Patient indifference is a leading cause of attrition in dental practices. Many patients leave because they believe their dentists don’t notice, know, or care about them. Let’s debunk this misconception and explore three proven strategies to foster patient loyalty
Here’s the solution; to keep your patients from leaving, show them just how important they are! Read the steps below for 3 proven ways to show your customers you care and to give them a reason to keep coming back.
#1 Build a relationship with your dental patients!
Let them in on your personal life. One of the greatest marketing gurus of all time, Dan Kennedy, tells his clients all about himself all the time. Any one of the 25,000 members of his marketing company could tell you that he’s eclectic (i.e. doesn’t use a cell phone or email), that he only flies private, that he was once bankrupt, was once an alcoholic and has been married three times. He wants people to know about him because they can only connect if he puts himself out there! So, take the time you spend with your patients to let them know a little about you!
#2 Say, “Thank you!”
Seriously, your patients chose you over a plethora of other dentists who do the exact same thing. Let them know how much you appreciate it! My dentist sent me a thank you card the other day. If he hadn’t sealed the deal with all the other amazing marketing and business management gems he’d brought out, this would have been the crown jewel. He sent me a handwritten thank you card telling me it was great seeing me and getting to know me a little better! I was flabbergasted. Taking the time to thank me as I left his office—sure, I expected that. Forgetting about me 10 minutes later—absolutely my assumption. Getting a card 10 days later that shows he remembers that I am still a person—never crossed my mind! More than likely, he actually had a receptionist write to me in her best chicken scratch, but it didn’t change the effect of the card. A little goes a long way!
#3 Keep yourself on their minds all. the. time.
Whether you do this through social media (super inexpensive, but not super effective), a newsletter (my personal recommendation!), some handwritten thank you cards, or a combination of all three, it’s crazy important to keep yourself front and center in their minds so that when they are ready to schedule that appointment, they won’t be looking for the cheapest Groupon they can find— they’ll have your most recent newsletter sitting on their counter or that thank you card in their office…and you’re the one they’ll call!
So, there you have it — 3 dental office marketing ideas. Implement them and you will be the doc who wins every time! These dental office marketing strategies to build strong patient relationships, express gratitude, and stay memorable. By doing so, you’ll not only prevent patient attrition but also become the preferred choice for their dental needs.”
