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Chiropractors – make sure you set up your Google My Business page!

5/30/2018

Chiropractors – make sure you set up your Google My Business page!

When it comes to marketing, attracting new patients, and growing your practice, I have good and bad news for chiropractors.

First, the bad news. You have a lot of competition. In fact, Google “chiropractor” and your city name, and there will be dozens, scores, or even more results popping up. (I also bet that your name and practice don’t show up #1 on Google).

Remember that the public might not choose their chiropractor based on very logical methods, but just someone whose office is close to their work or home, or possibly someone who's been referred to them. However, many times, when a patient is in pain, been in an accident, or suffered an injury, it comes down to a quick Google search and then going down the list to see who could accommodate them first.

Now, the good news. You don’t have to just sit back and hope that your practice ranks well with Google and eventually rises above your competition. There are some tools and proactive methods you can employ to rank well on Google, and then move up with a bullet. And why they take just a little bit of consistent time and energy, we’re NOT talking about expensive SEO or other web tactics.

The even better news is that about half of your competition (other DCs in your area) probably aren’t doing this yet, so you have a golden opportunity.

Today, we’re talking about the Google My Business page feature on – you guessed it – Google.

As the top search engine in the world, Google drives more traffic than any single source, responsible for about 70% of all search queries in the U.S. today.

As a chiropractor, getting your NAP (name, address, phone numbers, etc.) as well as practice name, the area you serve, email address, and website, etc. are crucial, and Google My Business will help you do that – and way more.

In fact, studies show that having (and using) a Google My Business listing can:

•   Increase any company’s visibility by 29%,
•   Turn 60% more online searchers and visitors into leads,
•   Boost mobile connectivity and engagement with your audience by up to 49%.

The best part is that it’s free!

However, it does take a little bit of time and know-how to do it correctly, so contact us if you want a good service provider that can set it up for you, fast, easy, and inexpensively.

Ok, let’s dig into the features and benefits of Google My Business.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a convenient tool for businesses, organizations, and even real estate agents to organize, catalog, and promote their online presence across the Google universe. That includes syncing Google search, Google Maps, and more.
You can find the portal to get started at Google.com/business.

The powerful benefits of Google My Business:

By setting up and using Google My Business correctly, you’ll make it far easier for potential clients to find you, forums to connect with them directly, and ways to measure and optimize those interactions.

One of the main benefits, of course, is that your business will show up right when people are searching for your services or similar business in your area. For DCs, that may mean that when people search Google for "Chiropractors in Austin" or something similar, your practice will appear in the search. That will come complete with all the information you want them to have right at their fingertips – your name, phone number, website, email and even a flag on the Google Map so that they can get directions and find your office easily.

Amazing!

Since most of your patients come from within a 10-mile radius or less, your practice’s marketing should be hyper-local, too. After all, you don't care about showing up for treating neck pain in Arkansas or Los Angeles if you're a DC in Charlotte, NC, for instance.

Therefore, Google's Google My Business (let’s call it GMB to save me some typing) is a powerful and geo-focused tool for attracting local business and ranking higher in search queries where and when it matters most to your bottom line.

Just be setting it up and posting content consistently, you’ll have a competitive edge over the 98% of other Dcs who aren't using it and doing that.

Here is some information that GMB will document and share across all Google platforms:

•   Phone number
•   Email
•   Website URL
•   URL to make an appointment
•   Business hours
•   Address
•   Locations
•   Categories
•   Company Logo
•   Profile Photo
•   Internal and external photos
•   Virtual tour of the office and education videos (what to expect your first visit, etc.)
•   Videos
•   Other social media links

All of these tools will be at your disposal – and more with their advanced function. It's no wonder why an estimated 39% of local retailers and walk-in businesses have already claimed and verified their Google My Business listing.

Do you need more convincing?

In part two of this blog, we'll bring you information about these ten benefits of having a Google My Business page:

1.   Your Google listing will attract a new local audience via Google Search.
2.   Your practice will pop right up in Google Maps.
3.   Easily manage your business information.
4.   Gain reviews - and answer them directly.
5.   Write and share Google posts.
6.   Access user insights and search analytics.
7.   Get a free Google website!
8. Offer specials, promotions, exclusive discounts, etc.
9.   Enjoy their Question & Answer feature.
10.   Direct message your audience and potential clients.

