Make Your Loyal Patients Feel Valued
Attracting new patients is important for any dental practice, but retaining existing patients is equally crucial. Loyal, satisfied patients are more likely to refer friends and family, helping your practice grow organically. That’s why prioritizing patient appreciation and retention in digital marketing is essential. Website content that shows current patients how much you value them keeps you at the top of their minds for their next dental appointment.
At Now Media Group, our San Diego, CA-based digital marketing specialists can help you create content that shows your patients how much you care. Call (858) 333-8950 to schedule your consultation and learn how you can integrate patient retention techniques into your digital marketing strategy.
Prioritize Online Reviews
Positive online reviews are essential for attracting new patients in today’s digital age. Ask or encourage your satisfied patients to leave Google, Facebook, or Yelp reviews right after their appointments when the experience is fresh in their minds. Train your team to invite reviews in a natural, non-pushy way. Respond professionally to any negative reviews and learn from them, as an essential way to grow is through patient feedback. Also, consider running reputation management services to boost positive reviews to the top of search results.
Update Your Website
An updated, patient-friendly dental website helps attract and retain patients through easy appointment booking and thoughtful information that answers questions about your patients’ relevant concerns.
Make sure your website includes:
- Meet the doctor and staff section with photos and bios so patients can get to know your team.
- An easy online booking and bill payment system to simplify making and managing appointments.
- Patient education resources include articles, videos, and social media links full of oral health tips. This content gives patients a reason to revisit your site.
- Information on financing options and insurance policies.
- Responsive design that adapts to mobile devices so patients can access your site from their phones or tablets. Over half of all website traffic now comes from mobile visitors.
Stay Active on Social Media
Maintaining an active social media presence keeps your practice connected with existing patients and reaches new audiences. Post regularly on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other channels to stay at the top of patients’ feeds.
We recommend sharing patient education content, before and after photos of procedures, events, and patient promotions. Also, make sure to respond promptly to comments and messages. Consider running social media ads targeting specific demographics and locations to boost your follower count.
Send Email Newsletters
Collect patient emails to build an email list. Send regular e-newsletters with oral health tips, office news, staff spotlights, promotions, etc. Software like MailChimp makes it easy to create polished, professional newsletters.
Segment your list by patient demographics and interests to send targeted content. For example, send newsletters with pediatric information to parents. Track open and click-through rates to see which content resonates most.
Implement Text Message Reminders
Text message appointment reminders reduce no-shows and keep your practice top of mind with patients. Choose a reminder service that lets you customize the reminder frequency and content. Make sure to obtain patient permission before enrolling them in text messaging. Consider sending occasional health tips or promotions via text as well. But keep the messages useful and avoid over-texting.
Leverage Patient Feedback
Actively gather patient feedback through surveys, reviews, and face-to-face conversations. Use feedback to improve weak spots and build on strengths in your practice. Share positive feedback on your website and social media to boost your reputation. And follow up with dissatisfied patients to resolve issues. Showing patients you value their opinions creates loyalty.
Seasonal Promotions
It’s never a bad idea to offer seasonal promotions or discounts for teeth whitening, cleanings, or other services during holidays or special occasions. Consider decorating the waiting area to match the season and create a festive atmosphere. When you create a cozy atmosphere, patients are much more likely to feel at ease when they visit your dental practice.
Referral Rewards
Everyone loves a good rewards system. Maybe you implement a referral program where existing patients receive rewards or discounts for referring new patients or posting reviews of their experiences. You could host a monthly or quarterly raffle for patients who refer others, offering prizes such as electric toothbrushes or discounts on dental procedures.
Post-Appointment Surveys
Not everyone wants to leave a review online, and that’s understandable. Send out brief post-appointment surveys to gather feedback on patient experience and use the information to make improvements. Offer a small discount or entry into a prize draw as an incentive for completing the survey.
Show Patients How Much You Care Through Digital Marketing
Creating a welcoming, patient-centered environment and showing appreciation through promotions and events helps dental practices retain happy, loyal patients. Mixing traditional outreach with digital marketing tactics maximizes your retention efforts. Use these creative ideas to keep patients coming back year after year.
If you’re ready to get started transforming your dental website, schedule your consultation with our digital marketing team by calling (858) 333-8950. We’re ready to partner with you to attract new patients and keep loyal patients coming back for years.