LOADING

Type to search

Professional Issues

Marketing: where to begin?

This summary is based on the article published in Dental Economics: Marketing-where to begin? (August 2013)

bigstock-Marketing-concept-torn-newspap-43442689

Many factors determine whether a business can be successful in a particular area, such as demographics, socioeconomic status, major employers, competition, insurance participation, and demand for services. As any other dentist, you want to grow your practice and feel the need to apply some “fertilizer” in the form of marketing, but you don’t know which fertilizer to use. I recommend that you start with some very deliberate internal marketing fertilizer: Customer Service.

Here are some wonderful internal marketing methods that are cheap and effective:

  1. Recognition of patient birthdays
  2. Personal phone calls after difficult or extensive procedures
  3. Warm welcome when they walk through the door
  4. A little social chit-chat
  5. A smile and handshake
  6. Regular newsletter
  7. Patient of the month recognition
  8. Ask for Internet testimonials
  9. Recognition and a tangible expression of thanks when you receive referrals (refer to your state board rules)
  10. Recognition of patients when they receive honors that are publicized (One office laminates news articles that appear in the local paper and mails them to the patient.)
  11. Free giveaway once or twice a year for a drawing in your office where patients drop their appointment cards
  12. Anything that is given to the patient to take home has your office’s name and website/phone number on it
  13. Condolences in the form of a card and possibly a flower or donation to a charity when a patient experiences a death in the family
  14. Get-well card for any patient with illness, hospitalization, or rehabilitation

 

This content was reproduced with permission.

Do you have any particular question on this topic? Do you have any comments or suggestions? Email us at oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca

You are invited to comment on this post and provide further insights by posting in the comment box which you will find by clicking on “Post a reply“ below. You are welcome to remain anonymous and your email address will not be posted.  

1 Comment

  1. LOUISE DESNOYERS September 18, 2013

    Overall those elements, I would add my best success receipe: TREAT AND CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS LIKE IF THEY WOULD BE CLOSED MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN FAMILY.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *