The Top 10%: What Thriving PT Clinics Do Differently with Neil Trickett

In this episode of the Grow Your Practice podcast, Chad Madden sits down with Neil Trickett—former private practice owner and founder of Practice Promotions—to uncover what the top 10% of physical therapy clinics are doing to thrive in today’s competitive healthcare market. Neil shares his journey from running a seven-figure clinic to building one of the industry’s leading marketing agencies. Together, they dive deep into the common traps practice owners fall into, how to stabilize patient flow, and why marketing is the engine that drives everything from hiring to profitability. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies from Neil’s “Market to Grow” system, insights into what sets high-performing clinics apart, and a renewed focus on leveraging marketing to take control of your clinic’s future.

If you're ready to grow your practice with clarity and purpose, schedule a free strategy demo at https://getbreakthrough.com/strategy/ to see how our platform can help you attract new patients, increase profitability, and stay focused on your long-term vision.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:01 – Introduction: Meet Neil Trickett and his journey from clinic owner to marketing expert

1:09 – From PT owner in Florida to founding Practice Promotions

2:47 – The early days: Direct mail inspiration from chiropractors

4:05 – The big marketing realization: “Marketing solves all problems”

6:00 – How Neil’s newsletters became a recruiting magnet

6:26 – The philosophy behind “Market to Grow” and the top 10% of clinics

9:03 – The three biggest challenges: New patients, hiring, and reimbursement

11:13 – How one practice added $120K in cash services in Q1 alone

11:41 – The “New Patient Roller Coaster” and how to get off it

13:43 – Breaking down the “Market to Grow” system

14:59 – Why website conversion rates are a secret weapon

17:01 – Real-world example: 8%+ website conversion rates using heatmaps and AI

18:50 – “Market to Hire”: Proactive recruiting and why your careers page matters

21:04 – Getting found on Google for jobs (and bypassing Indeed)

23:05 – Real story: When your marketing attracts top talent away from competitors

24:22 – The “Revenue Ratio”: A new way to assess clinic profitability

25:33 – Two tactics for attracting better-paying patients and promoting cash services

27:08 – Common marketing mistakes practice owners make

28:55 – How much should PT clinics really be investing in marketing?

30:55 – If you’re overwhelmed, start with this first step

32:03 – Where to get Neil’s book, Market to Grow

33:00 – Rapid Fire: Marketing myths, overlooked tactics, case studies, and more

35:56 – Final thoughts and takeaway from Neil Trickett