While the advertisers’ focus should be on providing the best possible patient care, the responsibility of attracting the new patients should lie in the hands of the marketing company. As new websites continue to launch online daily, and newspapers and phone books continue to phase out of the marketing picture, generating new business from the Internet is becoming more and more competitive.

Successfully marketing your practice online should focus on 2 areas:

1) A Practice Website - There really is no excuse not to have a website in today’s Internet market. In the past, one could argue that time constraints, high costs, and limited potential patient base were valid excuses not to have a practice website. Today, they are just that…..excuses. Internet providers have spread across the entire country in the past decade, and made accessing information online easier than ever. In addition, website companies are so competitive that you can purchase a quality website, or build your own site, for a very low one-time fee (usually followed by a low monthly hosting fee). The main point is that not having a practice website in today’s market gives your patients the impression that you are out of touch with them.

2) Search Engine Marketing/Directories - With all of the different websites that are available to list your services on (and others that list you without your knowledge), accurately tracking the source of new business from the Internet is nearly impossible. Less than 1% of patients will remember the exact website that referred them to you and your business, or even bother to provide that information when setting up an appointment…even if prompted the most common response is simply “found you on the Internet.” So, how can you make sure you are not wasting your money paying to advertise in an online directory?

Dietitians.net will be lauching a new Performance Marketing Model on January 1, 2010. The new model will allow registered dietitians to market their practice on our network of directory websites without the normal monthly or annual fees. The only charges that are incurred under the Performance Model are for proven business generated from your advertisement. Through the use of different tracking techniques, each registered dietitian that is a member of our RD network will be able to know EXACTLY what business came from their membership.

So, there will be no question as to whether your advertisement is generating business for you. You ONLY pay IF your ad generates new business for you. Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to pay for advertising that couldn’t provide proof that it is effective for your business? Well now you don’t have to…2010 is a new year, and Dietitians.net is providing a new way approach to marketing your practice.

Hello RDs,

I have come across an issue over the last few months that I wanted to bring to your attention. As you may know by following our Twitter Account, or by visiting our SignUp Page, I randomly post real verified patient requests that are submitted through our website when people are unable to find a local registered dietitian. When they submit these requests it doesn’t mean that there is not an RD available to help them in their local area….it just means that those RDs have not joined our network yet.

So, our team here are Dietitians.net works to find a local dietitian for the patient by using a number of different resources that we have available to us. We have a variety of databases and websites that we use to locate RDs, one of them obviously being the American Dietetic Association’s Website, Eatright.org. While this site is a great source for information for both patients and RDs alike, the incredible amount of info on the site can make it a little intimidating for potential new patients to try and navigate to find their local dietitians.

The issue that I have come across several times in the last few weeks is that the RD that we are trying to contact to refer a patient to has incorrect information on their listing. Most of the time the contact phone number has been incorrect, at which point we attempt to contact the RD by using the email, but by the time (and this varies) the RD receives our email and responds to let us know that they are accepting new patients…the patient has usually moved on to another website and found help.

Some other issues I have found are incorrect links to websites, incorrect addresses, incorrect email addresses, languages spoken, etc. So, I just wanted to alert all of the RDs who are members of the ADA and encourage you all to visit the site, and make sure that your contact information is up to date.

Please comment on this post if you do come across an error on your listing, or if you have already had to update your info you can comment on what steps you took to accomplish this. 

Building a great website can be a very rewarding experience (even though it is usually very costly and time consuming), but it doesn’t amount to much if you don’t get anyone to come and visit it. While cool videos, awesome graphic design, and fast load times are great features of your website, all your hard work will be for nothing if you can’t build up visitor traffic. If you have created your own website or hired a company to build a site for you, you have probably heard people refer to ’search engine optimization’ or ‘SEO.’ SEO is a HUGE business and is everywhere on the Internet, and if your website isn’t “optimized” for search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing, unfortunately you’re going to lose out to poorer websites with better SEO practices.

