Can acupuncture reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome impacts 4 to 10 million Americans (average age between 40 and 50 years old), according to the Rheumatology Research Foundation.
In a study 80 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: (1) electroacupuncture to the more affected hand; (2) electroacupuncture at “distal” body sites, near the ankle opposite to the more affected hand; and (3) local sham electroacupuncture using non-penetrating placebo needles.
Both local and distal acupuncture were better than sham acupuncture at producing desirable changes in the wrist.
Healthcare continues to evolve toward less-invasive, natural, and drug-free methods, with acupuncture now becoming a first-line complementary healthcare choice.
Remember, the American Acupuncture Council (AAC) offers an unparalleled track record in acupuncture risk management.
There is a reason acupuncturists have trusted AAC with their business for 50 years.
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That they’re not paying for exams and they’re also still recouping. We’re gonna talk a little bit about that, but we have to update from what we did in April.
Disclaimer: The following is an actual transcript. We do our best to make sure the transcript is as accurate as possible, however, it may contain spelling or grammatical errors. Due to the unique language of acupuncture, there will be errors, so we suggest you watch the video while reading the transcript.
Greetings, friends and colleagues. It’s Sam Collins, the coding and billing expert for acupuncture, the profession, of course, the American Acupuncture Council. Of course, I’ve got a little update coming up because obviously many of you have been contacting me, network members, and even others have contacted me.
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Say, Hey, Sam, what’s going on? I notice. That they’re not paying for exams and they’re also still recouping. We’re gonna talk a little bit about that, but we have to update from what we did in April. So let’s go to the slides. Let’s talk about what’s going on with recoupment and standard episode of care specific to acupuncture and frankly non-physician providers.
So you’ll see here is a letter dated June 23rd from Tri West and it says, we received the above claim. Let me bring it so I can blow it up. And it says. Try West. Receive the above-mentioned claim for your offer. And notice I highlighted and yes says evaluation and management procedure codes are not paid for this rendering provider specialty.
This is the latest thing we’re seeing. It appears, and I’ve seen it absolutely published way that to me would make it more, but it appears they have taken the ability for acupuncturists to be paid. Separate exams when it comes to the va. That of course is very frustrating because of course is an exam necessary thing.
Of course, I to determine the need for care, to determine the continuation of care. So what’s recurring I think is maybe a Leo GE cut here at they’re eliminating the payment for exams. That doesn’t mean you don’t need one, they’re just not. Pay for it. I think it’s probably worth seeing the patient for the overall payments, but they’re not covering it.
We’ll see directly. Now the word that they did this in April, what I’ve seen when their newsletter is not quite clear enough for me. So I’m waiting to see the full publishing standard episode of care, but I’m sure many of you have met. Now. Here’s gonna be the pushback if the exam after April when they published it.
They’re gonna be am behind it because published, however, then I want you all to think of standard episode of Care for Acup Occupy. Whenever you notice the standard episode of care, you’ll notice whether it’s going to be initial chronic follow ups. They include e and M codes. You’ll see really, 9 9 0 2 to 2 0 5 9 9 2 1 to 2 1 5, and I bet pro your authorization has so my argument’s gonna be, they’re saying they’re not gonna cut well, if it’s after April, send an updated authorization, not listed, I’m waiting to see that, then I would say, okay, but if it’s prior dispute’s gonna be, how did you send me an authorization?
Clearly indicates exams and they’re, now, I’m not gonna pay for it. Now, it appears April. This is gonna true. But prior to, it’s gonna be a pushback. Now, is that very frustrating? Of course it is. But I’m gonna ask you, is it worth it to still be part of it? I do, because think of the overall payment on a VA patient.
You’re getting 12 visits to start, probably eight and eight to follow up. Assuming you’re doing three sets of acupuncture and a therapy or two, that’s maybe 110 to $150 of reimbursement. Am I going to take away potentially, three to $4,000 a payment? Because they’re not gonna pay for a couple of exams.
I prefer they do, but I’m gonna say I’m not gonna go that far. It’s something I think though we’re gonna be fighting. I shouldn’t say think. I know we’re gonna be fighting as a profession on a national level along with chiropractors and physical therapists, because this affects them too. Because this goes against the equality provision.
