Episodios

  • Play the Hand You're Dealt: Why Copying Other Chiropractors Is Holding You Back

    Play the Hand You're Dealt: Why Copying Other Chiropractors Is Holding You Back
    Feb 10 2026
    In this episode of the Rocket Chiro Podcast, Jerry Kennedy dives into one of the biggest mistakes chiropractors make in business and marketing: trying to copy someone else's path to success. You are not the chiropractor you heard speak at a seminar. You are not the person you follow online. You are not even the chiropractor down the street. Your skills, personality, finances, family situation, timing, and opportunities are all different, and ignoring those differences dramatically lowers your chances of success. This episode breaks down why cookie-cutter strategies often fail, why context matters more than tactics, and how to make progress by being honest about your situation and playing the hand you're actually dealt. Key Topics Covered Why copying other chiropractors rarely works How differences in skills, finances, family, and timing shape outcomes The danger of seminar success stories and online comparisons Why "If I can do it, anyone can do it" is a misleading idea How lack of context leads to frustration and burnout The Big Three Framework Jerry introduces three foundational factors that determine meaningful progress: Interest What you are genuinely interested in, not what looks good or sounds impressive. Skill What you are capable of executing well right now, along with the skills you still need to develop. Opportunity Your real-world circumstances, including finances, location, relationships, timing, and access to resources. The overlap of interest, skill, and opportunity is where the greatest potential for meaningful change exists. What Creates Long-Term Progress Short-term change requires interest, skill, and opportunity. Long-term success adds two more elements: Structure Clear systems, standards, and guardrails that remove guesswork and allow you to measure what's actually working. Consistency Boring, repetitive execution over time that compounds results. Structure does not have to look the same for everyone, but everyone needs it. Hard Truths Chiropractors Need to Hear Stop pretending to be more successful than you are Stop copying practices that don't match your reality Stop forcing niches and patient types you don't enjoy Stop relying on motivation instead of discipline Honesty is the starting point for real progress. Practical Takeaways Be honest about your interests, skills, and opportunities Start from where you are, not where someone else is Learn principles and strategies, not just scripts Understand why something works so you can adapt when it stops working Show up prepared to think for yourself, not just follow instructions Final Thoughts You cannot start from a better place without first starting from where you are. Your choices are to start now or let things get worse and start later. Understanding principles, concepts, and strategies is far more valuable than blindly following a formula. When you know why something works, you gain the ability to adapt, adjust, and make better decisions over time. Play the hand you're dealt, build structure around it, stay consistent, and move forward. Resources Mentioned • Rocket Chiro chiropractic websites and local SEO: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites/ • Website and SEO review requests at RocketChiro.com: https://rocketchiro.com/contact/chiropractic-practice-assessment/ • NEXT Step chiropractic business coaching: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-coaching/
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    28 m
  • How Chiropractors Can Get More Online Reviews

    How Chiropractors Can Get More Online Reviews
    Jan 27 2026

    Getting more Google reviews does not require awkward scripts, expensive software, or nonstop reminders. In this episode of the Rocket Chiro Podcast, Jerry Kennedy breaks down a simple, repeatable system chiropractors can use to get more reviews consistently without disrupting patient care.

    Most chiropractors know reviews matter, but many struggle with inconsistency. They ask for reviews for a few weeks, stop, then start again months later. Others rely entirely on automation and wonder why it does not work as well as promised. This episode explains why both approaches fall short and what actually works long term.

    Jerry walks through a practical review strategy designed specifically for busy chiropractors who want steady growth, stronger Google Maps visibility, and better patient trust.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    • Why most chiropractors struggle to get reviews consistently
    • The biggest mistakes chiropractors make when asking for reviews
    • How to make reviews feel normal inside your practice
    • When to introduce the idea of reviews to new patients
    • The best time to ask for a review so it has real marketing value
    • Why asking in person still outperforms texts and automation
    • How to use simple tools like QR codes and review cards
    • How to build a review schedule that runs on autopilot
    • Whether reputation management software is actually worth it

    Key Takeaway for Chiropractors

    The best way for chiropractors to get more reviews is not by chasing patients or automating everything. It is by creating a simple system that fits naturally into your practice culture. When reviews become part of the patient experience instead of a marketing task, they start compounding over time and helping your practice stand out locally.

