Tips for Nurturing Leads from Doctor Directory ListingsYou’ve created an eye-catching doctor directory listing and have already received some inquiries about your practice and service. Now what do you do? If you don’t have a plan in place to manage your leads effectively, you could lose a potential patient to a competitor.

Knowing how to handle your leads is an important part of your online patient marketing strategy, so make sure your staff knows how to follow-up from each inquiry and bring that patient in to your practice!

Here are four important tips for handling leads from your doctor directory listing:

#1: Recognize the Type of Lead Received

Not all leads from your doctor directory listing will be prospective patients. Some may be vendors, others may be doctors looking for someone to refer their own patients too. Even when someone is not qualified for treatment, they may know someone who is. Make sure that you always deliver a high level of customer service and treat every lead with respect. Focus on building a positive relationship with each contact, instead of only trying to book an appointment or make a sale.

#2: Focus on Booking a Consultation with Prospective Patients

When a prospective patient contacts you via the email form in your doctor directory listing or through the dedicated phone number, encourage them to book a consultation rather than an appointment for the service. If you try to sell the service first, the patient may feel intimidated and pressured into booking the appointment. Offer a complimentary consultation so that you can learn more about what the patient is actually looking for, and then proceed to sell the service.

#3: Collect Contact Information at Every Opportunity

Even if a lead is just in the “shopping around” stage, they may be likely to book a consultation or service in the very near future. Make sure you collect their name, address, phone number and email address whenever possible, and ask them if you can add them to your newsletter subscriber list or other contact database. Maintaining contact with your prospects can help to put you and your practice at “top of mind” when they are ready to book an appointment.

#4: Continue to Follow Up

Maintain contact with the lead with a follow-up call, an email message or by sending an invitation to an open house or seminar during your slow seasons. Following up weeks and months after your initial contact can help to keep your patient interested when he or she starts shopping around for services again. A handwritten note or a phone call from the doctor or medical professional can add a personal touch, and may encourage the patient to book an appointment.

Contact a PracticeDock specialist to learn more about the power of directory listings on LocateADoc.com.

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