Equality says that if it’s within scope and you pay, other providers have to pay you because this is not Medicare. Now that’s gonna be a little bit of a fight, and that’s not gonna happen in short term. So when you get this, I do think we should dispute it. I would certainly push back if it were pre-AP April, that they should, if it’s after April, not so much.
Of course, if you’re a network member with me, reach out. We’ve got some letters for that as well. But I do wanna highlight also beyond that, just a couple of quick updates. Let’s talk about what’s happening and what’s gone on with doing. Things with 9 7 0 3 9 or 1 3 9, and that’s of course what a lot of offices have used for cupping.
Remember that was removed more than a year ago, so please do not use that code for cupping. It is not appropriate. I. Do not list it. They may pay it, but they’re gonna recoup it. So do not, if you’re gonna do cupping, use 9 7 0 1 6, which is a vaso pneumatic device. It’s not a high payer. It’s about 11 to $15, but at least you are being paid for it.
But again, do not use 9 7 0 3 9 and if they are recouping that, if it’s pre 2024. I would argue they can’t, but if it’s after 2024, they can. Now some people have argued. What about statute of limitations? Statute of limitations, I would argue certainly does apply. Unfortunately, you know what I’ve realized or what I’ve learned, the statute of limitations for the VA is actually six years, so we’re not gonna win on that one as far as this goes.
The other thing here is, and this has come up recently because obviously a lot of you are using pain indexes or similar. To verify how the patient’s improving. I recently had an office, or actually a few that they were denied few further care because they weren’t showing at least a seven point difference on the general pain index.
I really like the general pain index. It’s certainly the similar to the pain interference. Make sure though, if you’re using it. If you’re doing it once a month, there’s gotta be at least a seven point change to be considered significant. Now, most of you, I hope, are getting bigger than seven point changes, frankly, but if you’re not realize it’s going to be a problem ’cause they’re gonna push back, which means you also have to focus in what if I’m using the pain scale?
That also has a limitation, which means it’s gotta be three points or more. Obviously if I say I’m a seven, I go to a six. That means I’m better, but it’s not considered significant. So if they start at seven, the next time you do it to really be considered significant, say on re-exam, it’s gotta be four.
So a three point difference, I would say. Then obviously those two factors are important. If you’re not getting at least one three, you better focus in on something about activity, particularly a home or work activity that couldn’t do before. What they care about is the getting better. Because remember, once they’re stabilized, they have to be on a continua care with flareups.
So keep in mind, acupuncture works well. We need to demonstrate it. Show me on this general PEX pain scale or function, how much improvement there is. Now, this brings me to, for some of you, and I’ve had this question a lot, is being part of the VA worth it? Does it cost anything to join? No. Do the patients sometimes have some hassles getting authorization?
Yes, that’s true. But when you’re paid. Let’s go over it. If you’re getting a standard episode of care for 12 and eight visits, just say the first two 20 visits in a year, considering just the treatment, that’s probably 2000 to $2,500 now, even with taking out exams. Is that worth it to me? Absolutely.
However, am I frustrated with the exam part not being paid? I am. But at the same token, that’s not gonna stop me, but this is where if you’re not part of your state and national association, this is where we need to belong. ’cause this is where we need to push back because how are they treating us differently?
Now the downside is they are doing it to chiropractors. I. To physical therapists as well as massage therapists. So it’s not just you. But at the same token, I think it’s valid to say that it should be covered. ’cause how are you supposed to determine care without an exam because they’re doing this based on a Medicare rule?
Medicare only sets the fees for the va. It’s not the protocol. ’cause if that were true, they shouldn’t pay for acupuncture at all unless it were chronic low back pain and under supervision. So we know that they’re just. Choosing and picking certain ones. So I think we’re gonna have a pretty good pushback, but I do still, it is worth it if you’re thinking, I’m not so sure we are doing next month in August, a whole seminar on the va, what to do, how to make it work for you, make sure you tune into that.
Otherwise, I’m gonna say to everyone, we always want to be resource. If you’re having issues, reach out to American Acupuncture Council. The next specifically, we highlight updates right on our website. And if you’re a member, it allows you to have direct interaction with me via calls and zooms. And otherwise, until next time to my friend, be well.
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Can acupuncture reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
IBS affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States and is a major women’s health issue, with 2 in 3 IBS sufferers being female.
A 2021 review and analysis of 24 studies in 3,220 people with IBS found that in studies comparing acupuncture to various medications, acupuncture was more effective in relieving IBS symptoms.
