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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

It is all about marketing and sales. Looks like they have your $$

Posted By: not interesting at all on 2006-11-09
In Reply to: See my post on Gab board about Christmas. Interesting stuff! - Chillie (sm)

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Has anyone ever tried those multilevel marketing businesses such as Fortune Hi-Tech marketing...sm
My friend wants me to sign up...she is making about $2000 a month now but working quite hard at it.  My husband claims it is like a pyramid.  I just don't know. I wondered if any of you have had personal experience with this type venture.  TIA
Marketing

I do brochures, flyers and postcards.  I mail out using a list I have.  I also have accounts in several of the large medical buildings by hospitals and I will often go from floor to floor giving out my information. I have gotten a 20 to 25% reply so it works.  Since I have been in this for 15 to 20 years now a lot more comes from word of mouth but when I started out I just sent out information about my service.


E-mail me if you want more specifics.  Patti


Marketing Ideas
Hi, I am in the process of searching for my own accounts as well. may I ask what sort of information you put into your brochure? Also, I have built a website and have it being hosted by my ISP, but how do you go about having it searchable through Yahoo and Google? I am just curious, as I need to expand my searchability. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks. Kathy
Need advice on marketing.
Got a call from a doctor. I have a questionnaire that I use to ask questions. Then I gave him the rate over the phone and included a proposal and brochure which I faxed to his office.

I did this before and nothing happened. I'm worried I gave out information prematurely. Am I doing this right?
Running out of marketing ideas. sm
I've sent letters and brochures. Is there any other way to market this business? Don't have a lot of time for cold calls. If I send the same stuff over and over, I'm afraid they'll throw it in the trash and I will not have gotten their attention. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Writer and PT marketing consultant
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See message - marketing own accounts
Make up a brochure/flyer -- very simple stating what you will offer and for what price and send out or take around.  Be prepared to do tapes or digital.  Lots of info on here about that.  Be acceptable to pick up and deiver or send via FTP.  Do mass mailings to MD's, DO's chiropractors, oral surgeons, vet's, etc. or concentrate in the area where you want the account and do it every 4-6 weeks.  Network via local chapters of MT's, MA's what you have available.  But be prepared to know it can take several months to get a bite and sometimes longer.  You need to be in the right place at the right time.  If hospitals have their employee newspaper see if you can place an ad.   But it sometimes takes mass marketing to get that first account.   Good luck.
multi-level marketing nm
fff
Isn't network marketing another name for Amway?
xx
i'm right there with you. i was in sales
for 15+ yrs and turned to MT so that i could get away from the mean world. 90% of people have the attitude that "start off evil and you'll get what you want faster and sometimes even more than you wanted just to get rid of them".  i hardly ever hear please or thank you from someone.  i'm teaching my 3 yo please/thank you/share/etc, etc, but then i cry to see how he's treated by his class mates.  i feel like i'm setting him up to be stomped on just for being polite and doing what is right.  I'm also in my mid 30's and went back to college last semester just so i could add some things to my resume since nowadays a b.s. alone isn't worth beans but i took my class over the internet through a local college.  i couldn't afford this semester, but next semester i'll take another class online. if i had to sit next to these people 1/2 my age with the attitudes that most seem to have i would snap. I wish being nice was as contagious as being mean.   i know there are nice people out there-but boy are they getting harder and harder to find!!!
Oh, of course, I'm certain you have the sales...

numbers right at your fingertips.  It appears you are the one how has been duped by believing the BOS is the ultimate authority.  The majority of MTs know better, and the majority of healthcare providers have never HEARD of it.  Many of us bought the book thinking it was actually useful, and newbies are told they MUST have it.  Now, mind you, they are told this by the very people who are in bed with the AAMT.


Buy into it if you will (obviously you already have).  That doesn't mean the rest of us need to do so.


Any MTSO's out there willing to give marketing advice?

I have been transcribing for 6 years and want to get my own accounts.  What is the best way to do this?  Any info would be great! Thanks


Amway, Quixstar & Network Marketing
First let me tell you that there is nothing wrong with Network Marketing and that it's a wonderful business to be in.  The best advice I can give is first of all, research several companies and see what their compensation plans are.  I would NOT sign up based on someone feeding me a bunch of hype.  Also, look for a product that you can believe in.  Next, check out the company.  Just as it is done here, everyone is checking out all the companies before they get in.  Make sure that the company is founded and operated on sound ethics and business practices.  As for spending a lot of money on books, tapes and seminars.....ALL of us should be doing that on a DAILY basis.  It's called personal development and that is the best thing in the world you can do for yourself.  So to sum it up and because of limited space to write here....tell them to GO FOR IT!!!  If you have any questions go ahead and email me and I can go into much more detail to help.  Take care and have a blessed day!
I wasn't putting down Network Marketing...sm
Simply stating where the money in Quixtar comes from. Sure, you get a bonus check every month if you sell products, but the majority of the money comes from the tools. Tapes that are made from Quixtar seminars are sold and pushed on people. If you don't get on the tool program, they don't want to help you - because they won't make money if you don't buy the tools.
Harika - marketing/converting clients
is a numbers game. You just have to keep promoting your business over and over and over again. Work on promotion for 1-2 hours per day so you don't get burned out on it.