Tune in for part two coming soon or email me for more information!

***

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20 Facts to honor the legacy of Memorial Day

5/22/2018

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Leaving a positive legacy in life often has to do with caring about others more than we care about ourselves, and there is no better example of that then the men and women who paid the utlimate sacrifice to keep us safe. Therefore, for Memorial Day, Dr. Charles Ward and the entire Innate Legacy team would like to extend a token of respect and apprecation to those who perished serving in the military.

Here are 20 facts about Memorial Day in their honor!

1.   Memorial Day is a United States national holiday that’s reserved for the last Monday in May every year. However, the weekend before that Monday is often celebrated with picnics and barbecues, parades and events, and family outings.

2.   In fact, nearly 32 million people take car trips over the Memorial Day weekend every year.

3.   It also informally signals the start of summer, with Labor Day in September marking the end.

4.   But, of course, the real reason we observe Memorial Day is to pay tribute to soldiers that have lost their lives fighting for this nation.

5.   Our Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day.” When the modern holiday of Memorial Day was born out of respect for fallen soldiers during the Civil War, graves were decorated with flowers, wreaths, and flags – hence “Decoration Day.”

6.   620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, leading to universal commemorations that spawned Memorial Day. That death toll is shocking when you consider that it’s more soldier casualties than both World War I (116,516 dead) and World War II (405,399 dead) combined!

7.   Instead of being a holiday instituted by the government, Memorial Day grew out of simultaneous organic tributes to soldiers that came home in a coffin. As early as 1864 there are accounts of flowers put on graves of the dead after the Battle of Gettysburg, followed by women decorating military graves in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The movement took a big step in 1866, when women from Columbus, Mississippi adorned graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers with flowers.

8.   In 1866, 219 Civil War veterans paraded through Carbondale, Illinois in a sign of respect, while that same year, an annual community service event began in Waterloo, New York. Waterloo is still recognized by Congress as the birthplace of Memorial Day.

9.   The name morphed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day as early as the 1880s, but it became official in 1967.

10.Fallen soldiers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia right across the river from Washington D.C. In fact, there are more than 300,000 gravestones at Arlington Cemetery, with an average of 28 more burials each day.

11.Most people don’t realize that Memorial Day hasn’t always been observed on the last Monday of May. Since the end of the Civil War, most people celebrated the holiday on May 30.

12.But when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1971, Memorial Day was permanently moved to the last Monday of May to ensure that people have a three-day holiday weekend.

13.Although not an official requirement, it’s customary for United States flags to be raised at half-staff on Memorial Day, although only until noon. After that, it’s raised proudly to the top of the flagpole until sunset.

14.Did you know that we’re required to stop whatever we’re doing and observe a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day? In fact, it’s now U.S. law after Congress passed a law in 2 000, which was signed by President Clinton!

15.Traces of the Civil War's separatism are still evident today, as several states observe a Confederate Memorial Day. Nine states have an official designated day to honor those soldiers who died fighting for the Confederacy during the Civil War, including Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia.

16.A popular icon to remember and honor our fallen troops is the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God,” reads the inscription on the tomb that holds the remains of the first Unknown Soldier.

17.Interestingly, although only six bones of that soldier remain there, recent DNA testing allowed the identity of the Unknown Soldier to be ascertained. In fact, it’s an Air Force pilot named Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who died when his jet crashed during the Vietnam Conflict in 1972. His remains were then reburied in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remains empty these days.

18.On Memorial Day weekend in 1988, 2,500 motorcyclists rode into Washington, D.C. for the first annual Rolling Thunder rally to advocate for MIA and POW soldiers. The tradition grew year by year, and now, over half a million veterans and concerned citizens come to Washington D.C. for this mass demonstration every Memorial Day.

19.In decades past, a common American tradition was to go with family and eat a picnic on the grounds of a cemetery. Although it isn’t widespread today, there are still people in areas of the South that observe this ritual.

