There is most definitely not a shortage of marketing ideas to grow your practice! We have written about hundreds of these, but we are always looking online to find more ways to help you reach your potential patients. Our favourite ideas usually have to do with giving exceptional care to your existing patients and inspiring them to spread the word about your practice to their friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers. So here is another one:
You have in your hands, pocket, purse or close by you a great device for reaching people you don’t even know yet and who don’t even know you! And it costs you nothing to use it in a surprising number of ways. It’s called a cell phone!
3 Surprising Ways to Use a Cell Phone
First of all, if you are concerned about giving out your cell phone number (most of us are over that now though), get a cell phone for office use only. You can leave it at the office or carry it with you, depending on need.
- Surprise a new patient who is coming in for a first appointment tomorrow with a short 10 second video of yourself (selfie-style) saying “Hi ___, I’m Dr. _______ and I hear you’re coming to visit us tomorrow at 1 p.m. and I am looking forward to meeting you and seeing how we can make your life better.”
- If you have treated a patient today that had a bit of a hard time of it, do a 10 second selfie with you and your assistant, saying: “Hi Mrs. _________, Dr. _______ and _______. We just wanted to check in with you to say we’re hoping that you are now doing fine now. If there is a problem and would like help, please don’t hesitate to call me at _______(cell #).”
These two messages are so easy to do and forward to the patient by text to their cell or by email. Some little things to watch out for:
- Make sure the background behind you is attractive and not cluttered.
- Make sure the lighting on your face is good.
- Make sure there are no other sounds going on around you.
- Make sure that your clothing is clean (no blood on the lab coat, LOL) and neat.
Here’s a Third Idea
Years ago, the receptionist at my dental office asked me if I had anyone that I would like to refer to their practice and I said, as a matter of fact, I have a friend named Marilyn who needs a new dentist. The receptionist got me to talk to Marilyn and we got her an appointment and Marilyn can’t thank me enough for reaching out to her and saving her front teeth that were getting loose.
- Here is an “out there” idea that only your best staff are going to be able to do: When a patient has been treated and come out to the front to pay their bill and they are happy with the service today, ask if they have any friends, family, neighbours, or co-workers that they think might be a possible candidate for your practice. If they have someone in mind, ask the patient if they would like to use the office cell phone to text or email a quick selfie message to the person saying: “Hi Jane, Just a quick message … I’m at my doctor’s office and just had a great treatment/experience/appointment today, and I just wanted to let you know that I go to a great practice in case you were needing to find a new one.” Or: “Hi Marilyn, I’m at my ______(dental) office right now and just wanted to remind you that you were thinking of calling Dr. __________ to make your first appointment. Use the number that I am calling from right now and talk to ___________ (receptionist).”
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