If you are a practitioner in the dental field, you should build up loyalty with your patients, just like other professionals in any other business would. Loyalty will boost client retention, and it will also increase referrals, which you can turn into actual patients. There are various things that you can do to build a relationship with your patients and ensure that they will keep on choosing you.
Create a good impression
When you start on the right foot with your clients, that impression will be to your advantage because they are more likely to remember it for a long time. According to studies, within only 17 seconds of meeting a person, an impression is already made. The appearance affects 55% of that impression, 38% depends on the voice tone, and the remaining 7% is based on the words spoken. Make sure that you are presentable, you sound approachable and professional, and that you are clear with your communication.
Offer online scheduling
People are always busy, and scheduling an appointment over the phone may be inconvenient for some. Another way to make it easier for them is to offer online scheduling. With this, they can book an appointment at a convenient time, even outside office hours. They are more likely to continue getting your service if they find it easier to get a schedule for their visit. Be sure to send them confirmation and a reminder about their appointment.
Allow new patients to sign up online
The convenience that signing up online offers is another way to make a good impression. They will feel that doing business with you is a breeze. Instead of going to your office and filling out paperwork, they can do it online in their free time.
Offer loyalty perks
They will feel special, and they are more likely to keep going to you for these perks. For instance, you might offer a discount if they pay for a service package, or they could get a discount or a freebie for a referral that they make. It’s also vital that you provide them with quality service at an affordable price so you can satisfy them. Finding excellent dental and orthodontic supplies that are inexpensive can help you achieve this.
Get to know your patients
Every patient is different from the next. To determine the best approach to deal with them, get to know them. Listen to what they have to say, and remember key points from what they told you. Use these words when talking to them, so they will know that you listened to them.
Follow up on them
Patients will feel that you care about them if you make a follow-up or you check on them, especially after a challenging procedure.
While you must know what your patients want, it is equally important to understand why others left. Reach out to patients who have not returned for a while and get their feedback on why they chose not to come back. It will help you determine what areas you need to improve on to increase patient retention.
