Editor's note: This is the final article in a three-part series on New Mover Marketing. Read part I and part II for further insight.
Dentistry IQ (September 2016) – Dentists who measure the dollar value of their patients say that a single patient can be worth an average of $1,000 in the first year.1 In fact, some dental practices have told us that the value can be as high as $5,000. Whatever your estimate happens to be, the potential revenue is available from every new person who moves into your area. But how do you capture that revenue?
New Mover Marketing effectively reaches these potential customers and can be the foundation for lasting and meaningful relationships. In this article, we’ll look at the behavior of new movers and how one practice continues to benefit using new-mover marketing.
Movers in the United States
According to US Census Bureau data, nearly 40 million people move every year, comprising about 12% percent of the population.2 The reasons for moving are innumerable, but movers’ experiences are surprisingly similar. Landing in a new community can be disorienting and stressful, even if the move is for a positive reason like a new job or a marriage.
According to Fred Joyal, dentists can expect to lose 8–10% of their patients every year from normal causes, such as moving and other life changes.3 In areas with very mobile populations, this rate be can higher.
People who have moved will oftentimes wait before they put in the work to find a new dentist on their own, unless they have children or their own dental emergency. There are many reasons for this pause in treatment, but by sending them an offer to inform them that you’re close by and to welcome them to the neighborhood, you give them the tools to quickly and easily locate you and seek out your services. Seventy percent of new movers want to visit a dentist within the first six months of their move, so targeting them early ensures they see you before any of your competitors.4
Case Study
New Mover Marketing consists of mailings sent directly to people who have just moved into your community. These mailings include welcome messages and valuable offers. New Mover Marketing has been a difference-maker for many of our clients, including John Penny, DDS, of Dr. John Penny Comprehensive Family Dentistry. Since 2002, he has averaged 3–7 new patient families every month.
Dr. John Penny (St. Petersburg, FL) New Mover Gift Certificate
Dr. Penny began marketing to new movers by offering a complementary oral examination, consultation, and four x-rays to new families in his area. When he first began, the response was immediate and strong, and the effectiveness of his new mover campaign endures. Here are important reasons and more insight as to why his marketing continues to work.
• Dr. Penny uses a New Mover Marketing firm. Most New Mover Marketing firms have access to the most up-to-date and accurate mover lists. They have the resources to make campaigns effective. What could easily take several weeks to set up can be done by a new-mover marketing firm in hours, saving time and money.
• Dr. Penny offers a significant deal. This helps ensure his mailing is redeemed and that his business will come across as sincere and welcoming. Offering something of value shows that he really cares about taking the stress of moving off their shoulders.
• Dr. Penny follows up with his new mover patients. Dr. Penny doesn’t let his relationship with his customers end after they use his new mover offer. Instead, he follows up with them about their experience and continues to keep them informed about his business. He tracks the use of these coupons through customizable bar codes, and trained his point-of-sale staff to ask for customer e-mails. This can turn a first-time visitor into a repeat customer.
New Mover Marketing can be a powerful tool in your marketing toolbox. If you are looking for results like Dr. Penny’s, you should look into building your own New Mover Marketing program to reach the newest members of your community and replace the patients you’ve lost from relocating.
For more information on Our Town America, please visit www.ourtownamerica.com, complete a Contact Form, or give us a call at 800-497-8360 and mention the 'Dentistry IQ article'.
By: Michael Plummer, Jr. is the president of Our Town America. A U.S. Army veteran and Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), he has more than 15 years experience working as a senior-level franchise executive and IT professional in the direct marketing industry. For more than 40 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium welcome package.
Source: Dentistry IQ
*Resources available upon request.
Brittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations.
