Michael Levitt's Blog, page 37

Underutilized Advertising Platforms Marketers Should Use

When it comes to determining where you should advertise your company, you may just let your marketing team go with whatever is the most popular. This strategy can certainly work, standing out in an oversaturated area can also be difficult. That’s why you need to be aware of some of the most underutilized advertising platforms marketers should use. That way, you can stand out and hit a more significant portion of your target market.

Instagram

Facebook is probably one of the most-utilized online platforms that companies go to for advertising purposes. However, its sister company, Instagram, is just as good—if not better—for marketing purposes, especially if you like to incorporate photos with your ads. Even though the setup process is fairly straightforward, it’s still a good idea to make sure you learn everything you can about the platform before going through with it.

Pinterest

If your company’s products or services are better explained with images but have a larger focus on craft and DIY, you might want to set your sights on Pinterest. Despite the fact that this platform isn’t the most popular form of social media out there, it has been around for quite a while now, and it has a very dedicated user base. As long as what you offer is in line with the goals and interests of the people on the site, you should see a good amount of success.

Bing

Compared to Google, Bing seems like the little kid who wants to be like his big brother one day. The days in which Bing beat out Google in terms of popularity are long gone, but Microsoft still makes an effort to get people to use Bing as their primary search engine. Because of that, your company has an incentive to advertise there. Not as many people will see your ads, but the pricing structures are much cheaper to compensate for that fact.

Reddit/Quora

People most often use search engines to ask questions, but two of the most popular sites to show up in the search results are the forum-based platforms Reddit and Quora. Reddit is arguably the more popular option, but Quora is great if you want to advertise to other business professionals, since that demographic makes up a large portion of its user base. Regardless of which you choose, having your ad in the right place could provide just the answer the user was looking for.

TikTok

Our last underutilized advertising platform marketers should use, TikTok, is undoubtedly on the rise these days, but we felt like it was still worth including on this list. Since it’s showing no signs of stopping, now is the best time to get involved with it. Options for advertising on the platform are somewhat limited, but that doesn’t make it any less of an excellent opportunity for businesses to take advantage of.

Becoming A Successful Entrepreneur: 10 Key Focus Areas

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There are many paths to becoming a successful entrepreneur. However, there are ten key focus areas that are essential for success. If you want to achieve your entrepreneurial dreams, you need to concentrate on these areas and put in the hard work required! Here we will discuss each of these ten focus areas in detail. We will also provide a few actionable tips that you can use to improve your skills in each area!

1) Communication Skills:

Good communication skills are critical for any entrepreneur. You need to be able to communicate effectively with clients, employees, and business partners in order to build strong relationships that will last long term. That means listening actively rather than waiting for your turn with what’s on their mind first, putting yourself in their shoes so you can see things from their perspective, and being able to effectively articulate your thoughts without rambling.

2) Leadership Abilities: 

As an entrepreneur, you will often be in charge and need to take the lead. This means having strong leadership abilities and being able to inspire others to achieve common goals. Being a leader is not about bossing people around or taking all the credit; it’s about empowering team members and working together towards a shared vision. In addition, good leaders know when to step back and let others take the lead. In order to improve your leadership skills, you could consider taking a leadership development course or reading books on leadership skills.

3) Time Management: 

The most important skill for an entrepreneur is good time management. Learning how to manage your time effectively will allow you to get more done in less time, which means that success becomes much more manageable! Unfortunately, this is one of those skills that are not taught in school or university and must be learned on the job by taking control over every aspect of life. From personal relationships with friends and family members, all the way down to managing finances like budgeting each month’s salary wisely, so there’s always money left over at year’s end (and thus no debt).

4) Management Skills: 

Managing a team of people is an essential part of being successful as an entrepreneur. You need to delegate tasks, manage schedules, and coordinate projects with ease so that everyone can get their work done efficiently without any delays or confusion about expectations for time commitments on either side (employee vs. employer). Management skills are not just critical when it comes down to the financial aspect but also in terms of how well they handle employees by giving them enough freedom while still providing guidance and support where needed. This ensures employee satisfaction which has been shown through research to lead to higher productivity and less staff turnover.