    Who This Episode Is For

    This episode is for:
    • New chiropractors building their online presence
    • Chiropractors with low or inconsistent review counts
    • Solo and small-practice chiropractors
    • Chiropractors focused on Google Maps and local SEO
    • Chiropractors who want steady growth without hype

    Resources Mentioned

    • Rocket Chiro chiropractic websites and local SEO:
    https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites/

    • Website and SEO review requests at RocketChiro.com:
    https://rocketchiro.com/contact/chiropractic-practice-assessment/

    • NEXT Step chiropractic business coaching:
    https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-coaching/

    Listen, Subscribe, and Share

    If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to the Rocket Chiro Podcast and share it with another chiropractor who wants a better way to get reviews without feeling salesy.
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    16 m
  • How Many Reviews Does a Chiropractor Need and Why Does It Matter?

    How Many Reviews Does a Chiropractor Need and Why Does It Matter?
    Jan 20 2026

    Online reviews are one of the most powerful and misunderstood factors in chiropractic marketing.

    In this episode of the Rocket Chiro Podcast, Jerry Kennedy breaks down how many reviews chiropractors actually need to compete in local search, and why reviews matter far beyond Google Maps rankings.

    If you want more new patients without relying on ads, gimmicks, or sales-heavy marketing, this episode gives you clear benchmarks and practical guidance you can apply immediately.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    • Why online reviews impact Google Maps, AI search, and patient trust

    • How reviews influence both visibility and patient decision-making

    • Why reviews matter even for referral-based chiropractic practices

    • The minimum star rating chiropractors should aim to maintain

    • Why negative reviews are not the end of the world

    • How to calculate review benchmarks based on your local market

    • The four review numbers every chiropractor should understand

    • Why review expectations keep rising every year

    • How to make reviews part of your practice culture

    The 4 Review Benchmarks Explained

    Jerry outlines four key numbers chiropractors should track:

    • Entry Point
      About 20% of the median review count in your area. Below this level, reviews may significantly limit your visibility.

    • Fighting Chance (Median)
      The middle review count among chiropractors in your market. Reaching this gives you a realistic opportunity to compete.

    • Dominance Level
      Roughly 3.5 times the median. Practices at this level often have a strong advantage in local search.

    • High Water Mark
      The highest review count in your area. Not a requirement, but useful context when evaluating competition.

    How to Get More Reviews (Without Being Awkward)

    A simple framework that actually works:

    1. Provide great care and communicate well

    2. Make reviews a normal part of your practice

    3. Ask in person, not just digitally

    4. Make it easy with links or QR codes

    5. Be consistent with a repeatable plan

    Most chiropractors who struggle with reviews are missing multiple steps.

    Resources Mentioned

    • Free Chiropractic Website & SEO Review

    • Rocket Chiro

    • NEXT Step Chiropractic Coaching Program

    Final Thought

    The best time to start collecting online reviews was years ago.
    The second-best time is today.

    If this episode helped you, please subscribe, share it with another chiropractor, or leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps this small, independent podcast reach more people who want to grow the right way.

    Resources Mentioned:

    Free Website/SEO Review: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-practice-assessment

    Best chiropractic websites: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites
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    21 m
  • 9 Ways Chiropractors Hurt Their New Patient Conversion

    9 Ways Chiropractors Hurt Their New Patient Conversion
    Jan 6 2026

    In this episode of the Rocket Chiropractic Podcast, I break down nine small but critical mistakes that quietly hurt chiropractic conversion. These are not big marketing failures or SEO problems. They are little things that get in the way once a potential patient has already found you.

    I talk about the difference between being found online and being chosen, and why many chiropractors do not have a traffic problem. They have a choosing problem.

