How do we improve patient retention
Did you know that it will cost your clinic 25x more to attract a new patient than it would to retain an existing one?
Many practices we work with focus heavily on new-patient numbers, which we understand, but the lifetime value of a single patient will make you more money in the long run. We can help you attain both.
Key Takeaways
We help you grow a loyal patient base by improving the systems and touchpoints that keep patients coming back (and referring friends).
We focus on simple retention wins first: streamlined online booking, clear pricing/payment options, and a more personal experience that builds trust.
We set up automated recalls and reminders (email/SMS) to reduce no-shows and increase re-appointments.
We run loyalty and referral campaigns and keep you top of mind with useful content (not spam).
We track the numbers that matter— such as reappointment rate, no-show rate, time between visits, and patient lifetime value—and use them to guide the roadmap.
Discover our proven strategies to boost retention
Keep patients coming back
Any dental marketing strategy needs to include an approach to maximise the lifetime value of a patient. Loyal patients are more likely to accept recommended treatments over time, which will boost revenue organically without investing heavily into marketing costs.
When dental patients feel valued, supported, connected and cared for, they stay longer and invest more in their oral health and dental care.
Even better, satisfied patients of your practice become strong referral sources themselves, especially if you give them an incentive to recommend you to their friends and families.
Patient retention is not just a safety net that drives business growth. The bold reality is that it’s the foundation of sustainable practice growth.
So, with the right systems in place like smart online booking, personal touches, automated communication, deals and offers and consistent follow-up, retention can become exponentially more profitable than acquisition.
Book a free patient retention strategy call today with our agency – we’ll audit your current patient journey, compare it to your competitors, highlight the easiest and biggest opportunities and deliver and execute a practice growth roadmap to keep new patients coming through the door and your best patients coming back.
Simple tips you can do before we start
Easy online systems
Streamline bookings
If you offer limited appointment booking options, it will be reflected in retention numbers. A clear, well-designed online booking system with all the options is ideal for patients who prefer not to call or email.
Communicate prices
Offer payment options
Financial stress drives attrition. Avoid this by being the practice that provides flexible payment plans, third-party financing for bigger treatments and transparent fees – both online and offline.
Deliver a personal experiene
Remember them
A dentist who remembers your name, your problems, and your case history goes a long way to build a connection. Simple touches can greatly improve loyalty.
Reward their loyalty
Communicate a lot
Don’t just spam them with emails; give them a reason to open your emails. They don’t want to be sent blog posts and practice news; they need incentives and offers to return and recommend you to their friends.
Our involvement in all of this
Exactly how we can help
- Build retention-focused websites designed to make re-bookings seamless.
- Automated emails and SMS reminders to recall patients and reduce no-shows.
- Branded loyalty and referral campaigns to encourage repeat bookings.
- Content marketing, like blogs and newsletters to keep you top of mind.
- Local SEO so patients looking for urgent care find you first.
Monitoring your metrics is essential to improving performance. Key performance indicators in this area can be re-appointment rate, no-show rate, days between visits and patient lifetime values.
Calculate it yourself:
[(Active patients at end – New patients) ÷ Patients at start] x 100
