PODIATRY POLLS - AUGUST RESULTS

DPM POLL

Does CME Support Matter?

EXHIBITOR POLL

Can You Afford More?

PLANNER POLL

Packages or A La Carte?

Tricks of the Trade - DPMs

Seasonal Planning: Conferences and Practice PR

Practice Partner Pearls

Blue Orchid Blooms

Practice Partner Academy

Top 4 Incase You Missed 'Em

Tricks of the Trade - Vendors

Brief Etiquette Reminder

Tricks of the Trade - Planners

Reduce Your Risk. Stay Put.

DPM POLL RESULTS

Do you select vendors that sponsor meetings/education (i.e. that provide substantial support)?

33% Yes. I consider commercial support for CME events when choosing my practice suppliers.

31%

No. Companies who sponsor meetings don't affect my vendor choices/selections.

36% I don't really even notice who is sponsoring meetings.

EXHIBITOR / VENDOR POLL RESULTS

Do you prefer sponsorship options that are in package form or a la carte / itemized?

32% Packages. It's much easier to plan and organize.

36% A la carte. Packages usually include things I don't need.

32% Neither. It's all too expensive for little return.

MEETING PLANNER POLL

Have you found more success by offering sponsorship packages or individual, a la carte items?

48% Packages. We've tried itemizing, but it doesn't increase revenue/support.

50% A la carte. This allows more companies to spend more vs. a few companies spending a lot.

2% We haven't noticed any major difference either way.

Before you blink, you will realize that November is here... and for most that means the beginning of the holiday season, but for DPMs (and hopefully most in health care), it means DIABETES AWARENSS MONTH!

This year, use the next couple of weeks to think of ways that you can help contribute to Diabetes Awareness Month and educate your community about podiatry and this chronic disease.

There are several ways you can get involved and put yourself in the public eye to enhance your credibility as a diabetic specialist AND as a key opinion leader in your area. Here are some quick ideas to get you brainstorming...

• Offer free diabetic foot screenings on a specific day (or days) at the clinic
• Take donations at your practice for diabetic care packages
• For everyone who purchases a certain about of ancillary products in the office, a pair of diabetic shoes will be donated to someone in need
• Take donations for unused diabetic supplies
• Set up a T1D Walk Team (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

When you become an active member of your community in areas of healthcare that go beyond the foot and ankle, you set yourself apart from other practitioners, PLUS (and the most important) you are contributing to awareness about the critical need for podiatric care in areas that (sad, but true) just don't know.

COMMUNICATE YOUR CONFERENCES

Make sure you showcase your meeting attendance with pictures of yourself or your team on your website, your socials, email marketing... you can even have pictures up in the practice if they enhance your message!

We've made some updates to the PODIATRYMEETINGS.COM CALENDAR.

Check it out for upcoming Diabetic / Wound Care Educational Events including:

SAWC Fall | Las Vegas, NV

October 2 - October 5

Desert Foot Conference | Phoenix, AZ

October 30 - November 2

Fundamental Peripheral Nerve Repair Course – AENS | Key West, FL

October 31 - November 1

Diabetic Foot Global Conference (DFCon) | Anaheim, CA

November 7 - November 9

Great Debates & Updates in Diabetic Foot | Dallas, TX

December 5 - December 7

Superbones Superwounds Fall | Virtual

December 7 - December 8

Blue Orchid Marketing, the trusted leader in podiatry marketing for 23 years, is thrilled to announce a remarkable 57% growth in new clients year over year. This milestone reflects the company’s commitment to delivering innovative and effective marketing solutions designed specifically for podiatrists.

In response to this rapid growth, Blue Orchid Marketing has expanded its team by welcoming six new members. This strategic hiring aims to enhance the company's capacity to provide top-notch services and support to a growing client base. The new team members bring a wealth of experience and expertise, further solidifying Blue Orchid Marketing’s position as a premier provider of digital marketing solutions for podiatrists.

Over the past 12 months, Blue Orchid Marketing has achieved a record average client ROI of $88,363 from its email marketing services, bolstered by it's patient recall campaign program. This impressive figure underscores the company’s dedication to driving tangible results and ensuring podiatry practices achieve their business objectives. Many clients taking advantage of B.O.M.'s Google Ads campaign management and other revenue-generating services have enjoyed an even higher ROI, demonstrating the comprehensive effectiveness of Blue Orchid Marketing's strategies.