When used in combination with other treatments, including medicines or herbs, acupuncture helps to improve their effectiveness in treating IBS symptoms.
Healthcare continues to evolve toward less-invasive, natural, and drug-free methods, with acupuncture now becoming a first-line complementary healthcare choice.
Remember, the American Acupuncture Council (AAC) offers an unparalleled track record in acupuncture risk management.
There is a reason acupuncturists have trusted AAC with their business for 50 years
Not an American Acupuncture Council member? Get a Quick Quote and find out how much you will save! Click here!
So there are quite a few neuromuscular conditions that affect the face, such as Bell’s Palsy, Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, synchronic cys, stroke, TMJ, trigeminal Neuralgia,…
Disclaimer: The following is an actual transcript. We do our best to make sure the transcript is as accurate as possible, however, it may contain spelling or grammatical errors.Due to the unique language of acupuncture, there will be errors, so we suggest you watch the video while reading the transcript.
Hi, my name’s Michelle Gellis. I am an acupuncture physician, and I would like to thank the American Acupuncture Council for this opportunity for me to present to you today on treating the face a multidimensional approach. So today we’re going to do part two. And you can go ahead and go.
So a little bit about me. I’m currently on the doctoral faculty at Jossane University. Before that, I was a faculty member and clinic supervisor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health from 2003 until 2021. I am a published author and contributor to the Journal of Chinese Medicine and I’m a regular columnist for acupuncture today.
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And I’ve been treated teaching facial acupuncture classes internationally since 2005. My book Treating the Face was released in November of 2024. It is a 500 page 15 chapter, hard cover book, and it covers all aspects of treating the face. I’m going to talk mostly about the information that’s in chapter six, and that is neuromuscular facial conditions.
So when we think about facial acupuncture, we tend to think about cosmetic facial acupuncture. But facial acupuncture is really about a holistic approach to not just treating the face. Cosmetically, but also all different aspects of treating the face. So there are quite a few neuromuscular conditions that affect the face, such as Bell’s Palsy, Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, synchronic cys, stroke, TMJ, trigeminal Neuralgia, Ms.
Whoops. Ms. Ptosis, HEFA spasm, myasthenia gravis, shingles, and facial ticks, just to name a few. And many of these are very unique to the face itself. And. Since I specialize in treating the face, after a few years of doing cosmetic acupuncture, I started getting people calling me, asking me if I could help them with a lot of these neuro conditions.
And through studying and doing a lot of research. I and some trial and error. I learned that the best way to really manage these conditions is through a multifaceted approach using scalp, acupuncture, submuscular needling, facial motor points, facial cupping. And so I’m gonna touch on these, the.
And so Scalp acupuncture is based on neuroanatomy. It is not based on acupuncture points. And you have to measure the scalp appropriately. And there’s a motor area and there’s a sensory area, and the bottom two fifths of each one of these lines, the sensory area is not shown on this picture. The. The bottom two fifths corresponds to the face, and so you would needle this area and stimulate it either with electro acupuncture or with manual stimulation in order to help with either motor conditions such as Bell’s palsy or with sensory conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia.
Facial motor points. This is from an old medical textbook. These are the motor points that have been discovered on the face, head and neck. And in part one of this talk I talked about using motor points for cosmetic concerns, but facial motor points are wonderful for neuromuscular concerns because what a motor point is the most electrically acceptable part.
The muscle where the motor neuron goes into the muscle, and by stimulating it, you can cause the muscle to get back into normal functioning. And the reason why this is important for the face, besides the functioning of opening the lid or closing the lid, the. Skin on the face is directly attached to the muscle.
So if someone’s face is paralyzed and is drooping in one area by getting the muscle back into normal functioning, by stimulating the motor point, the skin itself will. Snap back and be working in a more normal fashion with the muscle. So I do have examples of a couple of motor points. This was a student of mine in class and she had.
Had Bell’s Palsy many years ago and was still having trouble cursing her lips, whistling spitting like when she’d brush her teeth. And so I did the Mentalis Motorpoint and as soon as I put the needle in. Her chin started to twitch and then when I stimulated the point, it really started to jump.
And then after the treatment, she reported that she was able to make a lot of facial expressions that she hadn’t been able to make in the past.
