Patient Retention Marketing: Dentists Split on Mailings

Dental Practice Marketing and Existing Patients

In this survey, we asked dentists if they do a regular mailing to their patient base – and you dentists were split right down the middle! While 51% said it didn’t seem worth the effort, 49% think it pays to keep in touch. But fully 90% of dentists say they send out appointment reminders. “The best advertising is treating the patient as a guest in the office,” said one respondent.

We also asked dentists what communication methods they use to stay in touch with their patients.

1. Appointment reminders/postcards 90%
2. Regular US Postal mailings 35%
3. Email patient newsletter 31%

Geographic location also played a particularly interesting role.

Two out of three urban dentists in this survey do regular mailings.

Half of suburban dentists do.

Only one in five rural dentists reports doing so.

What else do dentists think about internal marketing?

For more insight, check out these comments!

• “It’s a complete waste of time. Patients ask not to send them any more junk mail. This is not the 1970’s.” (California dentist)
• “Dentists must offer these services and make it known to their patients that they do, otherwise patients will seek it elsewhere.” (Illinois dentist)
• “Most of the marketing that is successful in the no-growth area that I live in is distasteful to me. Internal marketing to my own patients works well and is cost-effective.” (New York prosthodontist)
• “Profitable enough, but very competitive.” (South Korea dentist)

Read the complete patient retention marketing survey results or post your own comments on this story.