21 Ways to Flourish In New Podiatry Patient Visits

How can podiatrists bring new patients to their practice?

Cache Valley Foot and Ankle, a thriving podiatry practice in northern Utah, offers a strong example of what consistent growth can look like. With 50 to 70 visitors per day, a steady flow of new patients, and plans to expand from three to four doctors in a new building, the practice has developed a reputation for both efficiency and exceptional care.

Office Manager Trenna Ellison has played a key role in shaping the systems that fuel the practice’s growth. From strengthening marketing outreach to elevating the patient experience, she emphasizes practical tools and repeatable processes that keep the schedule full and patients loyal. Above all, Trenna attributes their success to a culture of attentive, patient-centered care.

Here are 21 specific ways Cache Valley Foot and Ankle personalizes the patient experience to consistently attract new patients.

1. Consider every possible marketing channel

Office managers and other administrators should sit down and think about all the options available for marketing their practice to prospective customers. Traditional marketing goes through avenues like print advertisements, radio commercials, billboards, and word-of-mouth reputation building. More innovative marketing strategies include social media, online reviews, and email campaigns.

Cache Valley Foot and Ankle relies on both traditional and non-traditional marketing approaches. Trenna says the key for her has been to find the strategies that appeal to the practice’s specific community.

2. Ask patients for referrals

Trenna’s office makes sure to ask new patients and long-time clients for referrals. When patients have a spare moment, the staff at Cache Valley Foot and Ankle simply ask for a few names of people that might be interested in podiatric care. Satisfied patients are generally happy to suggest the names of family, friends, and acquaintances that are in need of a podiatrist.

3. Request online reviews

Increasingly, practices are gaining new patients by establishing their online reputation using reviews on sites like Google and Facebook. By stockpiling positive reviews on these sites and getting star ratings, offices become more visible to people searching for specific businesses in their community.

Trenna’s practice has embraced online reviews and is sure to ask happy customers to post reviews on Google. She uses Weave to send review requests by text after appointments. These review requests are easy to compose, personalize, and distribute with the Reviews tool.

4. Have a polished online presence

Practices focusing on improving their marketing strategy need to have a presentable website and an account with Google My Business. Your website doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it should be user-friendly and potentially allow prospective customers to start conversations with your office.

Be sure to set up an account with Google for your practice. You can’t amass online reviews and improve your standing in search results without first registering with Google itself. This process doesn’t take much time and asks for things like your practice’s name, physical location, and contact information.

5. Advertise in local media

Although Trenna’s practice puts emphasis on their website and online reviews, it still relies on more traditional marketing as well. Publishing ads and even getting features in local magazines and newspapers is a way to get exposure for your office. Some may claim these are outdated forms of reaching new patients, but many successful offices continue to use traditional marketing to establish themselves in their communities.

6. Start social media accounts

We’re all aware of the popularity of social media. People initially used social media for contacting their friends and family. However, businesses and medical practices are beginning to use social media accounts to personalize their communication with both existing and prospective patients.

Trenna’s office has accounts on Facebook and Instagram. She says it’s crucial to have someone posting from this account every week or so. A member of the office team should also be checking on these various accounts regularly to answer questions and respond to people interested in your practice.

7. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals and reviews

Some offices might hesitate when asking for favors like referrals and reviews. Trenna insists that she’s never had anyone say no to giving referrals or posting reviews. In fact, most people genuinely enjoy sharing their opinion or referring someone new to the office. The critical thing is making sure it happens!

8. Give people a reason for sharing reviews

Trenna believes the reason patients at Cache Valley Foot and Ankle are happy to share referrals and reviews is the quality of service from the practice. When patients are happy with the care at the podiatry office they visit, they’re more likely to be enthusiastic about posting on review sites or telling you about a friend with a foot issue.

This theme comes up repeatedly in the conversation with Trenna. The single best way to bring in new patients is by caring for each client at an individual level and providing care that makes them loyal to your practice.

9. Hire top-notch employees

Cache Valley Foot and Ankle has found much of its success due to the caliber of its doctors and other employees. Excellent care starts and ends with the employees in your office. While office managers like Trenna can’t control every aspect of their practice, they can be particular about the types of employees they bring on board.

10. Care about visual branding

An important aspect of marketing is the visual component. Your office should develop a logo that stands out to potential customers and catches their eye. The signage on the outside of your building is even important. If you have the budget, find a graphic designer to help you establish a style and image that appeals to the people in your community.

11. Share important updates by text

Clear communication is essential for keeping patients informed and prepared before their appointments. Trenna’s practice sends text messages in advance to share any important updates, reminders, or instructions patients may need before arriving. This helps patients feel confident, reduces uncertainty, and ensures smoother visits. Weave supports this outreach through its Messages and Scheduling tools.

12. Complete paperwork prior to appointments

Cache Valley Foot and Ankle has started asking patients to register on their portal before stepping into their office. This strategy cuts down on the amount of time patients are spending in their waiting room, a place where there’s more potential for the spread of germs and viruses. Practices that use paperless forms and share them with customers by text are better able to set up safe conditions in their office.

13. Make your office procedures clear

You don’t have to rely solely on text messages to explain your office procedures. Share important details over the phone or during in-person conversations as well. The goal is to ensure patients know exactly what to expect when they arrive, creating a smoother and more comfortable visit for everyone.

14. Review your office processes regularly

It’s important to periodically walk through every step of the patient experience to identify areas for improvement. Look at how you handle check-ins, waiting areas, paperwork, communication, and follow-up. Consider whether your processes are clear, efficient, and easy for patients to navigate. Then look for ways to streamline or better communicate those steps to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience.

15. Improve your communication system

Trenna’s office has taken the opportunity to refine and strengthen how they communicate with patients. Today’s patients appreciate clear, detailed instructions about their appointments—from how to check in to what the visit will look like once they arrive. Providing this level of clarity builds trust, reduces confusion, and creates a smoother experience for both patients and staff.

16. Explore emailing

Almost every practice has an email outreach. Email is an essential form of communication because it allows you to share detailed information that’s difficult to convey via calls and texts. Offices utilize our Email Marketing tool to optimize their emailing with pre-written templates, an image library, and Call to Action buttons.

17. Trust word-of-mouth marketing

After discussing a list of various strategies for finding new patients, Trenna admits that old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the most reliable sources of new clients for Cache Valley Foot and Ankle. That’s why it’s imperative for offices to continually focus on their quality of care.

18. Embrace social media

Trenna says she was initially intimidated by running social media accounts. However, because she’s an experienced office manager, her instincts told her that social media is a huge part of today’s marketing, especially for younger patients. She pushed forward and now social media is an important part of Cache Valley Foot and Ankle’s strategy.

19. Make patients feel like VIP’s

Whatever small actions your office can take to make clients feel recognized on a personal level are essential for success. Putting names in text messages is a simple way to do this. Offices also give gifts to new patients to show their appreciation.

20. Don’t trip over dollars to pick up pennies

It’s not worth stressing over every minuscule way to save your practice money. Small practices of course need to watch their budget, but when you’re focusing on profit over people, the quality of care can drop off dramatically.

21. Remember, patient care is the crux

Cache Valley Foot and Ankle puts its patients’ needs first. Trenna consistently emphasizes that everything comes back to this core principle. If a practice isn’t delivering exceptional care, even the strongest marketing efforts and communication tools won’t make a meaningful difference. Prioritizing people is the most effective way to personalize the patient experience and continually attract new patients.