Next example I have is a student in a class I was teaching in London and he had been in a bike accident and he had some neuropathy and a little ptosis on his left eyebrows and. I put this needle and stimulated it. So this is the motor point for the frontals. It’s gallbladder 14.
Sorry, that was so loud. But you could see the needle moving back and forth when, once it was put in the muscle, which meant it was starting to wake up. Submuscular needling is another technique that I use, which involves needling underneath and in some instances through a muscle in order to.
Blood and cheese circulation into the muscle itself. And I have a little demo here, which I.
Facial cupping and GU can also be very beneficial. For neuromuscular facial conditions, as long as your patient can tolerate it. These techniques are very gentle if done properly, and can help with blood and cheese circulation into the face. It can help with any sort of fascial adhesions. That is because over time.
If a muscle in the face isn’t used, the fascia can become stiff, and by using the cups it can help with lymphatic, the lymphatic system of the face, and it’s also very relaxing and very enjoyable for your patients. I am gonna talk really quickly about Bell’s Palsy. Bell’s Palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis, usually temporary, and it’s caused by a disruption of the facial nerve, which causes either weakened or paralyzed facial muscles.
So here’s one patient you can see. This entire when asked to smile, they can only, she can only smile on one side of her face and the other side is completely paralyzed. This was a patient of mine. I only focused on her eyes, but I asked her to close her eyes. You can see one eye closed and the other one.
She could not close it at all. And then I did some submuscular needling and some acupuncture points and used gallbladder 14 as a motor point, did some scalp acupuncture for the face, and, after one month,
you can see she can close her eyes. Still a little difficult, but she had complete recovery.
So I do offer many different classes on. Facial and cosmetic acupuncture, you might wanna check those out. You can scan the QR code or go to my website, facial acupuncture classes.com and you can find me on social under my name, Michelle Gellis, or I have a Facebook group called Facial Acupuncture.
Very active group. Thank you so much.
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Can acupuncture reduce the symptoms of urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence (the loss of bladder control) affects an estimated 25 million adults in the United States, and is more prevalent in women.
Stress incontinence is a type of urinary incontinence that occurs when movement (coughing, laughing, running, etc) puts pressure on the bladder, causing urine to leak.
A study of approximately 500 women with stress incontinence received electroacupuncture treatment (18 sessions over 6 weeks) and had reduced urine leakage.
Approximately two-thirds of the women experienced a 50 percent or greater decrease in urine leakage.
Healthcare continues to evolve toward less-invasive, natural, and drug-free methods, with acupuncture now becoming a first-line complementary healthcare choice.
Remember, the American Acupuncture Council (AAC) offers an unparalleled track record in acupuncture risk management.
There is a reason acupuncturists have trusted AAC with their business for 50 years.
Not an American Acupuncture Council member? Get a Quick Quote and find out how much you will save! Click here!
Disclaimer: The following is an actual transcript. We do our best to make sure the transcript is as accurate as possible, however, it may contain spelling or grammatical errors.Due to the unique language of acupuncture, there will be errors, so we suggest you watch the video while reading the transcript.
Hi there. My name is Michelle Grasek. I am a practicing acupuncturist and the host of the Acupuncture Marketing School podcast, as well as the lead instructor for acupuncture marketing school, the online class. And today I am looking forward to sharing with you some really helpful, practical tips to make networking more.
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Comfortable and effective for introverts. And before we dive in, I’d like to thank the American Acupuncture Council for the opportunity to be here with you today. All right, let’s get into the slides. I.
So before we begin, I’d like to talk really briefly about why it’s worth it to try networking as an introvert. I have found over the years, I’ve been teaching marketing in our industry for about 11 years, and I found that. Most acupuncturists are introverts, at least the ones that come into my orbit, which is maybe not surprising because I am also an introvert.
So I’m speaking from personal experience as well as what I’ve been sharing with my marketing students and clients over the past more than a decade. And most introverts will say, why? I don’t want to do that. Why would you suggest networking? So first of all, if you, if you’re watching this, you’ll probably have some level of interest in trying networking, but I always tell people to think about your marketing, like an experiment, try new things.
You might be surprised about what’s a good fit for you and what’s effective in your community. And if you try something and it doesn’t work for you, that’s okay. You don’t have to do it anymore. Commit to other ways of getting visible in your community. But the reason I always recommend that introverts at least try networking is that, especially using these tips I’m going to share with you to make it more comfortable.
