77% of patients read online reviews before choosing providers, and 56% begin their reviews search on Google, according to Tebra's 6th annual Patient Perspectives survey. Yet many independent practices still rely primarily on word-of-mouth and in-network referrals. This misses the digital-first patients actively searching for care right now.

Getting more patients requires a multi-channel strategy that combines digital marketing, exceptional patient experience, and community engagement. This guide presents proven tactics organized into five categories to generate measurable patient growth. While not every tactic will fit your practice, implementing 8-10 of these strategies consistently will yield results.

The foundational first step to getting more patients is to define your practice's strategy before spending time or money on marketing. This involves identifying your ideal patient and clarifying what makes your practice unique. A clear strategy ensures your marketing efforts attract the right people and stand out from the competition.

Start by creating detailed personas for your target patients, considering their demographics and psychographics. Map their patient journey to understand their pain points and priorities. This allows you to tailor your services and marketing messages effectively.

For example, a multi-location family practice in Durham serving busy professionals and growing families might prioritize:

Your unique value proposition (UVP) is a clear statement that describes the benefit you offer and what distinguishes you from the competition. This UVP should be front and center in your brand messaging across your website, social media, and advertising. 

Here's a comprehensive overview of patient acquisition strategies organized by category and implementation timeline.

Your digital presence determines whether potential patients can find you, trust you, and book with you. These strategies establish visibility, credibility, and conversion pathways.

Your website is your digital front door and must be professional, trustworthy, and easy to use. With 63.38% of web traffic coming from mobile, a mobile-first design is essential. Use the following checklist to ensure your site is built to convert visitors into patients.

Search engine optimization (SEO) helps local patients find you on Google. Google ranks practices based on relevance, distance, and prominence. To improve your ranking, focus on a few key areas.

Keyword research: Identify terms patients use, like "pediatrician near me" or "dermatologist [city]". Include these keywords naturally in your website's title tags, meta descriptions, and headers to improve on-page optimization.

Local citations: Ensure your practice name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online directories to strengthen your local signal to Google.

A practice blog is a powerful tool for attracting and educating patients. By consistently publishing high-quality content that answers common questions, you establish your practice as a trusted authority. Base topics on your key service lines and optimize each post for relevant search terms.

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is often a patient's first impression of your practice and plays a significant role in local search visibility. According to Tebra research, 56% of patients look to Google and search engines for reviews compared to 41% who visit practice websites directly. 

A complete profile with weekly photo updates, active Q&A management, and integrated booking is critical. This single tool can have a significant impact on your visibility.

Video is a highly effective medium for building a personal connection with potential patients. Create short videos to introduce your providers, explain procedures, or showcase testimonials. An office tour can also help ease anxiety for new patients.

Patient reviews are critical social proof, with 77% of patients citing them as their first step in a search. Focus on generating quality reviews consistently, as patients weigh rating and recency heavily; in 2025, 69% won't consider providers below a 4-star rating. 

Use automated post-visit requests to consistently generate more reviews. Responding to 100% of reviews can boost conversions by 16.4%.

Tebra can help you with AI-supported solutions to help you send personalized, HIPAA-compliant replies in seconds.

Use social media to engage your community and showcase your practice's personality. Choose platforms that align with your audience and post a consistent mix of HIPAA-compliant content. A strong social media strategy can include educational tips, behind-the-scenes staff spotlights, and practice updates.

Paid search advertising places your practice at the top of Google for high-intent keywords like "[specialty] + [city]". While local SEO builds long-term authority, Google Ads deliver immediate visibility. This is a powerful way to complement your organic efforts, especially since some research indicates that 28.5% of users click on the first search result.

Social media ads allow you to target specific demographics and geographic areas with precision. Use these ads to promote new services, introduce providers, or build brand awareness. You can also retarget website visitors who didn't book an appointment, reminding them of your practice.

Beyond Google, patients use directories like Healthgrades, Yelp, Zocdoc, and Tebra Care Connect to vet providers. Claim and fully optimize your business profiles on these platforms and major insurance directories. Ensure your practice information is consistent everywhere.

Email marketing is a powerful tool for patient engagement and retention. Send a monthly newsletter with health tips and practice updates. Use automated campaigns to welcome new patients or nurture leads.

Retargeting shows ads to people who have already visited your website. This keeps your practice top-of-mind for warm audiences who have shown interest — and significantly increases the likelihood of conversion.

Establish your expertise by hosting free educational webinars on topics relevant to your patients. Promote the event to capture leads, then repurpose the recorded content for your website and YouTube channel.

Attracting new patients is only half the equation. Delivering an exceptional patient experience converts first-time visitors into loyal, long-term patients. These strategies optimize every touchpoint of the patient journey.

