Practical management EP 4: Online promotions

Maria Sampalis, OD, owner of Sampalis Eye Care in Cranston and Providence, Rhode Island, sat down with Optometry Times®' editor Kassi Jackson to talk all-things practice management.

Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity

Jackson:

Once you have your branding base and initial steps in place, what kind of promotions can you do online through social media through the web, etc.?

Sampalis:

There's a lot of different things you can do.

I mean, just even putting images out there on your Facebook page, you know, 20% off second pair glasses, or marketing eblasts through your own network, or Facebook posts. And even Google is a great way to add AdWords. You could pay to advertise them every time someone clicks on a you know, that you get charged for.

And it's the most effective, easy way, because patients that are looking for a doctor will search Google for a new doctor, but also check your reviews. So that's important, too.

But if you're doing a promotion, first of all, check your own local e-marketing and also want to get new patients you can also put an advertising on Google as well or facebook saying, "Hey, we're doing a second pair promotion," or "...Buy a year supply of contacts, get a discount on sunglasses," ... "We have a new product, new equipment in our office." And that has been a great way to bring patients in as well.

When I bought an OCT for my practice, I did an eblast and we had a lot of patients who were reactivated that I haven't seen in a while. Patients like to see that you're adding technology to the office because it's building better care for the patients.