As the song goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season is also an excellent opportunity for healthcare providers to strengthen their relationship with existing patients as well as bring new patients into their practice. Read on to learn a few tips about attracting more patients through marketing strategies over the holiday season.
Seasons’ Greetings
Holiday greeting cards became popular in 19th century England as a way for students away at school to subtly ask their parents for holiday gifts. Since then, they’ve become a way for people to wish each other well during the holiday.
Your practice can use seasons’ greetings cards (the paper variety or e-cards) to its advantage. For e-cards, you may want to use a service such as 123greetings.com, or simply use MailChimp to craft a custom message. You may want to check our 5 Reasons You Need To Be Using MailChimp article posted earlier this year.
By sending holiday cards to your patients, you’re showing them you care. They’ll feel valued, and as a result, you’ll strengthen the relationship.
Offer Discounts or Specials
The holiday season is expensive with all of that entertaining and gift-buying. Your patients are looking to save money wherever they can.
Offering discounts or specials on services is a great tool for practice management. You’re enabling your patients to access a service some may not otherwise be able to afford. It’s an excellent way to introduce new patients to your practice, too. They’ll get a taste and hopefully come back for more! And finally, who doesn’t like a discount?
Host a Workshop on a Health-Related Topic
Another way to introduce new patients to your practice is to host a workshop on a topic related to health or your specialization. Many will welcome a free (or very low-cost) opportunity to gain knowledge.
Not sure what kind of workshop to offer? Something about healthy holiday eating or exercise tips to combat holiday weight gain are always appealing. Give it some thought and you will certainly come up with something.
Demonstrate Your Expertise
Doctors and healthcare providers have authority – when they speak, people believe them and trust them. Demonstrating your expertise on topics related to your practice is another way to attract new patients.
Here’s an example to illustrate what we’re talking about. Let’s say you’re a physiotherapist. You publish an article in a local newspaper about the top five activities that require extra care and attention over the holidays because they are the frequent cause of back injuries. That article exposes you to a broader audience, and it’s a good bet some of those people will become your patients because you’ve demonstrated authority and knowledge.
Sponsor a Local Event
The holidays are a popular time for community events. And the people who run these events are always looking for sponsors.
Sponsoring such an event has some positive effects. First, it’s advertising for your practice. Secondly, it shows you’re part of the community (which in turn proves how committed you are to your patients’ wellbeing). Finally, it puts a face to a name – you can meet potential patients in person to forge a lasting connection.
Remind Patients Their Benefits Expire Soon
For many people, the extended health benefits expire at year’s end. And when they’re gone, they’re gone.
Remind patients of that fact, and you’ll see an improvement in bookings. No one wants to miss out on benefits.
