Home Care Marketing
Every once in a while I get these phone calls or emails from people who have attended my events or watched my videos online, complaining that they are spending “Way too much money on lunch n learns”. When I get this feedback, my natural response is to dig further and discover. I usually ask them “How much did you spend on your last one?” To which they reply with something absurd, such as “275 dollars!”. I will then say “Were there like 20-30 people there?” and then they tell me “No! We had 4 or 5 people!!” And that’s when I lose it.
This is something I feel had to be said because it’s happening too often and I hear too many people come to me complaining about doing lunch n learns, which is VITAL to the success of your Direct Referral Marketing efforts. This shouldn’t be! So here are some tips you need to keep in mind:
- What is the purpose of the lunch n learn? Why are you there? You are there to educate your potential referral source on your product or services. That is the ONLY reason for you to do these events.
- Second, you do not have to feed them. Feeding them is a “Nice Gesture” meaning YOU DON’T HAVE TO BRING FOOD. We ask for Lunch n Learns because it’s a good way to get everyone to show up.
- Wow them with your Content, not your food. If you think someone is going to refer you a patient because you ordered lunch from “Chateau Mucho Dinero”, you’re WRONG! Have a stellar program and speak well during your lunch n learn, THAT’S where you will get your referrals from
- Have a budget for this. I guarantee that 90% of you watching this video and reading this, do not have a budget set aside for lunch n learns. I recommend 500 a month total direct marketing budget and this should be about HALF.
There were so many times over the years where I did pizza, sub sandwiches cut into quarters or sixes, Chinese food, etc. To feed 5-10 people with these items doesn’t cost much at all. I even remember several people doing in services for me and my staff who DIDN’T have a big budget at all and they MADE FOOD FOR US! One lady brought in baked Ziti (It was AWESOME) and another brought in a homemade salad with dressings (I told her we were a healthy bunch). Still another good tip, do BREAKFAST meetings. A dozen bagels and donuts, a stick of butter, and a box of Joe will run you 20-30 dollars and you can feed 10+ people.
This is how to get by on a shoestring budget and still be effectively driving referrals. So the next time you’re planning on doing a lunch n learn in service for home care referrals, don’t call the most expensive place in town. Be smart with your money, invest in training on how to do lunch n learns or create specialized programs. THAT’S where you will see your biggest ROI. This is all I do through our Coaching services and Home Care Revenue Builders. If you need help, we are here for you. Helping Service Providers find those in need of care is our Mission!
