By Patrick K. Porter, PhD

On a scale of one to ten most chiropractors will answer ten - sometimes even eleven!! Yet, patient education is one of the hardest concepts for chiropractors to manage. Many chiropractors talk to their patients about chiropractic issues or give them brochures but in a society that is largely visual, how much of that information is getting through effectively to the patient?

If only 10% of the population is accessing chiropractic care, it would follow that current marketing strategies employed by chiropractic professionals is not working or not working effectively enough. How many referrals or repeat clients could a chiropractic professional be missing out on because their patients are not properly educated about the many benefits of chiropractic care for them, their families and friends?

By Dr. Ryan Marshall

When opening a private practice the number one way, and best way, to generate new patients is by word of mouth. During my first year in practice word of mouth brought in more new patients than any other venue we used. Ask yourself, would you prefer to pick your dentist thumbing through the phone book, or would you rather visit a dentist you have heard great things about from a friend or family member. While a phone book listing or ad may not be a bad idea, a personal referral from someone who knows you is far more superior. Your first resource to getting word of mouth referrals when opening a new practice is by educating your friends and family. Remember they are the beginning and sometimes the foundation for your network.