5) Networking Skills: 

Networking is an essential part of being successful as an entrepreneur because it allows you to meet new people who may be able to help you in some way or another. This could mean anything from finding a job opportunity that fits your skill set perfectly with someone they know through their connections, which can lead them down the path towards greater success once hired for such positions thanks solely to networking efforts on behalf of themselves and others!

6) Business Acumen: 

A successful entrepreneur needs to have a good understanding of how businesses work. This includes knowing the ins and outs of running a business, such as bookkeeping, taxation, marketing, human resources, and more. If you don’t have this knowledge yourself, it is essential to be willing to learn about these things so that you can make sound decisions for your own company. One way to improve your business acumen is by reading books or articles on related topics. There are also many online courses available that can teach you everything from starting your own business to effective marketing strategies.

7) Risk-Taking Abilities: 

As an entrepreneur, you will often have to take risks to achieve success. This may mean investing money into a new business venture that has no guarantee of turning a profit or hiring employees even though your company may not be able to afford it at the moment. It is crucial to be comfortable with risk-taking and understand that some failures are part of the journey towards greater success. Being able to take risks also means being willing to make sacrifices in order for your company’s long-term growth to excel.

8) Financial Skills: 

A successful entrepreneur must be able to handle their finances well. This includes knowing how to budget, making sound investments, and understanding the ins and outs of bookkeeping. If you are not confident in your financial skills, it is vital to learn as much as you can about them so that you can make intelligent decisions for your business.

9) Self-Motivation: 

To be successful, you need to be self-motivated and have the drive to push yourself forward even when things get tough. This means working hard towards your goals without needing someone constantly telling you what to do or how to do it; you should be able to take charge of your own life and business ventures with little supervision. Along with being self-motivated, you also need to be able to maintain a high level of self-discipline in order to achieve your goals. This means setting realistic deadlines for yourself and sticking to them, working through distractions, and avoiding procrastination whenever possible.

10) Persistence: 

Finally, one of the most important traits of a successful entrepreneur is persistence. This means continuing to work hard even when things don’t go as planned and not giving up easily. There will be times when you face obstacles or experience setbacks, but it is how you deal with these situations that will determine your level of success in the long run. Being persistent also means continuing to learn and grow as an entrepreneur so that you can stay ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

These are just some of the many qualities that are essential for entrepreneurs looking to become successful. Keep in mind that there is no single blueprint for success, and what works for one person may not work for another; it is vital to find what works best for you and stick to it. So if you have dreams of starting your own business and becoming a successful entrepreneur, focus on developing these traits in yourself first before anything else!

How To Deliver a Better Employee Experience

As a business owner and entrepreneur, you must build the right experience for your employees. Your business won't function properly if your employees keep leaving because they're not thriving or aren't happy with their experience. It's your responsibility to improve their employee experience. This article will list how to deliver a better employee experience.

1. Give Positive Feedback

People often forget to give positive feedback, but it's so essential. Your employees will never know if they're doing something right unless you give them some assurance from time to time. You don't have to shower them with compliments, but you do have to give them the occasional piece of positive feedback. Let them know they're going in the right direction or say you’ve recently been impressed by their performance. It's little things like these that urge employees to stay.

2. Improve Your Workplace

You must provide your employees with a good environment so that they can efficiently and productively work. Consider popular office design trends. There are so many ways to change an office, whether it's through renovations, improving your employees' desk setup, or something else entirely. Light and transform your office into a place that motivates work. It will do so much for the employee experience. After all, your employees will not feel compelled to work if their environment doesn't align with what they're doing.

3. Remember Their Work Scope

Employees should make your life easier, but you should never give them tasks beyond their job description. This will demotivate your employees. You do not want to overwhelm them with various tasks that are not technically their responsibility. The best thing you can do to improve their overall experience is remember their work scope and give them jobs within that scope.

4. Provide Excellent Communication

Communication is vital for any workplace, especially when improving the employee experience. Maintain open communication lines at all costs, just in case your employees have a concern or question about a particular project.

In conclusion, this is everything you need to know about how to deliver a better employee experience. Your employees should be your utmost priority. With the above methods, you'll prevent them from having an unhappy work experience. After all, they're the most significant backbone for the success of your business.

