Optometrists who want to grow their practices understand that word-of-mouth marketing is a great way to find new patients. Your patients likely don’t have time to research local optometry services. They may struggle to find the best options for themselves. Word-of-mouth marketing is also a great option if you don’t have a large advertising budget.
Why referral marketing is so effective
Research from the University of Sydney shows that word-of-mouth marketing is the best way to build brands and increase sales. When someone shares a product or service they love, you are likelier to buy it, especially compared to seeing ads.
This is especially true if you trust the opinion of the person you’re talking to. Word-of-mouth marketing has a high retention rate. Potential patients who hear about your business from existing customers will likely remain loyal customers.
Community Events
Patients prefer using healthcare providers who actively engage with their community. Getting involved in events related to optometry can help you connect with your community and drive word-of-mouth marketing. These connections may lead to new patients for your practice.
Participate by volunteering at fundraising events or conventions can lead to connections like these. You can also organize events like viewing parties or contests that tie into your profession.
How It’s Done
One way to decide where to start is by listing your hobbies and interests. These often serve as excellent places to find ways to engage with your community. Your next step is finding established fun events or organizations that align with your interests and the community.
For instance, consider participating in a community garden project if you like to garden. Getting to know the people who live nearby is a great way to build connections that can lead to new patients through word-of-mouth marketing.
Ophthalmologists marketing guide
Networking with current and prospective patients
Another way to use word-of-mouth marketing strategies is to connect with current and potential patients. Engage with your patients over the details of the services you provide, and the treatments they’ll receive. This helps them feel comfortable about their care and return to your practice. You can also ask patients to refer their friends to your practice.
When you make it easy for patients to share your services, you can grow your patient base through word-of-mouth marketing. This helps new patients find your practice. Some ways to achieve this include QR codes on your business cards and offering referral discounts.
This is a great way to market your services. Patients share information more frequently when it’s easy for them to do so. You can add check-in stickers to your front desk and offer patients who come in and talk to you the chance to write a review on your practice’s page.
Co-branded activities with local businesses
An effective word-of-mouth marketing plan is to partner with local businesses and host co-branded activities. One effective way of driving this kind of marketing is to sit in a nearby coffee shop and hand out fliers. You could also hand out information about your practice to people walking by.
When you choose a location, event, or show that interests your community, you help patients find you easily. You reach potential patients by hosting viewing parties and events with local small businesses. You also connect with people who can refer new patients to your practice.
Make Referal easy
Patients who want to discuss your practice should be able to direct their friends and family to you easily. Having a custom optometry website designed by professionals can be the first step. One important step is selecting a good domain name for your website.
Best Practices for Building Reputation to Get Referrals
As a healthcare professional and website guy, I know how vital word-of-mouth is for growing a practice. When your patients are excited to share their experiences, your marketing efforts are working. Referrals from people you trust hold so much weight. This is why user-generated content in the form of referrals or posts on your social platforms is so important.
Hit Local Events
Get involved with health fairs, fundraisers, conventions – anywhere you can connect with the community. Volunteer, sponsor events, and maybe even host your own contest or viewing party. This helps you build rapport with your community while raising awareness of your practice.
Talk to Patients
Your relationship with your parents is one of the most important parts of your business. Engage with them when they come in, and try to remember small details about your conversations. Good topics of conversation are how they located your practice, their optical concerns, and the services you provide. You can also let them know about any referral offers you have to encourage them to tell their friends and family about you.
Partner Up
Engaging with your community goes beyond your patients. Connect with local businesses and discuss collaboration opportunities in holding events and other community-focused activities. Offering giveaways, discounts, and other prizes is an effective method to draw people in. This kind of thin
Make it Easy
Encourage patients to share their experiences with social media posts, check-in stickers, review cards, and online review links. When people want to refer others to your practice, you must make it simple. A solid website helps, too—pick a good URL patients can easily share.
Wow Patients
Deliver exceptional eye care and great customer service – that’s the heart of a stellar rep. Take time to explain things and answer all questions.
Take the time to listen to your patients and ensure they feel heard and cared for. Train staff to provide top-notch service at every interaction. Learn more about factors that help you improve patient satisfaction here.
Build Doctor Networks
Network locally, especially with family doctors and pediatricians who can refer patients to you. Participate in community health events to connect with other providers.
Encourage Reviews
Remind your patients to share their experiences online through your website, Yelp, and social media platforms. People checking you out will heavily weigh those ratings and comments. Just a friendly nudge can get more positive reviews flowing in.
How to put your website in focus
Use Social Media
Maintaining an active, high-quality social media presence gives potential patients a window into your practice. Spread the word through this marketing channel and direct links to your landing page for maximum results. Share valuable info, updates on tech and treatments, and generally useful eye health tips. Check our social media marketing solution.
Follow Up
Follow-ups are useful for maintaining connection and building rapport with your patients. This simple effort means a lot and shows you genuinely value their well-being long after they leave your office. One important part of creating a good experience is following up in ways your patients prefer.
Dangle Discounts
Offer referral perks like discounts on future services or freebie giveaways. Even a modest incentive can motivate patients to tell all their friends about you and build customer loyalty!
These techniques are tried and true and continue producing results in the modern marketplace. One final important tip: hiring professionals to help review your long-term marketing tactics is always a good idea. These experts will find missed opportunities and develop a plan to promote your practice.
