Established or New Dental Patients – Which is more important for practice growth?

Established or New Dental Patients – Which is more important for practice growth?

Hello Friends,

So which is more important to your practice growth – obtaining new patients or retaining established patients?

The short answer, both are very important to successfully grow your dental practice.

Yes, new patients are very important, in fact, we should have a monthly new patient goal that we are working toward each month. Offices love new patients. I hear doctors and teams all the time saying “We need more new patients!” They believe that is the answer to all of their scheduling, production, and collection woes. But is that good enough to grow your practice, just ensuring that you’re getting fresh new patients each month?

Well, if you want to spend lots of money and ultimately work harder instead of smarter, then yes. But, I think it’s safe to say, that isn’t your intention or end goal.

And yet, that is exactly what I am seeing many doctors doing in their practice. They are investing time and money to bring in new patients but are not giving the same attention to retaining those new patients. Like they are just spinning their wheels and will eventually just burn out.

Oftentimes, I will see healthy new patient numbers each month, and yet, the office isn’t growing at all and their production is weak. Why is that? When I examine the data, I learn that far too many of their new patients are one-timers. They left the office without scheduling a future appointment. Why is this a bummer situation? Calling, emailing, texting, and snail-mailing our patients to get them to reappoint can be a drag. It’s tough to reach patients once they leave. It’s possible of course, but it takes money, time, and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. Unfortunately, we don’t always see those attempts being made to reach out to those unscheduled new patients. No one really knows what happens to the patient after their first visit. Or they make minimal attempts to reach out to the patients before giving up after a couple of months.

What does your new patient experience look like from the initial call, and first visit, to how you stay in touch with them after they leave?

Do you know what your new patient retention numbers look like?

So if the most expensive patients to acquire are your new patients, the easiest and best patients to fill your schedules are those who have come to you before.  But, you may be thinking… that takes time and money to reappoint established patients too. That’s true but you have a huge advantage when reaching out to established patients of record; It’s the power of pre-existing relationships.  (Oh, by the way, on average, it can cost up to six times more to gain a new patient than it does to retain an existing patient.)

What does retaining, reactivating, and reappointing established patients mean for you and the patient?

  • We are creatures of habit.  It’s easier to do something we are already doing than to do something different.
  • Established relationship. (They already know, like, and trust you. You just need to focus on strengthening that relationship)
  • No marketing costs – you’ve already paid the initial investment in getting the patient.

What are you doing to keep track of your established patients? What are you doing to ensure your established patients don’t slip through the cracks?

What are you doing to keep your new and established patients loyal to your practice?

Loyal patients, isn’t that what we want? Patients that return year after year, accept your treatment recommendations and refer their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. They are loyal to your dental practice because they like and trust you. You’ve earned the privilege to serve them not just for a moment but for life.

Is it really a privilege to serve them? Absolutely! Any office that struggles with getting and keeping new patients, struggles with getting patients to accept their treatment recommendations, struggles with the hygiene department’s continuing care reports and Swiss cheese-like appointment schedules, struggles to keep up with all the record transfer requests from patients for their new dental office, will learn (hopefully quickly) that having loyal patients in your practice is an earned privilege. The best part with loyal patients is the aforementioned struggles are greatly reduced or eliminated altogether.

Of course, this takes some work – implementing and following closely, effective office systems/protocols are critical to you successfully retaining your patients and reaching/exceeding your practice goals.

Practice Owners, if you would like to grow and improve your dental practice and have wondered what it might be like to work with me and what coaching is all about… please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation coaching call at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com.

Have you signed up to receive my complimentary dental marketing and practice management ideas that are sent right to your email inbox each month? If not, take a second and sign up. Or send me your email address (bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com) and I will send you an invite to follow. This way, you won’t miss a single idea

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty (Dental Coach)

P.S. If you enjoy the complimentary ideas that I share or if they’ve been of help to you and your practice –  I would truly appreciate it if you would please take a second and leave a review/recommendation for me on GOOGLE and/or FACEBOOK. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you!!

Dental Marketing and Practice Growth Ideas for February 2023

Dental Marketing and Practice Growth Ideas for February 2023

Hello Friends –

Hope you all are having a wonderful & healthy start to 2023!

Are your plans set to exceed your established patients’ expectations, welcome more new patients, and strengthen your relationship with local businesses within the community? If not, hopefully, the ideas that I am sharing here will help you make plans to enjoy a happy and productive February!

February 2023 Dental Office Marketing & Practice Growth Ideas

Educational Ideas:

Through With The Chew: 19-25th / The Great American Spit Out: 23rd

February is American Heart Month –

Heart Health Talking Points: Dental Health and Heart Disease Are Related

Dental health and heart disease are intricately linked and the cost of avoiding advanced periodontal disease or even something as mild as gingivitis may very well prove to be the cause of serious medical problems in the future. Be good to your heart beginning with good oral health.

Tip: If you’re not currently taking your patients’ blood pressure at their appointments… make it a goal to start during the month of February. Many people see their dentist more regularly than a physician and could get an early warning about high blood pressure when getting their teeth cleaned or having other dental treatments done.

For Children’s Dental Health Month Tips and Ideas Visit Here: Dental Health Month Ideas

Pet Dental Health Month – Share pet dental health tips on your social media sites, ask people to share pictures of their pets on social media, and hand out dog treats packaged with your office information. Even if the patient doesn’t have a dog surely, they know someone who does… a great way to get your office name out there!

Grammy Awards: 5th – In-office and Social Media contest to match up the celebrity singers’ smiles to the names. Or a contest to vote on who will take home the best Album of the year.

February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month – A beautiful & healthy smile can boost one’s self-esteem and confidence.

