For many people, there are two times during the year that trigger them to think about healthy pets.
The first is New Year’s, which makes sense because many people are trying to follow through on their resolutions.
The second is more surprising: back-to-school time.
As families trade flip-flops and family vacations for carpools, school lunches, and packed calendars, they begin settling back into regular routine, including taking care of their pets.
Late summer and early fall are therefore a great time to launch an easy-to-implement marketing campaign for patients who have missed a recall appointment or are still deciding whether to accept a treatment plan.
Many of my clients have had success with this type of campaign. The work can be delegated to your front desk team, costs little, and can produce a strong return on the time invested.
Step 1: Build Your List
Search your practice management or scheduling software for inactive patients, usually defined as patients who have not been seen in the past 12 to 18 months.
You can also add patients who have not accepted recommended treatment plans to the list.
Step 2: Reach Out
Send a letter, email, or text encouraging each patient to schedule an appointment. Keep the communication encouraging and authentic and include a clear call to action. For example: “Call today to reserve your appointment before our fall schedule fills up.”
Step 3: Clean Up the List
Ask your front desk team to remove patients who have moved, transferred to another practice, or no longer need services. Keeping the list current will make future marketing campaigns easier and more effective.
The Goal
The goal is to add cases to your September and October schedules and turn a good autumn into a great one.
Many practices already have a significant opportunity within their existing patient database. Because these patients already know and trust the practice, they may be more likely to schedule an appointment and accept recommended treatment than someone who is hearing about the practice for the first time.