Networking is an incredibly effective way to build trust in your community. And really, marketing for acupuncture is about building trust. It’s about helping people understand that acupuncture can help their symptoms and trust. Trust you to put needles in them, trust in making a financial investment feel safe, sharing their personal health information with you their story, their background, et cetera.
So we need to build a lot of trust in our marketing as acupuncturists and any sort of in-person interaction builds trust very quickly. And I think we, we really can’t, we really have to acknowledge how significant a referral is from someone who knows you, right? That’s a very trust building type of marketing, a personal referral, and that’s our goal with networking, is building relationships so that people get to know us so that they feel comfortable referring people to us and also so that we are top of mind.
If they’re speaking to someone about acupuncture or maybe our specialty or something we’ve discussed, so they can say, oh wait, I know an acupuncture from my networking group. Okay. So that’s why I think it’s worth it for introverts to try networking because it really is very effective because one-on-one conversations and getting to know people in person, that’s what builds a strong referral network.
Okay, out of all of these seven tips I have saved my personal favorite for last, the one that I think can make the biggest difference in how comfortable you are with networking. But I hope that all of these are really useful for you. So let’s dive in. The first tip is to always bring a friend with you.
If you are an introvert, going to a networking meeting, there’s absolutely no reason that you should torture yourself by trying to go alone. Most of my. Introvert marketing students and clients have told me that they’ll say they’re gonna go to a networking, they’ll make the commitment and then it will approach and they’ll feel pretty nervous and bail at the last second.
So bringing a friend. It has two purposes. One is there’s accountability because if you’re meeting someone there or if you’re gonna drive together, this person is expecting you to show up, right? So it makes people much more likely to show up and go to the event. And of course, bringing a friend or an acquaintance gives you.
Kind of a fallback so that you know at any point during that networking event, there’s always someone that you can talk to that you can find or turn to. So you’re never just standing there alone awkwardly with a drink. ’cause that’s the thing people tell me they’re afraid of the most, is walking into this big space filled with strangers and a lot of people, and having to stand there by themselves until someone approaches them and introduces themself.
Or having to get up the gumption to approach a group of people who already seem like they know each other. It can feel a little cliquey. It’s really hard to just walk up to them and introduce yourself alone, right? So bringing a friend helps soften all of these things and gives you accountability and also helps you have someone to talk to in case maybe you’re having a nice discussion with someone you just met and they see someone else they know and they have to go.
You can always turn and chat with your friend. Now, I would say the one thing you wanna be careful of if you bring a friend is do not only speak to each other. That is also very common, right? So you have to make a pact, make a commitment beforehand that you are going to try to meet other people and you’re not just gonna stand in a corner and only talk to each other.
Okay. Bring an extrovert friend if you can, because obviously they are going to be a little more comfortable in the situation and probably get you introduced to more people. And lastly, when I say bring a friend, it doesn’t, it could be just like a. Personal friend most networking events, you can bring a plus one, but it could also be your receptionist or it could be a fellow business owner.
Okay? So just someone that you’re already familiar with makes a huge difference. So tip number two is a big mindset shift that matters a lot. It helps a lot. Often people tell me they don’t wanna do networking because it feels pushy and salesy and they’re just expected to hand out business cards to as many people as possible and try to get someone on their calendar.
And if they don’t schedule a new patient, they feel like it was a waste of time. So this is way too high pressure, I think. It’s much more useful to think about networking as a long-term game in which you are becoming a member of this community. If it’s the Chamber of Commerce or BNI or Toastmasters, whatever it is, your goal is to build relationships, which is building trust so that people get to know you well enough that they wanna refer people to you and that you’re top of mind.
And. I think that approaching it from this perspective takes a lot of pressure off because you get to be yourself. You’ll probably make some. Fellow business owner friends, and you can also think about how can I be a resource for other people in this community? How can I get to know them and understand like what are the things that they might need help with?
Who can I refer them to? I just had my roof done and then I hear so and so is talking about getting their roof done. I have someone who did a great job for me, and I can share that, right? So think about this as. Taking time to become part of a community where you can be a resource and other people can be a resource for you.
You can support each other and refer to each other. Okay. But it doesn’t have to be the kind of thing where you’re just throwing your business cards out at everybody who walks by and you’re trying really hard to convince people to get on your calendar. I will say, if you are speaking to someone and they seem really interested in acupuncture.
