You find a lamp, so you rub it, and out comes a magical genie who will ant you one wish for the New Year… would it be to spend less time at work and more time relaxing with your family, traveling, or just taking time for yourself? We know that many dentists wish that very thing. Owning your own business is a huge personal commitment, and running a successful dental practice, even more so. Not only do you need to be present for every single patient appointment, but you are also responsible for making sure the entire operation is running smoothly. Plus, you want to make sure your practice continues to grow. Having a dental practice requires you to wear many hats and can easily take over your life. But it doesn’t have to be that hard.
The key to a successful practice, where you don’t have to work 80 hour a week, is quality. In other words, If you focus on attracting high-quality patients from the beginning, you will earn more revenue with fewer patients, which means you will actually have time to spend on other things you love.
When we say high-quality patients, we are referring to patients who want a long-term relationship with a dental practice, not those who are just shopping around for the best price. High-quality patients care about more than just cost. They care about expertise, technology, reputation, and overall experience. They understand that good quality dental care is worth paying for. These are the patients who will remain loyal to your practice because they believe you truly care about their well-being, because you take time to listen and you treat them with respect.
How does a dental practice attract high-quality patients?
Marketing is the most powerful tool a dental practice has for capturing high-quality patients. Campaigns that focus on the patient experience and highlight the benefits of your practice — and not the price of services — are more likely to resonate with the kind of patient who is looking for a dental home rather than a deal. Of course, running specials is also a good way to attract patients, but it is important to do so strategically in order to avoid attracting the type of patient who won’t be loyal to your practice. For example, running a special on a value-added service, rather than a routine one, is more likely to entice a quality patient into your practice.
Another important aspect to consider when marketing to attract quality patients is to keep your strategy fresh. Running the same advertising campaign every year is not likely to reach the type of patient you want in your office. We advise planning out custom strategies that focus on the specific services and experiences your practice offers in order to reach the target market with the highest potential. You can run multiple campaigns at once to test the market and see what resonates most with the quality patients you are seeking. This is where having a reliable, professional dental marketing agency on your side can really come in handy. A professional firm can guide your marketing efforts in the right direction, with a steady supply of fresh ideas that are also strategically targeted towards the type of patient you really want to see in your office.
The point of having your own dental practice is to do what you love every day. It’s not to run yourself ragged chasing after new patients. When you take the time to create a strategic marketing plan, your chances of attracting high-quality patients rise, which means you can earn the revenue you want with fewer patients. As a result, you are freer to focus on providing the best care for the patients you have, and your risk of burning out and losing your passion for dentistry also diminishes. We highly recommend focusing your marketing efforts on attracting quality patients to your practice, not only to increase your bottom line, but also to maintain your sanity.
