Posts Tagged ‘ MailChimp Email ’

Now that we’ve created your email list settings it’s time to add your email addresses.  Before we get started we need to discuss what email addresses you can use in your MailChimp list.  MailChimp has a great article explaining what you can and can’t use. You can read that list here and I would NOT begin my first Chiropractic email marketing campaign without reading it.  It’s required reading!

On the most basic level you may only use email addresses the owner has specifically  granted you permission to use.  If you’ve bought the email address, pulled it from a website, or otherwise found or paid for the email address you can NOT use it.  In fact, you probably can’t even use a patient’s email address if you they gave it you on your patient intake forms.

Why not?  More than likely you never specifically stated what you would be using their email address for, and more importantly you never asked for permission to use it.  If you did, you’re fine.  However, if the patient simply entered their email address in a space on your intake forms you can’t start sending email marketing without specifically obtaining permission to do so.  Don’t panic because there’s a solution. You simply need to get permission to use the email address.  This can be accomplished with our opt in forms we’ll create later, or even a permission form incorporated within your practice. More about all of that in a future post. For now let’s see how you can begin adding email addresses to your empty list.

One of the fastest ways to import email addresses is if you are lucky enough to already have them in a Microsoft Excel file or a comma separated or tab delimited .txt file. If you do, you can simply use the “import” function or just cut and paste the email addresses from Excel. The MailChimp.com import function allows you to import your existing email address list from sources above and also from places like Google Contacts, Eventbrite, Capsule, Highrise and other sites.

To use the import function simply log into your MailChimp account, select the “Lists” tab and then under your desired list simply click on the “import” link.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have an email list setup in one of the formats discussed already, you’ll have to manually enter your email addresses. It’s a little more time consuming if you have a lot of email addresses but there’s really not a way around it. To manually enter email addresses into your MailChimp list do the following. First log in to your MailChimp.com account and click on the “Lists” tab. Next, under your desired email list click on the “add people” link. You’ll then be taken to a screen to allow you enter an email address along with the option of entering the person’s first and last name. Notice the warning that you must have permission to use the person’s email address!

Since you’ll no doubt be acquiring email addresses manually via your practice intake forms and other sources, I recommend creating a database file if you have access to Excel or a similar program. If you don’t have Excel, OpenOffice.org might be a free alternative. If you have Microsoft Office, or something comparable to the Excel program, I highly recommend you create a simple file to store all your manually acquired email addresses.

A simple one column file to store the email address would be fine. You can also create a more complex file, simply create a separate column for each additional information field you would like to keep track of (One for patient first name, last name, address, phone number etc). This file would then be a database of your manually acquired email addresses. Provided you have specifically obtained permission to use these addresses, you would then simply import them or cut and paste the list into your MailChimp list on a regular basis.

One of the cool things about MailChimp is it will automatically catch any duplicate addresses and help you automatically clean your email address list when you import or add new email addresses!

There you have it! You can now begin building your chiropractic email marketing list. In our next post we’ll create our email newsletter opt-in forms. These forms are great because they’ll automatically add your new members who subscribe to your email newsletter using these forms! In the meantime start creating those lists and database files!

Now that I’ve told you how helpful MailChimp.com can be for your Chiropractic email marketing, let’s set up your account and first email marketing campaign.  Don’t worry because setting up your account is just as easy as everything else on the site.  With that in mind, let’s get started!

The first step is to go to MailChimp.com.  Click the “Signup Free” button in the top right corner.  You’ll be transferred to the first signup page. Enter your email address you wish to be contacted at, choose a username (spaces are not allowed), and a password of at least 6 characters.  Notice that at least one of the characters in your password must be a number or other special “non-letter” character.

Now simply click the “Create My Account” button. If all went correctly you’re brought to the “Thanks for signing up!” page.

Notice that you’ll be asked to check the email inbox of the email address you just listed in the sign up process.  This email contains a link that you must click to activate and confirm your MailChimp account.  If you have any issues with the link not working you might need to click a message in your email software to allow you to click the link.  Look for a something similar to “view all content and links”, “Enable links” or similar.  If all else fails, simply type or copy and paste the website address from the email into your internet web browser’s address bar.