Do ask if they wanna get on your schedule and pull up your app on your phone and say, oh, I could put you in right now if you’d like. Don’t miss that opportunity. I’m just saying that, if you go to a networking meeting and you feel like I didn’t get a new patient from this event, that is normal.
That’s not really how we are thinking about the purpose of this exercise. Okay. Which also brings to mind that, relationship and trust building. Takes not only time, but repetition. So it is very important to try to go to these events regularly, right? If there’s a monthly meeting, trying to go to most of them is really helpful for building relationships.
You become a familiar face. Tip number three is I think it can be very fun. You can host your own event. Now, most introverts prefer to be in control of the environment, we’ll say. So let’s say that really big noisy meetings with a ton of strangers. Are just not your cup of tea, but you still wanna get to know some people in your community.
You could, for example, host a networking event in your office for fellow wellness providers. You could invite, I don’t know, four to 10 very specific people. You could keep it brief, maybe 45 minutes. And this works for a lot of people because you’re in control of the location. The duration, the number of people and the specific guests.
And that helps a lot of people just enjoy the event more and feel like it’s not so overwhelming. I. I also think it’s really a great idea to host this kind of event in your office because then people can see what your space is like. It’s gonna bring up questions about acupuncture for them, and it helps build trust because now they can picture themselves being comfortable in your office space, and they can easily extrapolate that to getting a treatment or referring someone to get a treatment there.
So again, ideally if you’re gonna host your own networking event, you’d want it to be repeated so that you can build relationships with these specific people that you’re inviting. I know some wellness people who do this, and it’s a book club. So they invite, like the wellness business owners, the wellness entrepreneurs in the area, and everybody reads like a wellness oriented book.
And then they discuss and then. It’s very casual. It evolves into other conversations between people. Okay. So think about how you might make this event something you’d actually enjoy going to. Most of my introvert friends and colleagues really like reading, so that could be a nice way to make this something that you actually look forward to.
Tip number four is to practice some conversation starters before you get to a networking event. And I, this is one of those tips that is actually so helpful and effective, but it’s so basic that people don’t do it. They’re like yeah, that’s not gonna help me. It will really help, especially if you’re an introvert and especially if you practice your sentences out loud.
And again, I know it sounds lame, just give it a try. I before your next event come up with a couple questions that you can ask. We’ll say just two questions to have in your back pocket that you can ask new people. Say, if you are standing next to the buffet. Or if you are maybe you’re already eating and you’re standing in a corner and there’s a group near you and you wanna get an in with them, come up with two questions that you can start a conversation with.
And these are so basic, they just need to be open-ended. So no yes or no questions and focus on the context that you share with this person. So if you are just meeting them, probably the only thing that you know that you share is the event, the location. The food, if it’s a charity fundraiser, then you’re both here for that reason.
So you share that. But you could start a conversation simply by making eye contact with someone and then just saying I see you got the shrimp. Do you recommend it? So basic, right? You can also think about, let me back up. I would have two of those types of questions, right? If it’s a charity event, your other icebreaker question could be, why do you support the Boys and Girls Club of America?
Or something like that. But practicing those questions out loud and mentally preparing to have them helps you actually say them out loud when the moment comes. ’cause I know that a lot of introverts. It’s, they have a hard time being the first person to speak, okay. Which is necessary for meeting new people at these events.
Okay, so pick two super basic icebreakers about something that you have in common with this other person, and then just go for it. Okay? The other thing is that. People love to talk about themselves. So an icebreaker question that I like to use, and this maybe isn’t an icebreaker because it’s not like the first question, but when I’ve been introduced to someone new I like to ask about their history in their career and also.
What is their favorite part of their job? So for example how did you get into real estate or what inspired you to become a chiropractor, or what’s your favorite part about being a massage therapist? People like to talk about themselves. These are open-ended questions and they help. They’re memorable questions because it’s not every day that a stranger says to you, what’s your favorite part about your job?
It really requires them to think and hopefully they like their job and they’re gonna feel enthusiastic and passionate as they’re answering you, and they are going to remember you. This is a memorable question, and again, our goal is partly to stay top of mind. We want to be memorable. Okay, so again, I know these are basic.