It doesn’t really seem fair that someone can create a basic website using some software program, or create a free blog in 5 minutes and have their site outrank your own in search engine results. But in today’s Internet, you have to take the necessary steps to market your website just like any other product or service. If you don’t choose to put in the extra effort to get your site ranked for certain keywords and phrases, you’re always going to be at the bottom of the search engine pile.

You have to understand that each day that your website appears below your competitor’s site (or doesn’t appear at all for that matter) is a day that your competitor gets all the business. It is not a myth that consumers rarely look past the first page of search results in the major search engines. If your site isn’t up at the top of those results, it might as well not exist.

So, if you decide to put in the time to build a professional website, don’t let up when it comes to promoting it. SEO should be a critical part of your website build, and overlooking would be like running a mail order business that doesn’t send out any mail.

When you become a member of Dietitians.net and our RD network, you will be working with professional Internet marketers who know how to get results….the search engine kind. Even if you choose to wait to build a website for your business, creating a profile and listing yourself in our national RD directory will provide you with exposure to new patients looking for your services.

Don’t Delay - Become a Member Today - Patients are looking for YOU!

Did you know that in California anyone can call themselves a “Nutritionist”? Most states require licensing, but Section 2068 of California’s Business and Professional code allows anyone to call themselves a Nutritionist, regardless of education. People have taken advantage of this loophole to market themselves as nutrition experts. Many of these unqualified nutritionists are salesmen with illegitimate credentials obtained through diploma mills (organizations granting degrees which are fraudulent or worthless due to lack of proper standards). According to the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), these unqualified “nutritionists” charge counseling fees for questionable advice; utilize unproven “tests” to assess nutritional status; and often profit personally from the sale of supplements they prescribe.

A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a professional credential, just like a Registered Nurse (RN) or Medical Doctor (MD). The title is legally protected and can only be used by those authroized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. Individuals who are Registered Dietitians have 1) received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from an accredited college or university; 2) completed at least 900 hours of internship experience at an accredited institution; 3) successfully completed the Registration Exam for Dietitians; and 4) maintained recertification by obtaining at least 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years.

While many illegitimate nutritionists provide advice that is not backed by sufficient research, Registered Dietitisn are trained to critically evaluate research studies and base their advice on the most up-to-date research. By looking at your medical history, medications, supplements, and eating and exercise habits, a Registered Dietitian can provide you with safe and effective nutrition counseling to help you reach your health and fitness goals.

To help protect you against unqualified nutritionists, the NCAHF recommends that you check out the accreditation status of any unfamiliar degree-granting institution and verify a nutritionist’s credentials by checking with the local, state or national dietetic association.

This information was brought to you by OC Nutrition, Your Trusted Source for Health & Nutrition Advice. OC Nutrition offers nutrition counseling services over the phone or in person in Irvine, Orange, Anaheim Hills and Chino. To contact us please visit our website - www.OCnutrition.com

By: Kristy Richardson, MS, MPH, RD, CSSD, CHES - Registered Dietitian in CA - www.ocnutrition.com

I just got done reading an interesting article and wanted to share some of the information with all of the RDs who are thinking about how to spend their advertising budget.

The article started off with a story that I’m sure all of us can relate to about how the writer was looking for a phone number, so he turned to his trusty kitchen drawer. The drawer was packed, so he had to pull out all of the contents to find the little directory that had the number he was looking for inside of it. Then as he was stuffing everything back into the drawer he realized the source of the problem was the 4-inch thick yellow pages book that he hardly ever uses, but keeps in the drawer until the new edition arrives.

It has gotten to the point at my house that the book goes directly from my doorstep into my trash can. The reason is because if I need to look up a business I turn directly to my laptop and jump on Google or Yahoo and type in what I’m searching for.

He uses an example of law firms and how they spend a significant portion of their marketing budgets on the yellow pages. He then points out that when he went through the 2000+ page book that there were almost 100 pages of just ads for lawyers. This stands true for almost any business advertising their services this way. The alternative is that there are only a few listings, but there are so many sections dividing up the book that people may not know what heading to find your business under. Is it under “Health”? “Nutrition”? “Medical”? …etc.

