1. How Your Practice willINCREASE REVENUEBy Having An Effective Phone Plan Download slides at twitter.com/aesthetics360
2. Why Are We Qualified? We have taken and managed over 1 million elective surgery calls for over 250 practices nationwide Over the past 8 years, we’ve created systems that have helped hundreds of practices improve call handling and turn more prospects into patients.
3. What Do We Do... Elective Procedure Call Handling ACEtm- Actual Consumer Experience- phone quality control training and management OptiTracktm- Web based contact management and phone scripting program “Secret Service”- mystery shopping
4. Our Goals … Understand current trends in the industry and how they relate to elective procedure call volume Learn why “skills development” for your team is vital in consumer communications Share some concepts and tools for call handing improvement and phone conversions
5. Recent Trends Elective procedure call volume started to drop off May 08 Practices reacted to slower conditions by reducing staff More pressure is put on the existing staff members to handle more responsibilities This all comes at expense of good customer service!
6. Poll What has happened with your staffing over the past 12months?
7. Recent Trends, cont. Call volume rose in Jan due to flexible spending accounts Call volume in 2009 remains at an elevated rate FOR THOSE WHO KEEP ADVERTISING Facilities that have cut marketing budgets have experienced an immediate and precipitous drop in call volume
15. Poll 2 What has happened with your marketing over the past 12 months?
16. Poll 3 Where are you spending your marketing dollars?
17. We’re getting calls, how come nobody’s having a procedure? Why don’t people have a procedure at the first practice they contact?* *survey completed by American Network
18. 45% did not book due topoor customer service Contributing Factors? Patients felt they were kept on hold for too long. They had to repeat information to multiple representatives. They felt the representative was not knowledgeable or could not solve problems. Responses to patient’s messages or emails were too slow.
19. 20% did not book due to lack of attention they felt they received Contributing Factors? Practices not adhering to the “3 Second Rule” Too much time spent in the waiting room (average wait time was 30 minutes) Patients felt rushed and were unable to ask questions Staff was not personable
20. 15% did not book because they feltthey found a better product Contributing Factors? Patient seeking a practice with the “latest technology” Surgeon/practice did not have a desirable level of experience Practice did not have flexible office hours Patient wanted a practice that offered more resources (website, seminars, etc.)
21. 15% did not book because they feltthey could find a better price Contributing Factors? Patient’s insurance company offers a discount for the procedure at another practice Patient received a “coupon” for the procedure from another practice Financing options were not offered to the patient
22. 5% did not book due toother reasons not listed Contributing Factors? Patient found a practice closer to home Patient received a referral from a friend or relative for another place Patient was not ready Patient was not a candidate
23. To Succeed In Business Excellent Excellent Excellent Product Delivery System Service Mindset
24. Elements Of An Effective Phone PlanCreating the “service mindset” Who answers your phones? Do you have the “A” team on the job??? What scripting is in place? What training and coaching do you provide Improper training, or No training at all How do you track your success? Do you know if your plan is actually working?
25. Poll 4 Who handles the phones for elective procedures in your practice?
26. Things to remember when creating YOUR plan First impressions are formed in the first few seconds of the phone call 93% of human communication consists of body language, tone and attitude. Only 7% on the words themselves- SMILE! Customers may have already been interacting with their phone key pad with pre-recorded messages, so some of the first impression may be out of your hands!
27. Lay The Groundwork:Fun Facts About Basic Consumer Behavior: Talk to friends Research on the web Value their time Don’t considerthemselves patients Stay on holdless than 90 seconds Only 15% leave a voice mail If message left, will call next on list
28. Goals For An Effective Phone Plan Create Rapport Capture the lead Book an appointment Create a follow up plan
29. The Anatomy Of A Call- creating the script The Introduction Exploration- learn about the caller and their needs Education- what to do next Closing- appointment, or info only?
30. Step 1: The Greeting:Proper greeting and capturing the lead: “Thank you for calling …Jones Aesthetic Center …This is Bill speaking, how may I help you today?” Response: “Great, I can help you with that! Are you calling for yourself or someone else?” “May I ask your first name”? “Thanks (name), and how are you today?” Remember….SMILE!!!
31. Why Do This? A proper greeting is polite and gives a great first impression Using (not over-using) their name establishes a more personal relationship with the patient. Studies show that a person’s first name is their favorite word! Mystery Shop Results- 1000 calls placed Greeting: 58.33%! Lead capture: 3.67%!
32. Step 2: How did you hear about us?Get the referral source! Have you ever been into our office before? Is this the first time calling us? How did you hear about us today?
33. Why Do This? This is the beginning of establishing rapport and creating a conversation Practices spend a lot of money on marketing and need to know what is working. This also sets up the conversation for the delivery of the all important “validation statement” Mystery Shop Results- 1000 calls placed Referral source: 7%!
34. Step 3: Creating Value:Why choose you??? “Do you know much about our office?” “insert your bragging rights here…so you’ll be in great hands with us!”
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36. It also diminishes the need to explore fears the may have about a procedure.
47. What will occur at the visit (brief consult or medical exam)
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51. Each call should accomplish 1 of 2 goals: Book an appointment Capture the lead if the patient does not book Have a follow up plan for mining captured leads An astounding 20-30% of new patient inquiries are let off the phone with NO action!
52. Poll 5 How do you evaluate your phone staff’s abilities on the phone?
53. Thank You !!! This has been an Aesthetics 360 Presentation