Give it a try. Tip number five is to try speed networking. So hear me out. I always think this is a little funny, but can actually be an enjoyable experience even if you are an introvert. It’s just like speed dating, but it’s just to meet new business owners locally. Or professionals locally. So you spend three or four minutes with someone, you exchange business cards and then a bell rings and you move to the next station.
So just like speed dating, but for professionals. And the beauty of this for introverts is that it is structured so you don’t have to walk into a big room and try to introduce yourself to strangers. You know that you’re gonna sit in this spot. And then other person’s gonna sit with you, you get to talk, the bell rings and you move on, right?
There’s no awkward standing around or introductions. And because it’s fast paced, there is no time for awkward silences. So the downside of this, of course, is if we’re trying to do relationship building, this is quick and superficial for that to happen. So what I recommend is when you are done with the event, if you met 15 people.
Pick the ones who you are really interested in getting to know, or you think you could be supportive of each other. You wanna build a relationship with them and send them an email, ask, do they wanna collaborate or could you buy them a coffee? Okay. And then that really can get the ball rolling to build that connection.
Okay? So tip number six is to ask. Anybody that you know at the event for an introduction. So people love to, be connectors and introduce us to other people that they think will genuinely enjoy. It’s like it gives them an endorphin hit to be helpful in that way. So let’s say you go with your receptionist, they’re the friend that you bring to the event and you say to them, do you know anybody here?
And they’re like actually I know one person. They’re standing over there oh, could you introduce me to them? And usually that one introduction has this ripple effect where, you’re gonna talk to that person in a group, you’re gonna meet other people, and then you’ll be carried along that wave for the rest of the meeting, whether it’s like an hour or 90 minutes.
So just one introduction can really help start that process. And let’s say that you get there and you don’t know anybody right away, but you manage to introduce yourself to one person. Even if you just met this person, you can say, Hey, thank you so much. It’s been so nice to get to know you before you, go mingle.
Would you introduce me to someone that you think would be interesting or can you just introduce me to one person? And they trust me, they’ll be happy to do this. Okay. They’re never gonna say no watch and see how their eyes light up and they’ll be like, oh yeah, I’d love to. Okay. So the last tip, and one that I find incredibly helpful is to get to know the people who are hosting the networking event.
So this is assuming that you are going to regular events. For example, the. Monthly Chamber of Commerce small business mixer event, whatever they call it. I’ll share a personal story with you. Since I’m an introvert as well. I have always felt very uncomfortable going to networking events by myself and walking in the door and just being confronted with these groups of people who know each other very well, and they’re.
Standing together, it feels very cliquey and I just stand there awkwardly with my drink. So it occurred to me that maybe it would be helpful to get to know the employees at the Chamber of Commerce. So what I started doing was when they were hosting fundraisers, I volunteered with them a couple of times and just through volunteering, I think three times.
I became such a familiar face to them and they’re, they’re so appreciative when you’re volunteering to help them at a fundraiser that whenever I go to a networking meeting now, I always am greeted by them like an old friend. And. It makes it that there’s always somebody at the networking event that I know I can speak to.
’cause there’s five employees at the Chamber of Commerce. So even if they’re not all there that day, I know at least one of them will be there running the thing. And I can approach them and I can say hello. We can have a nice chat. And I usually ask them. While we’re here, can you introduce me to someone new today?
Which they love doing ’cause that’s literally their job. But I found that getting to know them through volunteering with them was really helpful because, I walk into a Chamber of Commerce meeting now and they’re like, oh, hi, how are you? And that has really expanded with each person they’ve introduced me to.
Okay. They, and it’s I’m a regular. You know what I mean? That makes the pressure to go by myself so low because I know when I get there, there’s gonna be people who are basically my friends now. Okay, so don’t underestimate this tactic. I guarantee if you message the Chamber of Commerce and ask if you can volunteer with them a little bit, they’re going to say yes and be so grateful and always happy to see you.
Okay, so I hope this was helpful. Just keep in mind that networking is a long-term game and you are there to build trust, build relationships, make business friends, become part of a referral community that is genuinely supportive. And I think this will make the experience more enjoyable, less stressful, and overall more effective.
Okay. So as always, if you have questions, I would love to chat with you. My email is michelle@michelleGrasek.com and I really hope you’ll listen to the podcast, acupuncture Marketing School. And before I go today, I would like to thank the American Acupuncture Council, one more time for the opportunity to be here with you today.
Have a great day.
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