No matter your business, your work is going to be reviewed. For some jobs, that may mean internal reviews from peers and bosses. For small businesses, it’s from our customers.
Before he retired last year, Media Link provided marketing services to Dr. Kevin Smith, DPM, a local podiatrist. We were proud to work with Dr. Smith for nearly two decades, it was a fruitful relationship for both of us. “I have used Media Link, Inc services for the past 17 years,” said Dr. Smith before his retirement. “I credit Natalie and her team for providing consistent growth to my medical practice. We have used a wide array of advertising media, including digital media, social media, television, print media, reputation management, and website development.”
Dr. Smith’s practice is an interesting case study, because many medical practices do not put much effort into marketing, instead relying on word of mouth and referrals from other doctors or insurance companies. Dr. Smith had a vision for his practice and realized working with Media Link could boost his business, his brand, and give his practice increased visibility. That’s not to discount word of mouth and referrals, but in a world in which many people move around, it’s often not enough for a medical practice to simply rely on the word of others. People move to the Quad Cities and are in need of a podiatrist, they’re going to turn to social media and search engines, even if they first check their insurance company’s website for a list of providers.
In our February Blog, Media Link President Natalie Linville-Mass talked about the importance of being able to find a business. “When I started this agency 20 years ago, a website was an option,” she said. “Now it’s imperative. You have to make sure people can find you.” That’s as true for doctors as it is for restaurants. Of course, the businesses are different. Some doctors may not have their own practice website, if they operate within a larger medical facility such as Unity Point or Genesis. But for doctors who run private practices, it’s even more imperative to have a solid marketing plan, including everything from a website, to advertising, to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), so when customers search “podiatrist Quad Cities,” they find your practice quickly. Dr. Smith recognized that.
“Media Link has directed us through new advertising trends and is able to work well within an advertising budget,” said Dr. Smith. “Small businesses encounter many challenges, and Media Link is able to successfully navigate them with you.”
These kind of customer reviews remind us why what we do is so important, not just so we can earn a living, but so we can provide a valuable service to businesses in our community. We’re happy for Dr. Smith in his retirement, and we’re grateful we had the opportunity to work with him and his wonderful staff for so many years.
