When making an important decision, people turn to each other to better inform their choices. It’s a tradition as old as humanity itself, and it forms the core of referrals today. Providing friends, coworkers, family members and even strangers with a great recommendation resonates deeply with human nature. It’s like finding the best watering hole and coming back to tell the rest of the group—an act of service that people are eager to do because it gives us social credibility and puts us in good standing with our peers. In the dental industry, word-of-mouth referrals reflect the positive things your patients have to say about you. When patients have a great experience, they want to talk about it, and that enthusiasm can help grow your practice.
How to ask patients to share their experiences
- Tell patients it’s the best compliment they could give . When they have a positive experience, patients will be eager to thank you. Send them a follow-up email and tell them referrals are a great compliment. That gives them an opportunity to sing your praises that they’re sure to act on.
- Provide referral cards. Include referral cards with goody bags of toothbrushes and floss as another reminder to patients to send you a referral if they were happy with your service. Goody bags often go to use, and if patients have a great experience then that referral card may motivate them to talk about your practice.
- Offer a rewards program. People love great deals. By offering a referral program , you provide incentive for new patients to come in, and encourage existing patients to get additional treatments they need. If patients already feel good about you, then sweetening the pot may be all they need to tell their friends.
- Just ask. Most happy patients are willing to refer your business, but few do. Simply asking in-person puts you top-of-mind, and reminds them of the great services they received at your practice. And with the right insights—like information you get from Legwork NPS —you can pinpoint the patients who are ready to refer your practice.
Remember, if patients love your practice, they will want access to it in the future. That means they have a vested interest in your success, and they’ll likely provide a referral or an online review when you request one. Implementing a mixture of techniques listed above, you’ll have everything you need to get more referrals. Make your patients happy and they’ll want to tell the world!
Your Turn To Refer!
Just like we coach our clients to use our built-in referral program, we offer one too–complete with rewards! You can get started earning rewards by referring a dental colleague today.