This link will take you to a page asking you to verify you’re human.  This is to ensure your account isn’t an auto generated account completed by a spammer or other ill intentioned individual.  Simply type the words located in the captcha box and click the “Confirm Signup” box.  See the example screenshot below.  You’ll then be taken directly to the MailChimp.com sign in page.  Simply enter your username and password and click “Login”.

You’ll then be taken to the “Let’s get started” page.  This is where you begin setting up the details of your account.  This is done for setup and not something you’ll need to do every time you log in.  The process is all very self explanatory but we’ll run through the steps here quickly.

Enter your name (I recommend the Doctor of Chiropractic’s name here since he or she is ultimately the one responsible for all advertising), business address, and other pertinent account details here.  This information will be listed at the bottom of each email you send to comply with CAN-SPAM laws, so make sure you double check everything for accuracy.

Click the “Next” button and you’ll be asked to list your business name, website address if applicable, and to choose a category that best applies to your business.  I  personally use the “Medical, Dental and Healthcare”  category. MailChimp uses this information to show you how your email marketing efforts stand up to other email marketing in the same industry.

Next you’ll choose a “Security question” and answer.  You may be required to correctly answer your security question  to verify your identity if MailChimp notices something fishy with your account.  With that in mind keep the question something only you would know and also something you’ll easily remember.  For example, your Father’s middle name, mother’s maiden name etc.  Make a note of the exact spelling you use for your answer and keep the information, along with your MailChimp log in information, in a safe place.

At the bottom of the screen you are now asked to select which plan you want to start with.

If your list has less 500 email address and you’ll be sending less than 3000 monthly emails you can start with the “Forever Free” plan.  The only limitations of the Forever Free plan are a list size of less than 500, a maximum of 3,000 monthly sends, and a small “MailChimp” affiliate badge or logo be placed at the bottom of your emails. Paid plans remove the “MailChimp” badge and increase list size and monthly send limits.  Unless you have an immediate need to send to 500 or more email addresses, I’d start out with the free plan.  Simply click the green “Pick Plan” button under your choice.  Once you make your selection you’ll be transferred to your account’s main “Dashboard”.

The dashboard is where you’ll begin all of your MailChimp activities.  The first thing you’ll need to do is setup your new email list and then add or import the email addresses you’ll be sending to.  We’ll tackle these tasks in our next posts.  In the meantime you can take advantage of all the fantastic “how to” articles and instructional videos available for free from MailChimp.  Simply log into your account and scroll down toward the middle of the page and explore the “Learning Center” area of your dashboard.

This area is packed full of tutorials that can explain things better than ever could.

Gather up those email addresses because we’ll begin building your MailChimp email marketing list next time! Until then, keep spreading the word of Chiropractic!

-Dr. James

*All screenshots above are from MailChimp.com and are used with permission.  MailChimp was created by The Rocket Science Group  © 2001-2010. All rights reserved.

Last time we spent a few minutes exploring just a handful of  ideas to get you started with your Chiropractic email marketing.   It should be obvious that there is a great deal of potential there. In just a few minutes we discussed dozens of ways email marketing can be used to promote Chiropractic and your practice.  Now you’re probably wondering, if Chiropractic email marketing is so fantastic, why aren’t all Doctors of Chiropractic using it in their practice?

The obvious answers are the perceived level of difficulty, lack of knowledge and experience, and plain old lack of time.  Most Chiropractors simply don’t know how to do any of this on their own.  Even if they did, they lack the time it would normally require to set it all up effectively.

Most doctors know you can’t simply throw some plain text into an email program, call it a newsletter, and send it out expecting results.  An attractive HTML email with photos, images, and links to websites of interest are all vital.  Knowing how to design and code an html email correctly, make it attractive, and also ensure it is deliverable are simply not skills the average Chiropractor possesses.

Most streetwise chiropractor’s also know, as with any form of Chiropractic advertising,  you have to be careful about email marketing.  Anti-spam regulations have made legal email marketing a much more involved process than it was 5 or 10 years ago.   You must have permission to use a person’s email (and be able to prove it) to avoid accusations of spam and abuse.  In addition,  you must  manage and update email lists with subscribe and unsubscribe forms and options.  To comply with Chiropractic board requirements in many states you also have to maintain a written record of the advertising you sent.  That’s just the start of it!  It’s no wonder many Chiropractors shy away from email marketing  with the attitude that it’s beyond their capabilities.