Ways To Help Your Small Business Flourish

No one starts a business with instant success. Even the most well-known companies had to face their own troublesome hurdles before they could reap the benefits of their efforts. Entrepreneurship is a rocky road that compels you to keep at it for those gratifying returns. To help stay ahead of the game, learn some ways to help your small business flourish.

Stay True to Your Identity

Many small businesses stretch themselves too thin. For the sake of appealing to a broader market, business owners may find themselves traversing unfamiliar territory. That’s not to say you shouldn’t. However, the key to maintaining a unique image in your specific niche is doing so knowledgeably while staying true to your values.

Understand Your Customers

Your product must adapt to the needs of its target market. You can discover several ways to optimise your product in the future by actively communicating and listening to your customers’ feedback.

Some communication examples to keep in mind include:

Requesting feedback through social media (via email, phone number, chats, etc.)

Open-minded conversations online and in-person

Digital feedback surveys

Spread Your Name

It’s best to respect your audience’s privacy when marketing your business. Giving them the choice to initiate the conversation allows for more genuine interactions. Creating opportunities for authentic exchanges is important in establishing multiple avenues of communication. After all, positive exchanges can result in beneficial word-of-mouth advertising to customers’ friends and family.

There are several methods of authentic marketing you could consider. One is to collaborate locally with related organisations. You could also create a unique business card that catches the eyes of your potential new customers. Additionally, you can offer incentives for people who post about your business on social media—consider gift cards or freebies.

Stay Organised

One of the most crucial aspects of success isn’t exclusive to running a business. By staying organised and following your schedule to a T, you maintain standards that your customers can rely on. Whether you’re running a business on your own or with a team, everyone should be confident enough to provide customers with information. This consistency evokes a sense of trust in your customers, and they’ll consider your organisation dependable.

Also, organisation is key to getting the customer in and out efficiently. The best service is fast and friendly.

There are several ways to help your small business flourish, and the process may seem overwhelming at the start. Nevertheless, by implementing one or two of these steps at a time, you can create a routine for your business that breeds success.

Five Reasons You Need A Mentor

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Have you decided to start your own business? If you have, you know that there is a big long list of things that you need to get done first! Your business is going to thrive when you put your effort into it, but you will find that it’s going to be so much simpler if you have a mentor by your side to help.

You might not have thought about whether or not you should hire a business mentor, but you should. It’s like finding an adult when

They really do have your back. There is no one out there who will get behind your dreams in the same way that a business mentor will. They’re there in the thick of it with you and they will talk you through everything that you need. If you have an idea, they’ll tell you if it’s a good thing or not. They’ll talk you through everything and they won’t judge the bad decisions either - they’ll just prevent you from making them.

You’ll get the right feedback. Your mentor is going to help you to have the right feedback for everything that you do with your business. From your ideas to the decisions that you make, you need to think about how the feedback you get will help you get into the next level.

They give you an external perspective. Your mentor can look at a situation and help you to decide whether you are making the right choices. They’ll be the person you need to see the big picture and help you to see it and you can use a spoon of that from time to time.

They help your growth. A mentor holds your hand and walks you through the scary situations in the business and helps you to grow personally as well as professionally. They’ll be the cheerleader to push you and the Sherpa to guide your way. 

They will manage you. Your time, your diary and your ability to remain organized depends on your mentor and you should think about how you can use their help. Think of them like a behind the scenes planner that you didn't know you needed.

You could go it alone without a mentor, but you shouldn't if you can avoid it. You need the best possible support there is and that means asking for that help.

you are struggling on the playground at school - you need someone to show you how to manage a situation. A mentor is going to be able to give you the help that you need to make the right decisions in your business and whether you read articles by Dee Agarwal or you hire someone in house, a mentor will help. You don't want to seem silly or stypid in your decision making processes, and your mentor is going to prevent you from feeling like that. Below, we’ve got five concise reasons that you should go ahead and have a business mentor set up for your new business.

How to Empower Your Marketing Department Manager

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Marketing is one of the most important aspects of any business. It is responsible for creating and delivering the message that represents the company to potential customers. In order to ensure that your marketing department is effective, you need to empower your marketing department manager. This blog post will discuss four ways to do just that!

1) Give Them Access to Data

When it comes time for your marketing department manager to make decisions, they are going to need data. This means that you have given them access to any relevant information and will help them with their decision-making process. This data can include information about your customers, your competition, and even what you have done in the past.

