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7 Apr 2014
Improving Patient Retention And Significantly Increasing Revenue
Information is king and patients are accessing it online more than ever. According to research, 72% of internet users said they looked online for health information within the past year. That number will only continue to increase, so with your patients and prospective patients looking for information online you need to be ready. Ready by having great online reviews and ready by proactively educating them about your services and the value you provide.
In a world where patients know what they want and how they want it, communication, on your terms, becomes even more important. Word of mouth just doesn’t do all the work anymore.
Here are a few ways to get patients to influence other patients to use your services:
1. Add value. Mail a personalized patient newsletter every quarter
2. Show you care. Conduct a patient survey annually
3. Be present. Email a patient newsletter monthly and ask for a google review or referral
4. Encourage Reciprocity. Include a referral incentive or loyalty gift
5. Present benefits. Ensure your website, newsletter and other communications are top quality and are focused on your primary decision maker and their priorities
Patient Newsletters. Every practice, no matter how big, small, growing or established should be sending a newsletter to patients of record. There is no more valuable or meaningful way to connect with patients outside of the practice. When done correctly a patient newsletter can yield a 300-400% return on investment. Imagine reducing attrition by 1%, increasing referrals by 8 per year and reactivating 8 more lapsed patients. For an average practice that could equal $30,000 per year … over patient lifetime we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars. We haven’t missed one edition of our client Quarterly Update newsletter since we launched it in 1996.
Read original Source: http://www.patientnews.com/blog/improving-patient-retention
In a world where patients know what they want and how they want it, communication, on your terms, becomes even more important. Word of mouth just doesn’t do all the work anymore.
Here are a few ways to get patients to influence other patients to use your services:
1. Add value. Mail a personalized patient newsletter every quarter
2. Show you care. Conduct a patient survey annually
3. Be present. Email a patient newsletter monthly and ask for a google review or referral
4. Encourage Reciprocity. Include a referral incentive or loyalty gift
5. Present benefits. Ensure your website, newsletter and other communications are top quality and are focused on your primary decision maker and their priorities
Patient Newsletters. Every practice, no matter how big, small, growing or established should be sending a newsletter to patients of record. There is no more valuable or meaningful way to connect with patients outside of the practice. When done correctly a patient newsletter can yield a 300-400% return on investment. Imagine reducing attrition by 1%, increasing referrals by 8 per year and reactivating 8 more lapsed patients. For an average practice that could equal $30,000 per year … over patient lifetime we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars. We haven’t missed one edition of our client Quarterly Update newsletter since we launched it in 1996.
Read original Source: http://www.patientnews.com/blog/improving-patient-retention
6 Apr 2014
Should A Business Offer A Free Consultation?
Attracting patients to dentistry is difficult. Some 50% of adults regularly avoid dental visits, therefore we must employ the most effective tactics in your direct marketing campaigns to draw more people to your practice. Some words have the scientifically documented power to attract the human eye. Others, the tested power to lift sales … and others have the proven ability to appear to be more truthful.
These words include: you, trust, proven, easy, quick, improved … and FREE. According to Predictably Irrational, “free gives us such an emotional charge that we perceive what is being offered as immensely more valuable than it really is.”
You probably started working with Patient News via one of our free consults. Over the years we’ve had a couple of variations. Many of you may recall our “free trial” or “free demonstration,” while currently it’s a very straightforward but comprehensive “free consultation.” These offers work, just as they do at a dental office. Choosing a dental marketing partner is a big decision … choosing a dentist or dental practice is a big decision. A free introductory offer is a way to help more people become your patients.
The free consultation in itself will not sell, or undersell, your service. Does it attract the wrong kind of patient? Not overall if you are targeting the right audience. You might attract a percentage of people who do not fit your ideal criteria, but keep in mind that even if they will not work with you right now, they may pass your name on to others – those who live or work in your area – because you’ve impressed them. This will extend your visibility.
A FREE CONSULT will be great if you:
- Like meeting people, listening to their concerns, and sharing your knowledge
- Would like a great way to practice treatment presentations
- Would like to be more accessible to your target audience
- Would like your practice to seem more friendly and approachable in your community
- Have gaps in your schedule and have a streamlined process.
Read Original Source
30 Jan 2014
Get Ready for Yankee Dental Congress - Booth 428!
Visit Yankee Dental Congress, Booth 428 for a sweet treat & request FREE Radius Area Demographic Analysis Report worth $ 450. Patient News will help you find your best patients & how to get more dental patients.
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