Welcoming a new patient to your practice is an exciting time for both your practice and the patient. You’re happy that they chose you for their dental needs, and they may be relieved to have found a great dentist who will take care of them.
To further reinforce that they made a great decision by choosing you, it’s important to continue communicating after they book their first appointment and before they come in for their first visit. It will build their trust in you even before they enter your office, and it gets your relationship started off on the right foot.
You spend a lot of time and effort to get a new patient. Marketing is involved, as well as making sure your team is properly trained to book new patient appointments. Once you have them on the books, however, it’s important to keep building that relationship so they feel comfortable with your practice.
One simple way to do this is by sending your new patients a series of emails after confirming their first appointment. These emails serve two purposes. First, you can provide them with necessary information about your practice such as office location and what to expect when they come in for the first time. Second, these emails get the patient familiar with your practice, and they can be an opportunity to show them the variety of services you offer and what sets you apart from the rest—all important information that makes them relieved they chose you.
Here are more detailed examples of what to include in these emails:
- Practice videos are a great way to give your new patient a tour of your office as well as introduce you and your team. During their visit, they might not have a chance to learn about your background, what treatments you offer, or who the person is that will be booking their appointments. You can provide all that information through video.
- Patient video testimonials are another great way for new patients to get greater insight into what they can expect as well as what sets your practice apart from others. It will help new patients know they made a good choice by scheduling an appointment with you and set their mind at ease.
- A simple “We can’t wait to meet you” email shows that you actually care about and respect your new patient. Making someone feel special is not only good for your practice, but simple gestures like these also get paid forward into your community.
Growing your practice means acquiring new patients as well as ensuring those individuals feel they have enough of a good relationship with you to stay. With a strong welcome process and ongoing communication, you will build a strong doctor-patient relationship for years to come.
With more than a decade of experience in corporate dental laboratory marketing and brand development, Ms. Ulasewich–Cullen decided to take her passion for the dental business and marketing to the next level by founding My Dental Agency. Since starting her company, she and her team have helped a wide variety of practices all over the nation focus their message, reach their target audience, and increase their sales through effective marketing campaigns. She can be reached at (800) 689-6434 or via email at jackie@mydentalagency.com.
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