The more data that your marketing department manager has access to, the better decisions they will be able to make. Make sure that you are regularly providing them with updates so they can stay up-to-date on all of the latest happenings.

If possible, create a report that is tailored specifically for them. This report should outline everything they need to know in order to make informed decisions. Not only will this help empower them, but it will also help them become more effective at their job.

2) Give Them a Budget

In order for your marketing department manager to do their job, they are going to need money. In most cases, this means that you will need to give them a budget. The size of the budget is usually determined by how much money has been set aside for marketing in general or the specific campaign that they are working on at any given time.

It is important to note that your marketing department manager may not always be able to spend all of their budgets every month. This is especially true if there isn’t enough work being done throughout different sections of the company as well! 

3) Let Them Make Decisions

In order for your marketing department manager to be effective, they need to be able to make decisions. This means that you need to let them do their job and not constantly interfere. Unless there is an emergency, give them the freedom to make the decisions that they feel are best for the company.

This doesn’t mean that you have to abdicate all responsibility, though completely! You should still be available to offer guidance when needed, but ultimately it is up to your marketing department manager to make the final call.

4) Provide Them With Software Tools 

In order for your marketing department manager to do their job, they are going to need the right tools. This usually means that you need to provide them with software that will help them accomplish their goals.

Some of the most common types of software that marketing departments use include:

- Social media management tools

- Email marketing tools

- Website analytics tools

- Graphic design software

Make sure that you are providing your marketing department manager with all of the necessary software so they can be as effective as possible. Necessary software also includes website management, security and hosting. Consider using Nestify as a software system. 

In conclusion,  there is a lot that you can do to empower your marketing department manager. This includes giving them access to data, providing them with a budget, letting them make decisions on their own, and providing software tools!

5 Investment Ideas for Small Business Owners

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Starting a small business means taking on a new type of financial responsibility. One challenge that new entrepreneurs face is how to invest their money. Running your own company is full of challenges, including managing cash flow, finding financing, and determining the proper budgets. It’s hard to know what would be best for your situation. Here are some tips that will help you figure out the best course of action for you and your business.

Forex Trading

One of the best ways to invest your money as a small business owner is through forex trading. Forex stands for Foreign Exchange, and it’s a market where you can trade different currencies against one another. Forex traders buy and sell currencies at a certain point in time with the belief that their worth will change when they hold them. 

Stocks and Shares

Investing in stocks and shares as a small business owner can be an effective way to grow your wealth. Many large corporations also utilize this type of investment. Investing in stocks and shares will allow you to receive the benefits of a company’s success without having to take on all the risks.

Stocks and shares are a great option if you have a more significant amount of money available to invest. There are several types of companies to choose from, including multinational corporations, small-cap companies, and start-ups.

Consider your risk tolerance before investing in stocks or shares, as this type of investment may not be suitable for everyone. You should look at how much time you have allocated for this investment and how often you want to check up on it. You should also look at your financial situation and whether or not you need the money for an emergency fund or anything else.

Real Estate

Real estate is a popular option for those looking to invest their money. The reason being it can provide a steady income as land values increase over time. It’s also a good investment if you want to diversify your portfolio. Another thing that makes real estate an excellent investment is that it’s not as risky as stocks and bonds. When the market drops, you don’t lose value as drastically as other investments. Finally, property taxes can be used as an additional source of income.

Invest In Yourself

The best investment you can make is in yourself. Entrepreneurs who start a company from scratch must wear many hats to succeed, and investing in your education is a great way to prepare for the future. Taking courses online through Coursera or edX allows you to learn about topics that would otherwise be out of reach, such as economics, finance, and marketing. You can even work on personal development skills like critical thinking and leadership to better equip yourself for the challenges ahead.

Invest In Your Business

Investing your money in your own business makes the most sense. You are essentially growing your business with your own money by reinvesting profits. This is a great way to grow because it puts you in control of your business’s destiny. If you create an investment plan for your company, you’ll know exactly where to put that money and how it will help to grow the business.

Great Plants To Grow At Your Office In Winter

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Working in an office environment can often leave us feeling detached from the natural world, however, this doesn’t have to be the case. As we grow and evolve in the workplace, many companies are seeing the value of making an office feel more like a home for its employees. This is where a garden comes into play. 