20. But people still visit cemeteries on Memorial Day to lay flags on the graves of deceased soldiers, plant flowers, and honor their own fallen loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

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Your chiropractic practice social media marketing cheat sheet

5/18/2018

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Like no other profession I can think of, Doctors of Chiropractic are not only tasked with performing their duties, but also acting as advocates for their field. In fact, educating and sharing valuable information about what they do should be the basis of any chiropractor’s online marketing campaign. However, too often, DCs and Cas fail to grasp and execute the fundamentals of social media marketing. It’s understandable, considering it seems like there are so many platforms, options, and advice when it comes to social media, and not all of it in agreement!

Today, we wanted to present you the basic guidelines, stats, best practices, and useful notes on the world’s top social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Linkedin.

Start by implementing these basics and you’ll be on your way to a rapidly growing practice!

Facebook

Key stat:
Photo albums have 180% more engagement than other posts.

Profile photo dimensions:
Must be at least 80 x 180
Displays at 160 x 160
Thumbnail will appear on screen at 32 x 32
Display at 140 x 140 pixels on smartphones

Cover photo dimension:
Must be at least 399 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall.
Displays at 828 pixels wide by 315 pixels tall on your page on computers, and 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels on smartphones.
File under 100kb is optimal.

Best times to post:
1 pm most shares
3 pm most likes
The highest level of user activity between 9 AM and 7 PM

Best days to post:
Thursdays and Fridays

Extra features:

Facebook Live allows you to broadcast live streaming video to your audience, perfect for events, demonstration, and education.
Instant articles: Sign up to create and post custom, interactive, and responsive content that will be published on Facebook.
Slideshow ads: Integrate text, music, and videos into slideshows to get your audience’s attention.

Notes:

Organic reach has declined significantly, but boosting posts and sponsoring ads is highly effective and not expensive.
Video still has the highest reach potential.
Don’t use hashtags on Facebook!

Twitter

Key stat:
Tweets with images receive 18% more clicks than those without pictures.

Profile photo:
Will be cropped square
Recommended size 400 x 400 pixels (px)
Displays at 20 c 200 px

Header photo:
1500 x 500 px recommended
Maximum file size 10 MB
Use png (best), jpg or gif photo file

Best time to post:
1 PM most retweets
12 PM and 6 PM highest activity and usage

Best days to post:
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Notes:

Expanded form 140 characters to 280
Images/media no longer contribute to character count
Native GIF search
Live broadcasts and streams are o the rise
Post one or two hashtags at the most.

Instagram

Key stat:
Instagram users engage 25% more with brands than on other social media platforms.

Profile photo:
Appears as 292 x 292 on a desktop computer and 160 x 160 on mobile app
Thumbnails display as squares (but your original image doesn’t have to be square)
Photos are also 292 x 292

Best times to post:
Peak Instagram usage times are 3-4PM

Best days to post:
Instagram shows consistently good engagement all week long, with the exception of a slight dip on Sundays.
The highest day for engagement is Saturday by a small margin.

Notes:

Instagram Stories are all the rage, but these photos and videos disappear after 24 hours, like Snapchat.
Just like Facebook Live (Facebook bought Instagram), Instagram Live allows you to stream live video. However,
Instagram now has Group Boards for you to share your images with a community or around a topic.
You can automatically add Pinterest sharing buttons to all of your images (using third-party apps).
Instagram now offers the option to make your IG a Business Account, offering improved analytics and paid ads.
Post as many hashtags as you like, as Instagram allows 30 total between the post and your own comment (the best way to include so many hashtags without ruining the post’s aesthetic.)

Linkedin

Key stats:
Linkedin posts with images get 98% more comments, and posts with links have a 200% higher engagement rate.

Thumbnail photos 160 x 160
Feed images 350 x 250

Best times to post:
Between 10 AM and 11 AM

Best days to post:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Notes:

New tools for candidates to notify and interact with job recruiters.
Career pages offer more company information for job seekers.

YouTube

Key stats:
84% of consumers were convinced to make a purchase by a brand’s video, yet only 63% of businesses are recording videos to connect and inform their audience.
More than 50% of all YouTube views are on mobile devices like smartphones.

Channel Cover image:
Full-size displays at 2560 x 1440

Video uploads:
Must maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio
Must be at least 1280 x 720 quality as HD resolution
For highest quality, upload videos at 1920 x 1080 resolution and 4k resolutions

Best time to post:
12 PM – 3 PM
Around 5 PM – 6 PM

Best days to post:
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Pinterest

Key stats:
93% of Pinterest users use the platform to make purchases, and Pinterest users spend 15x more money than Facebook users. For that reason, Pinterest drives 25% of all retail website referral traffic!

