Hello Friends,

One of the most asked questions that I receive is ideas for hosting a dental open house event. So if you have an open house planned for your dental office or are considering hosting an open house event, here are some ideas to help make your open house a huge success!

Consider adding a theme to your event.

Event Theme Ideas:

• Luau
• Winter Wonderland
• Back-to-School
• Hearts – We “Heart” our Community or We “Heart” our Patients
• Decades (ex: 50’s)
• Spring – Flowers (Thank you for helping our office grow)
• Celebration of Health
• Fall
• Women’s Night Out
• Office Anniversary Celebration
• Spa/Pampering
• Shopping (w/local vendors)
• Carnival
• Cocktail Party (Wine & Appetizers)
• Superhero

 Target Audience: 

Determine in advance who is your target audience.

• Professionals/Specialists
• Community (Local Businesses/Non-Patients)
• Current Patients

 Cross Marketing Opportunity:

Team up with local businesses!

• Hair Salons, Specialty offices, Restaurants, Etc.
• Display a thank you board/sign listing the local businesses involved in the open house.
• Have an area that they can display their business information
• Have them donate a prize to be raffled off or used in a drawing.
• Ask them to advertise your event at their place of business.

Word of caution, make sure that if you choose to team up with any other local businesses that it doesn’t distract the guests away from your office.

Advertising your Event:

• Invitations
• Local Newspaper (Invite them to the event!)
• TV News (Invite them to the event!)
• Radio (Invite them to the event!)
• Social Media Sites (set up a Facebook Event)
• Website
• Current Patients (Ask them to bring a friend for a prize!)
• Newsletter
• Email
• Online Local News Sites
• Local Chambers
• Local Businesses (Library, City Hall, Day Cares, Salons, Restaurants, Schools, EVERYWHERE)
• Employees (Make sure the entire team is on board w/the event and talking about it)
• Flyers
• Banner on building

Call To Action/Community Support:

Collect Donations for…

• Winter Gear (Coats, Gloves, Scarves & Hats, Blankets)
• Books
• Canned Foods
• School Supplies
• Aluminum Can Tabs (Ronald McDonald House)

or offer:

• Complimentary Oral Cancer Screenings
• Smile Makeover Contest

 Give-Aways:

Welcome letter/flyer (Include in it: Info about the office, services offered, a special call to action offer & a thank you for coming in)

Items imprinted with your office information, such as:

• Toothbrush Bags
• Lip Balm (www.lipbalmexpress.com)
• Tote Bags
• Pens
• Coffee Mugs
• Water Bottles
• Flower Seed Packets
• Magnets
• Keyrings
• Xylitol Products
• Umbrellas

My favorite company to use for imprinted giveaway items is: Bizarre Marketing – www.promostuff4u.com

Activities:

• Face Painting
• Photo Booth with photo props
• Balloon Twisting
• Bounce House
• Craft Table
• Games
• DJ/Karaoke/Live Music
• Dental Health Presentations

Drawing/Raffle for Prizes:

Having a drawing(s) allows you to collect the names and contact information of the guests. Be sure to collect Name, Address, Email & Phone #.

Prize Ideas:

• Electric Toothbrush
• Teeth Whitening
• $/% Off of a Dental Service
• Gift Cards
• Television/Tablet
• Bicycle
• Waterpark, Sporting Event, Concert, or Theatre Tickets/Passes
• Gift Baskets

Team up with local businesses for contributions/donations of Prizes. Be sure to remind them that their name will be included in your advertising for the open house.

Offer an incentive (such as; gift card) to the first so many people who RSVP to your event.

Office Appearance:

• The office must be clean and clutter free!! (Inside & Out!)
• Restrooms – make sure they are checked during the open house for cleanliness and that they are well stocked)
• Decorate the Office
• Music Playing (recorded or live)
• Have stations/displays set up throughout the office to encourage a tour of the entire office.
• Monitors set up in reception room and treatment suites playing videos of services offered. Before and After Photo Slideshow.
• Display “About Our Office & Services” Brochures

Team Members:

• Well dressed and groomed
• Name Tags
• Friendly & Outgoing
• Specific assignments (designated greeter, tour guide, speaker for dental presentations, etc.)

Food/Drink Ideas:

• Bottled water with an office label
• Punch/lemonade/Tea/Coffee/Wine/Beer
• BBQ Foods
• Appetizers
• Wine/Cheese
• Desserts
• Ice Cream Truck (great for outdoor events)

You may be able to get a local business to donate cookies, cake pops, cupcakes, sandwich trays, fruit and vegetable platters, etc.

Day of the Event:

• Smiling faces
• Name tags for your guests
• Give tours (Depending on the size of the event you could set up tours as a scavenger hunt)
• Be ready to schedule dental appointments
• Greet everyone
• Take lots of pictures
• Record a video of the event. Consider doing a Facebook live during the event.

 After the Event:

• Send Thank you’s to all of your guests and any businesses that participated in the event.
• Send a follow-up article & pictures to the local paper.
• Call prize winners to come into the office and collect their gift – be sure to take their picture(s).
• Post pictures of the event on social media sites.

Remember, Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance!

To-do lists are your friend! Include a timeline & who is responsible for what & when.

Your goal should be to make your guests feel welcome, special, and appreciated. No one wants to show up to an event where they are not welcomed or confident they’re even in the right place.

Make it a Fabulous Open House Event my friends!

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Yours for Greater Success!

~Betty

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