How To Get More Patients: 11 Proven Ways

Running a successful healthcare practice is about more than providing quality care. You also need to market your practice to attract and retain patients.

While there are many ways to attract new patients, they are all focused on engaging with patients consistently, and making healthcare as convenient and accessible as possible. Trust is also an important consideration when it comes to healthcare practices which is why it is important to use HIPAA compliant practice management software to ensure that your practice maintains a stellar reputation.

11 Effective Ways to Get More Patients in Your Healthcare Practice

If you are looking to attract more patients, here are some effective strategies for patient acquisition and retention:

1. Optimize Your Website for Local SEO Studies have shown that 45% of users rely on information obtained online to book an appointment with a healthcare provider. To make it easier for potential patients to find your practice, you need to optimize your website for local SEO and claim your practice’s Google Business Profile.
   
   This way, you can reach more people in your area, and attract more patients to your practice. Location-specific keywords can also be used strategically on your website in long-form content to enhance your practice’s visibility.
   
   Healthcare practices with a mobile-friendly website are also more likely to get more appointment bookings, as more people are using their phones to research healthcare providers.

2. Leverage Online Reviews for Trust Building Online reviews can make or break your practice’s reputation, and are essential for attracting new patients.
   
   When a satisfied patient leaves a positive review on popular review platforms such as Google, Yelp, and Facebook, potential patients are likely to read this feedback and feel encouraged to book an appointment.
   
   In case of a negative review, it is important that you respond promptly, as it strengthens your practice’s reputation as it shows that you value patient feedback.

3. Implement Automated Appointment Reminders Automated appointment reminders reduce no-shows by engaging with patients leading up to the appointment. They also allow patients to reschedule appointments ahead of time.
   
   This way you are likely to have fewer cancellations and no-shows, leading to enhanced patient satisfaction and better utilization of practice resources.

4. Build a Strong Social Media Presence Social media is a powerful tool for businesses, and it is especially valuable for healthcare practices that rely on building trust and credibility with patients. Social media platforms can be used to share patient success stories, health and wellness tips, and behind-the-scenes footage of popular treatments and procedures.
   
   This type of content helps build a community, engage with patients and reach more patients than ever before.

5. Use Email Marketing for Patient Engagement Email marketing is a great wish to nurture your relationship with existing patients. Email newsletters can be used to share exclusive healthcare content, promotions, and implement patient recall.
   
   A personalized approach to email marketing helps retain patients by staying on top of their mind. This includes birthday messages, holiday greetings and automated follow-ups.

6. Offer Online Scheduling for Convenience Online appointment scheduling makes healthcare more accessible. The convenience of booking a dentist appointment through your phone, or rescheduling checkups with a simple click is something patients can truly appreciate.
   
   Using appointment scheduling tools such as DemandHub allows you to adopt a flexible online scheduling system. Scheduling appointments through a digital portal eliminates repetitive tasks, streamline documentation, and enhances practice efficiency.
   
   Read: 6 Benefits of Automated Scheduling for Businesses and Practices

7. Create Educational Content Patient education has been shown to positively impact health outcomes. This shows how important it is for healthcare practices to empower patients with educational resources such as articles, blogs, infographics, and video tutorials.

8. Attend Local Events and Partner with Businesses Attending local events such as health fairs and charity functions, allow healthcare providers to reach a wider audience, connect with their local community, and enhance brand visibility by collaborating with local businesses.

9. Utilize Paid Advertising for Faster Results Digital advertising boosts practice visibility through Google, Facebook and Instagram ads that are targeted to reach a specific demographic. This allows practices to engage with visitors quickly and convert more leads in the process.

10. Introduce a Loyalty or Referral Program Loyalty programs encourage satisfied customers to refer your practice to their friends and family. This is called word-of-mouth marketing, which is a great way to attract more patients and build lasting relationships with existing ones.

11. Improve Patient Communication with AI-Powered Texting Growing a healthcare practice requires leveraging tools that automate operations, and allow you to adopt a more patient centric approach to outreach.
    
    Using AI-powered messaging tools such as DemandHub make patient interactions as seamless and efficient as possible. This includes sending automating appointment reminders, following up with patients after their sessions and requesting feedback to grow your practice’s online reputation.
    
    DemandHub allows practices to improve patient engagement and attract new patients, while ensuring that your staff has time to focus on more critical tasks.
    
    To learn more about DemandHub, book a free demo today.