Boost Your Online Authority

Dr. Marjorie Stiegler describes how she developed her expertise in online strategies for physician branding. She’s an entrepreneur, author, and accomplished keynote speaker.

Marjorie is an anesthesiologist and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an expert and national speaker on patient safety, simulation, medical decision making, cognitive errors, and critical event debriefing.

She completed medical training at Emory School of Medicine, Internship at Georgetown University Medical Center, and Anesthesia Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In today’s interview, we learn about the maternity active wear business she started in 2009. “We started it with just a few hundred dollars. It rapidly became a six-figure-a-year revenue generator…and a labor of love. It's so rewarding. It's really fun.”

online strategies

She describes her early forays into online branding and marketing, which led to many of the online strategies she uses. We get into the weeds a little about how she develops and delivers her online courses. It’s a fascinating conversation and I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface.

Starting with a Blog

Marjorie set up a physician web site and Twitter account as a safe place to try social media. She thought no one would notice or be interested in what she posted.

“I wrote about what I thought about certain cognitive bias, which is sort of the underpinning of medical decision making and why we have preferences to try or not try something else. When people would search for a medical expert in decision making… I think I rose to the top of the SEO.”

Social media was a boom to her academic career. “I got invited to a lot more speaking opportunities, particularly international ones, and for bigger stages, than I think I would have.” And she began to notice how her online strategies were enhncing her reach.

Reducing Clincal Activities

While she was building her speaking career and authority, she was still practicing full time. As she has increased her coaching and course creation, she gradually reduced clinical time to one day per week.

“I do love taking care of patients, and that's one of the reasons I think that non-clinical activity is so helpful and important. It really gives me, and I think gives a lot of people who I know or that I've taught, the financial freedom to choose how much I feel like working.”

“And that's one of the reasons I think that the non-clinical activity is so helpful and important… when I go to work, it feels rewarding, instead of somehow…burdensome. It's a great balance.”

Marjorie Stiegler

A career with clinical and non-clinical work can help prevent burnout. “When I go to work, it feels rewarding, instead of somehow…burdensome. I don't find myself over committed anymore. I have creative outlets all over the place. So, it's a great balance.”

Turn Ideas into Money

“There are many, many courses on how to launch online businesses or how to do courses. But I think physicians have some different challenges.”

 

Marjorie recommends paying close attention to contracts and policies with affiliated partners and organizations regarding intellectual property and money.

She has written several “how-to” books, courses, and other educational materials for physicians that focus on the online strategies she has developed. “It's fun to help people have success in this way that can seem really overwhelming. There's a lot of stuff you could do…but really not that many that make a difference to the bottom line.”

Marjorie helps people figure out how their ideas can make them money, and how to utilize online strategies to promote themselves. “That's what people want to do with their businesses, and that's where people seem to struggle.”

Our Sponsor

The University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, is the proud sponsor of this podcast. You’ll remember that I interviewed Dr. Kate Atchley, the Executive Director of the program, in Episode #25 of this podcast.

The UT PEMBA is the longest running, and most highly respected physician-only MBA in the country. It has over 650 graduates. Unlike most other ranked programs, which typically have a duration of 18 to 24 months, this program only takes a year to complete. And Economist Magazine recently ranked the business school #1 in the world for the Most Relevant Executive MBA.

University of Tennessee PEMBA students bring exceptional value to their organizations. The curriculum includes a number of major assignments and a company project. Hence, students immediately contribute to their organizations while in the program.

Graduates have taken leadership positions at major healthcare organizations. And they have become entrepreneurs and business owners. If you want to acquire the business and management skills you need to advance your career, contact Dr. Kate Atchley’s office by calling (865) 974-6526 or going to vitalpe.net/physicianmba.

Links for today's episode:

Thanks to our sponsor…

Thanks to the UT Physician Executive MBA program for sponsoring the show. It’s an outstanding, highly rated, MBA program designed for working physicians. It might be just what you need to prepare for that joyful, well-paying career. You can find out more at vitalpe.net/physicianmba.

I hope to see you next time on the PNC Podcast.

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Podcast Editing & Production Services are provided by Oscar Hamilton.

Disclaimers:

The opinions expressed here are mine and my guest’s. While the information provided on the podcast is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, there is no express or implied guarantee that using the methods discussed here will lead to success in your career, life or business. 

Many of the links that I refer you to, and that you’ll find in the show notes, are affiliate links. That means that I receive a payment from the seller if you purchase the affiliate item using my link. Doing so has no effect on the price you are charged. And I only promote products and services that I believe are of high quality and will be useful to you, that I have personally used or am very familiar with.

The information presented on this blog and related podcast is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical, legal, tax, or emotional advice. If you take action on the information provided on the blog or podcast, it is at your own risk. Always consult an attorney, accountant, career counsellor, or other professional before making any major decisions about your career. 

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