Relocate or Revamp? Why Moving Your Practice May Not Be the Answer

Podcast Transcript:

"Relocate or Revamp: The Marketing Fix Your Practice Needs"

Welcome to The Perfect Place to Put a Practice, the podcast where we help dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, and other private practice owners find—or in this case, maybe stay in—the ideal spot to build a thriving business. I’m your host, Mike Green, from Doctor Demographics.

Okay, welcome to all of you good people, and we want to thank you for listening and supporting the podcast for our now over 300 episodes. Your feedback and shares mean the world to us, and it's what keeps us going strong.

Also, for those of you in the dental world, if you haven’t gotten my book titled Dental Marketing Mastery yet, it's available in both softcover and Kindle versions on Amazon. We've received a lot of great feedback, and I know it will be helpful for your marketing efforts moving forward.

Alright, let's dive into today’s topic: "Relocate or Revamp: The Marketing Fix Your Practice Needs." If your practice is feeling a bit stagnant—maybe patient numbers are down, chairs are empty more often than you'd like, or you're just not seeing the growth you expected—it's natural to start eyeing the map. "Maybe I need a new location," you think. "A fresh start in a hotter market could be the answer." I've heard this from countless clients over the years. But hold on a second before you call the moving trucks. Today, we're going to explore why the real issue might not be where your practice is planted, but how you're marketing it. Relocating can be a costly gamble that risks losing a big chunk of your patient base, while revamping your marketing is often a smarter, cheaper fix that gets results without the upheaval.

First, let’s talk about why so many practice owners jump to relocation as the solution. It makes sense on the surface—maybe your area has seen population shifts, increased competition, or economic changes that make it feel like the grass is greener elsewhere. And sure, location matters; that's literally what Doctor Demographics is all about. But in my experience working with thousands of practices since 2012, I've found that ineffective marketing is the hidden culprit behind 70-80% of these "location problems." Think about it: even in a prime spot, if patients don't know you exist, or if your messaging doesn't resonate, you're invisible. Data from the American Dental Association backs this up—a 2024 survey showed that practices with strong digital marketing strategies saw 25% higher patient acquisition rates, regardless of urban or rural location.

Let me share a story to illustrate. A few years back, I had a client—a veterinarian in a mid-sized town in Texas—who was convinced his location was the issue. His clinic was in a stable neighborhood, but new patients were trickling in at a snail's pace. He was ready to relocate 50 miles away to a booming suburb, figuring the population growth there would solve everything. We ran the numbers: moving would cost him upwards of $200,000 in build-out, equipment transport, and lost revenue during the transition. Plus, studies from the Veterinary Practice Management Association estimate that relocations can lead to a 40-50% patient drop-off, as loyal clients stick with convenience over following you across town. That's a huge risk!

Instead, we dug deeper and realized his marketing was the real problem. His website was outdated, social media was nonexistent, and he wasn't targeting pet owners in his own backyard with things like Google ads or community events. We revamped his approach—updated the site, launched targeted Facebook campaigns focusing on local pet trends, and partnered with nearby groomers for referrals. Within six months, his patient volume jumped 35%, all without packing a single box. The lesson? Often, the "location issue" is really a visibility issue.

So, how do you know if marketing is your true problem, not location? Here are some key signs to watch for. First, check your online presence. If your Google reviews are sparse or your website hasn't been updated since the early 2010s, patients are scrolling right past you. A 2025 BrightLocal study found that 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, including healthcare providers. Second, look at your patient demographics. Are you attracting the right mix—families for pediatric dentistry, seniors for optometry, or young professionals for vet services? If not, your messaging might be off. Third, track your referral rates. If word-of-mouth is low, it could mean your patient experience is solid, but you're not amplifying it through email newsletters or loyalty programs. Finally, compare your growth to competitors in the same area. If they're thriving and you're not, it's likely marketing, not the zip code.

Now, the big question: relocating versus revamping. Let's break down the costs. Relocating isn't just about rent in a new spot. You've got permitting, renovations (which can run $100-$300 per square foot for a dental or vet office), staff retraining, and marketing the new address. Add in potential downtime—maybe 4-6 weeks without full operations—and you're looking at $150,000-$500,000 out of pocket, depending on your specialty. And that patient loss? It's real. A client of mine, an optometrist in Florida, relocated just 10 miles and lost 45% of her base because patients opted for closer options.

On the flip side, revamping your marketing is far more affordable and low-risk. A solid digital overhaul—new website, SEO, and ad campaigns—might cost $10,000-$30,000 initially, with ongoing expenses around $1,000-$5,000 a month. But the ROI? Huge. According to a 2024 HubSpot report, businesses investing in inbound marketing see a 3x higher ROI than traditional methods. Start by auditing your current efforts: What's working? What's not? Then, focus on high-impact fixes like optimizing for local SEO (so you show up in "dentist near me" searches), running geo-targeted ads, and building a content strategy around patient pain points, like "affordable pet vaccinations" or "quick eye exams for busy families."

Another example: A dentist in Washington state—sound familiar from my book?—was in what he called a "dead zone." Phones weren't ringing. We didn't suggest moving; instead, we implemented a patient retention program with automated reminders and targeted mailers to lapsed patients. Result? A 20% increase in recalls and new patients from referrals, turning his "house on fire" into a steady blaze of business.

Of course, there are times when relocation is the right call—like if your area has seen massive population decline or if regulations have shifted unfavorably. But even then, strong marketing can buy you time to plan a smooth transition. At Doctor Demographics, we use demographic data to help you decide, but 9 times out of 10, we find revamping marketing unlocks growth right where you are.

Before we wrap up, a quick tip: Start small. Pick one marketing channel—like social media—and commit to consistent posting for three months. Track results with tools like Google Analytics. You'll be amazed at the difference.

Alright, folks, that’s it for today’s episode of The Perfect Place to Put a Practice. I hope this has given you a fresh perspective on whether to relocate or revamp. If you found it helpful, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share with a colleague who's eyeing that new office space.

If you’d like to continue this conversation, visit us at www.doctordemographics.com or give us a call at (844) 704-0499. We'll see you on the next episode.