Episode 119: Should You Consider A Dental Membership Plan?

Hey Ambitious Dentists, I hope you're having a great week and continuing to navigate these challenging times.  Today I'm excited to share my conversation with Cory Pinegar, CEO of Callforce, who dives deep into the art of answering the phone and how to develop the right phone system for your practice. Having talked to many dentists over the years, I know that one of the most difficult things to "get right" is how you handle your phones, especially when you're starting out.  Here's just some of what you'll learn in today's interview with Cory Pinegar: Some of Corey's unbelievable statistics and facts about dental calls. Why systems and structure are so important to optimize your phone process.  How to determine the missed opportunities for your practice.  The most common times people call and how to ensure you are prepared.  Why handling calls are difficult for a new practice and how to know when you should hire extra help. The biggest mistakes most dental practices make when making calls.  A simple trick for making calls a priority in your practice And much more... 

Hey there Ambitious Dentists, I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay healthy and safe. I know that for some, the last thing you might want to do is listen to a dental podcast, but if you're looking for a quick break from the chaos of the last few months, I think you'll really enjoy today's episode. Today I sit down with previous SYDP guest, Jordon Comstock, CEO of BoomCloud, a dental membership plan software that has helped hundreds of dentists successfully implement membership programs in their practice. We cover some of the latest insights on membership plans as well as some best practices to improve your chances of success.  Here's just some of what you'll learn in today's episode.  Why a dental membership plan can help you get through difficult times.  What exactly a "membership program" is, and whether it might be right for you. The biggest mistakes with membership plans and how to avoid them.  Why membership plans aren't just good for you... but why your patients will love them as well. What Amazon Prime can teach you about running a successful dental practice.  How to retain patients that are out of network. And much more... Even if you've tried a membership plan in the past with little success, or are considering adding one, I know you'll really enjoy today's episode. 

Hey Ambitious Dentists, On behalf of the entire Tooth & Coin team, I hope you and your loved ones are doing well in these incredibly difficult times and are staying safe and sound.  While many are struggling around the world, I know it’s an especially challenging time for dentists specifically.  I originally recorded this interview with Dan Delmain a few weeks ago, but given the recent events with the Coronavirus I believe you’ll find today’s interview especially relevant.  While the health of your family and friends obviously comes first, it’s more important than ever to build the right systems to attract more patients for your practice.  Today’s guest Dan Delmain is an industry leading leader in helping small businesses generate patients and increase revenue through strategic online marketing and website design.  We talk about everything from website design, to latest marketing best practices. I’ve personally seen how effective Dan’s methods are with his clients and in our talk he shares some incredibly powerful marketing and business strategies you can apply right away.  Here are just a few things you’ll learn: Why your dental practice website is so important and the most common mistakes dentists make.  The most effective type of testimonial to increase trust quickly.  Should you make a few minor tweaks to your current site or start from scratch? Why the “band aid” approach to your website almost never works long term. The “Content Management System” Dan recommends for most dentists.  One of the easiest ways to take your website from a 7 to a 10.  How to use your website to make a genuine connection with your patients. And much more. 

Hey Ambitious Dentists, Jonathan here. Apologies for it being so quiet on the podcasting front, as my team and I were heads down rebranding DentistMetrics into what is now Tooth and Coin.  It was a ton of hard work, and I couldn’t be more happy with how things have turned out. Thanks to my amazing team and all the support from the SYDP community.  Today I’m incredibly excited to get back into the swing of things by welcoming back a previous SYDP guest Alex Nottingham CEO and founder of All Star Dental Academy to the show.  A while back he shared a ton of value on episode 93 of SYDP and I wanted to bring him back on to share his latest insights on what’s working in dentistry.  Here are a few things you’ll learn in today’s episode: How Alex helped take his father’s dental practice from the verge of bankruptcy to becoming a thriving practice.  The most effective way to increase your case acceptance rate without using hype or pressure.  Why you don’t need to work crazy hours to build a successful practice.  Some of the biggest myths dentists believe that are holding them back from dental practice growth.  How Alex got into dentistry, and the main business lessons he’s learned about the industry.   Why having a team first approach can make all the difference in your dental practice success.  And much more.

Hey Ambitious Dentists, One of the most common questions I get in talking with dentist practice owners all over the country is how to acquire a dental practice successfully. As you likely know, there's a massive difference between thinking about acquiring a practice and actually taking action on your plan. Today I'm incredibly excited to sit down with Paul Sletten founder of the Sletten group. Paul has been in business for over forty years and is, without a doubt, one of the most knowledgeable people I know about how to make a successful transition when acquiring a practice. In today's episode, he breaks down everything you need to know so that you can acquire a practice successfully. Here are just a few of things you'll learn...  The biggest mistakes dentists make when acquiring a practice and how to avoid them. How Paul got into the industry and what he's learned since being in business since 1975. Why communicating with your staff is essential when you're thinking of acquiring a practice. When to know if you should acquire a practice. The most important things to keep in mind when you acquire your practice and how to keep original patients. Why culture is so important in being successful in your acquisition. How to know if the practice you're acquiring is a good fit. And much more.

