Chiropractor Referral Program Tips and Tools

One of the best ways to find high-quality new chiropractic patients – and ones who stay loyal to your practice – is through referrals from existing patients. After all, if your patients are super happy with the care they receive, they’ll share with friends and family who would benefit from the same care. And everyone knows someone who could benefit from a chiropractor! Plus, since they trust their peers highly, these referred friends are both more likely to choose you and more likely to stick around.

Chiropractic patient referrals aren’t as unpredictable as you think. Thanks to an automated referral program, it’s easy to mobilize, collect and track these recommendations – and even potentially reward people for sending them. Here’s how to start a chiropractor referral program.

What is a chiropractor referral program?

A chiropractor referral program (or chiropractic patient referral program) is a system designed to simplify the promotion of your services while allowing you to monitor the sources of your patient referrals. With the use of unique referral links, individuals can effortlessly share details about your services with their friends and family members, and each referral will be linked to the person who referred them. This enables you to easily identify who contributed to bringing in new clients – and easily reward them if you choose.

Benefits of chiropractic referral programs

Chiropractic referral programs are designed to engage your existing patients who already have a reason to recommend your services. By fostering trust, you can grow your clientele without the need for expensive marketing tactics. Here are the key advantages of chiropractic referral programs:

Enhanced brand visibility: Everyone could benefit from a chiropractor, whether they’ve injured their back or simply have discomfort from bending and looking at a computer or phone screen. But do they know you’re a nearby option? Referral programs tap into the enthusiasm of satisfied patients who share their positive experiences. This word-of-mouth promotion not only strengthens your business’s reputation but also boosts social proof and piques the interest of potential patients 

Greater trust in your offerings: Choosing a chiropractor is a massive act of trust. Someone is picking an expert to manipulate their back, spine, neck, or other areas of the body that need it. Which chiropractor to select? A recommendation can be the deciding factor that tips the scales in your favor. Referrals are often seen as more credible than advertisements or messages from your brand, as people trust their friends most. According to a Nielsen study, 84% of people consider referrals to be the most trustworthy and effective form of advertising.

Generation of warm leads: When clients recommend your services, they connect you with individuals experiencing pain, who could benefit from your solutions. These referrers are familiar with your offerings and can introduce you to others who would gain from your expertise.

Higher conversion rates: A personal recommendation significantly increases the likelihood that others will choose your chiropractic practice. Because of the trust involved, they are more inclined to engage with you. Research indicates that a personal endorsement can be up to 50 times more effective in driving purchases than traditional ads

Consistent customer loyalty: Referred patients are more likely to remain loyal to your business and continue generating revenue. They have a 16% higher lifetime value compared to non-referred patients.

Simplified referral tracking: Implementing a referral program makes it easy to monitor referrals. With the right referral software and the links it generates, you can effortlessly attribute each referral to the patient who made it.

Ready for a chiropractor referral program?

To create a thriving chiropractor referral program, it’s crucial to be genuinely referable, meaning you need to be worthy of recommendations. People are more inclined to share their experiences when they have a strong reason to do so, and the quality of your service significantly influences their decision to recommend you to others.

This hinges on the level of care you provide, as helping individuals relieve their pain should be your top priority. Are you delivering personalized, high-quality care that meets the specific needs of each patient and supports them in reaching their goals? Do all your patients feel valued when – and after – they visit?

Strive to exceed expectations with an experience that distinguishes you from your competitors. Send them notes that recognize their goals and interests, and celebrate birthdays and milestones with cards and/or small gifts. 

 A good way to gauge your readiness for referrals is by reviewing what others are saying about you. Are you receiving glowing five-star ratings, testimonials, and positive comments on social media? Do you have high marks on patient satisfaction surveys? Are patients praising your services, or even referring their friends before you’ve started a program? If you can answer yes to these questions, you’re well on your way to launching a successful referral program.

Referral software for chiropractors [Free Tools]

These referral tools for chiropractors are a free and easy way to help you start your referral program.

Want a fully automated referral program for your chiropractic business? Run your referral program with us at Referral Rock. Find out how we can build your program with you (and tailor it to your unique needs)

Our top chiropractor referral program tips

Now that you know you’re ready for a referral program, follow these tips to help set one up. 

Know the laws governing rewards

Before you plan out referral rewards for patients, you need to be aware of your country, state, and/or area laws governing healthcare referral rewards so you don’t run afoul of them. 

In the US, you need to stay in compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute. This law prohibits you from paying out any rewards – to any type of referrer – when the newly referred patient’s care is at least partially covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federally funded healthcare program. You also can’t give any sort of incentive to the newly referred patient if their care is funded federally.

