Orthotown September 2013 - (Page 6)

wired for // success Patient Appreciation Events: The Best Marketing ROI, Hands Down! by Alan A. Curtis, DDS, MS, Editorial Director, Orthotown Magazine ▼ Want to learn other ways to obtain new patients? Search: Seven Ways to Get Referrals on Orthotown.com to read author Jay Geier’s tips on increasing referrals Photos courtesy of “Flash” Gordon Murray Photography In a day where many dental office referrals are declining, marketing to your existing patient base is becoming increasingly important. Providing value-added experiences for your existing and future patients is crucial! You need to ask: Besides providing excellent orthodontic care, what have you done for your patients to get them to talk about you and your office to their circle of influence? A memorable practice event is a great way to create buzz and social media excitement among your existing patient base. A patient appreciation event is a party where the orthodontist foots the bill for a great time targeted at your orthodontic farm. Your orthodontic farm consists of preadolescents who will need your services in a few years. They are the younger siblings and the close friends of your active patient base. First start by thinking like an eight- or nine-year-old. What are the things that they would enjoy doing? Think exciting birthday party. Great events include: laser tag, trampoline parks, ice and roller skating, private movie screenings, waterparks, beach and swimming parties. Start by choosing the event, day and time. Indoor parties are great when the weather outside is either too hot or too cold. Ice-skating when the temperature is 118 degrees in Phoenix is a great way to get people to love you! Dates around fall and spring break can be great for those who don’t head out on family vacations. Right after school gets out for the summer can be a great time to remind families that summer is “putting-braces-on time”! Once the venue has been chosen, it’s time to negotiate your fee with the theater, rink or park. Many of these venues are used for corporate events. Sell the event to the venue. It’s a win-win because it brings future paying customers to their business. Create a party page online for your attendees to go for information and registration for your event. An amazing free tool for this is EventBrite.com. At this site you set up limits to the number of patients, parents, siblings and VIP guests. It might continued on page 8 6 SEPTEMBER 2013 // orthotown.com http://www.orthotown.com/Orthotown/Article.aspx?i=249&aid=3294 http://www.EventBrite.com http://www.orthotown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown September 2013

Orthotown.com Highlights
Wired for Success: Patient Appreciation Events: The Best Marketing ROI, Hands Down!
Tribute: Dr. Vincent Kokich Tribute
Extracting Second Molars?
New Office Design
Tough Case
GORP – What’s Happening Among New Grads?
Corporate Profile: Ortho2
Get in Front with Facebook’s Graph Search
The Role of CBCT in Management of Severe Bilateral Condylar Fractures in the Growing Patient
Perspective on 3D Imaging, ALARA, i-CAT and CBCT Justification
You Should Know: Cultura Management
Office Visit :Teeth, Tech, Time and Tickets
Ad Index

Orthotown September 2013