The more new patients you see, the more your practice grows. And those who have mastered the new-patient machine will tell you that it’s good to start by thinking with the end in mind.

1. Begin by purchasing a 12-month marketing calendar at your local office supply store. These are typically 24-inch by 18-inch calendars that you can tape to a wall.

2. Next, determine how many new patients you feel you can realistically attract on a monthly basis.

3. Once you have a number in mind, write it in the bottom right corner of every month on your calendar. This represents a target that you should hit every month, and it allows you to measure and monitor your goal for success.

4. Follow this by strategizing with your team or public relations assistant for the top 10 or 12 marketing tools that work in your city.

5. Consider storyboarding all of these tools on a corkboard in your office so you can better identify those marketing tools that work best in practice.

With your storyboard list in mind, start applying one marketing tool at a time across the entire 12-month period.

For example: Place at least two to four screenings on weekends, on each month, or two to four outside “lunch and learns” at different companies or corporations.

6. Direct mail is also something that can work very well, and sending mailings every six weeks is a good frequency. It’s also recommended that you ensure that your website is user friendly and includes SEO technology, as well as metatags.

7. Another external marketing tool that is having profound impact on new patient attraction is called “Groupon.” This is an Internet-based “health pass” that perspective new patients can purchase and use in your clinic. Your cost for this is absolutely nothing and you will be profit sharing the health pass purchase with Groupon.

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