Here’s the truth: Most dental practices are sitting on a hidden treasure chest of untapped revenue—your existing patients. That’s right. You don’t need a million-dollar ad campaign or billboards across town to grow your practice. What you need is a killer internal dental marketing strategy that keeps your current patients engaged, reactivates the inactive ones, and turns uninsured patients into loyal members.
Today, we’re diving into the top internal dental marketing strategies, why patient membership plans are a game-changer, and how tools like Weave and BoomCloud™ help you crush it. Plus, we’ll share a juicy case study that shows how one practice transformed their revenue with memberships. Let’s go!
What Is Internal Dental Marketing, and Why Does It Matter?
Internal dental marketing is all about leveraging your existing patient base to grow your practice. Think of it as mining gold from the patients already sitting in your chairs instead of constantly chasing new ones.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Higher ROI: It’s cheaper to retain and engage current patients than to attract new ones.
- Built-In Trust: Existing patients already know and love your practice.
- Predictable Revenue: Happy, engaged patients = consistent income.
Top Internal Dental Marketing Strategies
Let’s break down the best strategies to engage uninsured patients, reactivate inactive ones, and boost revenue like a boss.
1. Offer a Patient Membership Plan
Uninsured patients are your practice’s secret weapon—if you know how to market to them. Enter the patient membership plan, a subscription-based model that gives patients access to routine care and discounts without the insurance circus.
Why Membership Plans Work
- Affordability: Patients love predictable costs.
- Loyalty: Membership patients are 3x more likely to return for regular care.
- Revenue: Membership plans create recurring income with less hassle than PPOs.
Example: A $30/month membership plan with 100 members brings in $3,000 in predictable monthly revenue. That’s your Netflix-style dental subscription dream!
2. Reactivate Inactive Patients
You know the ones—the patients who haven’t been in for years but are still sitting in your database like lost treasure. Here’s how to bring them back:
Step 1: Analyze Your Database
Use your practice management software (and BoomCloud™) to identify inactive patients and flag them for reactivation campaigns.
Step 2: Craft a Membership Pitch
Offer inactive patients an incentive to re-engage, like a discount on your membership plan or a free cleaning with sign-up.
Step 3: Use Weave to Communicate
Weave’s text, email, and phone capabilities make it easy to reach out:
- Text: “Hey [Patient’s Name], we miss you! Join our membership plan today for affordable care and big savings.”
- Email: Send personalized messages with clear calls to action.
- Phone: Follow up with a friendly reminder—sometimes, a personal touch is all it takes.
3. Leverage Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Your happy patients are your best marketers. Encourage them to spread the word about your membership plan with these tactics:
- Referral Contests: Reward patients who refer friends with gift cards, discounts, or even free whitening treatments.
- Social Media Shoutouts: Share member testimonials (with their permission) on your social channels.
- Ask for Reviews: Membership patients are more likely to leave glowing reviews—don’t be afraid to ask!
4. Promote Membership Plans In-Office
Don’t let your membership plan be a secret. Make it front and center in your practice with:
- Flyers and posters in the waiting room.
- Scripts for your team to mention the plan during checkouts.
- QR codes patients can scan to sign up on the spot.
Case Study: How BoomCloud™ Memberships Boosted MRR and ARR
Let’s look at how one dental practice used BoomCloud™ to turn their membership plan into a revenue-generating machine.
The Practice: Sunshine Smiles Dental
Located in Denver, Colorado, Sunshine Smiles Dental was struggling with inactive patients and a growing number of uninsured ones.
The Goals
- Create predictable revenue with a membership plan.
- Reactivate 200 inactive patients.
- Boost patient spend and case acceptance.
The Solution: BoomCloud™ Membership Plan
They launched a $35/month membership plan with benefits like:
- Two free cleanings per year.
- 20% off additional treatments.
- Exclusive access to promotions.
The Results
1. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR): $14,000
With 400 active members, the practice locked in $14,000/month in predictable revenue.
2. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): $168,000
Over a year, that steady income added up to $168,000—before accounting for additional treatment revenue.
3. Average Member Spend: $2,500/Year
Membership patients spent 2.5x more on treatments like whitening, crowns, and Invisalign compared to non-members.
4. Reactivated Patients: 150+
Their targeted campaigns (powered by Weave and BoomCloud™) brought 150 inactive patients back into the fold.
Why BoomCloud™ Is the Ultimate Membership Tool
If you’re serious about internal marketing, BoomCloud™ is your secret weapon. Here’s how it helps:
1. Automates Billing and Renewals
Say goodbye to chasing payments. BoomCloud™ handles billing so you can focus on patient care.
2. Tracks Membership Metrics
Get real-time insights into your MRR, ARR, and member activity so you always know how your plan is performing.
3. Integrates Seamlessly
BoomCloud™ connects with your website and practice management software to simplify sign-ups and track inactive patients.
4. Marketing Support
From email templates to in-office flyers, BoomCloud™ gives you everything you need to promote your plan.
5. Boosts Patient Loyalty
Members aren’t just patients—they’re fans. BoomCloud™ helps you build long-term relationships that drive revenue and referrals.
FAQs About Internal Dental Marketing
How do membership plans help with internal marketing?
Membership plans make patients feel valued and committed, encouraging loyalty and referrals while generating predictable revenue.
Can BoomCloud™ work with my current software?
Yes! BoomCloud™ integrates with most practice management systems for seamless tracking and automation.
How do I get inactive patients to sign up for a membership plan?
Use personalized communication (text, email, phone) to explain the benefits and offer a limited-time incentive to sign up.
What kind of ROI can I expect from a membership plan?
Practices using BoomCloud™ often see a 10x ROI through higher retention, increased spend, and predictable revenue.
Conclusion: Make Internal Marketing Your Superpower
Your existing patients are a goldmine of opportunities—if you know how to engage them. With smart internal dental marketing strategies like membership plans, you can reactivate inactive patients, keep uninsured ones engaged, and turn your practice into a retention powerhouse.
And with tools like Weave and BoomCloud™, you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s automated billing, reactivation campaigns, or real-time metrics, these tools make it easy to grow your revenue and build lasting patient relationships.
So, what are you waiting for? Start mining that goldmine, launch your membership plan, and watch your practice thrive. Because the best patients aren’t just the ones who walk through the door—they’re the ones who stay.