“Our growth is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our podiatry clients and our passion for driving results,” said Shaun Zaken, President of Blue Orchid Marketing. “We focus on helping individual practices achieve their specific goals, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This personalized strategy has been key to our success.”

Blue Orchid Marketing’s unique understanding of the podiatry industry has also led to growth in marketing for direct-to-consumer and practice-specific foot and ankle products. Additionally, the company has formed synergistic partnerships with in-clinic technologies, all to benefit their podiatry clients.

For more information contact Shaun Zaken

203-746-5901

sales@blueorchidmarketing.com

blueorchidmarketing.com

PRACTICE PARTNER ACADEMY

Helping You Choose Strategic Partners for Your Practice

Watch our TOP 4 OF 2024 on-demand recordings and take away key pearls for hot topics affecting your patients and your practice.

Selling vs. Dispensing:

An OTC Advanced Course

Nicole Freels, DPM

Diagnosing & Effectively Treating Pediatric In-Toe & Toe Walking

Louis J. DeCaro, DPM

Using Twisted Plate Theory to Improve Orthotic Outcomes

Doug Richie, DPM

Diabetic Shoe Program:

Billing & Coding Pitfalls

Jeffrey Lehrman, DPM

Last weekend I did something I haven't done for a while - I exhibited at a meeting representing The Remy Class IV Laser!

Shout out to the team at AAPSM for putting on a high-energy and well-organized event!!

Every meeting there's something odd that stands out resulting in some sort of entertaining story and this event was no different; not that this was the most insane thing that's ever happened to anyone ever, it's simply something I had never experienced at a meeting up to this point.

Etiquette among exhibitors is crucial to a successful meeting, as well as a successful career in podiatry. Those of us who have been in the game for a while know that that once you burn a bridge, it can be tough to repair; plus the profession is small enough that word gets through the grape vine pretty quickly. Depending on the transgression, you can sink your reputation in one quick swoop.

The point - have respect for your fellow exhibitors. Ann has an article from a few years ago that will remind us of what some of those standards are. CLICK HERE TO GO BACK IN TIME AND VIEW

BUT - without further ado... on Friday morning I showed up to my booth ready to plug in my computer which was showcasing videos of DPM testimonials. This is a vital piece of my tabletop display.

So you can imagine my surprise when the power cord to my computer had been swiped! Yup; just taken from the back of my PC that was plugged in behind my table against the wall. Now I'm starting to panic and wonder who has been rooting through my personal items.

I emerged from behind the table and my neighbor gave me the description of the fellow who was later found guilty... I don't want to name names, so I will refer to him as Valdemort. Keep in mind Valdemort is a veteran exhibitor and should know better than to covertly wander behind other exhibitor booths and just take whatever he thinks he needs at any given time.

Don't be that guy. Nosing around others' displays while they are not there is NOT COOL. Extra not cool - swiping ANYTHING!

Be cool my friends; ask for permission to borrow anything regardless of how unimportant you may think it is.

Attending a meeting is a lot like going to a casino - once you get inside you don't leave for three days and there aren't any clocks anywhere.

The urge to get out of the hotel can start to become an itch and meeting planners sometimes use local attractions to motivate more attendance. I get it, but keep in mind the risk that has now been presented by going off site.

Meetings are hard enough to control given the amount of people who each have different goals for attending along with the challenges of smooth, clear communication. Once you take anyone off site, you may as well start playing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel."

A couple of weeks ago I was at a meeting in Rosemont, IL and on the last day a sponsor took 90 attendees to the city - The Chicago Loop. Everyone was pumped and everything seemed to be planned perfectly. We had the reservations made as well as sufficient transportation for a fun and comfortable ride to and from the city.

Cue the horror music...

Something I learned from this experience - check to see if there are any massive events going on in the area that will throw a wrench in the plan.

That weekend 400,000 people I hadn't realized were going to be in the city celebrating Mexican Independence Day (rather, I didn't understand the enormity of the event). So once DPMs were ready to head back to the hotel, the streets were blocked and the charter coaches were unable to get to the passengers.

Anyone know how to spell stress with more than 3 "s"s?

Staying on site may not be the most exciting way to spend an evening, but it is way better than keeping tired doctors away from their cozy beds after a long day of learning. If you have the staff/resources to research every possibility that could ensue by going off site, have a ball! If not, keep your margin for error low and find a way to entertain inside the conference walls.