A patient who has done half of a full-mouth rehab with you walks in one day and says she wants her dental records transferred to another dentist. “Who is it?” you ask, a bit miffed. You’ve never heard of him! You’ve worked so hard to build a great plan for long-term success for this patient. “Can I just ask, why are you leaving us?”
“The other doc is cheaper and says he can do a better job than you. He said your lab isn’t as good as his lab.”
What? This guy knows nothing. And why would this patient take some stranger’s word over yours? You have one more question. “So how did you hear about his practice?”
“He sent me an email,” she says.
So, you think, this patient that you’ve gotten to know, that you’ve worked hard for, a patient you thought valued dental work with integrity…she’s leaving you for a stranger who’s bashed you in email and claims that he can do better work than you. What do you do? Offer a discount? Why? That would only devalue your services. There’s not much you can do. It’s the patient’s call. And what a lucky dentist she’s going to – you’ve done the hard work for him! You compiled the records, created the treatment plan, sold the case, and have completed all preliminary work.
Interesting Emails Deciphered
This happens every day in the Internet world. A dentist gets a long and seemingly well-thought-out email from a stranger saying something like…
Hi Dr. YOUR NAME HERE,
I was looking at websites under the keyword “los angeles cosmetic
>> dentist” >> and came across one of your site’s pages.
>> I see that you’re ranked number 13 and sitting on page 2.
>>>> I’m not sure if you’re aware of why you’re ranked this low, but more >> importantly>> how easily correctable this is. You should first think…is this true? Check it out for yourself. Google “los angeles cosmetic dentist” and see where your site ranks. If you’re on page one, you’re golden.
>>
>> There’s no reason you can’t have a first page ranking for this keyword>> based on your site structure and content. I’m not talking about getting>> your site ranked for one or two keywords, I’m talking about getting your>> site ranked for ALL your keywords. Yes, ranking well is the goal. That’s why you have an SEO strategy. But earning good rankings takes time, effort, and an understanding of your target market.
>>
>> My partners and I own 1000’s websites and offer private linking to
hundreds of website owners just like yourself. This could actually harm your rankings. More on this topic below.
By now you may be wondering why I specifically contacted YOU. I’ve
>> researched>> different local dentist markets and I know that I want to enter them.>> I also know that I can go into just about ANY local dentist market and>> dominate it by getting top rankings and I can prove it to you. He can? Then why hasn’t he? Does he even know the dental field? The dental marketing guidelines established by your state dental board? The ethics considerations?
>>
>> I specifically chose YOU and a handful of your competitors because you’re>> already doing a lot of things right. I’ve already reviewed your site and>> I know you’re not on page 100 or 200 – your on page 2. That’s not bad,>> but I can easily help you get to the top of the rankings.>> And with time and effort, your current company is probably on track to do the same thing.
>> But the truth is I’m only going to work with ONE client in this key word>> set. If I worked with more than one then neither would have a
>> competitive>> advantage over the other and we want our clients to have a competitive>> advantage. For that reason, I only work with one and I take them on a>> first come first serve basis. Is he rushing you? And how does a successful person have the time to do all this research and compose a 7-paragraph email to every potential client? He may have a little too much time on his hands…
>>
>> I have confidence in my capabilities to dramatically improve your site’s>> rankings and profits. Good to know, but self-confidence does not necessarily yield results. I have a very simple way to prove it and the best>> thing about it is there’s absolutely no risk for you to try it. Nothing>> beats seeing the results with your own eyes. No risk except that you lose your relationship with your current web development company. Those folks who held your hand, interviewed you, created your site, and are currently working to improve your rankings. Those folks that did all the hard work in the beginning and continue to work for you every day.
>>
>>
And said dentist thinks Wow. This guy can really help me! I’m going to give him a try. Can’t hurt!
The dentist gets in touch with Email Man and takes him up on his offer, neglecting his current website company and the comprehensive SEO strategy in the works – a strategy that will take 3 to 6 months to show initial results. A strategy that might need tweaking once results show up.
We can Point 1000s of Websites at Your Site!
Another popular email scam is that a company can point thousands of websites at yours. The truth behind this exciting possibility is that you need relevant links from high-quality websites to lead to your site – links from reputable dental-related websites. A slew of links from non-dental or low-ranking websites could actually harm your rankings! In the past, any old linking strategy worked based on sheer numbers, but that tactic is outdated.
Knowledge is Power
First, assess the email message. What, exactly, are the facts he’s presented about your site, and are they accurate. For instance, if you’re a family dentist in Atlanta, and the email says that you don’t show up on Google for the terms “cosmetic dentist Dallas,” you don’t have a problem as long as you show up for “family dentist Atlanta.” Second, are the rankings he quoted legit? Do you really show up in the position he stated? Find out! Just Google the terms he said he typed in, then look at your rank. If the facts seem correct and you’re still concerned, don’t make rash decisions.
Call Your Friends First
Your questions and concerns about your website are legitimate, and they should be addressed. However, the Internet business, just like dentistry, works best when it’s based on relationships. Investing in a relationship with your website development and SEO team will yield you the long-term results you want and deserve. Ask questions, get answers. Don’t be sidetracked by random emails. In the long run, Email Man might destroy your smile.