Many chiropractors go to school and gain excellent technical knowledge of their science. They graduate and start their business under the misguided notion that they need only hang a sign on their door and clients will begin flocking to them. When business takes too long to pick up speed, or even worse begins to falter, these practitioners are unequipped to market themselves. Particularly in today’s digital world, chiropractors who are willing to learn the simple techniques of online marketing will find themselves pulling ahead of their competition at an astonishing rate.

Marketing has changed rapidly in the past few years. The biggest factor affecting the change has been the advent of Web 2.0 and social networking on the internet. You may have heard these terms used but were not sure what they mean, and perhaps you feel that you can just ignore this new trend. Marketing experts agree that the future of selling is on the internet. Unless you are willing to take on the social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook and YouTube you will continue to flounder in your business.

Only recently (3 years after I let the cat out of the bag), have many doctors begun inquiring about what we classify as fresh Web 2.0 / SEO marketing strategies. I was the first and only one in the chiropractic profession to bring social networks to public awareness, as I was getting massive amounts of new patients coming into my office from Myspace, Facebook, and YouTube.

I had many well-known consultants come to me and basically beg and plead for my secret strategies I was sharing with a select group of chiropractors. Many would try and be sneaky, actually call me from private numbers but they would give me an email or contact information that I could trace-back to a consulting firm. I always thought this was funny because these guys are stuck in the realm of competition, whereas I’m an entrepreneur and creator.

During my research I observed how other chiropractors were approaching online marketing. They immediately signed up for their own profile and began spamming other members with their advertisements. Not only will this get you kicked off the website (since it is against the user agreement), but most people hate spam and the result will be the exact opposite of what you intended when you sent it in the first place. The only real way to make the most of these sites is to find a mentor; someone who has been there before and knows how to navigate the waters of Web 2.0.

If you want to succeed in social networking, you must be credible above all else. This means that your contacts and ‘friends’ have to feel that you bring some value to the community. Serious thought must be put in to designing your profile page, and the information that you place there. Your page should be interesting, captivating, fun and engaging.

Let me leave you with a couple simple tips about chiropractic marketing on Myspace. Never send a friend request without a polite message! This is Myspace 101 stuff that is very important since you want the person to know how you ran across their profile. Always include videos on your profile, as it makes people stay on your page for a longer period of time and holds interest. Now, I’m not talking of all chiropractic videos either. People want to know the real you, not just what your profession is!

There has never been anything like Web 2.0 in the world of marketing. To understand how to use these sites, it is vital that you understand both the spoken and unspoken rules of participating on them. You will see immediate benefits when you finally understand how they work. The best way to do this is to find a mentor or a guide who can give you the support you need while you make yourself a part of this exciting new environment.

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