mpw communications

Using consumer-targeted articles to reach new patients

smdc — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:39:12 +0000

How doctors can help fill their waiting rooms.

A simple and direct way to reach new patients is to offer patient-targeted tips and advice, referred to as doctor-to-patient or (DTP) marketing, like this recently published article. This piece was optimally publicized by our client using the following distinct avenues:

Health and Wellness sections of area newspapers
Doctor and affiliated hospital websites
Email ‘eblast’
Offered as a take-one in the practice office

Note the practice’s contact information is conveniently provided at the end of the article–

“How to Manage Your Diabetes During the Holidays”

Calmare Pain Therapy – Helping to introduce a new solution to chronic pain

smdc — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:45:45 +0000

It’s not often you have the opportunity to help play a role in a revolutionary new medical treatment that can literally help millions of Americans. Rutherford Allied Medical Group is one of just five certified providers of this pain-free, drug-free treatment for many types of chronic pain including cancer, chemotherapy-related, diabetes pain and particularly RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy).

We established and currently manage Rutherford Allied Medical’s–

Calmare website and blog
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube profiles
Advertising program including print and banner ads
Media relations

Beginning in January of this year, our campaign to reach patients who are living every day in pain, beleaguered by failed treatment therapies, reliant on pain medication and justifiably mentally and physically fatigued, a true challenge. But we moved forward supported by the Rutherford Allied Medical’s firsthand evidence that Calmare Therapy can successfully minimize or even alleviate pain in the most treatment-resistant patients.

And, unexpectedly, these patients became raving fans. From around the country, they asked how they could help spread the word to other people in pain. Since that time, we have created info packets and memos and FAQs and anything our “Calmare Patient Ambassadors” might need to tell other patients and medical professionals that a solution was available.

And, today, with exciting new medical studies by the Mayo Clinic and other prestigious medical communities documenting that Calmare is a viable solution to treatment-resistant pain, the word is out.

What best practices can we share about marketing a newer healthcare brand?

Be true and honest throughout the process
Tell the story of your brand through your patients’ voices
Welcome your patients support and bring them into the project
Use video as often as possible to let patients easily access other patients
Build your patient social network forthrightly and with a health dose of politeness (pretend the target patient is your grandmother).

Welcome JEI Learning Center

smdc — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:30:02 +0000

There’s no better way to connect with a client than by starting out as a customer. Over the summer, one of my children took an Intensive Writing class at JEI Learning Center before starting middle school. This experience was our first foray into student enrichment programs.

My “reluctant writer” actually looked forward to his weekly hour and a half session with a motivated instructor and a few other children who were forced into the same boat. He came out of the class less inhibited about writing an essay and encouraged by his instructor’s appreciation for his creative content.

We all want to give our kids every advantage to excel and educational enrichment can be a powerful secondary support tool for learning. It’s also a business model that is recession-proof, to a great degree, because we will spend our last dime to help our children.

We look forward to helping JEI promote their message that study and preparation leads to academic excellence.

First up–disseminating this message on Facebook and Twitter, building a custom website, introducing a blog for the center’s director to share views, news and an opinion or two. Finally, we’ll garner some media attention by sharing satisfied parent (and older children’s) testimonials combined with pitching some significant success stories to local and regional media.

Welcome JEI Learning Center, it’s an honor to work with you.

Stephanie Duncan

Powerful Customer / Patient Video Testimonials

smdc — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:08:58 +0000

We have been working with a client who is offering a relatively unknown treatment for chronic pain sufferers. Little did we know, there are millions upon millions of American living with pain every day of their lives. What better way to share the news that this technology can be successful than with patients who are so thrilled with the results, they volunteered to share their personal testimonials on video.

We deliberately kept these videos basic and to the point–no flashy stuff required (or appropriate). Rather, all you’ll see is the patient telling her story supported by a few information panels to educate the viewer about the product http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPMKYEtVsfQ

Have a story to tell about your product? We’d love to help you spread the word.

Private practice social media management. Yes we do.

smdc — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:45:19 +0000

You’re savvy enough to realize the importance of updating your practice blog, garnering ‘likes’ on Facebook and connecting with patients and colleagues on Twitter and LinkedIn. But it is a time sensitive and time consuming effort because what you post needs to inform, help or educate your supporters.

And you don’t have time to do this yourself nor does your staff.

Welcome to MPW Communications. We’ll step in and hit the ground running on all cylinders as soon as tomorrow. Need to boost your visibility by also posting on blogs which are relevant to your specialty? We’ll take care of that as well.

Give us a call to discuss your goals and we’ll get you there. Fast.

