Referral marketingFor medical practices — from primary care, pediatric and pulmonary practices, to dental, orthodontic and Ob/Gyn practices — there’s no better source of new patients than referrals from your existing patients and from other doctors.

At Virginia Creative Group, a large part of our strategic marketing mix is aimed at maximizing those referrals!

Here are 21 ways your medical practice can harness the power of referral marketing:

  1. Birthday clubs for your patients, their siblings, and referring providers. Recognizing their birthday (especially with a gift) is a simple way to make them feel special.  
  2. 7+ clubs for orthodontists: Not time for their braces yet? They get a present anyway! 
  3. Be the donut queen or king.
  4. Harness the power of email marketing.
  5. Do a bi-monthly contest where patients can enter to win: a Furbo, a family game night, a restaurant gift certificate, an iPad. People love having the opportunity to win something great. Always have a contest happening at your front desk.
  6. Figure out your magical marketing moment. 
  7. Start a practice scholarship.
  8. Dental practices: Have a membership program.
  9. Ob/Gyns: Market in the middle.
  10. Prioritize your social media. Consistent social media helps with referral marketing because friends of patients can see them interacting with you, and your practice will become top-of-mind when they need your type of specialty.
  11. Tap into your community of influencers. 
  12. Show your gratitude, always and everywhere.
  13. Have an engaging patient rewards program to incentivize kids — whether it involves pins, a fishbowl, a treasure chest or something else.
  14. Listen to the data. This way, you’ll be nurturing referral sources who actually refer.
  15. Email marketing helps to keep your relationship with patients strong! 
  16. Ensure the real front door to your medical practice is welcoming, so when those referred folks check you out online, you’re able to seal the deal!
  17. Be remarkable, memorable and referable. 
  18. Define and implement a positive patient experience that is unique to your practice.
  19. Be mindful of your patients’ exit experience, too.
  20. Nurture all referral sources — not just one.
  21. Start the relationship with personal attention: Send a welcome video the night before their first appointment.

Want to know the 7 key elements of patient referral marketing, and how to make them work for your practice? Download our free guide: The Polite Southerner’s Guide to Referral Marketing.

For more help with your referral marketing, contact us online!