the same!) 

You do great for the first few weeks, maybe even the first month, and then life gets in the way.  Just one more Netflix boxset episode and then you're so tired before you go to bed, you can't be bothered brushing or flossing.  In the morning, you've slept in and there's only time for a quick whizz round with your brush and then you promise yourself I'll do it properly tonight, and so it goes on...!  

Coming to the dentist and hygienist isn't just about us checking that everything's healthy.  A huge part of our job is to motivate you to keep things clean and healthy yourself and that's why it's so important to visit us regularly.

If it's been a while since your last motivational meeting with us, give us a call, we promise not to nag!