Today's patients expect the convenience of booking appointments online, anytime. An online scheduling tool is no longer a luxury but a baseline expectation. Scheduling solutions such as Tebra helps practices improve patient attendance and reduce missed appointments.

No-shows can cost a practice an average of $200 per missed appointment. Automated text reminders are highly effective at reducing missed appointments and resonate well with patients.

According to Tebra research, 47% of patients say appointment reminders are their favorite digital tool. Tebra's automated SMS reminders are HIPAA-compliant and can reduce no-shows by 30–50%.

Patient referral programs offer the highest ROI of any marketing tactic. Create a simple program that rewards both the referring patient and the new patient. Promote the program through email, in-office signage, and at the front desk.

Patient reactivation is a significant growth opportunity. Use your practice management system to identify patients who haven't visited in over a year. Deploy automated campaigns via text and email to bring them back for preventive care.

Your front desk staff is the face of your practice, making customer service training crucial. Train staff on phone etiquette, empathy, and how to handle difficult situations. This leads to better patient reviews and long-term loyalty.

The physical environment of your practice impacts the patient experience. Ensure your waiting room is clean, organized, and comfortable. Offer amenities like free WiFi, water, or coffee to help reduce perceived wait times.

To continuously improve, you need to know what your patients think. Send automated satisfaction surveys 24 hours after a visit (template available here). Use the feedback to identify areas for improvement and gather positive testimonials.

Modern practice technology directly impacts patient acquisition and retention. These strategies meet patient expectations while reducing administrative burden. They allow your staff to focus on patients, not paperwork.

A patient portal is a central hub for patient engagement. Tebra's patient portal allows patients to access records, message providers, and pay bills. 

Forty-three percent of patients in Tebra's study say they stay at their practices because of prompt and thorough response to concerns. 

Telemedicine expands your practice's reach and offers unparalleled convenience. Use it for:

An AI-powered chatbot on your website can answer common questions 24/7. It can qualify new patient inquiries and capture leads after hours — which provides immediate engagement and frees up your front desk.

A customer relationship management (CRM) system helps you track every patient interaction. Use it to segment patients for targeted marketing and automate follow-ups. An integrated platform like Tebra provides a complete view of the patient journey.

Automated recall systems are essential for ensuring patients stay on track with their preventive care. Set up automated email and text reminders for annual exams and screenings. This improves patient outcomes and ensures a steady stream of appointments.

While digital marketing reaches patients online, community engagement builds lasting relationships offline. These strategies establish your practice as an active, caring member of your local community. They build trust in a way that digital ads cannot.

Professional referral networks are a sustainable, low-cost patient acquisition channel. Identify complementary specialists in your area and build relationships through meetings and consistent communication. Make it easy for them to refer patients to you with a streamlined process.

Sponsoring local sports teams, school events, or community festivals increases your brand visibility. It demonstrates your commitment to the community. This goodwill builds trust and keeps your practice top-of-mind.

Participating in community health fairs or hosting your own free screening event positions your practice as a local health resource. Use these events to provide valuable information and collect leads for follow-up. It's a direct way to connect with potential patients in your area.

Speaking at local events for organizations like the Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce establishes you as a thought leader. Select topics based on your expertise to provide value to the community. This can be an effective way to build credibility and attract new patients.

Once foundational strategies are in place, these advanced tactics optimize for long-term growth. They address specific aspects of patient acquisition and practice operations. They help fine-tune your growth engine.

Financial concerns can be a major barrier to care. By offering payment plans or partnering with third-party financing, you make your practice more accessible to patients while maintaining healthy revenue cycle management.

Participating in a variety of insurance panels can significantly increase your potential patient base. Strategically choose which plans to accept by balancing reimbursement rates with patient volume. Clearly communicate accepted plans on your website.

To ensure your marketing is effective, you must track your performance. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor key metrics and understand what's working. Regularly review this data to calculate your ROI and optimize your strategy.

Growing a thriving independent practice requires a strategic, multi-channel approach to patient acquisition and retention. The strategies outlined here represent the proven tactics successful practices use to consistently attract new patients. Use these steps to build a complete roadmap for growth.

Not every strategy will fit your practice's current stage, specialty, or resources. Start by auditing your current efforts across the five categories and identify your 2-3 biggest gaps. Prioritize tactics with the highest potential impact for your specific patient demographic.

Tebra's integrated platform unifies patient experience, clinical documentation, billing, and marketing in one solution. With automated reminders, 24/7 online scheduling, and reputation management, Tebra handles the technology. This allows you to focus on patient care and practice growth.