Hey Ambitious Dentists, Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week. Whether you’re fresh out of dental school or have been running your general dental practice for years, you’ve likely at one time considered adding ortho to your practice. Is it worth it? How do you even go about getting started? Maybe you’re an orthodontist now, who is looking to get more out of your offering. Today I’m incredibly excited to sit down with today’s guest Dr. Amanda Wilson, founder of Straight Smile Solutions and orthodontist herself. Straight Smile Solutions is an ortho consulting firm that helps dentists add ortho to their offerings and improve their current ortho processes. In today’s interview, we talk about the common misconceptions of ortho, when you should consider adding it to your practice, as well as all the latest ortho best practices.   If you’re currently an orthodontist or run a general practice and are considering adding ortho, you don’t want to miss my interview with Dr. Amanda Wilson. Here are a few things you’ll learn in today’s episode. Dr. Wilson’s inspiring story of how she went from being an orthodontist to running an orthodontist consulting company as well. How to maximize your ortho production and the common mistakes most dentists make with ortho. What Dr. Wilson learned from practicing during the tech boom and bust and how it affected her practice and future career. The most effective way to sell ortho without being too salsey. How adding ortho can dramatically increase your practice’s revenue when done correctly. The 3 limiting beliefs many dentists have about ortho and how to overcome them. And much more.

Hey ambitious dentists, We have a special treat for you today with a guest interview covering a topic I know is on a lot of our SYDP listener's minds. Saving for your kids higher education. With college tuition rising with no signs of slowing down, and the US having over a trillion dollars in student loan debt,  it can be a challenge knowing not only how much you should invest in the future of your children, but the most effective way to do so according to your situation. Today I’m excited to sit down with Abby Chao co-founder of CollegeBacker.com a resource and service that helps any parent start investing in a tax-free 529 college saving plans in just minutes. Even if you’re just out of a school and kids aren’t quite in the picture, it’s never too early to get ahead on planning for the future. Here are a few things you’ll learn in today’s episode. Why starting a college fund now is so important  and the easiest way to do so. The major benefits of a 529 college savings plan. A simple guideline to know how much to save. The future of higher education and what it may mean for your children. The difference between a 529 and a regular savings account. Why donations to a college fund are becoming one of the most popular graduation gifts. And much more. The Best Way To Save For Your Kid’s Higher Education As A Dental Practice Owner Quote "If you don't know what a 529 plan is.. you're not alone. Over 70% of parents have no idea what a 529 plan is." -Abby Chao About The Guest College Backer  Support The Show Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this show wouldn’t exist. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give the show an honest rating and review on iTunes. This allows me to evolve the show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.

Today we have another exciting treat for you, as I sit down with Jeff Gladnick, CEO of GreatDentalWebsites. Jeff was one of the first guests we had on the SYDP podcast when we launched just a few years ago, and I’m excited to have him back on the show to share the latest best practices for your dental website and marketing efforts. Jeff is one of the very first people I really connected with in the dental industry, and he’s genuinely one of the most stand up guys in the dental space. Whether you’re looking to improve your website conversions or want to know how to get a better ROI on your marketing initiatives,  you’re going to absolutely love today’s interview. Here are just a few things you’ll learn: Why good marketing isn’t as easy as just paying someone and hoping for the best. The importance of local search when growing your dental practice. Why your website MUST be mobile friendly. What’s working now in marketing and building dental websites that convert. Why it’s essential you have your own website, even if you're already on social media. How to avoid wasting tens of thousands of dollars when rebuilding or creating your dental practice website. The best way to display social proof on your website and on your social media channels. And much more. Today’s interview is absolutely jam packed with actionable insights that you can start implementing right away.  Click here to listen to my interview with Jeff Gladnick.   -Jonathan VanHorn 

Hey Ambitious Dentists, When my team and I launched the SYDP podcast over three years ago, we had no idea that we would be able to build such an amazing SYDP community. Since launch, we’ve had over 100+ guests on the show, each of which shared their unique take on how to build a thriving and profitable dental practice. Today I’m incredibly excited to share that I recently sat down with our very first SYDP guest Jayme Amos.  Jayme is an incredibly successful dental practice consultant and best selling author as well as the founder and CEO of Ideal Practices. Over the years Jayme has been able to build a massive following in the dental community and for good reason. In our latest SYDP episode, we sat down to talk about what he’s been working on over the last few years, as well as the unique project he recently launched. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first project of its kind in the dental community, and he shares more about what it’s about on today’s show. Here are just a few of the things we cover… What Jayme has learned from producing the dental communities first ever documentary focusing exclusively on startups and growing your dental practice. The current entrepreneurial trends in dentistry, and why they matter to you. How to push through the ups and downs of being a dental practice owner. The pros and cons of starting your own practice versus purchasing one How to balance traditional education and learning by doing as you grow your practice. The hard truth about growing your dental practice and why building a startup is not for everyone. And much more.

Hey Ambitious Dentists!   Happy Wednesday! I have a special treat for you today. Recently I had the honor of being interviewed by the incredible Dr. Paul Goodman and attorney Rob Montgomery on The Dental Amigos Podcast.   It’s always fun being on the other side of the mic for a change, and Dr. Paul and Rob are really great guys doing amazing things in the dental industry.   Dr. Paul also runs the incredibly popular Dental Nachos online community and brand which I know many of you are a part of, and Rob is one of the most respected dental attorney's around.   They were kind of enough to give me permission to republish the episode here for the SYDP community, and I think you’ll find a ton of actionable insights in our conversation.   Here are just a few of the things we cover… Should you buy a house or a dental practice first? Hint… it depends My favorite nacho topping…. Should you lease or purchase your office? An inside look at what I do at DentistMetrics Common misconceptions of what a CPA does And much more.