What if there were a web-based program that made Chiropractic email marketing a breeze? What if it automated 95% of the process and made it all as simple as ordering something online? Imagine designing an attractive html email with no coding knowledge.  Imagine creating and managing email lists on the fly.  Try and visualize the value of a site that could create all of your email list sign up and unsubscribe forms with the click of a mouse button.  Imagine tracking the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns: seeing who opened it, which links were clicked and more. Well such a site does exist!   Now imagine if all of this was offered free of charge.  Well it is!

If you have a desire to enter the world of chiropractic email marketing then there is no better way to do it than with free help!  Let me introduce you to a little site called MailChimp.com.  Don’t let the funny name fool you, this site is no joke!  MailChimp is an amazing website to help you create and manage your own email marketing campaigns.  It has an amazingly simple WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) style interface to help you set up and design your Chiropractic email marketing.  Perhaps better than the dozens of hours it will save you is the fact that it’s absolutely free for lite and beginning users.  Not a free trial…FOREVER FREE as long as you manage a list of under 500 subscribers and send less than 3,000 emails a month!

If you can’t tell by now, I’m in love with it! I’ll briefly discuss how I came across MailChimp and what makes it so great in my next post.  After that I’ll even walk you through setting up your first email marketing campaign.  In the meantime, if you just can’t wait, head on over to MailChimp.com and check them out.  I’m off for a banana break!

In our last post we looked at the basic structure of the most common form of chiropractic email marketing, the monthly newsletter.  Now let’s take a look at specific ideas for content for your chiropractic newsletter and even some ways to use email marketing for tasks other than a simple newsletter.

A basic Chiropractic newsletter is the bread and butter of your Chiropractic email marketing efforts.  Now that we know your newsletter will be serve both your existing and potential Chiropractic patients, let’s explore some ideas for content.

There are some companies out there who supply content for your monthly newsletter. Some of them are useful and many of them aren’t.  They’re generally geared more toward a hard copy newsletter you’d send via postal snail mail.  They are usually of limited use for email marketing because you’re stuck with the layout they provide for you.  Most often  you simply plug in your practice contact information and live with the content they’ve written.  Some may allow you to change content and edit the layout but it’s all still of limited use if you have still need to edit HTML and make it all work in your email program.

A Google Search or Ebay search for “Chiropractic newsletters” should provide you with more information if you plan on going this route.  We’re currently developing our own fully editable and functional content and templates for your Chiropractic email marketing needs so I won’t point you to any specific sites.

Whether you buy something pre-made or do it all from scratch, you’re going to end up writing your own content.  You can only rotate stale chiropractic newsletter content so many times before it’s time is up.  You’ll definitely need to get your creative juices flowing and have some ideas for content.  Let’s look at some sample ideas to get you started.

Ideas for internal marketing:

Your newsletter can be used to promote your practice to both existing and potential patients.  Use a monthly newsletter to keep patients informed about what’s going on within your practice.  This stimulates inactive patients or new patients to schedule an appointment.  It can also stimulate new Chiropractic patient referrals.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do with a monthly Chiropractic email newsletter.  These ideas can be incorporated into a newsletter or you can even issue a separate, dedicated email for any single idea.  Just be careful you don’t send too many emails or you’ll quickly lose subscribers.  A great general rule is to send only one or two emails a month.

• Going out of town for a seminar? Let people know you’ll be completing a continuing education seminar to” improve your clinical skills”.
• Just complete a continuing education seminar? Be sure to announce it in your newsletter.
• Sponsoring an event or local sports team? Spread the word.
• Announce changes in staff, hours, procedures, or office policies.
• Announce your acceptance into a new insurance network or discount program.
• Discuss patient appreciation or even announce an entire appreciation day or week.
• Offer coupons, discounts, or other rewards.  (Make sure to be careful not to induce Medicare/Medicaid patients)
• Conduct a patient satisfaction survey or other questionnaires.
• Expand or explain office policies on missed appointments, payment etc.
• Provide a topic, joke,word, question of the month, or even a quote and invite and encourage patients to discuss it with you during their next visit.  (This is a great way alternative to “table talk” about the weather or last night’s game.  It’s also a great  low tech way to see who takes the time to read your newsletter!
• Announce a new piece of equipment or skill you’ve acquired for the practice.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let your imagination go and you’ll find this is the easiest and often most enjoyable part of the newsletter to write.