 But this only applies to referrals for federally-funded care. If the patient is paying for all their chiropractic care privately, you can still pay them small-value referral rewards when they bring you new business – assuming state or area laws aren’t more restrictive.

Some state and area laws won’t let you pay out referral rewards at all for healthcare services like yours, even if the referred friend uses private pay. It might be beneficial to consult a lawyer to find out what you can and can’t offer in different scenarios.

Pick rewards carefully

If the majority of your referred customers will be private-pay, and state or area laws allow it, you can offer rewards for each successful private-pay referral. Reward both the referrer and their friend, to encourage both current and previous patients to refer and newly referred patients to pay for your services. This structure is known as a double-sided reward.

What types of rewards should you offer? Self-care gift baskets, or small-value gift cards are great options. You could also offer discounts or credits towards someone’s next visit, or a free adjustment, as long as this doesn’t violate any contracts or agreements you’re part of outside of the program.

In addition to rewards for every referral, you could also create a drawing where each private-pay referral earns an entry. Run the drawing for at least a few months. Then, give the winner a bigger prize, such as a tech item or season tickets to a local sports team.

If referrals bring you patients whose care is government-funded (meaning you legally can’t reward the referrer), or you simply want to avoid traditional rewards altogether, there’s an alternative. 

Instead of standard referral rewards, make a donation on behalf of each person who referred a new patient. This approach allows patients to support their friends while also contributing to a good cause.  

Ask for referrals at the right times

One of the simplest and most effective methods to gain referrals is to ask for them directly. Since you’ve built a solid relationship with your patient and have had ongoing one-on-one time with lots of conversation opportunities, it feels natural to reach out.

Timing is key when making your referral request. Look for those instances when your patients are particularly pleased and have you fresh in their minds. For instance, consider asking when they:

• Leave a glowing review or comment on social media  
• Provide positive feedback in a survey  
• Show appreciation during or after an appointment  
• Come in for any consecutive visit after their third – booking continuous appointments like this shows they value you
• Mention a marked improvement in how they feel
• Recommend your services to friends outside of the referral program  
• Complete a treatment and you know they’re satisfied: ask, “Would you like to help someone else feel better? Who comes to mind?”  

If you’re aware that a client was pleased with your services, it’s an excellent opportunity to request a referral when you send the invoice for a completed appointment.

Once you’ve identified the right moment, how do you make the request? If you’re nervous that you could mess up in person, it’s helpful to plan out and memorize a script. Or, you can request a referral via email if you use this to regularly communicate with patients. Here are some suggestions on how to ask:

• Share how grateful you are that they chose you for their chiropractic needs  
• Remind them of the reasons they selected your services, emphasizing why they would be great at referring others.  
• Ask who else in their lives could benefit from a chiropractic treatment. 
• Give suggestions of who might need your care – someone with a recent injury? Someone with nagging back pain or neck pain? Remind them that anyone could potentially benefit.
• Lastly, provide a clear link to your referral program to make it easy for clients to take action. If you’re talking in person, give them a card with a QR code that directs to the program.

You might also consider sending a thank-you card after someone completes a series of adjustment sessions.  In this card, you can acknowledge that they were an amazing client and introduce your referral program using a QR code.

Promote your program on lots of different channels

Boosting participation in your referral program can significantly increase both the number of referrals and your overall revenue. To achieve this, it’s essential to promote your program through various channels:

• Reach out to all your current and former patients by sending dedicated emails about your referral program. This strategy not only attracts new referrers but also keeps the program top of mind. We recommend sending these emails monthly or quarterly.  
• Include short promotions for your referral program in newsletters and other regular communications.  
• Encourage referrals at the end of appointments or during conversations with patients 
• Mention your program in the emails that accompany invoices.  
• Hand out printed referral cards (business cards) that feature a QR code linking to your program page, making it easy for offline sharing to transition online.  
• Put up “refer a friend” signs in your practice, complete with a QR code for easy access to the program.  
• Add a note about your program in your email signatures when communicating with related businesses.  
• If you have a client portal, integrate referral promotions directly within it, including direct links for easy access.  
• Showcase a prominent banner or hero image on your website’s homepage that links directly to your referral landing page.  
• Consider using subtle promotion techniques on your website, such as adding a link in the footer or menu. If users can easily find and access it, they are more likely to engage with your program.  
• Share updates about your referral program in your social media posts. 
• Host “bring a friend” events at local venues and promote your program there.  
• Promote your program at community events. 
• Utilize Referral Rock’s Monthly Summary emails to engage current program members, providing them with a personalized overview of their referrals.

