As Thanksgiving approaches, dental practices across the country gear up for an annual feast of appointments as college students return home for the holiday break. This seasonal surge presents a golden opportunity to carve out more patient traffic, fill appointment books, and turn visiting students into long-term patients. To help your practice gobble up these opportunities, here’s a guide on maximizing the seasonal influx and ensuring you're well-prepared to capture the interest of returning college students.
Anticipate Increased Dental Traffic During the Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving brings more than just family gatherings – it’s a peak time when college students return home and seek out local services, including dental care. Industry data supports this trend, with many dental practices reporting a surge in appointments during this season.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental practices can experience a 20-30% increase in bookings as families take advantage of the holiday break to schedule overdue checkups and treatments.
Since students may have limited access to dental care on campus or may not prioritize routine visits during the semester, Thanksgiving is an ideal opportunity to catch up on preventive and necessary treatments. For practices, being proactive with scheduling and marketing can mean the difference between an average month and a highly profitable one.
To capitalize on this seasonal trend, dental practices should prepare to:
Extend appointment availability
Extend hours or offer limited-time holiday promotions to encourage more bookings.
Increase staff availability, ensuring your practice can accommodate the influx of patients seeking last-minute appointments.
Promote treatment options ideal for younger patients
Focus on services such as cleanings, whitening, and orthodontic consultations – treatments that are often in demand among college-age patients.
Engage current client families
Reach out to families already in your practice, encouraging parents to book appointments for their college-aged children. A well-timed reminder email or a blog post on your website about "Why Thanksgiving Is the Perfect Time for Your Child’s Dental Checkup" can help reinforce this message.
If your practice is interested in maximizing visibility to ensure a fully booked holiday season, Lasso MD specializes in tailored dental marketing solutions that can elevate your online presence to capture local search traffic for terms like "dentist near me" and "Thanksgiving dental checkup."
Popular Treatments for College Students During the Holidays
College students visiting home over Thanksgiving may be interested in several common treatments that are often put off until they’re back home. Here are a few to consider promoting on your website or social media:
Routine Cleanings and Exams
After a semester away, many students are due for a checkup and cleaning. Ensuring that these appointments are easy to book and visibly promoted online can capture interest from returning students and their families.
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Whitening and Cosmetic Services
For those looking to refresh their smile for holiday photos or upcoming events, cosmetic treatments can be very popular. Consider highlighting seasonal promotions on whitening or cosmetic consultations to draw interest.
Orthodontic Consultations
Students on the cusp of adulthood may be considering orthodontic options, making Thanksgiving a perfect time to promote consultations for services like clear aligners.
Lasso MD can assist your practice in creating engaging seasonal promotions for these popular treatments through creative branding and lead generation campaigns, ensuring your offers reach potential patients during their holiday planning.
Boosting Holiday Appointments Through Strategic Marketing
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
By using tailored SEO strategies, we help your practice rank higher on search engines for local keywords like "Thanksgiving dental appointments" or "college student dentist." This makes it
Paid Ads
With targeted holiday ads on platforms like Google and Facebook, your practice can stand out to students and parents actively searching for dental appointments. Lasso MD’s lead generation services are designed to attract high-value leads and provide a measurable return on investment.
Social Media Campaigns
Capture college students' attention where they spend much of their time – on social media. Seasonal posts that highlight availability, holiday promotions, or last-minute booking options can drive valuable traffic.
If you’re interested in boosting your online visibility this season, schedule a discovery call with Lasso MD to learn more about customized marketing solutions for your practice.
Prepare Your Practice for the Holiday Surge with Efficient Lead Management
Handling an increase in patient requests can strain your front desk. To ensure a smooth experience, consider these tools:
- Online Scheduling: Many students and families appreciate the convenience of booking appointments online. An intuitive online scheduling system makes it easy for patients to secure their spot during the Thanksgiving rush.
- Lead Management and Follow-Up: Using Lasso MD’s lead management tools, your practice can efficiently manage new inquiries, track leads, and follow up with patients post-appointment to keep them engaged even after the holiday season.
Conversion Tips – Turn Holiday Patients into Long-Term Clients
The Thanksgiving season provides an excellent opportunity to turn visiting students and families into loyal, long-term patients. Consider offering post-visit follow-ups with reminders for the next checkup or sharing content about ongoing care options. You can also promote discounts or membership plans for college students returning each semester, making it easy for them to choose your practice when they’re home.
By focusing on patient retention strategies, your practice can make the most of each holiday season, building a steady stream of loyal patients for years to come.
