Or why you should use email if you’re not already!
Do you collect your patients email addresses when they come to your office? If not, you need to start doing so right away. Ask for their address on your patient registration form when they first come in and you’ll be gathering gold. If you don’t have their address, you might ask your patients to provide it when they come in. Let them know you will be sending valuable information and even some special offers through email. You can also use their email for auto confirmation in programs like LighthousePlz.com.
Make sure that you also verify their current email address at the same time you verify the rest of their information when they check in – address, telephone, insurance changes. Joe, let me just verify your current address is still 432 Glenwood Avenue, San Francisco CA? Telephone number 867-5309, how about a cell phone; do you have one of those? Great. And Joe is Joe@isp.com still the best way to reach you online? Great. Thanks.
Once you have your patients email addresses, you can start using them to stay in touch with them. When is the last time you had an appointment with a professional and got a follow up email thanking you, reminding you what you needed to do to get most benefit out of your visit? In the case of our dental practices, you might tell people how to care for the filling you just did – what they might expect – some sensitivity for example and what best to do for the next few days. For more complicated procedures, you can provide instructions that you already have prepared. It saves paper too which many of your patients will appreciate. It’s your contribution to going green!
Sure, you may have given them post-visit instructions while they were still in the chair, but they may or may not remember what you said. Reiterating the information is a thoughtful thing to do, it will make a great impression and it will help to cement your relationship with your patients. It also helps them to take better care of themselves, always a good goal.
People will also feel cared about and cared for and that will create loyalty to your practice. You will be doing something other dental practices aren’t doing. It will impress your patients and guess what? They’ll tell all their friends and family. They’ll be bragging on the great and thoughtful care they get from their dentist.
Sure, it will take you some time, but this is your livelihood, these are the people who trust you with their care and when they receive some personal caring, they will really feel like they’ve made a great decision to have you as their dentist.
Let’s face it, we all have choices and every time a patient comes to see you, they’re choosing you again. So, make that choice positive for them by going that extra mile – it’s win-win.
Well teach you other ways to stay in touch and provide value. The internet can be a powerful ally in your practice. There is so much you can do to get new patients and keep the ones you’ve got – stay tuned for more details in articles that are coming soon. We’ve got some great new techniques to teach you to get new patients and create loyalty with your patients of record.
It’s a competitive marketplace and we’re here to help you navigate it so you can focus on what you do best: provide excellent care for your patients!
Are you using email to communicate with your patients? If so how is it working?
Thanks for stopping by. If you like this post please share it with your friends and let me know what you think below in the comment section!
Make it a great day!
Make it a Great Day!
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April 21st, 2010 at 3:11 am
Hey Jan, great post! I like the part when you say “make sure you get their email address.” That is something I constantly forget. I went so far as to put a post it on my computer as a note to myself, but forgot to address the issue. tee hee
Most of all your blogs are informative and relate to any business and the best is you give such great organizational skills. Sometimes I feel so scattered, this helps me organize myself.
thanks Jan
Donna Merrill´s last blog ..Take Action NoW! Don’t be a spectator of Online Marketing.
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April 21st, 2010 at 3:44 am
Hi Jan,
Well once again your customer service hints and tips surpass anything I’ve ever come across.
You are so right in that whilst many health care providers may send you home with instructions, it’s extremely rare to receive a follow up call.
Come to think of it, the only place I ever receive follow up calls from is my vet lol.
Michaelé
Michaelé Harrington´s last blog ..Are MLM Replicated Websites Effective At Growing Your Business?
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April 21st, 2010 at 4:46 am
Thanks, Jan. I’m going to add a follow up email to my client’s appointments – different field, but solid advice for any business. I wish my dentist did an email follow up with care tips. That would be so helpful!
Teresa Ivory´s last blog ..My Missing Gravatar
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April 21st, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Thanks Jan!
This post hits on an extremely important point…getting an email address (plus updated contact info.)to keep your clients informed and be able to thank them quickly! What a great way to keep the customer/provider relationship growing.
Take care,
Becca
Becca´s last blog ..Express Yourself!
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April 21st, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Jan,
Such simple easy steps to make life easier for all your patients. Showing the willingness to take that extra step, that WOW, for your clients will be remembered and appreciated.
Like your tips on Dentistry. You always share great info,
Val
Val Wilcox´s last blog ..How Many Rocks Are in Your Backpack?
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April 22nd, 2010 at 2:03 am
Jan:
Your advice and especially the e-mail connection with your patients, provides a lifeline of caring, latest clinic info, and just simply staying in touch with your “Patient Family” and how great is that!
These simple essentials give life to a practice!
Thanks for sharing.
Linda.
Dr Linda Douglas´s last blog ..ANTI AGING and HELP for YOUR HORMONES…
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April 23rd, 2010 at 11:53 pm
What a great post. Keeping in contact with your patients is very important.
It’s always easier to keep patients than get new ones.
Bill
Bill Hartman´s last blog ..Day 25 – Make or Break your Online Success
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April 24th, 2010 at 3:06 am
Hi Jan,
THe simplest yet most over looked step of all! It amazes me how many people blog and don’t build a list at the same time.
Thanks for the tips!
George Fourie´s last blog ..MLM Companies in Review: MLM Attorney Kevin Thompson Shares His Insight Into The Amway Class Action Case
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April 24th, 2010 at 3:42 am
Thanks for the post! Truly awesome advise, Love it ♥
Zane Carmichael´s last blog ..The Subconscious Mind: PhotoReading Intro
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April 27th, 2010 at 12:28 am
These are such great tips that every business should take note of! Creating your list, keeping it updated and then providing fresh and valuable information is the key to retention and happy customers! It is definitely easier to keep the customers you currently have happy by showing you truly care than having to constantly seek out new ones!
I know my dentist could learn a thing or two from this! Thanks again, Jan.
Beth Allen´s last blog ..How My 2 Year Old Taught Me the Value of the Platinum Rule
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May 2nd, 2010 at 5:07 am
Hey Jan!
This is in my opinion the number one bigest thing to do if you want to build a successful online business…
Every other type of marketing you do should lead back to a page designed to collect email addresses. This is your true asset online!
Thanks for spreading the word…
Justin Glover
http://justinglover.com
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May 11th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Great advice that applies to any business out there. Above all else that you learn about network marketing, collecting contact information and growing your list is probably the most important thing you can do to grow your business.
Thank you so much for reminding us, Jan!
Heather
Heather Taskovics´s last blog ..How To Promote Yourself On Facebook
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August 10th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Hey Jan: Great lesson for all people gathering contact information. It’s not just the list, it’s the relationship you build with the list. The K/L/T formula. Appreciate your sharing these tips. Thanks
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