Market to the Aesthetic Patients Who Already Know You

You always want to target your messages to your own database first. They are your low-hanging fruit since they already know you, they like you and, hopefully, they trust you. They are also more apt to respond to your marketing efforts since they are familiar with you and your practice. Incorporate these following efforts into your yearly marketing plan:

In-House Signage
Be sure every single patient who walks through your door knows every single procedure, treatment and product you offer. Have you ever heard, “If I had known you did that, I wouldn’t have gone somewhere else”? Display a menu of your services and products, beautifully designed and framed, in each exam room as well as the reception area.

In-House Seminars
Market your practice through education. Today’s aesthetic consumer is flooded with information on the latest and greatest cosmetic procedures available. It’s not necessarily the best but it is new and news so helping your patient decipher what’s hot and what’s not helps to build your credibility.

Newsletter
Again, give your patients what they want – information and a reason to call you. Explain what’s new in your practice. Introduce a new staff member, a new procedure, whatever. Then attach a time-limited special offer so they call now rather than wait.

Email Marketing
Email marketing is the cheapest form of advertising today and it’s fast. Be sure you are collecting email messages from your patients and getting their permission to receive email messages from your practice. And, be sure the message is short, newsy and contains a very special Web offer. You also want to include a “Send to a Friend” link to help spread your word-of-mouth referrals.

Open House
Work with your vendors to help you promote their products and services, as well as offset your costs of having an Open House. Let the vendors talk directly with your patients, serve refreshments, invite the neighborhood salons and spas and make it an event of fun and education.

Refer-a-Friend Program
Developing a program for your patients to refer their friends and family is always a good idea. If they like you and get a good result, they will tell people. Give them their before and after photos to show their friends, send a thank you note when they refer someone, give them a personal call and invite them in for complimentary services when they refer often. They are your advocates and should be shown appreciation and encouragement for continuing to refer to you.

VIP Cards
It is very competitive in the world of cosmetic enhancement. So, even though your patient may love you, they may be enticed to try another office that is offering an attractive discounted price on the minimally invasive procedures they regularly get from your office. You can avoid much of the “straying” if your patient feels like they are getting a “break” for staying loyal to you. Talk to your vendors since they can help you with VIP cards and offers.

Special Mailings
There are specific times of the year when we want to look especially good. Those are birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, the Holidays, Summer, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc. Timing is important. Develop an eye-catching, colorful postcard with a limited-time, special offer that goes to your patients throughout the year.

Conclusion

If you consistently communicate with your patients, and treat them well, they will feel like family and continue to see you for all of their cosmetic enhancement needs. I assure you, if you don’t keep your patients informed and happy, your competitors will. Once you have the patient in your office - keep them. It’s so much cheaper than constantly pooling for new ones.

Need Help with the creative part? Click here: http://www.cosmeticimagemarketing.com/attract_aesthetic-patients.php

How To Differentiate from Other Aesthetic Physicians

How do you set yourself apart from every other health care practitioner who provides aesthetic services? There are many ways - read on....

Tell Your Aesthetic Patients Who You Are

The more personality you build into your messaging, the more aesthetic patients will gravitate towards you because they feel as if they know you. Isn't that true in your own life? What emotions go through when you get a simple letter vs. a letter with someone's photograph vs. a video of them speaking and a report they wrote, etc.? Isn't it true the more senses they stimulate, the more comfortable you are feeling as if you understand them and what they value?

Now more than ever, you need to do whatever you can to connect with prospective patients and stay connected with current patients to reaffirm why you are the best choice for them. That means you need to build personality into your materials. Here are some ideas:

- Add your photograph to your materials and be sure it's updated and you are smiling warmly;

- Produce a simple video of you being interviewed and talking about your values and interests in serving your patients;

- Include staff photos as well as your office on your website so prospective patients feel as if they know you before you even meet;

- Show presentations with you speaking and hand out the presentation slides so patients know you are the authority.

So much of effective marketing is perception. And, your patients' perception of you is your reality so be sure your image portrays who you really are.

Many more concrete ideas are laid out in the How To: Series Inner Circle Club at www.AestheticProfits.com.