The Problem With “Just Run More Ads” Thinking
Here’s a dirty little industry secret:
Most optometric practice advertising is designed to make agencies rich—not optometrists.
Why? Because new patient campaigns sound sexy. “We’ll get you 50 new appointments a month!” But no one talks about the elephant in the exam room:
You’re losing patients faster than you’re gaining them.
And even the ones who stick around?
They might be worth less to your bottom line than they should be.
If your ad spend is climbing while your bank account is flat-lining, it’s time for a mindset shift. The game isn’t about more eyeballs, it’s about more value per eyeball.
How One Practice Made Advertising Work Without Spending More
Meet VisionFirst Optometry.
They were the poster child for high ad spend, low ROI:
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$4,500/month in ads
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60 new patients a month
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But still struggling with cash flow by Q3
Then their consultant brought in a simple idea:
Stop only advertising to strangers—start monetizing your patient base.
Step one? Launch a $25/month membership program powered by BoomCloud™.
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Annual eye exam included
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15%–20% off glasses & contacts
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Free adjustments & lens cleanings
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Exclusive VIP discounts on upgrades
The results after 12 months:
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MRR: $8,325
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ARR: $99,900
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Membership patient spend: 3.1x higher than non-members
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Ad spend stayed the same, but profitability doubled
Their ads didn’t change.
Their offer did.
How to Make Your Optometric Practice Advertising Actually Pay Off
If you want advertising to work long-term, you can’t just run more campaigns—you have to increase lifetime value (LTV) of each patient.
That means:
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Targeting your current patients with retention offers
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Building recurring revenue with memberships
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Tracking business metrics (MRR, ARR, ARPP) as religiously as you track your ad clicks
From “More Patients” to “More Value”
Russell Brunson calls it the funnel shift. Dan Kennedy calls it math.
Either way, here’s the “aha” moment :
If you double what each patient spends per year, you can double your revenue without spending a penny more on ads.
Memberships are the easiest lever to pull:
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Lock in loyalty
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Generate predictable income
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Encourage upsells naturally
Case Study: ClearView Eye Center
Before Membership:
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ARPP: $295/year
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Recall rate: 55%
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Monthly ad spend: $5,000
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No recurring revenue
After Membership + Strategic Advertising:
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ARPP: $780/year
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Recall rate: 88%
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MRR: $10,140
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ARR: $121,680
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Ads now aimed at selling the membership, not just appointments
Why Membership Patients Spend 2–4x More
This isn’t theory—it’s data from practices across the country:
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Retention: Membership patients return at much higher rates
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Add-ons: They’re more likely to buy higher-end frames, coatings, and second pairs
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Referrals: Happy members become free word-of-mouth advertisers
Think about it—Costco isn’t making billions because they sell bulk chicken nuggets. They’re making it because 120M+ people pay for the privilege of spending more money there.
Membership-Friendly Ad Ideas for Optometrists
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Retarget current patients with “VIP Club” Facebook & Instagram ads
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Film 30-second “why join” videos with your team & happy patients
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Send “Founding Member” email campaigns with limited spots
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Run Google Ads not for “eye exam near me” but “VisionFirst Membership”
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Promote “member-only events” (frame styling night, trunk shows, etc.)
Advertising Without a Membership Program is Like a Leaky Bucket
Harvard Business Review says:
A 5% increase in customer retention can lead to a 25–95% profit boost.
If you’re only advertising to fill the bucket with new patients, you’re missing the point. Plug the holes with a loyalty-driving membership, then pour gas (ads) on the fire.
FAQs About Optometric Practice Advertising & Memberships
Do memberships replace traditional advertising?
No—they amplify it. You’ll get better ROI because you’re not just chasing cold leads.
How do I price an optometry membership?
Most practices succeed with $20–$40/month depending on perks.
What’s MRR and ARR, and why do they matter?
MRR = Monthly Recurring Revenue. ARR = Annual Recurring Revenue. They show how stable your business really is.
Can BoomCloud™ integrate with my current ad strategy?
Yes—it’s built to work alongside your marketing to grow memberships effortlessly.
Smarter Advertising = Bigger Profits
Optometric practice advertising is powerful—but only when paired with a strategy to keep and grow each patient’s value.
A membership program:
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Boosts loyalty
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Increases revenue per patient
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Makes your ad spend 2–3x more effective
Don’t just advertise for clicks.
Advertise for long-term patient relationships and predictable profit.
Next Steps:
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Download the million-dollar membership plan ebook – Click Here
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Take The Six-Figure Patient Membership Plan Course – Click Here
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Schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™ – Click Here
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Create Your BoomCloud™ Account For FREE – Click Here
