dental practice Archives - Launch Loyalty Blog

Get active! Reuniting with inactive patients

by Lindsey Matula | Jun 14, 2023 | Dental Practice How-To Tips

Everybody knows that good oral health comes from three regular routines: brushing, flossing and scheduling a dental cleaning every six months. While many people brush and floss daily, how many patients really stick to the last, and arguably the most important, step of the routine? It is important for your practice to identify, engage and reactivate your inactive patients to keep them from falling through the cracks.

Active VS. Inactive Patients

A regular, routine patient is a healthy patient. These patients stick to the biannual rule of thumb, or at least make it to a yearly well check. Inactive patients are those who haven’t been to their provider in at least two years, according to the American Dental Association. This is bad for the patients’ health, but your organization can suffer too if too many patients don’t come back regularly. Provider Tech has reported that the average lifetime value of a patient is between $12,000 and $15,000, so even a single patient is an asset to your organization.

How to engage with inactive patients

It is important to understand that a patient’s decision to discontinue their time with your practice probably has nothing to do with you. Patients are prone to drift away or move on for a variety of reasons. However, there are certain strategies to apply to keep them and win them back.

Keep it personal

Communication is key. Not only should you be in touch with your patients between their visits, but extending quality communication is a crucial reminder of why they choose you and your practice in the first place. Reaching out to inactive patients with a personalized message to show them that they are more than just a number in your database could be the first step in their return. Refreshing their memory about their treatment goal could also be a good strategic opportunity to remind them of why they started receiving your care.

Remember that they’re not unreachable

It’s common practice to delete inactive users from your database when they’ve been MIA, but this doesn’t mean they’re a lost cause. Many dental offices have seen great advantage to building a system, often automated, that keeps in touch with inactive patients and keeps them in the loop about their practices.

Consider offering loyalty programs

Everyone loves a good deal. Dental discount plans have been increasing in popularity as they are designed to provide savings on a variety of dental services and treatments. Offering this membership-based program is likely to spark the interest of active and inactive patients alike, as they can typically save anywhere from 10-60 percent on dental care. Membership plans have proven to increase treatment plan acceptance, revenue and patient loyalty.

Interested in how dental discount plans can help your practice’s patient retention? Launch Loyalty is prepared to help create a custom, in-house plan that will keep them committed to you.

Creating A Positive Work Culture During A Pandemic

by Haley Schumacher | Dec 16, 2020 | Dental Practice How-To Tips

As dentists and their teams have returned to their practices over the last few months, many are noticing how difficult it can be to navigate the challenges COVID-19 has presented. Working in this new environment may cause staff to become anxious, confused or fearful. These are to be expected. However, you shouldn’t let these challenges take over your practice. Here are a few ways you can set the tone for a positive work culture and keep your team happy and healthy:

Open Communication

One of the most important and easiest things you can do is be thoroughly open and honest with your staff. Always provide as much detail as possible when it comes to explaining new protocols and procedures. After all, you want your employees to feel safe, comfortable and confident when it comes to working in the office.

Keep Employees Updated

Let your staff know you are protecting their health and being proactive by staying updated on the latest polices and protocols. During this time of uncertainty, COVID-19 developments are constantly changing. Do your research and keep your office updated by turning to trustworthy sources such as the CDC or the ADA.

Be Positive

Of course, these unprecedented times can be very overwhelming. Let your staff know you are here for them by creating a positive, empathetic work atmosphere. Begin by checking in with your staff more often and encourage open dialogue. Let them know their opinions are valuable. You can also encourage staff members to submit their concerns anonymously. Overall, make sure your staff knows they have a safe place to express their concerns. Doing so will not only show you are listening but may also determine the best way for you to help them.

Hire Outside Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! By doing so, you can prevent your team from burnouts or becoming overwhelmed. Thankfully, Launch Loyalty has you covered. We are your full-service partner, providing compliant, in-house membership plans built to increase treatment acceptance and improve patient loyalty. We’ll be with you every step of the way as we help create and manage your successful in-house plan designed to fit your practice and your patients’ needs. If you want to learn more about Launch Loyalty and the services we offer, visit our website.

As a practice owner, strive every day to consider these tips and help promote a positive culture to keep team members productive, motivated and healthy. After all, happy employees will help your dental office thrive! From everyone at Launch Loyalty, we wish you and your staff the best.

How to Build Effective Social Media Profiles for Your Practice

by Clarise DeGuzman | Jul 30, 2018 | Dental Marketing, Dental Practice How-To Tips

In today’s world, almost 68% of American adults use Facebook, and 75% of those use the platform daily. This creates an easy option for marketing your dental practice or business on social media.

In fact, more and more businesses today are shifting toward a digital means of communication with their dental patients; you don’t want to be left behind!

The various forms of social media are only effective if used correctly, which can be trickier to handle. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind next time you craft your content on Instagram or Facebook.
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7 Reasons Dental Marketing on Social Media Is Important for Your Practice

by Natasha Gayle | Sep 28, 2017 | Dental Marketing

As a dentist, do you spend any of your spare time on social media? Odds are, you do. Most people spend at least some time on social media, which means your patients are probably spending time there, too.

Personally, I’m most familiar with these social media giants: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest, but there are many others—some of which are even more popular among certain groups than the ones I listed here.

I won’t talk much about the specific social media networks in this post, but I will address why it’s so important as a dental practice to be present on social media, and I’ll offer some tips for expanding your brand name online—with whichever social media network(s) you choose.
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