People spend hundreds of dollars PER MONTH for some of the smaller Ad options with Yellow Pages, and they rarely see a return on their investment. We manage a number of other directory websites and we always ask our members why they continue to spend the money each year when they don’t see any return, and they almost always say the same thing….”because everyone else does it.”

Here are a few things to think about when you are trying to decide if becoming a member of Dietitians.net is a good option for you and your business:

1) Ease of Use - People always do what is easy. Think about how easy it is to access the Internet these days. People can access the Internet from home, work, library, or even cell phones. The majority of people who are looking for information online use search engines, so it makes sense for you to list your services where people are going to find them right? If a patient can go online and search for registered dietitians, and they find a directory full of only profiles of registered dietitians…then they don’t need to flip through hundreds of pages of ads to try and find you.

2) Costs $$$ - The main reason that it costs so much more to advertise with yellow pages or similar models is not because they work better. It is because they have alot more costs that they have to cover to run their business which trickle down to you - the advertiser. Print Costs, Mailing/Distribution Costs, Local Sales Rep Costs, etc. There are other limitations as well, such as flexibility of your ad. If you need to update your information they are not going to reprint and redistribute the phone book for you.

3) Differentiation - When you are marketing your services to new patients you should want yourself to stand out among your competitors. Listing yourself in a phone book or similar models does not give you that option…unless you want to spend ALOT more money for a larger Ad. Everyone is listed alphabetically which can be a huge disadvantage if your last name doesn’t start with A, B, or C. Listing yourself on www.Dietitians.net not only allows you to create a profile that has some ‘personality’ by adding a photo and details about your services, but the search function allows the patient to find real LOCAL dietitians as the results are displayed by proximity to the patient. Being the first RD to list in your area has its obvious advantages as you will be the only RD patients find within 25 miles (by default).

Are you thinking….Is this information true? If so, how can I get a presence for my business online? The answer is becoming a member of Dietitians.net and our network of RD websites. Here are a few things you need to do today to stand out from the crowd and grow your business:

- Look at your current marketing investment: What is it costing you per year and what business is coming directly from it? If the numbers are in your favor then keep doing it, but if the answer is “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know” then you need to try this. Even if you are 100% happy with your current marketing strategy you should become a member of our RD network and increase your online presence to stay ahead of the curve. For $149.99/year to list yourself on 4 highly ranked websites that target patients looking for your services…it shouldn’t be a tough decision.

- Get your own website: Being listed in our directories is a great source for exposure and patient referrals, but we also recommend having a website of your own to market directly to your patients. We can take care of this need for you as well. We offer affordable solutions to building and marketing a website for your business, and we walk you through the process from A to Z.

- Keep track of your traffic: You should frequently (once per month or per quarter) look at the number of visitors who find you listing or your website. WIth your listing on www.Dietitians.net you can login anytime to check the number of people who have viewed your profile. If you build you own website with us we can provide you with more detailed reports that include number of visitors, where they came from, what pages they visited, etc. This is a great way to make sure you are getting a value out of your membership and/or your website.

Search engines are the future…and the only question you should ask yourself is - Am I going to be a player or a spectator? If you follow us on Twitter you know that we randomly post real patient’s requests for local registered dietitians. If you don’t see any being posted from your area keep this in mind - We only post a handful of the leads we receive on a daily basis..and we post them entirely at random. The thing to keep in mind is that the patients only have the option to request an RD if we do not have one listed within 25 miles of their zip code, and less than 15% of the patients who do not find a local RD fill out the form and ask for our help. That means you are missing out on ALOT of patients and potential business.

Visit our Home Page and search your own zip code - If we do not have an RD listed yet…don’t hesitate to be the first!

Hello RDs,

First, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank all you for all of the great feedback we have been receiving about the new site. We are taking all of your recommendations into consideration as our main objective is to make our sites as informative and productive for not only the visiting patients, but also for our RD members.

