Sales to Doctors

Apr 26, 2005 11:14 pm

We had a meeting with a wholesaler and he presented a pension plan that he said was appealing to Doctors.  I wonder if people have been successful selling to doctors and which products were most successful for them.   Thanks.

Jan 26, 2006 3:13 am

Yae I’m actually calling doctors also.  What is the most effective way to get in front of doctors.

Jan 26, 2006 3:27 am

[quote=maybeeeeeeee]We had a meeting with a wholesaler and he presented a pension plan that he said was appealing to Doctors.  I wonder if people have been successful selling to doctors and which products were most successful for them.   Thanks.[/quote]

Recently went in for my annual physical.  While there I asked my physician how best to approach doctors.  His advice...call on them in their early thirties. By their fourties they have 1-2 advisors and are NOT looking for "2nd opinions."  In addition...they recieve 50+ calls/approaches a year.

Jan 26, 2006 3:51 am

and they’re annoying they think they know everything

Jan 26, 2006 4:17 am

[quote=bankrep1]and they're annoying they think they know everything[/quote]

damned straight.

Jan 26, 2006 2:03 pm

[quote=SonnyClips]I've been figuring out how to team up with drug sales people. You know each year doctors have 30k spent on them by the drug companies. I used to own an upscale movie theater and we would do early morning sneak previews for doctors families and the Drug Sale people would pay full price for the whole deal. If you could get a seminar going and have the drug company foot the bill. Not selling so much as teaching with a sign up sheet. I'm new to this so does anyone have any ideas.

Oh and the are annoying pricks. I like to think of Doctors as well payed vocational school graduates. My new doctor corrected me on my pronounciation of nihilism. Pissed me off because I knew the bastard was wrong. What was I supposed to do though bicker with him. Then he tells me that he decided to move his practice with the big medical group where I found him. He said he had had a private practice but it became to expensive. I felt like chiding him for being a failed small businessman. I didn't though.[/quote]

Drug reps are now limited by law to what they can spend on docs for entertainment.  Not like it used to be from what I understand.

Jan 26, 2006 6:16 pm

I would not waste my time.  I have a few in my book, all women, they are nice.  I just met with a male doctor last week and wanted to punch him he was so arrogant, instead I told him I didn't think I could help him, he asked why of course because he is used to people kissing his ars.

I said I usually help people who I like.  He was of course insulted and left.  Thank god.

Jan 26, 2006 6:36 pm

[quote=bankrep1]

I would not waste my time.  I have a few in my book, all women, they are nice.  I just met with a male doctor last week and wanted to punch him he was so arrogant, instead I told him I didn't think I could help him, he asked why of course because he is used to people kissing his ars.

I said I usually help people who I like.  He was of course insulted and left.  Thank god.

[/quote]

Perfect. It's also fun to tell them that you think it would be fun to be a doctor, but you would hate the cut in pay.

Jan 26, 2006 7:07 pm

[quote=joedabrkr]

[quote=SonnyClips]I've been figuring out how to team up with drug sales people. You know each year doctors have 30k spent on them by the drug companies. I used to own an upscale movie theater and we would do early morning sneak previews for doctors families and the Drug Sale people would pay full price for the whole deal. If you could get a seminar going and have the drug company foot the bill. Not selling so much as teaching with a sign up sheet. I'm new to this so does anyone have any ideas.

Oh and the are annoying pricks. I like to think of Doctors as well payed vocational school graduates. My new doctor corrected me on my pronounciation of nihilism. Pissed me off because I knew the bastard was wrong. What was I supposed to do though bicker with him. Then he tells me that he decided to move his practice with the big medical group where I found him. He said he had had a private practice but it became to expensive. I felt like chiding him for being a failed small businessman. I didn't though.[/quote]

Drug reps are now limited by law to what they can spend on docs for entertainment.  Not like it used to be from what I understand.

[/quote]

I've been trying to market to another kind of Drug salesperson......... problem is that my firm won't allow me to take cash deposits. It sucks 'cause this is a fairly easy market to crack; these guys are always looking for a way to make a quick buck. 

Jan 26, 2006 8:15 pm

I have been getting doctors on the phone by saying I’m calling in regards to their pension. but what is the best thing I should say when I actually get them on the phone so that I can get an appt? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Jan 26, 2006 8:23 pm

[quote=younggunz]I have been getting doctors on the phone by saying I'm calling in regards to their pension. but what is the best thing I should say when I actually get them on the phone so that I can get an appt? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. [/quote]

Ask them if you can have an appointment.

Jan 27, 2006 1:36 am

How do you get infront of a doc…?  Get sick, Make an appointment. 

Jan 27, 2006 1:41 am

[quote=bankrep1]

I would not waste my time.  I have a few in my book, all women, they are nice.  I just met with a male doctor last week and wanted to punch him he was so arrogant, instead I told him I didn't think I could help him, he asked why of course because he is used to people kissing his ars.

I said I usually help people who I like.  He was of course insulted and left.  Thank god.

[/quote]

This brings up an interesting topic... You don't have to take everyone with some cash.  I inherted a business account 6 months ago.  The finance person wouldn't return my calls and they're sitting on 100k in cash.  I left my monthly message last week just said I wanted to see if he wanted some CD's or something to earn a little more interest. 

He called me back, all irate.  Was rude to my assistant.  Said he keeps 100k at each institution he does business with.  He's not interested in any investments, I wont get any more of his money, he likes his cash and I should stop wasted my time and his.

I shipped him to our call center. 

Jan 27, 2006 1:44 am

[quote=iconsult100][quote=bankrep1]

I would not waste my time.  I have a few in my book, all women, they are nice.  I just met with a male doctor last week and wanted to punch him he was so arrogant, instead I told him I didn't think I could help him, he asked why of course because he is used to people kissing his ars.

