eAppointment: Marketing Tips

Advertising Guidelines

Before embarking on any marketing campaign, refer to the Guidelines for Advertising regulated health services. The Guideline has been formulated by AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) to which the Dental Board of Australia is one of the 15 National Health Practitioner Boards, that is in partnership with the agency.

It is advised to check and correct your advertising

https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Policies-Codes-Guidelines.aspx 

Existing Patients

How are you letting patients know that they can book online?

The key to marketing is having several touchpoints to convey the message. To achieve this with existing patients consider:

• Are all your staff onboard with eAppointments? If not, seek to resolve.

• Remind patients at the end of phone calls and visits of the ability

• Send an e-mail or SMS to patients advising of the service with a link

• Place a link in Recall reminders

• Place posters and brochures throughout the practice

• Add details to the practice e-mail signature

• Add a default message on treatment plans, invoices, and receipts

Potential Patients

How are you attracting new patients to the practice?

Potential patients need to find your practice before they can use eAppointments. Therefore, eAppointments must be incorporated as part of the marketing strategies such as:

• Website

• Social media

• Advertising material

Not one strategy can be used for patients to use eAppointments, a combination may be required.

Website

Nearly every professional today has some form of web presence, and it’s very important not to be left behind. Word of mouth alone is no longer enough to create a constant influx of referrals.

Some of the benefits of having a website are:

• Showing your potential patients that you care about your practice’s growth and reputation, by keeping up with technology advances and by being where your patients are: online; this increases your practice’s credibility.

• You can introduce potential patients to information they need about your educational qualifications, dental treatments, processes and staff at your practice.

• Maintain continuous communication with your patients about changes at the practice or new product /services offered.

• Differentiation from your competitors.