Everyone needs time away, especially hard-working healthcare providers. But trust is earned incrementally in our professions, and it only takes a single misstep to erode the capital we\u2019ve built. Dental emergencies don\u2019t always pause for the holidays. And when pain strikes, nothing else matters much to patients. They need help, and we\u2019re the first place that comes to mind.\u00a0Sometimes patients don\u2019t need immediate treatment, but they\u2019re looking for information. A generic \u201cstore will be closed\u201d message or lack of clarity reflects negatively on our brand. Clear, patient-centric messaging resonates through everything we do, post, and record.\u00a0We\u2019ve built strategies to help our brands shine when the doors are open. As a result, our patients enjoy exceptional experiences. But the same intention needs to go into preparing for inquiries after hours. Have you ever closed the office for a week without thinking about the calls, website visits, and social media surfing that occur while we\u2019re gone? It happens more than we\u2019d like to admit, and we wind up disconnected from our patients.\u00a0A patient-centric message about closing during the holiday season makes an impact in the moment, but it has a cumulative effect that extends beyond the call. Attention to detail separates the good from the great in every industry. A simple strategic adjustment helps:<\/p>\n
When we take care of people, they take care of us. People know when they\u2019re valued, and our practices are more vital when there\u2019s no doubt we\u2019re there for them. A reputation for excellence takes nurturing every month of the year.<\/p>\n
People are more likely to stop and leave a review when we\u2019re their hero, and helping distressed patients is heroic. An automated text or email request from a system like\u00a0LEGWORK REVIEWS\u00a0<\/a><\/span>makes it simple for a satisfied patient to leave a glowing review any hour of the day.<\/p>\n When a new patient needs help, and they find it at our office, we\u2019re likely to see them again. Include first-time visitors in\u00a0EMAIL CAMPAIGNS\u00a0<\/a><\/span>to reinforce your relationship.<\/p>\n In previous decades, should patients need a dentist during the holidays, they would open the Yellow Pages and call the office. After hours, they\u2019d often get an answering machine and leave a message. Today, patients use a multi-media approach to gather information and find resources. When preparing for the holidays, we should implement these six essential components for a business holiday plan with patient-centric messaging:<\/p>\n The time spent on platforms like Facebook and Instagram continues to climb. The average person devotes\u00a0145 MINUTES DAILY\u00a0<\/a><\/span>, much of it on mobile devices. If you\u2019ve developed a consistent\u00a0SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY\u00a0<\/a><\/span>, followers expect to hear from you. Create a post that lets people know what\u2019s happening during the holidays, and customize the message to fit your practice and resources.<\/p>\n LEGWORK WEBSITES\u00a0<\/a><\/span>include many integrated features. We\u2019ve added a temporary pop-up window on the top of our homepage for the holidays with information about the office closure and ways patients can get help. At a minimum, a simple message added to the site where it\u2019s visible provides patients with precise information such as when you\u2019ll return to the office and how to email access you.<\/p>\n Consider sending an upbeat holiday email to your active patient database. With just a few clicks in Legwork software, your patients receive a custom message that offers an update on office closures and how quickly they can expect their emails will be answered during your time away. In our practice, we\u2019ve made patients aware of virtual visit options in case we\u2019re out of town and don\u2019t have specific coverage. A holiday email offers another way to connect with patients and encourage them to take other actions, including preventive visits in the new year.<\/p>\n As patients move through the office during December, make a brief holiday wish part of the check-out process. Let them know if you\u2019ll be closed, and share any contact information that could be helpful. You could add a simple notice on the counter, statements, or recall reminders.<\/p>\n In our digital world, Christmas cards, postcards, and letters delivered physically to our patients\u2019 doors stand out! Your holiday card message is a great space to thank your patients for their loyalty and notify them of your holiday hours. Feel free to include a cheerful greeting that fits your brand and audience, whether that\u2019s \u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d \u201cHappy New Year,\u201d or \u201cEnjoy The Holidays!\u201d<\/p>\n A thoughtful, informative phone message is a no-brainer, but make sure it\u2019s customized with specifics. Better yet, use this time of year to modernize your phone system. Moving to VoIP opens up exciting features, and\u00a0LEGWORK PHONES\u00a0<\/a><\/span>takes the functionality to the next level.<\/p>\n Customize your call flow with an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop editor that can be updated anytime. You simply outline how an incoming phone call gets handled by choosing from a list of operations, then drag them onto the dial plan. Click \u201csave,\u201d and your changes are set for the holidays.<\/p>\n Consider how it may work should a patient call on a holiday when you\u2019re closed all day: the patient hears a welcome message. If they have an emergency, they choose \u201c1.\u201d If they need payment information, they choose \u201c2.\u201d If they need to leave a message about an appointment, \u201cthey choose \u201c3\u201d. If they\u2019re on hold, they\u2019ll hear holiday music in the background. The options are endless. You can set emergency calls for automatic forwarding to another number, too. Sometimes, patients just need reassurance with a phone call or virtual visit.<\/p>\n The main aim of using an \u201coffice closed for the holidays\u201d template is to keep it simple, specific, and helpful. Start by writing out a message for social media, your website, and email formats. Then, adapt the content to a written script for a phone recording. A script that\u2019s read with a smile conveys a consistent message and ties to the content on other platforms. Spending a few extra minutes developing a closure strategy for when you\u2019re away ensures everyone enjoys a happy holiday season.\u00a0The holidays give our team members time to recharge and prepare to hit the ground running in 2022. But the world keeps spinning while we\u2019re away, and patients need to know we\u2019re still there for them now and as we welcome them back with cheers to the new year. A thoughtful message strategy for a holiday closing keeps us connected to our patients and serves them even when we\u2019re away.<\/p>\n\n
A Business Holiday Message For Clients Of Your Practice<\/h2>\n
1.Use Social Media To Get The Word Out<\/h3>\n
2. Add A Pop-Up Message On Your Website<\/h3>\n
3. Send A Holiday Email<\/h3>\n
4. Use Old-Fashioned Word-Of-Mouth<\/h3>\n
5. Send Business Holiday Cards<\/h3>\n
6. Design A Phone Strategy That\u2019s 2022<\/h3>\n
Need An Office Closed For The Holidays Message Template?<\/h2>\n