2008 ASMBS Conference in Washington, D.C.

After returning from the ASMBS Conference in Washington, D.C., we spent some time reflecting on our experience. We truly enjoyed the week and were happy to meet so many fantastic people. Aside from the wonderful connections we made, one of the big highlights of the week was the Walk From Obesity on the Capitol. What a memorable experience that was for us — we were honored to participate.

Every day of the conference, we were continually amazed by stories about the life-changing results of bariatric and weight-loss surgery. The impact these surgeries have on the quality of life for people who struggle with their weight is unforgettable. We are so proud to take part in helping individuals find a bariatric surgeon through marketing venues that provide educational, accurate and helpful information.

Physician marketing has come a long way. It wasn’t even 30 years ago that physicians couldn’t legally market themselves or their practices. The stigma of marketing as an unethical or unprofessional practice is long gone. We have come to realize that more than 80 percent of people find their physicians online, and when it comes to an elective surgery such as bariatric or LAP-BAND®, that number increases to more than 90 percent. With medical marketing, the goal is not about sales; it is about educating potential patients on why they should choose you as their physician.

As we stated at the conference, if you don’t see leads from your website, something is wrong. Every practice should be gaining inquiries and leads through its website. For those who don’t, the problem could be in a number of areas, such as:

• The website is not appearing in online search results.
• The site does not establish a level of comfort that encourages potential patients to take the next step.
• It is missing important information that potential patients need to make informed decisions.

If you are having any of these problems, contact us today for a no-cost consultation. We look forward to sharing ways that we can increase your online presence and, in return, grow your practice — without requiring more of your time.

We are excited to hear from you…but hurry, our calendars are booking quickly, and the time we have allotted for free consultations is limited.

Laura Lake, Vice President of Marketing
Jamie Verkamp, Director of New Business Development — Medical