Eliminate the need for logins

With Referral Rock’s One Click Access links, your clients can quickly start sharing your chiropractic services. This feature allows them to join the program automatically, without the hassle of signing up or filling in lots of contact information.

Be sure to include One Click Access links in all your promotional emails about the referral program, such as newsletters and transactional emails, not just those specifically about referrals.

Referral Rock also allows both new and existing members to access their referral portal using popular social logins like Google and Facebook, making the process easier since they won’t need to remember a password.

Make sharing simple

To boost engagement in your referral program, focus on creating a user-friendly and straightforward sharing experience. Users should be able to join the program with just a few clicks or taps. Once they arrive at your program page, the sharing process should be seamless:

• Break down the program instructions into three to four easy-to-follow bullet points for clarity.  
• Highlight the advantages of sharing. This includes both any rewards you’re offering and intrinsic
  benefits of chiropractic care, such as the opportunity to help someone relieve their pain.  
• Remind participants of the unique advantages your practice offers.  
• Keep your program page tidy and well-organized—avoid overwhelming visitors with excessive text.  
• Include a clear call to action (CTA) that motivates sharing.  

Additionally, strive to reduce the effort needed to make a referral.

• Provide multiple sharing options that align with popular communication methods, such as email, social media, and text messages.  
• Create a referral link that can be easily copied and shared anywhere—referral software can generate these links effortlessly.  
• Prepare a friendly, pre-written message for referrers to send to potential patients/clients, making it feel personal and inviting. Emphasize the unique benefits of your practice. 
• Ensure the program is accessible and easy to share on mobile devices.

Send a personal note from the referrer to the potential patient 

The message that the referred individual receives is often their first encounter with your practice, making it crucial to leave a positive impression. 

To make things easier for the referrer, consider preparing a message in advance, but ensure it has a warm and authentic tone and is written from the friend’s perspective (not your practice’s).

No matter how you decide to craft the message, highlight the advantages of your practice and the benefits of chiropractic treatment overall. You could also mention specific benefits related to their injury or needs. Additionally, include a strong call-to-action to encourage the friend to take the next step.

Show your appreciation 

Expressing gratitude to customers for their referrals not only makes them feel valued but also motivates them to refer even more people. Make it a routine to send a handwritten thank-you note whenever a referral leads to a new client. You might also consider publicly recognizing their support on your social media platforms. 

When customers see that their referrals are appreciated, it fosters goodwill and strengthens their loyalty. Along with any rewards they may receive, a heartfelt ‘thank you’ can significantly encourage them to keep bringing new clients your way.

Think about other referral sources

Even though your referral program will probably focus on mobilizing patients, don’t forget about other possible referral sources, like doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. You can track their referrals through a program as well, and you’ll gain even more opportunities to grow your patient base.

Keep in mind, though: some people, such as doctors and other healthcare professionals, can’t legally accept incentives for referrals.  You might want to set up a separate program for these professionals, so their referrals can still be tracked and recognized with donations. 

Choose the right referral software  

Since your primary focus is on providing excellent patient care, you’ll probably have very little time for managing a referral program manually. This is where referral software comes into play. Referral tools streamline and automate the referral process, making it easy to track referrals, identify their sources, and distribute rewards swiftly. They also offer valuable insights into your referral program, helping you evaluate its success and make necessary improvements.

Plus, these tools generate unique links that make it simple to promote your program via social media, email, and anywhere else they choose.

Referral Rock enhances the creation, tracking, rewarding, and marketing of your referral program, making it a vital asset for anyone looking to execute a successful referral campaign.

With Referral Rock, you can:

• Effortlessly track referrals: Each participant receives a unique referral link, allowing you to pinpoint the source of every referral. Customers can also keep tabs on their referral activity through customized dashboards.  
• Automate your marketing: Engage your customers with automated promotional emails and simplify sharing with password-free links.  
• Integrate with key tools: Connect Referral Rock seamlessly with over 50 different applications. 
• Analyze program performance: Quickly assess how your program is doing and make data-driven enhancements.  
• Get started quickly: With Referral Rock, you can launch your program in just a few days, with expert assistance available throughout your setup and launch process.

Design your own chiropractor referral program  

A chiropractic referral program enables you to leverage personal recommendations to draw in new patients. The benefits of this digital marketing strategy include straightforward tracking of referrals, increased exposure for your services, and steady practice growth. To stand out, focus on providing an outstanding experience, actively market your program, and make sharing as simple as possible.