Why Your PT Marketing Isn’t Working (And What to Fix)

Are you stepping over dollars to pick up dimes? Jimmy and Tony get real about the trap so many physical therapists fall into — chasing insurance reimbursement while leaving more profitable (and sustainable) opportunities on the table.???? What You'll Learn:Why traditional reimbursement is broken — and what to do insteadHow to use social media and media monetization to scale beyond the tableThe mindset shift from practitioner to content-powered business ownerReal talk about fair pay, "quality care," and licensing fearsWhy some PTs still push back against innovation????️ This episode is fire for:Cash-based PTsCreators in healthcareAnyone tired of billing gymnasticsClinicians wanting to scale without burning out???? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro + stepping over dollars 03:15 – The $250 mistake PTs keep making 06:40 – Slap in the face pricing: Why discounts kill value 09:02 – Who’s your dream patient (tail-wag test)? 13:22 – Peace Corps guilt + the fallacy of fairness 16:30 – Why insurance doesn’t care if you save costs 19:11 – Monetizing visits through media 23:00 – The “Free PT” Model 25:45 – Is it unethical to go all-in on content? 28:30 – The Mr. Beast effect in healthcare 33:10 – The future of PT: Twitch, media, and real reach

Dr. Hoda Salsabili — founder of HemScap, creator of Pivotal PT, and professor focused on integrating AI into physical therapy education.In this episode:What AI literacy actually means for PTs and studentsHow Hoda built a clinical-grade AI platform for remote monitoring and documentationWhere AI fits into simulation-based education and hybrid careWhy she believes AI will never replace PTs — but it will eliminate low-value careGuest Links:HemScap: https://hemscap.comEmail: [email protected] Shoutouts:????️ Pre-Roll: US Physical Therapy — Learn how to grow without selling out: usph.com/partnerships???? Mid-Roll: Brooks IHL — Turn good clinicians into great ones: brooksihl.org???? Pre-Parting Shot: Empower EMR — AI-enhanced workflows that give you your time back: empoweremr.com???? Subscribe & Follow:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pt-pintcast-physical-therapy/id1000443325Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LmMUT64yrUc2iGo9EmafcYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PTPintcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptpintcastWebsite: https://www.ptpintcast.com/

In this episode, Jimmy talks with fractional healthcare marketing strategist Andrea Tager about why most physical therapy and healthcare content completely misses its mark. You’ll learn how to craft messaging that resonates with the right person (hint: it’s often not the patient), why demographics don’t work in isolation, and what to do when your clinic’s “reach” isn’t converting to results.Topics Covered:Why visibility ≠ successThe danger of targeting “everyone”How to develop clear psychographic profilesCreating emotionally relevant content in healthcareExamples of content that converts (and doesn’t)Guest: Andrea Tager???? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreatager/Sponsor Shoutouts:????️ Brooks IHL – Ready to level up clinically? World-class residencies, fellowships, and CE. ???? brooksihl.org????️ Empower EMR – Built by PTs, for PTs. Faster notes. Better flow. ???? empoweremr.com????️ US Physical Therapy (USPH) – Build your future in PT with mentorship and growth tracks. ???? usph.comPSA:Support kids through Go Baby Go and their ride-on mobility projects → Learn More

In This Episode:Matt's path from employee to clinic ownerCreating cash-pay offers without alienating insurance patientsUsing school outreach and combines to drive youth athlete businessHow a “third place” clinic model beats traditional marketingBuilding a team your community trusts — and clinicians want to joinThe mindset (and coaching) that made ownership feel possibleSponsored By:???? Pre-Roll: U.S. Physical Therapy – Practice partnerships for forward-thinking PTs???? Mid-Roll: Empower EMR – Streamlined documentation that just works???? Pre-Parting Shot: Brooks IHL – World-class clinical education + mentorship

Clinic owners and physical therapists — this one’s a wake-up call. Jimmy dives into why 76% of referrals never start PT care and how friction at every stage of the funnel — forms, phone tag, poor UX — drives patients away. You’ll also hear how concierge PT is changing expectations, why Netflix would never make you fax, and the real fixes every clinic can implement to stop the bleeding.What You’ll Learn:Where patients are dropping off — and whyWhy your intake form is probably working against youHow self-referral is flipping traditional marketingConcierge PT pricing and perception shiftsFixes that scale without hurting patient trustSponsors:Pre-Roll: Brooks IHL → https://www.brooksihl.orgMid-Roll: EMPOWER EMR → https://www.empoweremr.comPre-Parting: U.S. Physical Therapy → https://www.usph.comPSA: Go Baby Go → Support mobility for kids: [Link Placeholder]Subscribe & Follow:Apple → https://apple.co/3IP8U0OSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3LmMUT64yrUc2iGo9EmafcWebsite → https://www.ptpintcast.com/