A garden within the boundaries of your office can be a wonderful place for people to relax, reset, and improve their mental health before heading back for the afternoon. It has been proven many times that fresh air and sunlight both have a positive impact on mental health and productivity, and today we want to help you create a wonderful sensory space in your office garden even in the winter. 

Here are some of the easiest flowers and plants you can grow during the winter months to help yourself and your employees relax and reset during their working day. 

Pansies

When we think of pansies we often think about them as being spring flowers and very much a sign of the warmer weather returning, but actually, pansies are a great example of a winter plant that will bloom all the way from autumn to the early spring. If you plant them this weekend they will be able to bloom and add color to your garden all through the season and it will make your garden look stunning. To help get them started, you can also source a fertilizer wholesaler and ensure that your whole office garden space is ready for bloom and growth.

Crocus

Crocus is a stunning little flower that grows from a bulb and will serve as one of the first signs of life in a garden in late February to early March. For those in the office who are struggling with seasonal affective disorder, these stunning purple and yellow gems can be the perfect medicine. If you plant some bulbs around your office garden space now, they will keep coming back year after year to brighten up a dark and dingy winter day. 

Violas

If you aren’t familiar with violas, they are basically like mini pansies and therefore they act in much the same way as the former. Viola plants produce lots of cute little flowers and they are a very dainty plant to have in the space at this time of year. There are lots of different varieties of violas so you should pretty much be able to find something to suit any style and any garden space you have access to. These work really well in hanging baskets too so keep that in mind! 

Primrose

The primrose is one of those followers which seem to be a sign of the spring to come and they are the epitome of spring life, color, and delicacy. Of course, these lovely flowers will grow more swiftly if you use a greenhouse, however, they are happy to stay in the cold too. This is a beautiful cottage flower that is a popular choice for gardens all over the world due to its diverse colors and pretty petals. If you plant these beauties in the early autumn you should gain some lovely flowers by early winter and these will last for pretty much the whole season depending on the variety and the conditions you use. 

Sweet William

Sweet Williams are one of those flowers which are ideal for picking during the year and placing in a little vase in your kitchen, they have stiff stems and stunning little flowers which come in a range of colors and give a beautiful scent. You can plant these in the autumn and they will grow and flower the following year towards the end of the summer, they have colors ranging from white to red to purple and are a beautiful addition to your garden space. 

Snowdrops 

Perhaps the most infamous winter flower of all time, the snowdrop is a stunning, delicate little flower that looks exactly as it sounds. Even during the harsh frost and snowstorms, you will be able to find these little gems popping up all over your garden bringing a beautiful white flower with it. You can plant these bulbs in the ground anytime now and then they will start to flower during December and January when it is at its coldest. 

Polyanthus

Polyanthus are similar style plants to primroses but they have umbels on top which is slightly different from primrose. You will need to think about planting these guys pretty soon and they will be ideal for your flower beds or borders to bring small bursts of beautiful color and delicate shape for the winter period. These are other plants that work amazingly in window boxes and in hanging baskets outside the house. 

Wallflower

Wallflowers are probably the easiest options to plant out of everything on our list in the winter. Whereas other plants will have certain preferences when it comes to light and soil, wallflowers really aren’t fussy at all and this means that they can pretty much be planted anywhere in the garden or in a window box if you prefer. If you plant these at the start of autumn you can get varieties that either flower during autumn or will flower late winter coming into spring. You can have some fun with these plants and add them in several areas of the garden to really bring life and light to the space. 

Forget-me-not

Forget-me-nots are one of those plants where you are able to sow a small amount of seed and they will slowly spread throughout your bed bringing small blue, purple, and pink flowers with them. They are super hardy and happy to thrive almost anywhere so when you plant these guys you shouldn’t have any problems with keeping them alive through the winter and early spring. 

Try planting some of these plants this winter in your office garden and see a huge improvement in the morale of your workers going forward into spring.

How To Best Add Excitement to Your Packaging

You’ve had success in setting yourself up with a profitable side gig as a craftsperson, selling your wares on Etsy and other online marketplaces to customers hungry for more. But do you ever wonder if there’s something else you can add to the packaging to impress your clients? Marketing is about more than advertising; it’s about establishing a brand that sticks with your customers and makes them clamor for more. Decorating the packages that your products come in is a fantastic way to present a memorable and fun image that they’ll look forward to with every purchase. Here’s how to best add excitement to your packaging.

