For many dental practices, positive word of mouth from current clientele is one of the main ways people are introduced to a new office. Getting a recommendation from a family member or friend who a person already trusts is more likely to stick with that individual than a paid advertisement or online testimonial. If you want to see an increase in patient lead generation, starting a referral program is an effective way to tap into the power of word of mouth.
Starting a patient referral program
The basic principle behind a patient referral program is to encourage current clients to spread the word about your practice by rewarding them if a new patient schedules a visit due to a referral. Common incentives include cash amounts, gift cards, or discounts toward specific services.
A well-thought-out referral program should clearly line out who qualifies as a referral, what the incentive is, and how the reward can be redeemed. A “Rules and Restrictions” section is helpful for clearly stating what your office considers a referral. For instance, some practices may count a patient’s other immediate family members toward the program. Most practices include a spot on the new patient paperwork to list the name of anyone who recommended the office to them, which is used to distribute the reward.
Getting the word out
While other forms of patient marketing rely on you getting your practice’s name out to new people in the community, promoting your patient referral program depends more heavily on organic marketing. You are unlikely to see any benefit from your program if current patients are not aware an incentive exists. There are several platforms you can use simultaneously to get the word out and see results.
Social media marketing
If you have already encouraged current patients to follow your practice on social media, this is an easy spot to share information about the patient referral program.
Handouts
Have printed cards in your office that staff members can hand out to patients explaining the referral program. If you hand out a bag with supplies for people to take home after an appointment, you can simply include the card in there.
Email or text marketing
If you use an automated email or text system to alert customers when an appointment is coming up and to ask for a review once the appointment is over, you can prompt the system to mention the referral program after a good review has been left. Leave this option off if a bad review is left, as negative word of mouth can be very damaging for your practice’s reputation.
Website
Make sure there is a page on your practice’s website that details the patient referral program. You can also mention the program in blog posts or have a designated spot in the footer that people can click to learn more.
Get new patients in the door
At Doctor Genius, we understand that spreading the word and getting new patients in the door is essential for you to continue providing services your community needs. From optimizing your website to posting on your social media, we can help you get seen. Learn more about our packages at 1-877-477-2311 and discover how we can help your practice thrive.
Doctor Genius, located at 16800 Aston Street, Suite 270, Irvine, CA 92606, provides a range of services for practice success. We seek to meet our clients’ needs by providing a variety of marketing, SEO, practice optimization tools, and coaching to transform the healthcare experience. Though we work to provide the most accurate information, the content found on this website is solely intended for entertainment purposes. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that the information provided is entirely correct. You may not use the information on this site to cure, prevent, or diagnose a perceived medical issue. If you have healthcare-related needs, please speak directly to a healthcare professional. Never self-perform medical treatments discussed on this website. All images displayed are also for entertainment purposes only, and personal experiences may differ. Please note that the business tactics mentioned on this site might not be applicable to your industry or practice.