Profile photo:
DIsaplays at 165 x 165 on the homepage
Displays at 32 x 32 everywhere else
Maximum file size of 10mb

Pin sizes:
Pins display at 238 px wide, but their height automatically adjusts to the image.
Expanded pins have a minimum width of 600 px.

Board display:
222 x 150 px (large thumbnail)
55 x 55 px (smaller thumbnail)

Best times to post:
Pin between 8 PM – 11 PM
Peak time 9 PM

Best day to post:
Saturdays

Notes:

Pinterest is actually not a photo app, but considered a search engine for its SEO benefits!
Creating Boards is one of the most critical aspects of Pinterest.
Promoting video content on Pinterest is now crucial for marketing.

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DC's - don't forget that may is international posture month! Here's a cheat sheet to share with your patients.

5/9/2018

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It's already well into May, and while that means warming temps and blooming flowers, it also means that we're in the midst of International Posture Month. In fact, Posture Month is an annual period when you should be actively educating your patients, audience, and others in the community. Of course, it’s important to let them know that correct posture is essential for avoiding injuries like back or neck pain, as well as allowing the body’s systems to function optimally.

Here are some facts, tips, and methods for correcting your posture to share with your followers. Feel free to use this information in your blogs, website, newsletters, social media posts, and any graphics you create for them. Just let us know if you need help with any of that!

Just standing up uses:
640 muscles,
206 bones,
45 miles of nerves, and
60,000 miles of blood vessels!

The average college student (and other Millennials) spends 8-10 hours a day on their smartphone, often with poor posture that seriously strains their neck.

65 million Americans endure back pain every year, with 7.6 million adults are disabled from that pain.

80% of Americans suffer back pain at some time during their lives, including 1 out of every 4 American adults who have suffered back pain just in the past three months.

The average person sits for an incredible 13 hours a day now, often at work and in front of a computer or other technology!

People only walk, stand, or move around about 4 hours every day.

What posture is correct for sitting at your desk at work?

Computer screen height. Make sure your monitor or screen is in line with your eye height, tilted slightly so you only have to move your eyes – not your neck – to see the whole screen, saving your neck, and shoulder muscles from fatigue and injury.

You should also sit at least 18 inches from the computer screen, which helps keep your head and torso aligned.

Keep your elbows close to your sides and forearms parallel to the floor. You should be able to reach your keyboard without moving your elbows.

For proper back alignment, tilt your pelvis a bit forward so that you’re almost sitting on your hamstrings, rather than all of your weight on your back and tailbone. This will also help relax your back and neck muscles.

Place your feet flat on the floor. If your feet don’t reach the floor comfortably, use a box or footrest, but don’t curl up your legs or dangle them.

Your ankles should be in front of your knees.

Make sure there’s a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your chair.

Your knees should be at or below the level of your hips – not above.

But sitting for a long time starts restricting breathing and circulation, so make sure to get up and move around frequently.

What does a strong standing posture look like?
For correct standing posture, align each zone of your body – the head, torso, pelvis, and legs.

Gently raise your head and center it over your body, straightening but not hyperextending your back.

How about optimal posture for sleeping?

The average person sleeps for 7 hours a day, so invest in a good mattress (most people prefer firm, but test out and get the right one for you) and pillow.

Side and back sleepers maintain better posture and breathe easier, so avoid sleeping on your stomach.

If you’re sleeping on your side, try a pillow between your knees to add pelvic support and align your hips and torso.

When you sleep on your back, use pillows with a neck contour to properly support your neck and spine.

Posture even has a big effect on our overall health.

Keeping a bad posture can do some long-term harm to your health.

Poor posture can inhibit and hard your bodily systems, negatively affecting your:
Digestion
Breathing
Muscles, joints, and ligaments
Reduce movement range
Circulation
Heart, lungs, and other vital organs

It can also very quickly lead to:
Back pain
Neck pain
Headaches
Nerve interference
Lethargy

For those reasons posture is a direct indicator of how long we’ll live, and with what quality of life.

