Tips for Messaging and How to Reach Patients Better

The end of the year is just around the corner and now is the time to start thinking about how you will encourage patients to use their benefits before they lose them. Everyone is really busy come the end of the year, so some friendly reminders and encouragement about how patients can use up their benefits can be helpful in getting them to schedule an appointment. 

Here are our top tips for encouraging patients to schedule an appointment before the start of the new year.

Tips to Encourage Booking an Appointment

First, let’s go over a few helpful tips to help you communicate better with patients to encourage them to book an appointment and use their benefits.

• Make communication benefits focused and don’t try to cover more than one topic at a time.
• Use the “use it or lose it” messaging to stress urgency.
• Use a wide variety of channels to reach more of your patients; not everyone uses every platform or channel, so broadening your reach is key! We’ll have more on this below! 
• Provide a clear call to action and include your phone number or link to your online scheduling system.
• Encourage patients to schedule their next appointment before leaving your office.
• Create a waitlist of patients who are willing to come in on short notice to fill last-minute cancellations. 

Channels to Utilize to Reach Patients

Now that you have tips to encourage appointment bookings, let’s talk about the various channels you should be utilizing to reach as many patients as possible. 

1 | Send an Email Newsletter

Most of your patients are viewing their email inbox nearly every day, so sending them a newsletter specifically geared toward using benefits before the end of the year is a good bet! Keep your email short and simple with at least one eye-catching graphic. Remind your patients that the end of the year is nearing and it’s time to think about using up benefits before they lose them. Be sure to include your phone number, or better yet, a button or link to click on that will take them directly to your online scheduling system. 

2 | Post on Your Social Channels

Share posts on all of your social channels, like Instagram, Facebook, even your YouTube community tab about using benefits before the end of the year. Like your email newsletter, keep it short and sweet, and include your phone number or a link to your online scheduling system. 

3 | Use SMS Text Reminders

Many younger generations like to get reminders and updates via text messaging. If you already utilize SMS text messaging with patients, consider sending out a text message to remind people to use their benefits before they lose them. Give your number to call to book an appointment or utilize your system to allow them to respond via text to book an appointment or get a call back from your front desk staff later. 

4 | Share a Blog Post

Finally, your blog can be a great resource for patients. Consider writing up a blog on the best ways for patients to use their benefits before the end of the year. Then reference or share this blog post on your social channels or in an email newsletter. 

Key Takeaways

Taking advantage of “use it or lose it” messaging can help to fill your schedule for the end of the year. Being clear with patients and using simple, yet urgent, messaging can encourage them to schedule an appointment with your practice as soon as possible. Sharing ideas on what to use their benefits on can also encourage patients to make an appointment. Then, don’t forget to use all of your channels to spread this messaging to reach as many of your patients as possible.