    If people are visiting your website or Google profile but not scheduling, this episode will help you identify what might be standing in the way.

    What We Cover in This Episode

    • Why cluttered chiropractic websites reduce clarity and trust

    • How unclear messaging hurts conversion even with good SEO

    • The importance of real photos and avoiding cold, generic imagery

    • Why responding to reviews matters more than you think

    • How bad responses to negative reviews can actively repel patients

    • Appointment processes that create friction instead of momentum

    • Common problems with online schedulers that cause drop-off

    • Why too many first-visit options overwhelm new patients

    • How salesy language and fake urgency damage long-term trust

    Key Takeaway

    People usually choose what feels easiest, clearest, and safest, not necessarily what is best.

    This episode is about removing unnecessary barriers so choosing you becomes the natural next step.

    Who This Episode Is For

    • Chiropractors getting website traffic but low conversions

    • Practices struggling with online scheduling or inquiries

    • Relationship-centered chiropractors who dislike sales pressure

    • Anyone wondering why patients are not choosing them

    Resources Mentioned:

    Free Website/SEO Review: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-practice-assessment

    Best chiropractic websites: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites
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    22 m
  • Relationship Marketing vs Sales Marketing in Chiropractic

    Relationship Marketing vs Sales Marketing in Chiropractic
    Dec 15 2025
    In this episode, I go back to one of the original ideas behind Rocket Chiro and what used to be Black Sheep DC: relationship marketing. This topic has been near and dear to me for a long time, and I wanted to revisit it because I think it is especially relevant heading into a new year. A lot of chiropractors are either just getting started, feeling stuck, or reflecting on why their practice does not feel as stable as they want it to be. In my experience, a big part of that comes down to how you think about marketing and growth. Specifically, are you trying to build relationships, or are you just trying to make sales? Why Chiropractic Is a Relationship Business Chiropractic is not a big-ticket, one-time-sale business like real estate or high-end sales. We do not make our money from a single transaction. Chiropractic works much more like a restaurant. Restaurants succeed because they have repeat customers over a long period of time. Some people come in all the time. Some come occasionally. Some only come for special occasions. But when they want that type of food, they go back to the same place. Chiropractic works the same way. If someone comes in, finishes a care plan, and never comes back, that is not a success. That is a broken relationship. The Goal Most Chiropractors Get Wrong I talk through three different goals chiropractors tend to have. The wrong goal is simply "I want new patients." A better goal is "I want new patients who are a good fit for my practice." The best goal is "I want new patients who are a good fit for my practice and who always come to me when they need a chiropractor." That last goal changes everything. It changes how you onboard patients, how you make recommendations, how you follow up, and how you market. Retention Is Not PVA One of my long-standing soapboxes is that real retention is not a PVA number. Real retention is not about how many visits someone averages during a care plan. Real retention is about maintaining the doctor patient relationship over time. If someone sees you ten times over twenty years, but every single time they need a chiropractor they come back to you, that is incredible retention. Retention is about time, trust, and being the default chiropractor in someone's life. Dating for Marriage vs Dating for Sex I use a dating analogy to explain how mindset changes behavior. If you are dating with the intention of a long-term relationship or marriage, you move differently. You listen more. You are more honest. You care about fit. You think long term. If your only goal is to score, none of that matters. The same thing happens in chiropractic. If your only goal is to close a new patient, you will use pressure, scare tactics, and short-term thinking. If your goal is a long-term relationship, your entire approach changes. How a Relationship Mindset Changes Your Practice I walk through several areas where this mindset shows up. Onboarding looks different. You listen more, talk less, and focus on agreement instead of closing. Recommendations and care plans become more flexible, educational, and structured instead of rigid and contract-driven. Follow-up and reactivation feel natural instead of awkward. You check in because you care, not because you are desperate. Marketing shifts from chasing new patients with deals and urgency to building authority, trust, and long-term connection with both new and existing patients. Relationship Marketing and SEO I also talk about how this mindset applies to SEO and online marketing. Short-term SEO tactics rely on fake activity, fake reviews, junk backlinks, and manufactured signals. They can work briefly, but they are unstable and risky. Long-term SEO is relational. It is built on real reviews, real activity, real authority, and consistency over time. Selling to people who trust you is easy. Getting people to trust you is hard. Google works the same way. You do not game a relationship. You build one. The Big Takeaway Relationship marketing is long-term and stable. Sales marketing is short-term and unstable. One compounds. The other burns out. And the final thought I leave you with is this: What you do to get patients is what you have to do to keep them. If you rely on pressure to get people in the door, you will need pressure to keep them. If you build trust to get them, trust is what keeps them coming back. Resources Mentioned: Free Website/SEO Review: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-practice-assessment Best chiropractic websites: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites
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    36 m
  • Google vs AI Search for Chiropractors: What Actually Matters

