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What I Learned:

A friend of mine had an interesting method of getting dates.

Instead of being like most normal guys (like me), and “feel out” the situation—i.e., drop hints you’re interested, see if she makes eye contact, maybe...just maybe… find an excuse to talk.

He’d go right up to girls and ask if they’d like to go out.

He wasn’t the most attractive, so he had nothing to lose. He played the law of numbers.

“…It only takes one.”

What was surprising was that 9 out of 10 times, he’d get one of two responses:

“I already have a boyfriend.”

OR

“I’m not interested.”

9 out of 10 times, it was either one of those.

But occasionally ….

When the stars aligned…

He’d get the rarified response that shook the heavens and earth:

“I already have a boyfriend…AND I’M NOT INTERESTED.”

Orthodontic practices have the exact opposite odds.

Callers are interested and want to schedule time with you.

In fact, from the industry leader Gaidge, the ratio is the same as my friend’s responses. 9 out of 10 people SHOULD schedule a new patient exam once they call you.

This means that if your ratio is off, it’s on you not being interested.…not on them.

Remember my friend’s 9 out of 10 rate this week, and check your new calls-to-exam ratio. 9 out of 10 should be scheduled if they’re inquiring about treatment. 9 out of 10 want to have a scheduled date. 9 out of 10 is the industry norm.

Anything lower, and ask what’s making a potential patient turn you down (booking window, how you answer the call, front desk excitement, the tone given, etc.)

….or if you’re the one simply not interested.