A word-of-mouth referral is that the very best advertisement you’ll incorporate into your practice. it is also the most cost effective sort of advertising that you simply can invest in and it takes minimal time and energy .
We all know the simplest patient may be a referred patient. When a lover tells another friend, loved one , or colleague about you, that’s golden. they’re already pre-sold on you, they’re not as price-sensitive and that they are more likely to remain loyal to you.
Word-of-mouth referrals will increase your closing ratios, decrease your external marketing costs, and grow your practice.
But don’t leave it to chance. Sure, you’ll get some referrals from your core of fans in your practice, every practice has them, but you would like them from every happy patient – not just the chosen few.
Make word of mouth referrals a priority in your office, found out processes, and incorporate these word-of-mouth strategies:
TALK TO YOUR PATIENTS
Referrals come from connecting together with your patients in order that they feel cared about as an individual first, then as a patient.
Use their name and make eye contact together with your patients. Ask them questions then allow them to talk. the purpose is to bond with them personally first in order that they know you care about them.
Spend two minutes on them as an individual . Ask them about their family, their occupation, or anything that strikes you as interesting from their patient in-take form.
They will relax, open up to you, and talk more about themselves.you’ll learn such a lot a few person if you show you’re curious about them. And, you’ll be surprised by what you learn.
Perhaps they’re a member of the media or they’re a part of an outsized company that would use your services as an employee perk. Who knows until you ask.
Think of it this manner . Each folks has on the average clique of roughly 250 people. that has friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, etc.
If each of your patients told just one of their clique about you, that might DOUBLE your practice growth. How does that sound?
Remember, like-minded people, lollygag around with other like-minded people so you would like your “preferred patient” to bring their friends to you.
But don’t take that without any consideration . Your patients got to know you would like more patients a bit like them and if they send you their friends, family, and colleagues, you promise to require care of them.
USE CONTENT TO SPREAD THE WORD
Content is king on the web so produce many it for various media channels so your patients can share it with their friends, family, and followers.
For example, you’ll videotape a consultation with a prospective patient talking about liposuction (with their permission, of course) then upload it to YouTube and Vimeo.
Break it down into small pieces and upload them to Instagram video.Use the video screenshot in your Facebook banner ads that click to the complete video with a “Click Here to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation”.
And there’s more. Transcribe the patient consultation and use it for your blog posts, articles, and press releases.. Send an email announcing it to your current patient list and add “Share this with a Friend”.
The point is to cross-purpose one piece of content to several different media channels to extend your presence online.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOOTH
Make it fun and straightforward for your patients to share you with their friends on social media.
Order a customized popup backdrop together with your logo printed thereon . Have it standing during a corner of your office near check-out.
Your patients can take pictures with you and your staff and videotape a testimonial then upload it to their Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat social media accounts.
THANK YOUR PATIENTS
Don’t take referrals without any consideration . you would like to thank your patients; however, an uneventful computer-generated form doesn’t cut it.
Patients want to be appreciated for his or her trust and acknowledged for his or her support so show them thanks.
- Have your staff call them immediately to thank them
- Send a private note from you to thank them
- Call them yourself to thank them
- Send a present of appreciation
Behavior that’s rewarded is repeated so make an enormous distribute of what proportion you appreciate their referral and more will follow.
Better yet, found out an automatic rewards program that acknowledges and because of your patients for helping you grow your practice.
The goal is to urge an entire lot more of your patients sharing you with who they know. Implement a referral program but roll in the hay with caution to remain out of trouble with the medical societies and their fee-splitting rules.
Just so you recognize , the medical boards say you can’t pay someone that encourages another person to possess a procedure . So there can’t be a tit-for-tat exchange of cash .
That’s an enormous reason I came up with the KiSS Rewards Club. Your patients get KiSSes, not money, once they refer, review and return so it keeps you out of trouble while growing your practice during a fun, organic way.
You can visit http://www.kissbogo.com for the small print .
SO TO WRAP THIS UP, HERE’S THE GOLDEN RULE REMINDER…
To grow a word-of-mouth practice, patients need to be truly happy and satisfied with their results also because the service they receive from you to brag about you to their friends and family.
Be sure every single patient features a “WOW” experience whenever they’re in touch with you, your staff, and your practice and watch your word-of-mouth referrals grow.
Since Year 2000, Catherine Maley, MBA has been a cosmetic surgery growth business and marketing consultant, author, speaker, trainer, blogger, and podcaster. Her website is forbeshints.com