    Google vs AI Search for Chiropractors: What Actually Matters
    Dec 9 2025
    In this episode, I talk about the three big categories that determine whether you show up in Google search and in AI-generated search results. A lot of chiropractors are being told that Google is dead and AI is taking over. I wanted to clear that up, explain what's really going on, and help you understand what matters most for your online visibility. I also share a bit about how I help chiropractors through websites, local SEO, and my Next Step program. Some key points I touch on: • Google is still very much alive and heavily used. • AI hasn't replaced Google, and AI is now part of Google anyway. • The fundamentals of local SEO still matter for both Google and AI. • You don't need to panic or chase shiny AI tools to win in local search. Why AI Confusion Is Hurting Chiropractors Lately, I've been seeing more chiropractors reach out because someone told them AI is all that matters now. A lot of marketers are using AI buzzwords to sell products or services that chiropractors don't really understand. This episode is partly a response to that confusion and partly a way to protect chiropractors from being taken advantage of. A few important reminders: • People have not suddenly stopped using Google. • AI search is influenced by many of the same signals Google uses. • Anyone claiming to know the exact formula for AI ranking is probably exaggerating. • When someone is selling you something AI-related, slow down and ask questions. • Work with people you trust, not people who rely on hype. The Three Categories That Drive Local Search Everything you want to accomplish with local SEO falls into three buckets. These buckets determine whether you show up online and how well you rank compared to other chiropractors in your area. The three categories are: • Relevance • Prominence • Proximity Even AI-powered search uses these categories, just interpreted in different ways. Relevance: The Most Straightforward Ranking Factor Relevance is simply about matching what someone is searching for. If you want to show up when someone types chiropractor in your town, you need the word chiropractor and your town on your website and your Google Business Profile. Things I see chiropractors forget: • The word chiropractor doesn't appear anywhere on their homepage. • Their title tag doesn't say chiropractor. • Their meta description never mentions their city. • Their primary Google Business Profile category is incorrect. • They expect to rank for services they never list on their site. Other important notes about relevance: • You should target chiropractor, not just chiropractic. • You should list your town, service area, and secondary services clearly. • Structured data, metadata, and image tags reinforce relevance. • Stuffing near me into your site does nothing because Google already knows your location. Prominence: The Hardest and Most Important Category Prominence is your authority, your reputation, and your trust score online. Google uses many different signals to evaluate prominence. Things that influence prominence include: • Website traffic • Backlinks from relevant sources • Local citations • Your review count • The quality of your reviews • Your brand strength in the community • How often people search for your practice name • Time spent on your site and how users interact with it Examples I discuss: • Starbucks ranks instantly because its brand is deeply recognized by Google. • The Joint has built-in authority because it's a national franchise. • A solo chiropractor with one location has to build prominence from scratch. Why prominence takes the most effort: • It requires ongoing reviews. • It requires ongoing content and activity. • It requires consistency over time. • If you stop building prominence, someone else will pass you. This is why I tell chiropractors: • Never take your foot off the gas once you start ranking well. • If you're outpacing other chiropractors two or three to one in reviews, keep going. • Prominence slips when you stop feeding it. Proximity: The Factor You Can't Control Proximity is all about physical location. It determines your map ranking radius and plays a huge role in where you show up. What affects proximity: • Where your practice is physically located • How many chiropractors surround you • How tightly clustered your competition is • Whether you are near the geographic center of a city • Whether you're in a dense metro or a small rural town Examples I explain: • If you're the only chiropractor for miles, you'll rank easily. • If you're on the edge of town, you might rank better on one side than the other. • If you're surrounded by 100 chiropractors toward downtown, ranking there is harder. • If you stop working on SEO, someone who keeps building prominence can surpass you even if they're slightly farther away. Proximity is the least flexible category, but: • Relevance and prominence can help you ...
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    22 m
  • Big Changes and Big Mistakes: Smarter Transitions and Better Pricing

