Does Discounting Help or Hurt?
Business → Marketing & Advertising
- Author Catherine Maley, Mba
- Published July 3, 2021
- Word count 876
Is discounting helping or hurting your practice?
As you know, plastic surgery advertising is out of control. Everywhere you look, you see ads, banners, and websites
Offering deep discounted surgical and non-surgical procedures.
That’s not happening by accident. Extreme competition is forcing some practices to lead with a price to attract new cosmetic patients.
However, this heavy emphasis on discounts creates the “Groupon Discount mindset” in consumers. But that not only cheapens the surgeon’s image but also our entire industry.
And, on the other hand, you have to address it with prospective patients because they are bombarded with it. They start believing price is the only variable to consider when shopping around for a service provider.
But then, that puts you in a position to play “Let’s Make a Deal” with prospective patients who want to negotiate with you.
OR NOT, but then you lose to these discounters more often than you want to admit, so what do you do?
FIRST, GET YOUR OWN MINDSET STRAIGHT.
It’s never ALL about price. If it is, you didn’t do a good enough job promoting your value OVER price.
It’s your responsibility to show prospective patients why you are worth what you charge, and I’ll give you examples coming up.
And here’s something else to consider…
Like attracts like. That means you attract who you are.
If you verbally wrestle vendors to the ground to get a great deal, you will attract patients who do the same.
If you make buying decisions based on quality, credibility, and excellent customer service at a fair price, you will attract patients who do the same.
Be the quality decision-maker you want your patients to be.
PROMOTE VALUE AND BENEFITS OF YOUR SERVICE
The value of your services is the difference between the price you charge and the benefits the patient perceives they will get.
If the patient perceives they will get a lot of benefit for the price they pay, then their perception of your value is very high.
The good news is, you can control that.
Spend the time teaching prospective patients how much they will benefit, how much your expertise and skill will help them, and all of the things your intangible services can do to help them to achieve their goals and solve their problems.
The more you focus on these values, the less important price becomes.
STEPS TO FOLLOW TO HELP YOU FOCUS ON MORE THAN PRICE:
Who Wants Your Services?
In other words, who is most likely to choose you and pay your prices? How old are they? What is their income level? Do they have children? What is their level of education? What zipcode do they live in?
Now that you know their demographics, ONLY advertise to that targeted audience.
Not only will you save money, but you’ll also get better quality prospective patients who can afford your services and who want to pay a fair price for your skill and expertise.
Identify the Patients’ Problems Clearly
You are in the business of providing solutions to problems consumers have about their appearance.
Cosmetic patients pay you to solve their problems, so your job is to find out what bothers them and why.
Here’s a secret that wins you more patients……
Not only are you looking for the positive benefits prospective patients hope to gain such as increased confidence, increased desirability to the opposite sex, and a new lease on life, but also address their fears.
Because they may like what they hear, but they are afraid. Afraid they will spend all of this money and time recuperating only to regret their decision.
The media loves to show plastic surgery patients who have had bad plastic surgery outcomes with distorted face and body features, awful scarring, and disfigurement of other cosmetic surgery patients who said yes.
So, the prospective patient is scared they, too, will end up with regret and have to go through hell AND spend even more money to fix it.
The surgeon who not only proves their skill but also calms their fears AND reassures them of a better future, wins.
Prove It!
For all sorts of reasons, consumers are a skeptical group. They want proof from all sorts of sources so provide it. For example:
Proof from You:
Great before/after photos untouched – and lots of them
Videos explaining each procedure
Your videos talking about pros/cons; i.e., A smiley face scar vs. a flat tummy
Tour of your clean updated private, and comfortable in-house OR suite
Media PR
Speaking engagements
Book you wrote and/or articles authored
Guest spots on others’ blogs and podcasts
Voted Top Doc
Excellent staff credentialing you
Your superb customer service
Outside Proof:
Patient video testimonials telling their story and what you did for them
Online reviews from happy patients
Patient comments in 3rd party forums
Google your name and all good news comes up
Your patients interacting and talking about you on your and their social media platforms
The more benefits, value, and proof you can clearly provide to prospective cosmetic patients, the more likely they will consider more than just price.
When done correctly, they see and appreciate your higher price is well worth it.
Since Year 2000, Catherine Maley, MBA has been a plastic surgery growth business and marketing consultant, author, speaker, trainer, blogger, and podcaster. Her website is www.CatherineMaley.com
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Marketing Strategies for Mooncake Suppliers: Standing Out in a Crowded Market
- How To Automate Affiliate Marketing?
- Effective Marketing Strategies for Tradies: Boost Your Business in 2024
- The Dos and Don'ts of Creating Engaging Online Content That Keeps Your Readers Coming Back
- Dong Yuhui being accused of being racist against women because refusal to sell women's underwear.
- Creating Buzz in the Hallways: High School Advertising Techniques That Get Results
- How does social media marketing tie into a digital solution service?
- Custom DVI Cables: Everything You Need to Know?
- Diet Plan for Weight Gain
- Navigating the Dynamic Landscape of Hot Trends in SMM Panels
- Unveiling AI Brilliance: Leonardo Laboratories at the Fore of Innovation
- Unlock Your Career Potential: How Our Digital Marketing Institute Can Propel You Forward in Mumbai
- Social Media Marketing: Harness the Power of Online Platforms for Success
- Growing Your Business Online: How Gardeners Can Utilize Digital Marketing
- Measuring and Boosting ROI Across SEO, Email, & Social Media
- Navigating Challenging Business Conditions: The Power of Strategic Marketing
- Unlock Your Style: Fortnite Skins for Sale
- The Ultimate Guide to Color Grading: Techniques and Tools for Beginners
- Here Are Some Effective SEO Strategies For Startup Success
- How to Create an Effective Business Marketing Plan
- Traditional Direct Print Marketing Isn't Dead: Unveiling Its Untapped Potential
- New Age Student Recruitment: How AI is Revolutionizing International Enrollment
- Nobody cares about you (or, your brand)
- Unlocking Connection: Temu's Top Relationship Gifts for Every Occasion
- Sustainable Marketing Tactics for a Greener Future
- 4 Things To Avoid When Running Your First Google Ads Campaign
- Analyzing the Revenue Cycle Management Market: A Comprehensive Market Research Study
- Crafting Farnborough's Premier Business Blog: Essential Strategies for Success
- A Look at the Flexibility of AI in Marketing
- Social Media Marketing