Today’s marketing mantra–KISS

smdc — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:11:05 +0000

You know, “Keep it super simple.”

For an easy way to update your mailing list, combine your blog posts, a tweet here and there, a kind comment from a follower on Facebook and bind them into an eNewsletter. Let’s face it–we don’t always have time to visit your site, read your tweets or see what you are up to on Facebook.

By combining the high points of the past few months into a quick and easy newsletter, you can keep your fans updated.

Here’s a quick and simple version from our client who operates a catering venue and here’s a nice synopsis from one of our doctor clients.

It’s a quick, informative read that a good portion of your database will peruse. For most clients, sending an eNewsletter on a quarterly basis is plenty.

Bragging Writes

smdc — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:24:34 +0000

Here’s a an email from one of our doctor clients who has turned this rainy day to sunshine–

“The response to Calmare has been amazing. Phone ringing all day long w/ inquires. The patients required for the trial has been filled and we start w/ intake on Mon. and treatments start Tues. of next week. We have our book filled w/ many consultations and a few that have already signed up for the entire 10 day program. Your marketing has truly paid off, thank you!”

Now this is why we like to come to work every day! (SD)

New year, new client, great technology

smdc — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:29:06 +0000

It is with great pleasure we announce our new partnership with a medical practice who will be the first medical treatment center in New Jersey to offer FDA-approved Calmare Pain Therapy treatment technology to help patients living with chronic pain. This technology is somewhat new in the US and already earning positive reviews from patients. The technology will help patients dealing with cancer and related treatment, MS, diabetes, phantom limb syndrome, diabetes pain and several other diseases.

MPW will be writing content for the website, hosted by WordPress, overseeing social media outreach to patients and physicians, and creating a big stir of interest on the PR front.

We love this client already. They are aggressive, smart and ready to help people with their pain. We are honored to partner with Rutherford Allied Medical Group.

The future’s so bright, shades will be required

smdc — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:28:15 +0000

IT’S been both a grand year and a not-so-perfect year. Regardless, 2010 is quickly slipping away. It has been the Year of the Enlightened Client who recognizes and appreciates that tweeting, blogging and Facebook are incredibly powerful assets, when used effectively. They’ve also watched us take their marketing budgets and stretch them far beyond their expectations–and produce impressive results. The new year looks bright because our clients stepped up to the plate, swung the bat, and scored several runs for their brands.

This year, I’ve had the good fortune to meet many professionals in public relations, healthcare and marketing who have taught me so much, even those I met only for an hour. Just so you know, your time and words were invaluable.

I have much to be thankful for and can’t wait to get behind the wheel of 2011 and take it for a drive. The future’s so bright, I’m going shopping for new shades.

Wishing you and yours all the best for 2011,

Stephanie Duncan

Overcoming Professional Disappointment – Moving On

smdc — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:23:33 +0000

It has happened to us all. The deal that was in the bag, the newly signed client, the job interview that you thought went oh-so-well. And then, “Thank you, but no…”

Pardon me?

Sometimes, no matter how talented, accomplished, creative, witty or inventive you are—you lose. You’re not chosen. You’re out. The deal falls through, the new client reconsiders, the job offer doesn’t come.

I’ve seen a bit of my own disappointment lately and took time out to figure out how best to move on. Essentially, for me anyway, I was numb, then stunned, really annoyed, and ultimately concluded it was their loss, in the end.

After a bit of web outreach, I related most to BeliefNet’s 21 ways to overcome an “unsuccessful outcome,” shall we say. These five ways, in particular, hit home with me:

1. Take a Step Back

Think of an impressionist painting–you can’t make sense of it until you back away a little. Up close, all you see is dots of different shapes and colors. But with some distance, the painting comes alive. It tells a story.

2. Join the Race

(That’s the human race I’m talking about.) Because no one is perfect. The human experience is an exercise in collecting disappointments and mistakes, ruminating on them for a little bit, and turning them into wisdom and growth.

3. Throw Away the Evidence

Lest we forget, let’s remind ourselves that Albert Einstein failed his college entrance exam. Walt Disney was fired from his first media job. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Get it?

4. Write and Recap

Recent research by Dr. James Pennebaker, chair of the psychology program at the University of Texas, concluded writing about painful feelings and emotional events relieves stress and promotes healing on many levels.

5. Start Over

Every disappointment is an opportunity to start over. It’s a blank slate, a clean, white piece of paper. And don’t worry–if this time you still can’t color within the lines, you’ll get another blank sheet, as many new beginnings as you need.

Here’s to better days for us all.