    Big Changes and Big Mistakes: Smarter Transitions and Better Pricing
    Dec 3 2025
    In this episode I cover two topics that are not really related but both come up a lot in conversations I have with chiropractors. The first is about making big changes in your career or in your practice. The second is about why I think it is a mistake to connect your fees to time. Part One: Making Big Changes Without Wrecking Your Life I have had a couple of clients recently who are making big transitions. One is moving from one style of practice to another. The other is an associate who is starting her own office on the side. Both situations are exciting. Both situations also come with a very real temptation to jump too fast. I learned this lesson the hard way. When I closed my practice years ago, I assumed the next thing I was working on would take off quickly. I figured I could just throw all my time and energy at it and it would work out. That assumption led to the hardest financial season of my entire adult life. It was brutal and absolutely avoidable. What I should have done is simple. I should have kept the thing that was paying my bills while I built the new thing slowly in the background. Nights. Weekends. Whenever I had time. I should have waited until the new thing had momentum instead of assuming everything would work out because I was excited. Here is the mistake a lot of chiropractors make when they are excited about something new. • They cut off income before the new idea is proven • They make decisions based on hope instead of reality • They assume enthusiasm equals readiness • They forget that timing matters just as much as the idea itself If you are going to transition from one technique to another, do it slowly. Let the new thing take over as patients choose it. Bring new people in under the new model. Let the old system fade out on its own. If you are starting a practice while working for someone else, keep the job as long as you can. Let your employer cover the bills while you build your own thing after hours. When your side project becomes your main thing, the transition will feel natural instead of terrifying. The theme here is simple. Do not make your life harder than it needs to be. Part Two: The Problem With Charging for Time The second topic is one I talk about with chiropractors all the time, especially docs who do a lot of soft tissue work. Many of them describe their visits like massage therapists. They will say things like thirty minute visit or sixty minute visit. I think that is a mistake. Chiropractors who adjust only usually understand this better than anyone. We do not get paid for minutes. We get paid for outcomes. We get paid for expertise. We get paid for results. When you attach your fees to a precise block of time, you create problems for yourself. • Patients expect exact minutes • You lose flexibility in your schedule • It becomes harder to handle late patients • You limit your ability to offer different levels of service • You unintentionally undervalue yourself A better option is to give people a range. Ten to fifteen minutes. Twenty to thirty minutes. Forty to sixty minutes. A range gives you breathing room and prevents awkward conversations when someone shows up late. If you like offering long sessions, consider creating tiers. Some people only want a quick adjustment. Some need your standard visit. Some truly need the in depth longer appointment. Offering options keeps your schedule flexible and allows more people to work with you. Here is why this matters. Not everyone needs or wants a long visit. Not everyone has the time or the money for that. Giving people choices helps them say yes to working with you in a way that fits their life and fits your workflow. Wrapping Up Both topics in this episode really come down to the same core idea. Do what is smart. Do what reduces risk. Do what gives you the best chance to succeed without making life harder than it needs to be. If you want help with your website or local SEO, you can reach out to me at Rocket Chiro. If you want ongoing help and a place to ask questions, check out the Next Step program. If you want me to look at your website and give you some honest feedback, you can request a free website and SEO assessment anytime. Thanks for listening and for sharing the podcast with other chiropractors who can benefit from it. Resources Mentioned Free Website/SEO Review: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-practice-assessment Best chiropractic websites: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites
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    21 m
  • Common Distractions Chiropractors Fall For (And Why They Don't Work)