Don’t miss out on any of the ideas that I share each month! Are you receiving my complimentary Practice Management and Marketing Ideas in your email inbox each month? If not, please start following us today. If you prefer, send me your email address at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com and I will send you an invitation to follow my blog.

Social Media Post Content Ideas to Improve Engagement during the month of February

Bubble Gum Day: 3rd

Toothache Day: 9

Super Bowl LVII (57): 12th

National Hippo Day: 15th  

World Pistachio Day: 26 

It would be great to hear from you! If you enjoy the ideas that I share or if they’ve been of help to you and your practice –  I would love and truly appreciate it if you would please take a second and leave a review/recommendation for me on GOOGLE and/or FACEBOOK. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you!!!

Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty

P.S. Please stop by and say hello to me on  FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn, and Pinterest

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July 2022 Dental Marketing And Practice Growth Tips and Ideas

July 2022 Dental Marketing And Practice Growth Tips and Ideas

Hello Friends,

Happy Summer!

With the dental marketing ideas that I am sharing today along with some planning, enthusiasm and implementation you have the chance to really set yourselves apart from the other offices in the community, welcome more new patients, and exceed your current patients’ expectations (get them talking about how awesome you are!), have less stress and more fun as a team. Sound good to you?

Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy a terrific & productive July!

National Ice Cream Month

Treatment Offer – July is National Ice Cream Month and Close to 50% of Americans suffer from or experience tooth sensitivity from time to time. It’s safe to say that many of your patients may be suffering from tooth sensitivity or they know someone who does.

Your product/service feature during the month of July: Desensitizing Agents to treat tooth sensitivity.

Patient Appreciation – Offer free ice cream cones to your patients. How will offering free ice cream cones not incur any extra cost to you? Contact a local Ice Cream Shop for some cross-marketing. Ask if they would be willing to donate 4 or more FREE Ice Cream Cone Gift Certificates that you will use during the month of July for a weekly drawing that your patients will enter to win. What a fantastic way to exceed your patients’ expectations with no extra cost to you.

National Watermelon Month – Patient Appreciation Idea – Serve your patients’ watermelon slices or cubes as a special treat during their visit.

Get Ready For Kindergarten Month – For family-friendly offices – depending on your schedule, consider setting aside one or two days for “Get Ready for Kindergarten with Healthy Smiles” visits. Make it a fun experience for the children. Promote via your social media sites.

Would you please do something for me? If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas and content that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links.    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!

Dental Social Media Content Ideas to Encourage and Boost Engagement during the month of July. (Take some time to create and schedule posts for your Facebook page. As well as for Instagram and Google My Business)

dental social media content ideas from Betty Hayden Consulting

National Blueberries Month

Chocolate Day: 7

National Sour Candy Day: 18

National Lipstick Day: 29

National Avocado Day: 31

Doctors, I would love the opportunity to work along with you and your team to help you set and exceed your practice goals. If you would like to schedule a no-obligation, complimentary consultation to learn how my coaching program works, please email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com.

Are you receiving my complimentary dental marketing and practice management ideas that are sent right to your email inbox each month? If not, take a second and sign up. This way, you won’t miss a single idea! Feel free to email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com and I will make sure you receive an invitation to follow my monthly ideas.

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty – Dental Coach

Before you go, would you please do something for me? If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas and content that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links.    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!

Dental Marketing and Practice Growth Ideas for May 2022

Dental Marketing and Practice Growth Ideas for May 2022

Hello & Happy Spring, Friends ~

Here are a few dental marketing and practice growth tips and ideas to help you, your team, your patients, and potential patients smile during the month of May…

Theme: National Family Wellness Month

Focus: Healthy & Beautiful Smiles (Preventive & Cosmetic Services)

Goal: Welcome More New Patients, Improve Your Patients’ Health, & Exceed Patients’ Expectations

Contest/Raffle – Family Fun & Wellness Gift Basket (Tote/Cooler) – Fill with Lawn games, BBQ supplies, Sunscreen, Citronella Candles, Toothbrushes, Paper products, Chalk, Gift Card, etc.

Patients earn entries for Facebook likes, check-ins, reviews, Google reviews, and for referring new patients.

Community Engagement and Appreciation Ideas – The month of May has National Police Officers Week, Nurses Week, and Teacher Appreciation Week.

Click this link for tips and ideas Dental Office Appreciation Ideas for Teachers, Nurses, and Police Officers during May 2022

Doctors, if you’re struggling to reach your practice goals or feel there is too much chaos in your practice– feel free to contact me for a complimentary, no-obligation 30-minute telephone consultation at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com to see if a coaching relationship is right for you.

Dental Health Education In-Office and Social Media Educational Ideas for May 2022

National Root Canal Appreciation Week: 1-7 

National Piercing Day: 16th

World Hypertension Day: 17th  

dental office blood pressure betty hayden consulting

 World No-Tobacco Day: 31st

Would you please do something for me? If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links…    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!

Dental Social Media Post Content Ideas for May 2022 to help you build and improve engagement.

dental social media content ideas from Betty Hayden Consulting

World Laughter Day: 1st

Herb Day: 7th  

National BBQ Day: 16th  

World Bee Day: 20th  

World Turtle Day: 23rd

Eat More Fruits & Vegetables Day: 26th  

National Smile Day: 31st  

Wishing you and your team a month full of smiles!

Have you signed up to receive my complimentary dental marketing and practice management ideas that are sent right to your email inbox each month? If not, take a second and sign up. This way, you won’t miss a single idea! Or, if you have an area(s) in the practice that you’re struggling with, feel free to email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty – Dental Coach

Would you please do something for me? If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links.    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!