We are writing this post to address a couple things that have been brought to our attention by more than a few RDs in response to our emails that we have sent out so far.

‘Dietitian Schools’ - We are aware of the current misrepresentation of this category and will be replacing the current listings with a number of universities that offer didactic programs and coordinated programs that lead up to earning the RD credential. Thank you all for being thorough while going through the site and pointing this out to us.

Registered Dietitians vs. Nutritionists - We are also aware of the differences in qualifications and requirements of earning an RD credential. We only market our products and services to registered dietitians who are members of the ADA. We will continue to focus our efforts on promoting the RD industry and connecting patients with our members. Thank you again for the numerous offers to write a post highlighting the differences.

We hope that you all continue to frequently visit the site, and continue to become new members of our RD network. We look forward to continuing to grow our network and work with our members to create the most cost-effective marketing solution available to the RD community.

Follow us on Twitter or visit the Sign Up page to keep up to date with site upgrades, welcoming new members, and randomly posted patient leads. You can also visit the About Us page of the site to view our archive of emails that we have sent out to our RD mailing list.

You’ve just picked up the kids from their after school activity or you were working late at the office and it’s now 7:00pm and you’re faced with that all too familiar question of “what’s for dinner”? So many of us are on the run and busy throughout the day, leaving no time to prepare meals let alone plan a menu, go to the store and actually cook dinner. We all know how important it is to eat at least three meals a day along with a few healthy snacks, but how do you actually do it in real life?

The key is to start planning ahead, learn a few shortcuts and to keep some quick food items in your kitchen at all times. With a well stocked freezer, pantry and refrigerator the challenge is much easier to eat healthy on the run. Don’t worry, for those times when it’s just not feasible to eat at home some healthier fast food ideas will also be provided.

Let’s start first with some Breakfast on the Run ideas:

• Protein smoothie with frozen berries, banana and soy milk
• Natural peanut butter or almond nut butter on 100% whole wheat toast and a piece of fruit
• Low-fat cottage cheese and pineapple with old fashioned oatmeal sprinkled with walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon
• Hard boiled egg sliced on 100% whole wheat toast with a piece of fruit

Think you don’t have time for lunch, think again. Make sure that you eat this important meal to keep your energy level up by providing your body with the nutrients that it needs. It is especially important to include a good source of protein at lunch to avoid that afternoon slump. Adding grilled salmon, shrimp or broiled chicken to any salad can make all the difference.

Here are some other ideas for Lunch on the Run:

• Bean burrito made with fat-free refried beans on whole wheat flour tortilla with salsa and a piece of fruit. No time to prepare a burrito, use Amy’s frozen burritos which are ready in 2 minutes in the microwave
• Low-fat tuna salad in a 100% whole wheat pita with lettuce and tomato or for the carb conscious stuff the tuna in a large tomato with baby carrots and hummus on the side
• Mixed salad greens topped with kidney beans and small baby shrimp with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, vegetable soup and a whole grain roll
• Amy’s vegetarian frozen entrees that are legume or tofu-based (available at most grocery stores, Whole Foods and Wild Oats); salad with vinaigrette and a piece of fruit
• Trader Joe’s, Wild Oats and Whole Foods offer a wide variety of prepared salads, sandwiches, soups, sushi and other items that are packaged to go. Don’t forget to check out their large selection of frozen meals that are easy to prepare in the microwave for a quick meal. 
• Traditional grocery stores also provide a solution for meals on the go through their deli selections (cold sandwiches as well as rotisserie broiled chicken) and packaged, prepared meals, salads, vegetables and fruit.

To keep your energy level up, make sure to eat at least every 3-4 hours. This means adding snacks in the afternoon or mid morning depending on your schedule. Snacking can also prevent over eating at meal time. This may require taking a small cooler with you in the car or filling the refrigerator at work with some of the snack foods listed below.

