The most cost-effective way to bring in new patients is by getting referrals from current ones. If current patients are satisfied with your practice -- in terms of both clinical treatment and customer service -- they will be happy to recommend you to their family and friends. Use multiple marketing strategies, including simply asking for referrals.
Get comfortable asking for referrals. When you're with patients, look for opportunities to mention that your practice welcomes new patients. If a patient compliments your gentle touch or the doctor's skills or comments on how pleasant the practice is, that's the time to encourage patient referrals.
Don't make these two common marketing mistakes. If you're not getting enough patient referrals from your marketing program, the most likely reasons are that, one, you're using strategies that aren't diverse enough, and, two, you don't have a consistent, ongoing program. To succeed, you need to deploy at least 10 patient referral strategies simultaneously and avoid on-again, off-again implementation.
Dr. Roger P. Levin is CEO of Levin Group, a leading practice management and marketing consulting firm. To contact him or to join the 40,000 dental professionals who receive his Practice Production Tip of the Day, visit LevinGroup.com or email [email protected].
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