Ideas for external marketing:

The topics for your external marketing uses for your  newsletter are even easier to come up with.  Simply focus on providing general information of value that is of use to both existing and potential patients.  This is the information those non-patients signed up for.  This information also benefits existing members of your practice and helps convert potential patients into new chiropractic patients.

These ideas are very easy to come by.  The biggest problem you’re likely to face here is picking which topic and avoiding going into too much detail. You need to provide useful information and impress your reader with your knowledge of the material without going into too much detail.

Here are some common ideas to get you started:

• Pick a specific health condition and write about it.  For example, you may choose to write a blurb about migraine headaches, sciatica, or asthma.  Provide a brief description of the condition and it’s causes and common treatments. I’d even suggest providing your opinion on how Chiropractic may help the patient.

• Offer tips on safe lifting technique.
• Offer an article on computer ergonomics.
• Provide workplace ergonomic advice.
• Discuss inflammation and the importance of a non-inflammatory diet.
• Discuss a particular chiropractic technique.
• Explain the basic anatomy and function of the human spine.

See there? In just a few minutes I spoon fed you topics for your first half of a year of chiropractic newsletters!  As you can see the topics are endless.  I’m constantly coming up with a new idea.  In fact I get so many random ideas I keep a notebook or digital voice recorder in the car, at the office, and by my bed so I can make a note of those ideas that seem to pop out of nowhere.

Not only are these ideas easy to come by, it’s also very easy to put a Chiropractic spin on them and use the topics to promote Chiropractic and your practice.  The most difficult aspect is narrowing down your choices and keeping things these brief.  (As you can tell from this post, brevity is something I obviously have a problem with as well!) Next time I’ll discuss how to begin taking these abstract concepts and turning it all into usable Chiropractic email marketing.

Are you marketing  your Chiropractic practice to potential and existing patients with an email newsletter or other email marketing? If you aren’t you are missing a great, low cost chiropractic marketing alternative.  If you haven’t implemented an email marketing campaign in your practice now is the time!  If you’re currently paying someone else to do this for you, I’ll bet you’re paying far too much.  If you’re doing it all yourself  I applaud you, but I can almost guarantee you’re working too hard.

In our very first blog article series here at ChiropracticPR.com we’re going to explore the world of chiropractic email marketing.  We’ll show you why it’s so great, and even hold your hand through setting up your first campaign.  Don’t worry because none of it is very difficult.  I’ll even introduce you to a site and tools to do it all FREE, or at a low cost.  If you don’t have the time or desire we can even handle it all for you for a very low fee!   So if you’re ready to learn more about chiropractic email marketing let’s get started.

An electronic newsletter is a low cost (how does free sound?) form of chiropractic marketing for your practice.  Email is a great way to both stay in touch with your existing chiropractic patients, and  attract new ones.  Done correctly, it’s affordable and extremely effective.  So let’s look at how a Chiropractic email marketing campaign can help you.  The most common form of chiropractic email marketing is the monthly newsletter.

There are two main types of Chiropractic email newsletters: internal and external.  An internal newsletter is geared more at keeping in touch with your existing chiropractic patients.   This is a newsletter that will offer news and updates about current events in your practice and professional life.

In contrast an external newsletter is geared more toward the general public.  There are many examples here but the best example would be a free “public service” health newsletter.  This would be a newsletter you set up for the general public to subscribe to for monthly health tips.  You would of course list your chiropractic practice contact information and general info about your practice, but the main goal is to educate the reader on Chiropractic and healthy living.

As you’d probably imagine maintaining two separate newsletters would be best. However it’s also very time consuming.  Therefore I opt for a hybrid of the two.  I offer  a newsletter open to patients and the general public that’s about a 60%/40% mix.  I use 60% of the newsletter to promote Chiropractic, provide health tips, and deliver wellness advice.  The remaining 40% is used to provide updates and announcements pertaining to my practice.  This allows the general public to get a look at my practice from the sidelines.

Now that we have a basic idea of the structure of a chiropractic email newsletter we’ll examine some ideas for content, and other uses of email marketing, in our next post.