Digital marketing including web, SEO, social media and paid-media strategy

Consider which advertising channels have the best chance of reaching your audience, including Google, Facebook, and Instagram. Maintain an up-to-date ‘Google My Business’ listing to make your practice easy to discover for new patients. Where possible, perform an SEO audit of your website; otherwise, you may engage a third party to perform SEO on your behalf.

Existing patient recall and retention

Design a structured approach to recall patients throughout the year, with dedicated recall strategies for parents and health fund customers.

Increase consultation hours & services

Unlock your revenue potential by ramping up consultation hours and broadening services. Whether it’s adding a second room or bringing on an optometrist to develop a new area of clinical interest, you can cater to a larger patient base, enhance patient care and build a following for clinical services that differentiate you in the market.

Visual merchandising & branding

First impressions begin outside your practice – ensure your exterior is well-maintained, clean, and visually appealing with eye-catching signs or displays. It could also be time to refresh your brand identity to ensure you’re appealing to the patients you’re trying to attract.

Set a pricing strategy

Set a pricing strategy that aligns with your optometry practice and reflects your unique value proposition. Whether it’s personalised care, innovative services, or community engagement, weave these elements into your pricing narrative. Setting a pricing strategy isn’t just about numbers; it’s about creating a compelling story that resonates with your patients and sets your optometry practice apart. 

Introduce additional income streams.

Explore additional income streams that can enhance your optometry practice. You may wish to diversify your skills in a specific niche within optometry, or become a leader in areas such as behavioural optometry, myopia, or low vision. Remember, diversifying income streams not only boosts financial stability but enriches your practice’s offerings.

Up-skill staff

Invest in Growth! Elevate your patient care and ensure practice success by investing in your staff’s education – a well-trained team can boost efficiency and leave a lasting impact on your patients.

Ensure effective systems and processes

Consider streamlining your intake forms, appointment scheduling, record keeping, and billing processes. Automation, where possible, may help to reduce paperwork and enhance patient interactions. ProVision Members are encouraged to take advantage of emerging technologies, such as the ProAccounts and Optomate Touch integration which dramatically reduce back-office administration. 

Team motivation

When everyone aligns with similar goals, collaboration and motivation thrive. Celebrate achievements — big or small. Publicly acknowledge outstanding performance and express gratitude; a simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way in boosting morale. Remember, a motivated team is the heart of a successful optometry practice!

Patient journey design

Create an outline of your ideal patient journey, from how they discover and research your practice through to consultation and beyond. Identify opportunities to innovate and improve the experience, including digital optimisations to make booking easier. Ensure the unique value proposition of your pratice is reflected at each stage of the journey.

Maximise billing practices

Explore flexible billing options for your patients, including whether to participate in Medicare arrangements. Consider offering both Medicare-rebate services and non-rebate private consultations with customised fees. Remember, strategic billing practices contribute to a thriving business!

Explore private v bulk billing

Optometrists have the flexibility to set their own fees, and may receive 85% of the schedule fee from the Australian government when choosing to bulk bill. Remember, the choice between private and bulk billing depends on your practice’s unique circumstances and patient needs.

Embrace and provide new technologies

New technologies may improve accuracy, efficiency, and overall patient satisfaction during eye exams. Personalised solutions meet patients’ visual needs and expectations. Remember, embracing technology isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about elevating patient care!

Holistic approach

Optometry practices should prioritise whole-person health, not just eye-related issues. Consider lifestyle, emotional well-being, and overall health in patient care.

Inventory management

Optimise your inventory levels to match customer demand. Too much inventory ties up working capital, while too little affects sales and service. Where suitable, leverage ‘supply and fit’ processes to minimise the accumulation of unsold stock. 

Educate staff

Educate and support your team so they may enhance their skills, passion and professionalism. This may include in-practice skills training, or third-party courses on topics such as retail skills and leadership.

Educate patients

Make the most of patient interactions by explaining how specific frames enhance vision during work, sports, or travel, and the benefits of additional treatment areas such as ortho-k and dry eye therapies.

Systems and in-practice habits

Having effective systems and habits can improve productivity, profitability, and patient satisfaction. Key areas to look at include clinical management, billing and insurance, infection control and professional development.