This week, Nick and Michael take a fiery deep dive into the origin of branding (yes, the cattle kind) and what it reveals about how urgent care clinics build reputation, loyalty, and trust in a crowded market.

From cowboys with hot irons to orange juice campaigns that changed breakfast forever, this episode explores how great brands aren’t just seen—they’re felt. Whether you're running one location or scaling across a region, understanding brand equity might be the missing piece to your growth strategy.

This isn't theory. It's a real-world look at how branding drives conversions, loyalty, and even ad performance—especially in the urgent care space, where most clinics still lead with a red sign and hope.

So saddle up! Because your brand might be the only thing that makes a patient choose your cow over the one across the street.

🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Hear:🐄 Why branding started with a hot iron and a cow🧠 How emotions—not logos—drive patient decisions🥤 What orange juice and urgent care have in common🚪 Why a mediocre brand makes even great care forgettable📈 How better branding lowers your cost per acquisition🏥 What fast food and urgent care chains get right (and wrong) about consistency

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patientcaremarketingpros.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA⁠

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

Alan Ayers has helped shape urgent care as we know it, and he’s still helping operators across the country start, grow, and improve their clinics with smarter strategy and fewer missteps.

With nearly 20 years in the space, Alan has done it all: CEO, COO, consultant, dealmaker, and senior editor at The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. He has also served on the board of the national Urgent Care Association and launched or advised on more urgent care centers than most people can count as the president of Urgent Care Consultants.

In this episode, he joins Nick and Michael to break down what separates thriving urgent cares from the ones that quietly fade out. From picking the right real estate to navigating contracts, marketing, and operations, this conversation is packed with insight for any physician, owner, or investor looking to get urgent care right the first time.

They dig into everything from location selection and naming strategy to digital presence, launch marketing, and how to avoid the common traps that sink new clinics before they ever get going.

Whether you’re opening your first center or reevaluating how to grow smarter, this episode is a must-listen. Alan’s perspective is grounded, practical, and hard-earned, and he’s not afraid to call out what’s working and what’s not in today’s market.

🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

📍 Why location is still the number one success factor and how to find your “A” spot using real data

💸 How low rent can become a high-cost mistake and what landlords don’t tell you

📊 What to look for in a startup budget and how much to spend on a grand opening campaign

🧠 Why your urgent care name and digital setup matter more than you think (especially on Google)

🚀 What makes a clinic launch fail and how the best urgent cares scale with intention

🗺️ How patient expectations like speed, service, and convenience should shape your operations

🏥 Why good front desk service matters just as much as great clinical care

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

Urgent Care Consultants: https://www.urgentcareconsultants.com

Alan’s Industry Resource Hub: https://www.alanayersurgentcare.com

Connect with Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanayers/

Summer Surge On-Demand Experity Webinar:

https://www.experityhealth.com/webinars/drive-patient-visits-with-marketing-and-outreach/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=li-lead-gen-form&utm_campaign=sumsurgeweb&utm_term=PE&utm_content=link

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingprosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

Ira Pasternack has been in urgent care marketing since before LinkedIn existed, and today, he’s helping clinics rethink growth by leaning into a service line that most still overlook: occupational medicine.

As the founder of WebForDoctors and a long-time leader in urgent care strategy, Ira has spent over two decades helping practices grow volume, build smarter websites, and scale services like Occ Med that can stabilize revenue and drive new business, even in the summer slump. In this episode, he joins Nick and Michael to unpack why Occ Med is not just a side hustle. It’s a legitimate B2B growth engine when done right.

Together, they get into the practical and often misunderstood realities of launching or scaling Occ Med inside an urgent care setting. That includes what clinics get wrong, why marketing it takes a completely different approach than urgent care, and how to think about employer relationships the right way.

🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

💼 Why Occ Med is a B2B strategy and how it helps balance seasonality in urgent care
📉 How the “summer slump” creates the perfect window to launch or level up your Occ Med program
🏗️ What employers are really looking for in an Occ Med partner and how to win their trust
📊 Why Occ Med revenue can vary wildly from 10% to 85% depending on location, promotion, and process
🔁 How to approach outreach with LinkedIn, email, phone, and real follow-up systems
🤝 Why content creation, consistency, and nurturing matter more than a one-time campaign
🛠️ What to expect from a free consultation and the flexible support options Ira’s team offers

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Book a Free Occ Med Consultation with Ira: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com/pasternack-marketing/

• Learn more about NAOHP (National Association of Occupational Health Professionals): https://naohp.com/

• WebForDoctors: https://www.webfordoctors.com/

• Connect with Ira on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irapasternack/

Whether you’re just curious or ready to expand your Occ Med strategy, this episode breaks down what’s possible, what it takes, and how to get started.

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