There are many tasps out there. I see them on the banners on this board all the time. Some are basically pay as you go. The one I have is less than $100 per month with unlimited uploading and downloading. All the doc needs is a recorder or you can use a tasp with a call in system. I think the call in systems are high $ though. Nobody answer my post last week why the call in rates were so high! If you go to affiliates on the left there are tasps on there.
To me the tasps really remove the need for a middle man taking a 60% cut like the big nationals.
it all started with the VR software marketing personnel. SM
This craze started about 10 years ago and kicked into full force within the past five years or less. Someone selling the software convinced the physician practices, hospital personnel that they could save a fortune on their transcription costs. Little did they know it takes a Transcriptionist to pretty much retype the report produced by VR, and then sometimes QA/editor to check it. Now that's what I call a savings people. Now the VR systems are being utilized by our ILPs, who try to correct the errors in VR when they do not have a firm grasp on the English language...We're talking double disaster here. Let the doctors and hospital administrators think they are saving bundles on their transcription costs. How very sad and ignorant on their part.
ebay sales
Well, my accounts were always looked at..I had soaps, body facial products and line reducers (for face), lingerie, halloween products, kitchen products..movie videos, CDs, candles, shoes (Pay Less always has two for one or one for half price), books (you can get great used books for cheap and sell them for so much more..like a used Harry Potter..you can get a lot)..I just posted them and they were looked at..what matters is how you introduce your products..you post them and then tell about them..so you need to post good things about your products, you know, pump up your product..Yes, I truly think you can quit anything else and go ebay full time..I was thinking about that but going to the post office every day and packaging the products got to me..If I had had someone to help me, I think I could have done it..Like I posted previously, Im gonna do it again, when I move back to NY next year..There are so many surplus companies, manufacturers who will sell to you wholescale..Gosh, I had so much left off when I quit.LOL..I had purses, body jewelry, lingerie, kitchenware..you name it..I gave it all away to friends and used it for myself..Just surf for wholescale companies in the net..I loved selling on Ebay, plus you meet such nice people..I met people from England, Germany and all over the USA (through emails and phone calls)..It was a great experience..What I recommend is surf for wholesale companies and when you shop, buy two for one, go to Factory for U, Big Lots, Annas Linens, always when you shop be looking for something you can sell..Buy one get one for free always was great for me..
have a friend who does car sales

She said some banks won't finance KIAs because of that.  Way too easy to stay upside down in your financing.


 


You also may have to charge sales tax sm
depending on what state you live in. PA requires an MT to charge sales tax on work that is sent to someplace within the Commonwealth. I am exempt because my work is received from/sent to out of the Commonwealth. However, to answer the business license question, I don't have to have on for PA.
Sales slip?
If you still have the sales slip, you have a good chance of returning it.
Sales Letter
Well,you could make a cute flyer with your picture in it and possibly your email and phone number. But you best bet is to dress up nice and go straight to the office manager with flyer in hand and say, "Help me get my foot in the door please?"
You are obviously young and eager with little experience. Any job at this point is your ace in the hole. So be direct and serious and leave the flyer with them. Most people just use business cards. If the local area proves fruitless, there are companies online that hire and you could get your experience that way also.
SALES PEOPLE LIE

Did you know that it is totally legal to lie?  I mean, it may be immoral and NOT right, but it is totally legal.  So, those who can profit by it, have everything to gain by lying to us and nothing to lose by being dishonest in this way.  This seems like such a simple rule of life, but it is one that did not become crystal clear to me until I became a medical Transcriptionist (and also when I bought a house, but that is another long story).  Sadly, it is my own fault for being so trusting and gullible.


Six years ago, I was incredibly naive and fell for the STUFF that was feed to me by the people selling the CS course.  They offered me was seemed at the time to be hope.  In reality, they took advantage of my state of neediness.


I graduated from CS almost 4 years ago.  I work my butt off, sometimes as many as 3 jobs at a time, and my gross income last year was a pathetic $21,000!!!  I have one adult child who takes care of himself.


So, I wish this woman, the one with the 5 children with one being a special needs child and her husband in Iraq, much luck, and I hope she has a great support system.


 


 


PA Sales Tax - HEADS UP PA MTs

Everyone has to know about this. I posted this on the tax board, too.


How desperate are the governors getting? PA sent out tax forms to everyone that bought cigarettes from a Native American reservation and they want their tax money. One woman in PA was hit up for over $4,800 and last week, they slapped a Sheriff's Sale sign on her property.


Now, my DH received a letter today. They want anyone in business who bought anything from out-of-state companies (office supplies, equipment, tools, etc.) that don't reciprocate taxes to PA, to pay up. This doesn't just apply to last year. This goes all the way back to 1981!!! Since when, since records do not have to be kept after a certain amount of years, how can they do this?  DH doesn't have to worry about it that much. He usually always buys in PA.


I certainly do not have any receipts back to 1981 when I was an IC!