    Common Distractions Chiropractors Fall For (And Why They Don't Work)
    Nov 25 2025
    In this episode of the Rocket Chiro Podcast, Jerry breaks down some of the most common distractions chiropractors fall into when they are struggling, overwhelmed, or searching for the fast track to success. These distractions often look promising on the surface, but they rarely address the real issues holding a practice back. Jerry explains why these diversions are so tempting, how they derail progress, and what chiropractors should be focusing on instead if they want to build a stable and successful practice. The heart of the episode revolves around the idea that success in chiropractic is built on simple, consistent, and often boring fundamentals. When those fundamentals are missing, chiropractors become vulnerable to shiny objects that promise quick wins. These diversions can drain time, money, and energy while pushing the chiropractor further away from the work that actually helps them grow. Jerry outlines six major categories of distractions that repeatedly show up in conversations with struggling chiropractors. Each one is rooted in the desire to find an easier path than doing the foundational work, yet each one almost always leads to more frustration. Key Distractions Covered in This Episode • Online sales and affiliate marketing Chiropractors often hear that they can make "easy money" online by selling products, creating digital courses, or writing recommendation blogs with affiliate links. Jerry explains why this is almost never productive for a local chiropractor. Online selling requires an enormous amount of trust, attention, and audience size. Most chiropractors do not have the kind of influence necessary to make online sales meaningful. It becomes a detour away from patient care, community connection, and building a local business that people trust. • Selling their own expertise through high ticket coaching Big ticket coaching programs and personal expertise packages are frequently marketed as a shortcut to higher revenue. Chiropractors are told that it is just as easy to sell a three thousand dollar coaching package as it is to sell a three hundred dollar one. Jerry highlights why this mindset is problematic. Coaching is a completely different business that very few chiropractors are qualified for or prepared to run. High ticket selling might work for a rare few, but most chiropractors simply end up spending time building a business that distracts them from the practice they are trying to grow. • Special techniques and certifications Chiropractors who love technique can convince themselves that one more certification, one more seminar, or one more advanced system will finally unlock the success they want. Jerry reminds listeners that while additional training is valuable, it is almost never the reason a practice is struggling. Many mediocre chiropractors are successful in business, while many clinically gifted chiropractors struggle because they have not built strong habits, systems, or communication. Technique mastery is great, but it is not a substitute for running a strong business. • Special equipment and passive therapies There is always a new device, table, laser, or machine promising to increase revenue and attract new patients. Chiropractors imagine that if they could just finance the newest gadget, everything would finally click. Jerry emphasizes that expensive equipment does not fix traffic issues, retention issues, or communication issues. If a practice is unstable, adding more debt and more complexity makes the problem worse. Equipment can be helpful when it aligns with the practice model, but it is almost never the missing ingredient a struggling chiropractor thinks it is. • Obsessing over social media and trying to become an influencer Many chiropractors pour energy into going viral, creating endless reels, or chasing likes and followers. Social media feels productive, but it rarely translates into meaningful revenue for a local service business. Jerry shares examples of posts reaching millions of views without generating income. Social media can be a helpful tool for building trust and connection within a local community, but chasing fame is almost always a distraction that keeps chiropractors from focusing on patient care, reputation, and retention. • Evaluating success only by new patient numbers Chiropractors often judge their entire practice by how many new patients they see in a month. Jerry explains why this is a flawed metric when used in isolation. A practice with strong retention, follow through, reactivations, referrals, and good communication can thrive with modest new patient numbers. But a practice with a leaky bucket will always struggle no matter how many people enter the front door. Focusing only on new patients distracts chiropractors from fixing deeper issues in their systems and workflows. Core Themes From the Episode • Success in chiropractic is difficult and takes time. Anyone who claims it is easy is either lying or the rare exception. ...
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    21 m