Glam It Up

A single brightly colored box will make a fantastic impression in a sea of beige and brown packages. We’re not saying go overboard with glitter and glue, but a little color and style can create a memorable moment of delight for your client. Create mail art by adding drawings, designs, stickers, appliques, and more to the outside of the package. You can still mail them through most mail and package carriers if the address and return address are still visible but check to make sure. Don’t forget that there are plenty of premade, fancy forms of packaging out there, including foil bubble wrappers!

Design Your Own Address Labels

If you’re handy with Photoshop, InDesign, and other programs, take away the tediousness of writing down addresses with branded address labels. Pick a color scheme, logo, or image you’d like associated with your business and create frames that run around the perimeter of the label. Leave space so you can use the program to print out the addresses in a fun and lovely font. Use the right paper for your printer; otherwise, they may smear. Keep legibility in mind as well. If you get too fancy with the font, your package might get sent back or lost!

Stamp Out Boring Packages

You can go high-tech with your address labels but consider a more lo-fi approach by having a rubber stamp made to add your address, logo, mascot, or what have you to the package. Plenty of fellow hobbyists and makers can create cunning little rubber stamps for you. Aside from having old-fashioned charm, a rubber stamp is both efficient and personal. And you can use different colored inks as well. With a larger stamp, it’s a cheap way to create “custom-made” packaging out of plain brown boxes.

Make the Inside as Exciting as the Outside

Want to know how to best add excitement to your packaging? Don’t let your product be the lone finale after a big presentation on the package’s exterior. Certainly, they’ll love receiving your work, but add a special note on nice paper thanking them for their business. Add your business card and perhaps a trinket or two to make them feel special. You’re a creative spirit: share it every chance you get!

Tips for Easing Patient Anxiety in Your Practice

Do you remember visiting your doctor as a child and feeling scared and anxious? Do you remember why? Many people—children and adults alike—dislike seeing medical professionals due to uncertainty and fear of pain or hearing bad news.

Many of these patients may be yours, which is why you must read on to learn these tips for easing patient anxiety in your practice.

Know What Anxiety Looks Like

As a medical professional, it’s critical to recognize what anxiety looks like in children and adults. Here are some symptoms of anxiety in adults:

Irritability

Restless or being on-edge

Burning sensation

While symptoms of anxiety in children look similar, they may appear in more physical sensations than mental, like:

Stomachache

Difficulty sleeping

Being tense or fidgety

These symptoms will vary with each patient you encounter, but it’s helpful to understand general anxiety symptoms so that you know how to help your patients relax.

Offer a Comfortable Environment

When a patient walks into your office, the first thing they see is your waiting room, which is precisely why you must offer them a comfortable environment.

You can do this by providing productive distractions like a fish tank, short health and wellness videos, soothing music, and more. You might also consider playing lighthearted TV comedies that can help ease their anxiety. Laughter is the best medicine, after all.

However, you can also decorate your room with calming paint colors, art pieces, and comfortable sofas and seats. But remember, it’s not just about the décor and entertainment; your team must be welcoming as well.

Train Your Team

We’ve all been to a medical office where the staff was grumpy or stressed and didn’t offer the best customer service. This only makes patients more anxious and frustrated.

Be sure to train your team to act with a positive attitude and be respectful to all patients that come through. To minimize stress within your team, ensure an excellent benefits package with proper PTO and a clean, organized environment that helps them feel more efficient.

Write Out Treatment Plan

Oftentimes, patients might feel anxious about attending a doctor visit alone because they’re nervous about remembering everything the health care staff said regarding their treatment plans.

A great way to offset this is by writing out the next steps on a piece of paper or their visit summary for them. This way, they’re confident about what to do next and can relax during their appointment.

Maintain Equipment

Outdated equipment can stick out like a sore thumb in a medical office, contributing to a patient’s anxiety. Try to update your equipment regularly so your patient is confident in their treatment and you can operate your machinery with peace of mind.

These tips for easing patient anxiety in your practice will enable you to adequately treat your patients and help them relax.