As a practice owner, you have a lot on your plate. Around the holidays, even more so! But in between the ham and turkey, try carving out a little time for performance metrics, business goals, and marketing ideas. Doing so will put you in a growth mindset that’s sure to propel you and your medical practice in the year ahead.
Though the end of the year can be stressful, it’s a prime time to strategize for starting the new year strong. By examining what worked for your practice in 2023 (and what didn’t), you can feel equipped and empowered to make 2024 your best year yet.
Evaluate Successes and Growth Opportunities
At the close of the year, it’s just as important to celebrate the wins as it is to acknowledge weak spots. Metrics, data, and patient feedback help you understand your strengths and weaknesses so you can develop an informed strategy that spells success in the year ahead.
Measuring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
As data scientists Bob Filbin and Jeff Blatt told the Harvard Business Review, “There is a difference between numbers and numbers that matter.” Healthcare KPIs (key performance indicators) measure success, offer transparency, and can help drive growth, but only if you know where to look.
Monitoring efficiency-related KPIs is critical to tracking success, improving efficiency, and achieving your goals. The medical marketing experts at Practis are here to help you make sense of the data, decide what to measure, and move forward confidently in the new year.
Customer Feedback and Satisfaction
Capturing and responding to patient feedback can help you grow, transform, and improve your practice. That’s because reviews and testimonials offer invaluable insight into how you can elevate safety, raise quality of care, and boost patient satisfaction.
Customer feedback is essential for identifying new growth opportunities. If you see a pattern of negative feedback in a certain area, view it as an invitation to make a beneficial change. If you need help getting more (and better) patient reviews, Practis Reviews can develop and nurture your online reputation, bringing in more patients in the process.
Budget for Next Year’s Marketing Campaigns
One of the best ways to budget for marketing is to make a list of all the things you hope to achieve in 2024. Maybe you want to move from page 4 to page 1 on Google, overhaul your site for scalability and responsiveness, or build long-lasting relationships through engaging email marketing. Whatever your goals, Practis can help you achieve (and exceed) them in the new year.
Define Your Business Goals and Objectives
A list of clear, concise business goals will help you budget effectively, and it will let marketing experts know exactly what you want to accomplish. The SMART acronym can help you set goals for your practice that are clearly defined and attainable.
Apply the following to each goal and objective:
Specific – Make sure your goal is simple to understand and well-defined
Measurable – A good goal is quantifiable and can be broken down into smaller milestones
Achievable – To avoid discouragement and burnout, set goals that are challenging yet doable
Relevant – Goals should always align with your mission and values
Time-bound – To optimize success, your goals should have a clear starting point, deadline, and steps in between
For example, say you want to grow your practice in 2024. Rather than set the goal, “Book more clients,” try something like, “Book one new client each month of 2024.” The latter goal meets all SMART criteria, making it more powerful and achievable.
Plan Your Marketing Budget for 2024
Planning your marketing budget for the coming year can feel like a daunting task. But it’s perfectly manageable once you break it down into bite-sized pieces.
Nail down your budget using these five steps:
- Know your external costs
- Clearly define your goals
- Consider your sales funnel
- Choose which marketing strategies you want to try
- Research marketing strategy costs
Whether you want to invest in SEO, PPC, a website refresh, social media marketing, or all of the above, the experts at Practis can help. We’ll help you determine how much you want to spend on each and create a custom plan for crushing your goals in 2024. Contact us now.
Marketing Tips for Year-End Wrap-Up
As a practice owner, you know that every day counts and every season matters. December is ripe with opportunities to engage with patients and end the year on a high note, particularly through creative, holiday-themed marketing efforts.
Create Holiday-themed Promotions, Discounts, and Campaigns
‘Tis the season for special promotions and discounts! Here are some festive holiday marketing ideas to help you wrap up the year with a big, beautiful bow:
- Film a holiday greeting video for your newsletter, blog, or social media. People love videos, so this is a great way to increase engagement and add a human touch to your marketing.
- Hold a fun photo contest (cutest Baby New Year, most festive pet, etc.) and offer goods or services to the winner. Just make sure the rules and deadlines are clear!
- The holidays are expensive, so patients will appreciate gifts and special discounts on products or services – especially if they can use them in the coming year.
- Go old-school with a handwritten holiday greeting card, and include a discount or special offer for 2024. Though this requires a time investment, it goes a long way to encourage patient loyalty and satisfaction.
Planning for a Successful Year Ahead
If you need help mapping a marketing plan for 2024, Practis has you covered. Big or small, your goals matter to us, and we’ll partner with you to develop a winning strategy custom-suited to your practice’s unique needs. From PPC ad campaigns to brand-new websites to medical SEO, the skilled team at Practis is here to help you achieve more in 2024.
Subscribe to our Newsletter for updates on blogs, webinars, marketing tips and trends, and more.