Kansas City, MO -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/15/2010 -- As marketing specialists, we are constantly asked about strategy. Many wonder how effective word-of-mouth marketing really is and how much of their marketing plan should rely on it. “Normal or satisfied practices cannot rely on word-of-mouth marketing at all because they are not creating memorable experiences for their patients,” notes Jamie Verkamp, Partner at (e)Merge. “These practices have to spend a lot more money on advertising because their patients aren’t inspired to share their encounters with others. But practices creating buzz and memorable experiences can harness more holistic marketing approaches because they have so many loyal patients that will take their message viral very quickly.”

So how do you take your practice from obscurity to stand-out? “You focus on taking that patient experience and customer service to the next level. Every interaction is an opportunity to make the patient feel genuinely valued.” Verkamp says it’s also vital to find what makes your practice unique and use it. “We had one pediatric practice where the physicians all shared a love for animals. So the doctors each picked an animal they liked and not only decorated their exam rooms in the theme, but wore a slipper with that animal on it. Their nurses and staff even wore the same animal slippers as the doctor they worked with. This practice took their love of animals and made it into something fun for the kids and something the parents would bring up in conversations with other parents.”

Word-of-mouth marketing can be a very powerful tool to have in your arsenal, resulting in increased patient volumes. “At the end of the day, that’s what practices that come to us really want. And we make sure they get there.”

(e)Merge is a medical practice growth consulting firm specializing in providing innovative, patient-centric marketing initiatives and medical mystery shopping services that enhance patient experiences to increase referrals. Call 1.877.362.6584 or visit http://www.emergewithus.com.