Kareo and PatientPop are now Tebra. Learn more

PatientPop

Is word-of-mouth marketing the best way to attract new patients?

Though word-of-mouth marketing is valuable, it alone is not enough to attract new patients and grow your practice at a steady rate.

New patients discuss healthcare experience

When patients have a good experience with a doctor, they’re inclined to pass your name along to others. In fact, the vast majority (83 percent) of Americans have made a word-of-mouth recommendation, according to the 2018 Chatter Matters World of Mouth report.

No doubt, word-of-mouth marketing is valuable, but that alone won’t fill your waiting room with new patients. Read on to learn why this approach should only be part of your healthcare marketing mix.

4 reasons why word-of-mouth marketing is not enough to grow your practice

1. Patients still conduct online research even after being referred

A referral might help you attract new patients, but that alone probably won’t seal the deal. Nearly all patients (91 percent) always or sometimes conducts additional research after receiving a referral from a healthcare provider, according to the 2018 Patient Access Journey Report conducted by Kyruus.

If your online reputation isn’t great — or is non-existent — people probably aren’t going to take the recommendation. With so much information readily available online for other providers, it’s easy for patients to find a doctor who meets their unique needs.

The patient perspective 2019: Online reputation survey

2. There is a limit to how many people word-of-mouth marketing can reach

Online reviews and your practice website can be accessed worldwide on a 24/7 basis. Word-of-mouth marketing has a much smaller reach, as it relies on the discourse between two people.

“There’s a limit to how many people you can access through your existing patients, and even if a patient refers me to a friend, that person will look for me online,” said PatientPop customer Dr. Nicole Mermet. “No matter how good your dentistry is, or how strong your staff is, or how well you run your business, you’re invisible if you don’t have a strong online presence.”

PatientPop review: Dr. Nicole Mermet, Dentistry

3. You’re not in control of the conversation

Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of people make recommendations because of a great experience, according to the Chatter Matters report. This is a good thing, but even when patients rave about your practice, you don’t know what they’re saying.

Just because patients praise your practice, it doesn’t mean they’re speaking to an audience who requires your services. Even if they are, their recommendation might not include the information needed to convince the other person to give your practice a try. If they go online to learn more about your practice but don’t find anything, they might opt for your competition.

4. Growth can take a long time

When trying to figure out how to get new patients, growth is something you’d like to see sooner, rather than later. Unfortunately, you don’t know when referrals will be given or when recipients will need to use them.

Your practice might be referred by a patient today, but it could be months or even years before the other person actually makes an appointment. If you want to grow your practice now, this method might prove to be of little help.

Healthcare marketing assets needed to attract new patients

A steady stream of online reviews

Most (86 percent) consumers read reviews for local businesses, according to BrightLocal. Considering 78 percent trust them as much as personal recommendations, these hold serious weight.

If you’re still not sold, consider this: Consumers need to read an average of 10 online reviews before feeling like they can trust a business. Numbers don’t lie, so the link between new patients and online reviews can’t be denied.

Check out: The dos and don’ts of patient reviews for healthcare practices

Information on directory websites

Making sure your business profile is complete on popular online directories is key to attracting new patients. As your practice receives more mentions on quality sites, your online authority will strengthen. This will boost your rank on search engines like Google.  

Beyond SEO benefits, claiming your profile on these directories is crucial because it allows you to take control of the information available on your practice. This ensures crucial details — like your specialties and contact details — are correct.

Read: Why local business directories matter for healthcare marketing

An optimized, beautifully designed practice website

Nearly half (45 percent) of small businesses don’t have a website, according to a survey by CNBC and Survey Monkey. However, half of consumers visit the website of a business after reading a positive review, according to BrightLocal.

Clearly, if your practice doesn’t have a website, you’re missing out. New patients are searching for you online, but if they can’t find enough information, they’re choosing your competitors instead.

If you’re ready to grow your practice through healthcare or dental marketing, PatientPop can help. Partner with us to get all you need to attract new patients and take your practice to the next level. Find more information at patientpop.com.

Dominate your market

See how you compare to other practices in your local area and specialty.
PatientPop
PatientPop is the leader in practice growth with the only all-in-one solution that empowers healthcare providers to improve every digital touchpoint of the patient journey. As experts in the healthcare technology space, PatientPop makes it easy for providers to thrive in the consumerization of healthcare and promote their practice online, attract patients, and retain them for life.

The combined power of Kareo and PatientPop

As leaders in clinical, financial, and practice growth technology, Kareo and PatientPop have joined forces as Tebra to support the connected practice of the future and modernize every step of the patient journey.

Learn more