By Kara Masterson
When you are a dentist, it is important to build a relationship with your customers. Providing excellent care will go a long way towards making your customers feel appreciated. By building a solid relationship with your patients you can really help build trust and loyalty. This is definitely essential when it comes to making your patients feel safe and comfortable in your office. Here are just a few tips to help build this relationships with your patients and let them know you really care.
Never Act Rushed
This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when taking care of a patient. You never want a patient to leave feeling like their needs were not met because your office was too busy for them. Make sure each appointment is schedule with adequate time so your patients feel like you are actually dedicated to making sure they get the best care.
Use a Membership Plan
Any sort of opportunity to provide perks for longstanding members creates a lot of loyalty for your practice. Even small discounts or preference when scheduling appoints goes a long way towards generating patient appreciation for your office.
Remember Individual Conversations
Patients really appreciate knowing that you remember them and remember speaking with them before. For example, you can ask them how training their new puppy is going or ask if their family vacation went well. If you have a bad memory, it can be beneficial to keep a brief description of a key conversational item in your patient’s files.
Provide a Personal Touch to Gifts
Whether you just provide basic cleanings or offer a variety of services like Waterford Dental, your office probably provides patients with small treats like toothbrushes, toothpaste samples, floss, and orthodontic wax. Instead of just having your patient grab something from a bin on their way out, try filling a little gift bag with individual items and hand it to your patient. This personal connection will make it seem less businesslike and much friendlier.
Interact Through Social Media
In modern times, many people like to interact with their favorite businesses through social media. If a patient leaves a good review on Facebook, make sure to thank them. If you can, try using sweepstakes or contests to generate some more interest in your business’s social media pages.
If you follow these tips, your patients will definitely feel far more appreciated. Remembering patients and taking the time to talk with them instead of rushing them will help your dentist’s office to feel warm and welcoming. It does not take much effort or extra time, and it makes a big difference in what patients think of you.
About the Author
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.