Here are some quick and easy Snack Ideas:

• Apple and string cheese
• Trail mix (make your own from Trader Joe’s great assortment of roasted unsalted nuts and dried fruit)
• Small can of tuna with ‘Ak Mak’ stoneground crackers and a pear
• Hummus with fresh veggies such as baby carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes
• Edamame (boiled green soybeans in the pod) and tomato juice
• California Roll
• Instant Lentil soup and an orange
• Health Valley oatmeal cookies and milk or soy milk
• ½  peanut butter sandwich on stoneground whole wheat bread and a plum
• Berry smoothie
• Cottage cheese and fruit
• Baby carrots, hard boiled egg and Dijon mustard
• Latte made with skim or soy milk and a small low fat muffin
• If you have a craving for chocolate try a mocha made with half the amount of chocolate and skim or soy milk

Moving on to everyone’s favorite time of day or is it? Don’t let dinner stress you out, with just a little bit of planning dinner can be an enjoyable experience with family, friends or even by your self. Whenever possible, try to make some meals (soups, stir fries, casseroles) on your days off that can then be used for a quick meal during the week. Crock pot cooking is another time saver. Start it in the morning, then walk into a house full of delicious aromas and a hot home cooked meal ready to go.

Here are some more Dinner on the Run ideas:

• Grilled salmon on the BBQ or using the George Foreman grill, baked sweet potato, steamed asparagus, green salad with vinaigrette
• Chicken, Shrimp, Beef or Tofu stir fry with vegetables over brown rice. Remember to make extra for lunch the next day.
• Grilled tuna on a bed of greens with vinaigrette and a whole wheat roll.
• Homemade vegetable soup with beans, just add your favorite protein (beef, chicken or fish); and for those with a heartier appetite add an open face sandwich of tuna or turkey.
• Veggie burgers with corn on the cob and green salad with vinaigrette
• Grilled chicken breast with barbeque sauce, rice pilaf and broccoli

Finally, if you do find yourself in a restaurant or at a fast food establishment keep in mind these few tips that will help you to maintain a healthful lifestyle-no matter where you eat your meals.

• Plan Ahead. Don’t leave the house or enter a restaurant feeling starved-you may end up eating the first thing in sight!
• When possible, patronize restaurants with healthful menus.
• Avoid all-you-can-eat buffets.
• Order a la carte-choosing individual dishes instead of ordering a “complete meal” lets you better control how much you eat.
• Ask a lot of questions about preparation. Typically, you’re better off choosing an entrée that is broiled, grilled, poached or roasted rather than fried or sautéed.
• Begin with a tossed salad or clear soup (one made with broth instead of milk or cream) to help fill you up, and drink plenty of water throughout the meal.
• Ask for dressings, sauces, etc. “on the side” and use them sparingly.
• Order an appetizer as your main course.
• Remember, you don’t have to be a member of the “clean plate club.” Ask for a “doggie bag” and eat the remainder of your meal the next day.
• Be careful of the bread basket and limit the amount of butter and other spreads. Helpful hint: take a roll or piece of bread from the basket and ask the waiter to take away the rest or don’t even have them put the bread on the table at all.
• Ask for vegetables without added fats such as creamy sauces or butter.
• If you’re ordering a burger, avoid the extra calories from cheese, mayonnaise or mayonnaise-type sauces, bacon, etc.
• Remember when you’re ordering a fish or chicken sandwich to ask for it to be grilled or broiled instead of fried.
• Share your dessert.

Just visit our page at www.Twitter.com/DietNetwork and sign up to follow us. If you do not have a Twitter account you can create one for FREE. We will post information and updates about our site.

When we do not have an RD listed in an area, patients fill out a form asking our staff to help find them a local RD and we will start posting these leads on our Twitter account as well, so be sure to follow us and if you are willing to help the patient you can respond to the post.

In our first month we have welcomed 100+ new members in 26 states to our RD directory, and we continue to grow each day. The feedback about our site has been great and we continue to welcome all questions and concerns you may have. We have already started to receive a high volume of patient referrals looking for RDs in their local areas. These patients are requesting help with everything from simple weight loss to more serious issues like type II diabetes, food sensitivies, fibromyalgia, eating disorders, and things of that nature.

