7 Ways to Get More Patients to Your Clinic Without Breaking the Bank

While healthcare is a noble profession, it still requires financial backing and profits to thrive. One of the surest ways to ensure that you increase your practice's revenue is to get more patients to the clinic. Word-of-mouth and goodwill will get more patients to your clinic, but the progress will be gradual. Exponential and accelerated growth requires marketing. But this can be an expensive venture, making a sizable dent in your budget.

However, you can also get more patients by optimizing certain standard avenues of your practice. To help you, here are seven simple ways to get more patients to your clinic.

Study and understand your target audience 

Know and understand your demographic before deciding on a marketing strategy. Categorize your current patients based on age, profession, gender, and location. Understand the typical reason why they choose you. You can conduct a simple survey to help you know the primary advantages of your practice. This will help you distinguish your target audience with use.

Establish a digital and social media presence 

In a world where everyone is engrossed with a screen, not having an online presence can be detrimental. A study suggests that online presence improves a health practitioner's visibility [1]. In another study, 81% of consumers said that a health practitioner's social media presence is indicative of their quality of service [2]. So, be active on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. On these platforms, you can publish simple and engaging health content that is educational in nature. This may include short blogs or self-care tips and helps you create awareness among people and improves your clinic's online presence too.

Another critical aspect that can improve your bottom line is to offer teleconsultation. This works better when it is linked to a website where you can track appointments and maintain a patient log. However,  

hosting and designing a website like this may be complicated and cause a dent your budget. Instead, you can host your digital practice on the Bajaj Finserv Health Practice Management Platform free of cost. Using this platform, you can offer teleconsultation to patients globally via video, text, or phone call. This is one sure-fire way to get more patients to the clinic, that is, your online clinic!

Encourage online reviews and feedbacks 

Patients read at least ten reviews before trusting a business [3]. Therefore, you must encourage existing patients to provide feedback and write online reviews about your clinic. You can promote this practice among your patients using a multitude of ways. You can simply request them to do so by sending out an automated SMS asking for feedback once they leave the clinic. Alternatively, you can go the old-fashioned way and install a suggestion box at the clinic with a note that these reviews may be published online.

Create an incentivizing referral program 

An online presence will help you reach new potential patients. However, optimizing an in-house patient referral program can help you capitalize on the existing trust and relationships you enjoy. Encourage your patients to share their experiences with their friends. Get them to follow you on your social media platform and share your content. Alternatively, you can run short commercials in the waiting area, highlighting the healthcare services you provide. Most importantly, you can offer patients discounts on successful referrals. These practices will surely get more patients to the clinic.

Optimize your practice using the latest technology 

Being tech-savvy is essential in today's digital world, especially to penetrate the younger audience base. So, implement technology and digitize parts of your practice to ensure patient comfort. Most of these updates are free of cost if you use a practice management platform. For instance, you can share prescriptions and lab test results with patients via email or WhatsApp. This enhances patient comfort and saves them the hassle of visiting you in person.

Use email marketing to stay in touch 

Though one of the oldest wonders of the internet, email marketing is still as effective now as it was a decade ago. Plus, it is free of cost – to a certain limit. You can send emails to patients regularly, mentioning promotional offers and perks of your referral program. But that’s not all! You can also use email marketing to remind patients of appointment times and dates or give general updates about healthcare related to your area of expertise.

Built a deep connection with your existing patients 

While new patients are good for the growth of your practice, do not forget your existing patients. Engage and nurture your relationship with existing patients to retain them. Routinely follow up with your patients and be easily accessible as well. This is cost-effective and will increase referrals.

Every year, review and revise your marketing strategy to attract new patients and expand your reach. Moreover, focus on optimizing your online presence, especially during the pandemic, to increase your patient base. Marketing is an essential aspect of your practice. Focusing on it can help you grow your practice by leaps and bounds today!