Your patients are aging, their children are moving away, and you no longer have a guaranteed new patient inflow. You know your most valuable patient is your longest active patient: You’ve provided quality care over time, they’ve brought their family and friends in, and you’ve spent much less marketing dollars retaining them versus gaining a new patient. So how do you make one of those? You have to grow them, and that means reevaluating some critical aspects of your practice. Now, normally I’d just stick to digital marketing, but without addressing some of the big topics, there will be some very real barriers to any marketing campaign, online or offline. So let’s dig in to what foundation needs to be built to attract new, younger patients to your practice.
As any seasoned advertising professional can attest to, it’s important to understand the unique needs and preferences of the target demographic in order to effectively attract new patients to a family dentist. In this case, let’s talk about Gen Z, which is the generation born between 1997 and 2012. In order to attract Gen Z new patients to a family dentist, there are several key strategies that can be implemented, including interior design, technology used for dental care, right down to the types of free dental hygiene products. Let’s dig in to some of the larger “sandbags” to shore up and grow stalled and declining practices.
Interior Design
Interior design is an important aspect of attracting Gen Z new patients to a family dentist. They are known for valuing aesthetics and comfort, and are more likely to be drawn to a practice that has a modern and trendy design. To appeal to Gen Z, consider incorporating elements such as natural light, neutral colours, and natural materials, as well as modern and minimalist furniture. Donate those cracked, puffy leather chairs! Additionally, consider incorporating technology such as digital screens, which can be used to display educational content or entertainment during appointments.
Technology Used for Dental Care
Another key strategy for attracting Gen Z new patients to a family dentist is to incorporate technology into the practice. This generation is highly tech-savvy, and they are more likely to be drawn to a practice that uses cutting-edge technology for dental care. Consider investing in digital x-rays, laser dentistry, and other advanced technology that can provide more efficient, precise, and comfortable care. Additionally, consider incorporating technology such as virtual reality, which can be used to simulate dental procedures and help patients better understand and prepare for treatment.
Types of Free Dental Hygiene Products
Finally, consider offering upmarket, well-curated free dental hygiene products to attract Gen Z new patients to a family dentist. Gen Z is highly health-conscious, and they are more likely to be drawn to a dentist that offers products which support their overall health and well-being. Consider offering products such as:
- electric toothbrushes
- water flossers
- interdental cleaning aids
- natural and organic, potentially locally made or sourced toothpastes and mouthwashes
Additionally, consider offering digital educational materials, such as email brochures or videos, that provide information on how to properly use these products for optimal oral health.
Shore up stalled or declining clientele
In conclusion, sometimes bigger changes need to be made to reverse stalled or declining practice growth. Listed above are several key strategies that can be implemented to attract Gen Z new patients to a family dentist. These include:
- incorporating modern and trendy interior design,
- incorporating technology into the practice, and
- offering upmarket, bespoke and well-curated free dental hygiene products.
By understanding the unique needs and preferences of this generation and executing these strategies, a family dentist can effectively attract and retain Gen Z patients.
1 thought on “Part one: Practice growth has stalled or is declining…. Now what?”
Comments are closed.