To list yourself in our RD directory you can visit our SignUp Page and choose from one of our month-to-month or low-cost annual membership packages. Create your listing and profile is simple and only takes a few minutes.

If you have any other questions regarding our sites or becoming a member please call us at 1-866-304-FIND (3463) and speak with someone from our staff.

If your doctor has recently labeled you as obese you may have questions about what this really means to you. Everywhere we turn these days we are hearing about the obesity epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has identified obesity as a top priority for our nation largely due to the fact that recent research shows that over 30 percent of adults over age 20 are considered obese. Getting more information about obesity can help you feel better about yourself. Learning about what obesity really means for you is an important first step towards long-term weight loss success. Understanding obesity can help you begin to work with your doctor, registered dietitian and healthcare team to find the best treatments for your situation.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a serious condition that refers to more than just a few extra pounds. It is a level of excess body fat that has been linked to a higher risk for developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Your doctor may identify you as obese in an effort to help you stay healthy and live better.

How is obesity measured?

Obesity is measured using a number called Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is measured by calculating your height in meters squared over your weight. A diagnosis of Obesity may be given if the number is more than 35 but less than 40.  Using this measurement helps your doctor focus on more than just your weight because research shows that a lower BMI number has been linked with better health.

What are the limitations to using BMI to diagnosis obesity?

If you have a muscular build or are an athlete, the BMI may over estimate your level of body fat. If you are an older person who has lost lean muscle mass, BMI may underestimate your level of body fat. Talk to your doctor about whether you fall into one of these categories.  BMI may not be a valid measure for you but your doctor can use other indicators such as blood pressure, family history, waist circumference, blood cholesterol levels and gender to help you assess your risk factors and stay healthy.

What types of therapy are used to treat Obesity?

Treatment usually includes a combination of diet, exercise and behavioral therapy that needs to be adjusted to your individual needs. Drug therapy may also be useful for some patients when other therapies have failed. Patients who have a BMI greater than 35 but less than 40 (obesity) are usually not considered for weight loss surgery unless they have other health concerns (called co-morbidities). Surgery may be consider if BMI level is over 40 (Morbid Obesity). A team approach has been shown to be very effective in treatment for obesity. Evidence shows that diet and lifestyle strategies are the foundation of all types of treatment for obesity.

Evidence supports the Registered Dietitian in treatment for obesity.

Studies have shown that nutrition intervention services from registered dietitians resulted in better treatment outcomes. Dietitians are uniquely qualified to help you individualize your plan for diet and lifestyle changes. Working with a registered dietitian can help to ensure weight loss for a lifetime instead of just a quick fix. Support during the maintenance phase (after you have reached your goals) has been shown to improve long-term weight loss success. Talk to your doctor and healthcare team about working with a registered dietitian as part of your obesity treatment plan.

References:

• Overweight and obesity. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html Accessed July 3, 2009.
• Basic principles of obesity therapy slides. Obesity society. http://www.obesityonline.org/ Accessed July 3, 2009.
• Obesity. MedlinePlus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html Accessed July 3, 2009.
• The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. October 2000, NIH Pub No 00-4084. http://nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf Accessed July 3, 2009.
• What is obesity? WebMD Healthy eating and diet. http://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-obesity Accessed July 3, 2009.
• Calculate your BMI. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Accessed July 3, 2009.
• When being overweight is a health problem. Teen Health; Kidshealth from Nemours. http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/obesity.html Accessed July 3, 2009.
• Statistics related to overweight and obesity. WIN; Weight Information Network. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/STATISTICS/ Accessed July 3, 2009.
• American Dietetic Association. Evidence supports dietitian effective in obesity treatment. http://www.webrd.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_1551_ENU_HTML.htm Accessed July 3, 2009.

Cynthia York-Camden, MS, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian and webmaster at http://www.RDLink.com/