Dental Marketing: 5 Things that Annoy Me; 5 Things that Inspire Me

Recently, Dentaltown Editorial Director, Thomas Giacobbi, DDS FAGD, wrote an article, “10 Things That Annoy Me” sharing a list of items in his dental practice that he would gladly do without. It seems like this exercise of releasing inner annoyances makes people feel good because the article drummed up a slew of additional lists.

If you work in a dental practice, I suggest you take a look at Dr. Giacobbi’s “10 Things” and see which of these items you can (or can’t) identify with. On the Dentaltown message boards, you’ll also find 80-something comments where others list out both practice life and everyday life occurrences that simply rub them the wrong way.

Working in healthcare marketing at Lanmark360, the Dentaltown article inspired me to construct my own list. Instead of jumping right into 10 items that annoy me, I thought I’d interject a small amount of positivity and share 5 things that annoy me and 5 things that inspire me. I encourage all readers to do the same.

I’ll start with the annoying items first and get those out of the way:

1. QR codes could be awesome! If used correctly. Please don’t slap a QR code on an ad that drives someone to a website that isn’t mobile-friendly. I know it sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised what’s out there. Instead, use a QR code to launch a video, download an app or save contact information onto the scanner’s phone – there are so many better options that are actually conducive to mobile devices.
2. I’m a big fan of LinkedIn, but I want to kick people who endorse me when we’ve never worked together. Really, I want the pointless endorsement function to disappear completely, but I’ll start with small dreams. If we haven’t had real life experience working together, don’t generate those mindless clicks that have absolutely no value for either of us. If we have worked together and you believe in your endorsement of me, thank you.
3. There’s nothing worse than strolling by an abandoned booth at a tradeshow. When you agree to man the booth, it’s understood that you don’t eat, rest or use the loo unless you can locate a qualified stand-in. It’s a tough day, but it’s part of the job.
4. Plaese dont send realy slOppy emails that have numorous erors. There’s a big difference between the email that bears one or two typos or a misused word and the email that is clear typing vomit. Be professional and re-read your emails before pressing send. A consistent stream of mistakes screams laziness.
5. The ADA (American Dental Association) Annual Meeting is right around the corner. Many dental pros head to these tradeshows to look for new business opportunities. If this person is you, please don’t be a hawk. A hawk paces up and down the aisles, staring down prospects and interrupting conversations left and right. There’s a way to meet new people and this isn’t it.

Now for my favorite part, the following 5 things inspire me professionally every day:

1. Honest feedback from clients, both good and bad, is so valuable. If you’re a client and you’re not happy with my work, I want to know so I can fix it and provide better service. If you are happy and share that news, it’s motivation to keep working hard.
2. I love when a new project comes in and you hear the words “let’s do something different.” In the dental industry, you see a lot of the same because it’s safe and it’s easy. As Lanmark360’s CSO Michael McCarthy mentions in a recent article about branding in dentistry, it’s important to “Make it different. Make it appealing. Be VERY careful not to get lost in the shuffle. Do you know how many dental products have the letters DENT in them?” Simply put, different isn’t always bad.
3. Late nights. Okay, this is slightly misleading. Sure, late nights can be frustrating, but I can’t deny the huge sense of accomplishment after putting in a (really) full day of work and getting something done. My coworkers know I’ll do everything in my power to make it home in time for dinner with my husband, but it’s amazing how the occasional late night can actually help bring excitement into your profession.
4. People who listen then react. Hearing other people’s thoughts is just as important as sharing your own. If you’re a good listener, you’re the type of person I want to be around.
5. The close-knit dental community. Two years ago I wrote about my first year in the dental industry. Now that I’m 3+ years in, I can honestly say that these feelings have only strengthened. The dental industry is full of some really great people and I feel lucky to work with them daily.

Thank you to the folks at Dentaltown for the great idea to air some grievances. Dental Geek readers, I look forward to hearing what annoys and inspires you in life.

–Marisa Tranchina, Communications Manager, Lanmark360