I said I usually help people who I like.  He was of course insulted and left.  Thank god.

[/quote]

This brings up an interesting topic... You don't have to take everyone with some cash.  I inherted a business account 6 months ago.  The finance person wouldn't return my calls and they're sitting on 100k in cash.  I left my monthly message last week just said I wanted to see if he wanted some CD's or something to earn a little more interest. 

He called me back, all irate.  Was rude to my assistant.  Said he keeps 100k at each institution he does business with.  He's not interested in any investments, I wont get any more of his money, he likes his cash and I should stop wasted my time and his.

I shipped him to our call center. 

[/quote]

Sooo...you tried to push a product, instead of being a consultant? Maybe he didn't like you acting like a salesman! Bad boy!

Jan 27, 2006 2:00 am

[quote=Dirk Diggler]

Sooo...you tried to push a product, instead of being a consultant? Maybe he didn't like you acting like a salesman! Bad boy!

[/quote]

No... I tried to get his attention and get him on the phone.  If he were your client, you'd be pitching a VA with his oldest employee as the annuitant.

Jan 27, 2006 2:05 am

[quote=iconsult100][quote=Dirk Diggler]

Sooo...you tried to push a product, instead of being a consultant? Maybe he didn't like you acting like a salesman! Bad boy!

[/quote]

No... I tried to get his attention and get him on the phone.  If he were your client, you'd be pitching a VA with his oldest employee as the annuitant.

[/quote]

So... he wouldn't get on the phone to listen to your "advice", advisor boy?

If he were my client, he'd already have the VA. I only do annuity business.

Jan 27, 2006 2:10 am

[quote=Dirk Diggler]So… he wouldn’t get on the phone to listen to your “advice”, advisor boy?

If he were my client, he'd already have the VA. I only do annuity business.

[/quote]

Oh well.... I don't need clients who dont want my help.

Keep pushing those products and coming up with those excuses to churn.  Meanwhile, I'll sit back and collect my 1% fee and make people money.  And they don't have to die to collect the money I make them.

Jan 27, 2006 3:34 am

[quote=iconsult100][quote=Dirk Diggler]So… he wouldn’t get on the phone to listen to your “advice”, advisor boy?

If he were my client, he'd already have the VA. I only do annuity business.

[/quote]

Oh well.... I don't need clients who dont want my help.

I totally agree with you on that.

Keep pushing those products and coming up with those excuses to churn.  Meanwhile, I'll sit back and collect my 1% fee and make people money.  And they don't have to die to collect the money I make them.

I don't push products. I just use them to get people's attention on the phone, like you do.

[/quote]
Jan 29, 2006 2:44 am

So if you propose not going after doctors what do you propose.  I"m pretty new in the biz, and was looking at what niche market I will hit.  Were doing seminars for doctors and I started calling them to get them to the seminar and possibly get an appt.  I got one doctor to get an appt. and got alot more interested in the seminar. 

What niche do you guys think I should go after since I’m trying to start grow my business.  Other then 403(b) business do you guys have any idea of what to do? 

My employer is telling me to call doctors for the seminar, but I’m looking at something that will be a little easier.  WIth the DNC list, it seems that I’m limited to Small business owner, and doctors, and some other professionals that I’m not really interested in. 
Any ideas of how to get to people other then these with the DNC list in place.  I don’t mind cold calling and thats all I have been doing with the doctors

Jan 29, 2006 4:19 am

How about retirees, they have all the money and all the needs.  I would focus on LTC, wealth transfer, and annuitties/  Forget about the stock market, the seniors that want to be there already are.

Someone did say the best customers are already taken, to be successful you just need to draw them to you.  I love seniors, lrge tickets, easy clients, respectful, home during the day.

Jan 30, 2006 4:40 am

How do I call seniors at home with the DNC list.  Because a lot of the seniors are on the DNC list, and if there not they are already being called heavily

Feb 3, 2006 1:40 am

you guys are missing the forrest fot the trees....the pharm reps are how you should be going after.  they are easier to approach, and make more than most young family practice docs.  they also tend to job hop alot.  just a thought.

Feb 7, 2006 1:34 am

Well, I have been trying to get through to doctors and they have proven difficult.  So I have been trying to ask the gate keeper if I could send a fax inviting them to a workshop.  Then when I call back I get a better chance to talk to the doctor.  The problem is I get about 1 doctor for every 10 dials, and with the faxes I get about 1 doctor for every 5 dials.  But with the faxes it takes time to put them in my excell and send them off to the marketing team to fax them out. So I’m only able to get to about 75 dials a day max trying this method because I’m on the phone with the gatekeeper longer and I’m on hold for quite a while at times. Do you think I should just leave messages and get on to the next dial or keep on trying to send faxes through the gate keeper.  Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you 

Feb 7, 2006 1:44 am

[quote=younggunz]Well, I have been trying to get through to doctors and they have proven difficult.  So I have been trying to ask the gate keeper if I could send a fax inviting them to a workshop.  Then when I call back I get a better chance to talk to the doctor.  The problem is I get about 1 doctor for every 10 dials, and with the faxes I get about 1 doctor for every 5 dials.  But with the faxes it takes time to put them in my excell and send them off to the marketing team to fax them out. So I'm only able to get to about 75 dials a day max trying this method because I'm on the phone with the gatekeeper longer and I'm on hold for quite a while at times. Do you think I should just leave messages and get on to the next dial or keep on trying to send faxes through the gate keeper.  Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you  [/quote]

You may ask the gatekeepers which times/days he sets aside to meet with drug reps. Call on them at that time.

Feb 7, 2006 3:03 am

Follow them home from the clinic. Give them 5 minutes to kiss the wife and kick the dog. Then smile and knock, knock away…