If you’re one of the dentists who are just putting together a dental marketing plan, you’re probably learning about all the different options. From social media and GoogleAdWords to newspaper ads and dental postcards, it can be difficult to know where to start.
The best place to start marketing is actually inside your own practice with your existing dental patients! Selling to your current patients is easier and more cost-effective than trying to bring in new ones. Your patients are always needing dental work, whether it’s a cosmetic improvement, restorative work, or a simple cleaning and exam. They already have loyalty to your dental office, so it’s much easier to bring them back in for work they already need.
MARKETING TO CURRENT PATIENTS
Below are a few tips on how to market to existing patients:
- Re-Care – Making sure that you see each of your patients every six months is the lifeline of your dental practice and what will build your schedule. Average patient recall is around 11 months, so you should devise a plan to keep the hygiene schedule full.
- Treatment Acceptance – Instead of obsessing over how many fans you have on social media, you may be letting multiple $1,000 crown cases walk away without rescheduling. Instead of worrying about the layout of your postcard, consider following up with patients who have outstanding treatment plans. We’re not saying you shouldn’t be focused on external marketing, just that internal marketing is a much more immediate area of focus.
- Patient Experience – It’s important to create a positive experience for each of your dental patients. Greet your patients with a smile, make sure your office runs on time and smoothly, and provide quality dental care. This will keep patients coming back and might even lead to a referral or two!
- Relationship – Lastly, keeping a good relationship and rapport with your patients is a good way to stay on the radar. Some patients may neglect dental health, but others might be swayed away to other dental offices. Send birthday cards and reminders to current patients and organize an outreach program for dormant patients.