Why are PTs so bad at keeping patients long-term? And why do most clinic owners burn out before they break through? Dr. Danny Matta returns to the show with real talk for rehab entrepreneurs who want more than just insurance-based care.In this no-fluff conversation, Danny breaks down:The #1 KPI every clinic owner should obsess overWhy most PTs sabotage evaluations without realizing itHow to shift from reactive rehab to proactive, lifestyle-based careHis honest story of scaling too fast — and almost losing it allThe power of asking patients what they really want nextThis is for any PT who’s burned out, scaling up, or ready to stop making the same mistakes.⏱️ Timestamps / YouTube Chapters00:00 – Intro02:13 – How Danny found purpose again after burnout06:51 – Why most PTs suck at evaluating patients12:34 – Lifetime patient value: what most clinics miss17:02 – The ONE KPI to track: continuity percentage22:45 – Scaling too fast: how Danny almost lost his clinic28:19 – Selling wellness, performance, and lifestyle services35:10 – How to market to returning patients41:25 – Burnout reset routines47:00 – Legacy advice + “Climb the right mountain”54:00 – Parting Shot: Your perfect week starts with this???? Guest Links + Resources???? Danny Matta’s Book: “Fuck Insurance”???? PT Biz Accelerator???? Danny Matta on YouTube

Live selling. Retail revenue. Trust-based care delivery. In this episode of PT Breakfast Club, Jimmy, Dave, and Tony explain how PTs can tap into rising demand for elder care and retail-style revenue streams. Learn how to position your clinic as a trusted resource—not just for therapy, but for products, caregivers, and lifestyle support.What You’ll LearnHow to generate $5K in 3 days using value-stacked offersWhy PT clinics should sell like optometrists and bike shopsThe “unlicensed companion” model that’s disrupting elder careDrop-shipping and affiliate sales: passive income from trustHow to create real value outside the insurance modelHosts ???? Jimmy McKay – PT Pintcast ???? Dave Kittle – The Dave Kittle Show ???? Tony Maritato – MedicareBilling

Episode Title: Marketing Doesn’t Work! (Until You Understand the Customer Journey)Series: PT PintcastGuest: Andrea Tager, Fractional Marketing Leader | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andreatagercheneyHost: Jimmy McKay | ptpintcast.comWhat You’ll Learn:Why marketing fails when it doesn’t match real buyer behaviorThe problem with “patchwork” brandingWhy Apple’s marketing works and yours doesn’t (yet)How to fix mushy positioning statementsThe power of speaking directly to your ideal audienceWhy motion ≠ progress[00:00:00] Why “Marketing Doesn’t Work” (and who this is for)[00:04:12] Sales process vs. the real customer journey[00:08:33] Invisible decision-making: Reddit, Yelp, and 3am Google[00:12:10] Random acts of marketing = random results[00:16:40] Tactics vs. Strategy: The content trap[00:23:18] What branding really means (and what it doesn’t)[00:29:10] Patchwork marketing gets patchwork results[00:36:05] Apple’s Mac vs. PC ads: A lesson in clarity[00:42:55] Messaging mistakes clinics make[00:49:00] Game time: Mushy or Mighty (live feedback)[00:54:00] Andrea’s parting advice for clinic owners[00:57:00] What’s next on PT PintcastNotable Quotes:“You’re not Apple. Yet.”“Marketing without strategy is just expensive noise.”“You’re not pizza — you don’t need to please everyone.”“Motion without direction is just a monkey humping a football.”

???? Throwback episode! This conversation with Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT was originally recorded in 2022, and we’re bringing it back as part of our 10-year anniversary celebration of the Everything PT Podcast.In this classic interview, Jimmy — the creator and host of PT Pintcast — takes us behind the scenes of his unique path from radio DJ to physical therapist, and how he used communication, content, and a pint of beer to create one of the most influential brands in physical therapy.???? What you’ll learn:How Jimmy transitioned from rock radio to PT schoolThe origin story of PT PintcastWhy communication matters more than credentials in PTHow podcasting can grow your career, clinic, or impactWhat to do with imposter syndrome (hint: keep going)

In this episode of PT Breakfast Club, the team gets into the weeds of modern clinic operations — from pricing dilemmas and payer limitations to creative ways to scale without hiring. Topics range from Medicare regulations and concierge models to hilarious but real tactics like dry needling for dogs and influencer-style job posts.Topics include:The truth behind “booked but broke” clinicsGrowing revenue with leverage (not headcount)What PTs need to understand about their contract with insuranceHow to ethically add premium services in a Medicare modelMemberships, marketing hacks, and maximizing each patient hourParody, content creation, and why your funniest idea might be your best adFeatured Segments:Mailbag: “Why am I busy but still broke?”“Martha” and Medicare: The ethics of add-on feesMarketing that doesn’t feel like marketingCreative ways PTs are monetizing beyond the clinicMentioned in this episode:Dry Needling for Dogs™ (it’s fake… or is it?)RTM, telehealth, and weekend visit pricingLinkedIn as a job-market weaponChronic Pain Candles (yes, again)