In fact, maintaining correct posture will allow you to:
Feel more energetic
Suffer less fatigue
Sleep better
Breathe easier and more deeply
Pain-free movement
Perform at your athletic peak
Better range of motion and flexibility
Improved balance and coordination
Increase your confidence
Reduced stress and anxiety
Help prevent injuries
And even age gracefully, keeping your youthful looks longer!

Introducing the ACE method of correcting your posture:

When it comes to recognizing what you’re doing wrong with your posture, whether its at work, while walking around, or even while sleeping, we recommend:

A
Awareness:
The first step to correcting your posture is to identify how you are sitting, working, standing, and sleeping, including your body’s alignment but also those bad habits that have become so ingrained. Once you recognize them, you’re on your way to a better posture.

C
Control: Make sure you are consciously choosing your alignment and position, not just slipping into it. Focus on the basic principles we've outlined above, including aligning your body's zones properly and also sitting correctly at work and using phones and other electronics mindfully. With just a little bit of discipline, your new, improved healthy posture will become a habit!

E
Environment: Use the correct chair, desk, computer screen, car seat, mattress, etc. to help foster a strong posture. Your environment can even include visual reminders (like a Post-It note on your computer, a diagram on the wall, etc.) and even the right footwear.

What are some other ways you can improve your posture and balance?
Yoga
Exercise
Pilates
Physiotherapy
Massage
Periodic stretching at work or during the day

…and don’t forget about the most important of all - regular chiropractic care!

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How important is CA training to your wellness center?

5/4/2018

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Every successful chiropractic practice and thriving DC has one thing in common: their Chiropractic Assistants are utilized to their potential, becoming an invaluable contributor.

In fact, CAs should be your greatest asset!

But how do you get to that point, and where can you get efficient and cost-effective training for your CAs?

Dr. Charles Ward’s Innate Legacy practice building sessions offer the perfect opportunity to develop your CAs, spearheaded by remarkable CA Coach Lori Morgan.

Will well-trained and maximized CA’s really make a significant impact on your practice?

Absolutely, as great CA’s will help you grow, have happier patients, and less stress at work, while boosting your bottom line at the same time.

As a CA Coach and trainer for over 17 years, Lori knows how important well trained, passionate CA's are to your practice. With Lori Morgan’s help, your CA's will love what they do so they’ll want to do it 4 Life!

Her mission is to turn Chiropractic Assistants into true Chiropractic Advocates with the right tools, training, and inspiration. She’s worked as a Chiropractic Assistant in a high volume, multi-doctor practice for 15 years.

In 2001, Dr. Charlie Ward invited her to join his team as a CA Coach, trainer, and keynote speaker. Since then, her goal has always been to inspire CA’s to know how important they are to the growth of not only their practice’s but to this profession.

At the same time, she gives them everything they need to build their confidence to love their job so much they would never dream of doing anything else ( except become a Chiropractor of course)!

Thanks to Lori Morgan’s dedication and guidance, Innate Legacy practice building sessions offer one of the most successful CA Training programs in Chiropractic Coaching today.

At every session, your team will receive coaching and training just like DC’s, spending at least four hours in a separate workshop training that give them the tools they need to be confident in the systems and procedures of the office as well as chiropractic philosophy.

Your CA’s will become passionate about chiropractic, passionate about high volume, passionate about collecting money, and passionate about sharing the chiropractic message o gain more referrals!

Check out Lori Morgan’s Facebook page dedicated just to developing and training your chiropractic assistants, CA’s For Life (@lorimorgancacoach).

There, you’ll find ideas, tools, and support to your C.A's to help you to build a Team Legacy

Her goal is always to help CA's love what they do so they want to do it 4 Life!

You can “meet” Coach Lori Morgan and hear her message to CA’s below.

And sign up today to attend the next Chiropractic Practice Building Session, including specialized CA training by Lori Morgan and CA’s 4 Life at Minneapolis-St. Paul May 18-19th!

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Chiropractors – make sure you set up your Google My Business page!

20 Facts to honor the legacy of Memorial Day

Your chiropractic practice social media marketing cheat sheet

DC's - don't forget that may is international posture month! Here's a cheat sheet to share with your patients.

How important is CA training to your wellness center?

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