It's bad enough the governor is "threatening" to raise property taxes if he can't pass the higher income tax, but now this. I think our state government should stop the spending like he's always done. We're broke, yet he keeps handing out money.


Send letters to local offices marketing yourself. sm
Watch the want ads, and offer yourself as IC backup instead of FTs. It works!

As you pick up your accounts and back-up accounts, just do a good job and meet expectations or better.

The only drawback about your own accounts, it leaves little time to clock out and have your own life. If you can find someone else to work the accounts while you rake in the money, that is all the better.

Out-of-state sales tax question
I would have posted on the other thread, but it is gone already. My apologies.

Do any MTSOs charge sales tax to out-of-state clients? Long before transcription, I worked for a company that did not charge sales tax on product sold out of state but did charge sales tax for any services peformed on-site, even for out-of-state customers. They insisted if the service was performed in the state, they needed to charge sales tax. I have been subcontracting out of state and every time I called to get a sales tax license they would very nicely tell me to stuff it until I got an in-state customer. Now I have just gotten my first out-of-state account (direct client) and want to make absolutely sure I should not charge sales tax for my service.

Thank you.
Idea for sales letter
What do you all this of this? I just graduated, and I want to market to doctor's offices. I made a flyer to send. I thought I would also send a sales letter that is formatted like a SOAP. I don't know how much competition I will have, and I'm trying to stand out. Too silly? Any comments?
VR demo - not a sales pitch

You need to have the Windows Media Player loaded onto your system to view the video. It takes about 30 seconds to load and is about one minute in length.


I think after you watch it you'll understand why so many medical professionals (i.e. doctors) are switching over to speech recognition.


If you're an IC, you should be charging PA sales tax as well. sm
I know there are A LOT of PA MT's who are not doing this, making it more difficult for those on the up-and-up. However, if you are providing MT services to anyone other than a non-profit (with valid PA Sales Tax exemption), then you should be charging the 6% State Sales Tax and filing a Sales Tax Return.

The Use Tax issue that started this post has been in place for a long time, it's just that the Commonwealth has decided to become more aggressive in their pursuit of this lost revenue stream.
The whole notion of a liver detoxification is just a marketing ploy and a myth.

Myth


I agree, and O'Reilly marketing his books and novelty times
a joke and sad that old folks down in fla watch it and get brainwashed, much like old people get tricked by contractors and other things. I hope I don't lose my marbles when I get old.
Nice marketing too..a bogus statement about US MTs to discredit the competition nm
nm
If you have a Paypal account, pay to sales@mtstars.com. Thank you!
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PA requires you to charge sales tax on your work...
if you send your completed work to a MT company or doctor within PA.  However, I send my work out of state, so I don't have to charge sales tax and I don't need a license.  I had asked someone at one of the companies I IC for and she said that she had heard of that before from one of the other girls.  When I lived in WA state, I had a business license from the state and had to file every year.  The sales tax thing was a real shock to hear at first!  
hit some yard sales early in the morning

This belongs on classifed board, for sales
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Did you see the story about bake sales/childhood obesity?

From the AP out of Minneapolis. "Study links bake sales, weight problems."


Puhleez. What next?


When are the "Diet Police" going to stop and realize that the majority of the obesity "problem" among children begins at home? Who gives these kids the money to go eat at McDonalds and loads their cupboards with junk food anyway?


Sure my kids like sweets and they like McDonalds, but monitor and moderation goes a long way.


Something tells me that a pencil sale just isn't going to bring in that much cash flow.


I've never heard of sales tax being charged for a service, only
for a tangible product.  
It is true...and the sales reps will tell you anything to obtain your business, but then they...sm
get you once you start using the ULD.  I know, I have been told the same thing that you say you have been told but then I received the dreaded "cut off" notice.  I wish you the best, but it is just a matter of time until they get to your area.  It's not allowed! 
Garage sales, consignment stores, coupons
If your income for the prior year is below 24,000 in Calif., you are eligible for 20% discount on gas/elec. Also, if your income is less than 12,000/yr, you are eligible for food bank visits once a month which total about $120.00. It has been six years since I went down this road, so the figure may have changed.

After a divorce, major surgery and no job, I found myself penniless. I had yard sales daily. Went to swap meets and sold my things there. Also, took my finer clothes to a consignment shop. Used coupons to determine what I would be eating. Thank God, I had no children.

I think when you have kids, you really need a nest egg of some sort that is absolutely untouchable.

This sounds like a temporary situation if you price your home to sell.
Try ebay, yard sales, Recycled Software or BuyCheapSoftware.com
to find inexpensive software. Also, see if you can find a newer version of MS Works because I think it comes with Word now, or you can buy a standalone version of Word without springing for MS Office.

For that matter, wait until you find a job before worrying about it. Not everybody uses MS Word, and some companies provide their own software for you to use. What about going back to Medware or another company that provides software and/or equipment?
I hate crowds. Big sales bring out the worst in people.
I tried it twice several years ago. Never again. People were just rudely shoving everyone else around trying to get from store to store to gather up all the freebies or super deals.

We tried to go to the movies instead, but all the Harry Potter matinees were sold out. Again.