Let’s cut to the chase & talk about a dental referral system for your practice, dentists: most referral programs are…well, kind of lame. A fridge magnet and a polite “please tell your friends about us” just won’t cut it in today’s world. If you want referrals to pour in, you need a referral engine, not a suggestion box.
Inspired by John Jantsch’s The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself, we’re about to show you how to turn your practice into a referral machine. And spoiler alert: membership patients are the turbo fuel that makes it all hum. Oh, and if you haven’t met BoomCloud™ yet, buckle up—it’s the MVP of this playbook.
What Is a Referral Engine: Dental Referral System
A referral engine is a system that doesn’t just encourage referrals but makes them inevitable. It’s not about begging your patients to spread the word; it’s about creating an experience so remarkable that they can’t help but shout your name from the rooftops.
John Jantsch lays it out like this:
- Deliver an experience worth talking about.
- Create an easy and rewarding process for referrals.
- Rinse and repeat.
Sounds simple, right? That’s because it is. When you combine this concept with a membership program, you’re unstoppable.
Why Membership Patients Are Referral Gold
Let’s be real: PPO patients aren’t referring anyone. Why? Because their relationship with your office is transactional. Membership patients, on the other hand, are loyal, invested, and feel like they’re part of an exclusive club.
Here’s why they’re the perfect candidates for your referral engine:
- Loyalty: Membership patients are 2X more likely to stay with your practice.
- Higher Spend: These VIPs spend 2.5X to 5X more than PPO patients annually.
- Sense of Ownership: They’re paying monthly, so they feel like they’re part of something special—and they want their friends to join the party.
The Patient Experience: Your Referral Magnet
Want to know the secret sauce to referrals? It’s not just about asking—it’s about making your practice so unforgettable that people can’t stop talking about it.
Create WOW Moments
Think free whitening for members, same-day service upgrades, or a concierge-level experience that makes patients feel like royalty.
Make It Easy to Review and Refer
Referrals often start with a glowing review. Tools like BoomCloud™ let you send SMS follow-ups asking for reviews or referrals right after a killer appointment.
Recognize and Reward Referrers
Don’t just say “thanks” when someone sends you a referral—make a big deal out of it! Think gift cards, shoutouts on social media, or exclusive perks for top referrers.
Building Your Membership Program + Referral Engine
Here’s how to combine your membership program with a killer referral engine to create unstoppable growth.
1. Launch Your Membership Program
Membership programs bring in recurring revenue, keep patients loyal, and set the foundation for referrals. With BoomCloud™, you can set up and manage your program effortlessly.
2. Incentivize Referrals with Membership Perks
Offer a free month, service credit, or special bonus for every referral. Membership patients already love you, so give them a reason to share the love.
3. Automate the Process
BoomCloud™ makes it easy to track referrals and reward patients. Plus, with SMS outreach and website integrations, you can streamline the whole process.
4. Scale with Reviews and Word-of-Mouth
A great review is the first step to a referral. Use tools to gather and showcase reviews on Google, Yelp, or your website.
Case Study: How Valley Dental Arts Built Their Referral Engine
When Valley Dental Arts launched their membership program with BoomCloud™, they had one goal: grow their patient base while ditching their dependence on PPOs.
The Results
- 365 Active Membership Patients
- MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue): $13,140
- ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue): $157,680
- Patient Spend: Membership patients spent 3X more annually than PPO patients.
The Referral Strategy
- They created a referral campaign offering members a $20 account credit for every new patient they referred.
- BoomCloud™ automated the tracking and rewards, so the office team didn’t have to lift a finger.
- Patients started referring friends and family in droves, and Valley Dental Arts was able to grow their program sustainably.
The BoomCloud™ Edge
Here’s why BoomCloud™ is the ultimate tool for building a referral engine:
- Automated Billing and Rewards: Say goodbye to spreadsheets.
- Seamless Website Integration: Let patients sign up and refer directly from your site.
- Review and Referral Outreach: Text or email your patients with a simple ask right after an appointment.
Turn Your Practice Into a Dental Referral System
The days of begging for referrals are over. By combining a patient membership program with a killer referral engine, you can create a self-sustaining growth loop for your practice.
Start by delivering an unforgettable patient experience, incentivize your membership patients to spread the word, and let tools like BoomCloud™ do the heavy lifting. Want to see it in action? Just ask Valley Dental Arts—they turned 365 patients into a referral army and built a six-figure recurring revenue stream in the process.
Ready to build your referral engine? Let’s go!
