When we are looking for favorable places to put a practice, we are often drawn to those sites that are allowing or encouraging growth, particularly those sites that are encouraging the construction of single family, owner occupied dwelling units. In some states (including California) this is becoming more expensive (assuming they are even possible.) Politicians don't like them for several reasons. They don't provide property taxes like apartment developments do and they are difficult to put in utilities. They also represent challenges to voting blocks that local politicians like. Worst of all, they encourage "buy-in" that is independent of politicians. They prefer to deal with individual developers. They don't like individual property owner or their representatives.

When big developers have to answer to politicians, they resent losing their power base.

We are looking for a large population base that also controls building permits rather than politicians that control them like a kind of "patronage gift." When practices depend upon single-family housing that is owner-occupied, the politicians lose power (and control). That is one more reason you want local control to be in the hands of local property owners.

Doctor Demographics can tell you where these places exist. If you are going to put the future in the hands of a building developer, you want to retain control of that property. We have the answers to how this can be done.

This episode deals with the question of competition saturation. How many other general dentists (for example) should cause concern for a doctor considering putting a new office in a neighborhood? The real question is how closely the two offices match up in their definition of their marketing mix (product, place, price, and promotion?) Experience would suggest that unless they are exactly the same, there is no good reason to locate an office in another neighborhood just because there is another office that looks somewhat similar. In fact, the idea that NO ONE would consider putting a competing practice in that location may be sufficient reason to wonder about the neighborhood in the first place. 

So rather than shrink away from an office with competition, it might be considered a desirable factor!

When I first started doing demographic and site analysis reports for doctors nearly 40 years ago, the art and science of this analysis were still pretty primitive. Things have changed in fairly significant ways. This includes the ways that we drew practice boundaries and interpreted the data.  This session talks about one of the BIG changes that have occurred: Zip Code definitions and drive times. Another big change is the inclusion and interpretation of psychographics.

This week our episode deals with presenting the reasons the patient base should choose YOUR practice and how you can present the benefits of seeking can in a more persuasive manner. It is based upon tools we call Agenda Setting and Framing Theories and they are cutting-edge market research. They have been proven wildly effective in recent decades to help "move the needle" for healthcare practices to not only choose YOUR practice but to build a loyal and enthusiastic patient base.

When you are ready Doctor Demographics can customize your image and practice promotion to make them more effective and targeted. Come to www.DoctorDemographics.com to get a sample report and a price quote.