Previously I discussed a couple of ways to attract new customers to your practice. Here are three more methods to keep your practice growing.
1. Specials and Promotions – grocery stores run ‘Loss Leaders’ by selling goods for less than they cost in order to get people in the doors, knowing that customers will buy more than that one item. Dental offices can run similar programs. Tooth whitening is still enormously popular, especially at this time of the year with holiday pictures, parties, Valentines Day, and resolutions to look great in the New Year. Offering bleaching for $99 or even $49 more than covers the cost of a bleaching kit, and allows you to leverage that patient with exams, x-rays, hygiene, and even orthodontics or cosmetic procedures.
2. Direct Mail/Flyers – Simple advertising pamphlets sent via direct mail to a particular demographic, or leaflets stuffed into a community newspaper can bring in scores of new patients. The Keep It Simple, Stupid approach works best here. Rather than elaborate full-color brochures trying to sell specific procedures, convey a message of caring and quality, and make sure to include all of your contact information.
3. Free Media Coverage – have you recently renovated your office or purchased a new piece of equipment such as a cone beam CT, VELscope, or DIAGNOdent? Contact a newspaper or television news program to let them know about it. Alternatively, tell the media (with the patient’s permission of course) about how a new smile helped one of your patients change their life – by getting a new job, a modeling contract, or whatever. Good human interest stories are always in demand. Also consider getting involved with local makeover contests. Small donations of time and supplies can result in tens of thousands of dollars worth of free media exposure.
Once you have all these new patients – how do you keep them? In a coming post I will share a few ideas as to how you can retain your new clients.
Tags for this article :Dental Equipment dental imaging and x rayTags: Dental Equipment, Dental Imaging and X-Ray
