The Year-End Countdown: What Every Healthcare Practice Should Be Doing in November to Keep Marketing Strong
As the year winds down and holiday schedules ramp up, November often becomes the month that slips through the cracks. Between patient load, staff time off, and the general year-end rush, marketing can easily slide down the priority list.
But here’s the truth: what you do in November sets the tone for your entire next year.
It’s the month to tighten up, take stock, and get strategic — both in your tangible marketing efforts and in how your team shows up for patients.
Whether you’re a dentist, doctor, aesthetician, or veterinarian, now is the time to look ahead while finishing strong. Let’s walk through the ultimate year-end countdown — everything your practice should be doing in November to keep your marketing momentum (and reputation) thriving.
1. Review This Year’s Marketing Performance
Before planning ahead, you need to know what worked (and what didn’t). November is the perfect time to pull reports and assess your return on investment.
Look at:
- Website Traffic: Which months brought the most visitors? What keywords are patients finding you with?
- SEO Rankings: Are you showing up on Google for your top services? Has your position changed over time?
- Social Media Engagement: What posts got the most likes, comments, and shares?
- Lead Sources: Where did your new patients actually come from — referrals, ads, search, social, or email?
- Email or Direct Mail Performance: What open or response rates did you see?
This reflection phase is essential. It tells you where to double down, what to refine, and what to leave behind for the new year.
Ai Healthcare Marketing Tip: Create a “Marketing Health Report” with snapshots from each campaign. Our clients love this tool — it’s a quick visual of progress and proof that their marketing dollars are working.
2. Plan Your End-of-Year Promotions and Scheduling Push
Patients are busy in December, but they’re also motivated — to use insurance benefits, spend FSA dollars, and look their best for holiday photos.
November is the time to plan and announce:
- “Use It Before You Lose It” insurance campaigns for dentists and medical providers.
- Holiday skincare or treatment specials for aestheticians and med spas.
- Pet wellness packages or gift certificates for veterinarians.
- “Health for the Holidays” checkup campaigns for family practices.
Don’t wait until mid-December — launch early in November so you’re ahead of the rush.
Promote across:
- Email newsletters
- Social media
- Office posters and counter cards
- Website homepage banners
- Google Business Profile posts
Pro Tip: Keep promotions simple and time-bound — limited offers build urgency and drive action.
3. Audit Your Online Presence and Local Listings
Many patients are searching online for year-end or post-holiday appointments. Make sure your digital presence is ready for them.
Run this quick checklist:
- Google Business Profile: Are your hours, photos, and services up to date — especially holiday closures?
- Website: Are all links working? Is your contact form easy to use? Does your homepage clearly explain what you do?
- Social Media: Are you posting consistently and responding to comments?
- Reviews: Do you have a steady stream of new, authentic patient reviews?
If anything’s out of date or neglected, fix it now — before holiday traffic surges and potential new patients click away.
Ai Healthcare Marketing Tip: We often see practices lose new-patient calls in December simply because their Google listing still shows “Closed Sundays” when they’re open or has outdated phone numbers. Small details make a big difference.
4. Train and Re-Energize Your Front Office Team
Your team is the face of your marketing. The best branding, website, or social media in the world can’t overcome a poor first impression when a patient calls or walks in.
November is an ideal time for a staff tune-up:
- Phone etiquette refreshers: Are they answering promptly, using the right scripts, and sounding friendly?
- Scheduling and upselling training: Do they know how to book efficiently and promote add-on services?
- Customer service consistency: Are they aligned on how to greet, assist, and follow up with patients?
- Holiday hospitality: From festive decorations to small touches like cocoa at the counter, these details matter.
Host a short training or morning huddle series to review best practices. Even one hour of team alignment can elevate your entire patient experience — and your reviews.
Pro Tip: Have your team role-play common patient questions or objections. Confidence on the phone directly impacts conversion rates.
5. Revisit Your Branding and Messaging
The end of the year is a natural time to evaluate your brand voice, visuals, and message consistency.
Ask yourself:
- Does your website and social media still reflect who you are?
- Is your logo modern and professional?
- Do your photos look current — or like they were taken years ago?
- Does your tagline still match your direction?
A quick brand refresh in the winter can set you apart when everyone else starts the new year looking the same.
Ai Healthcare Marketing Insight: Practices that invest in updated visuals or messaging in Q4 often start the new year with stronger engagement and better patient perception. A clean, confident look builds instant trust.
6. Plan Your 2026 Marketing Calendar Now
Don’t wait for January chaos to plan your new year. November is prime time to outline your 2026 marketing strategy while things are still calm enough to think clearly.
Here’s what to map out:
- Seasonal campaigns: January “New Year, New You,” spring checkups, summer specials, back-to-school promotions, etc.
- Content calendar: Plan monthly blog topics, social themes, and seasonal visuals.
- Budget allocation: Determine where to invest — SEO, paid ads, direct mail, or video.
- Website updates: Schedule site refreshes or new pages for growing services.
Even if you adjust later, having a draft roadmap ensures your marketing never goes dark.
Ai Healthcare Marketing Tip: We offer clients a “Year-at-a-Glance Marketing Calendar” — it keeps messaging consistent and prevents those “we forgot to post!” moments.
7. Reconnect With Your Patient Base
November is the season of gratitude — a perfect time to show appreciation and stay top of mind with your patient community.
Simple but powerful ideas:
- Send a thank-you email from your team.
- Post a gratitude message or team photo on social media.
- Mail a holiday card with a note of appreciation or small incentive.
- Spotlight loyal patients (with permission) or share positive testimonials.
These gestures strengthen relationships and build emotional loyalty — which translates to referrals and long-term retention.
Pro Tip: Don’t underestimate how far a heartfelt “thank you for trusting us with your care” can go. Patients remember kindness.
8. Prep Your Practice for Visual Marketing
The holidays bring great opportunities for photo and video content — perfect for marketing into next year.
Schedule a quick photo or video shoot in November to capture:
- Team candids and updated headshots
- Your decorated office or waiting area
- Behind-the-scenes “day in the life” footage
- Patient appreciation events or charity drives
You’ll have authentic, seasonal visuals ready to use for months — instead of scrambling for stock photos later.
Ai Healthcare Marketing Tip: Authentic imagery builds trust faster than stock images. Patients want to see real faces and real spaces.
9. Review Your Patient Journey
Every marketing effort ultimately leads to one thing: the patient experience.
November is an excellent time to walk through your own process — from first click to final visit.
Ask yourself:
- How easy is it to schedule online?
- Are new patients welcomed promptly and warmly?
- Do follow-up calls or texts go out after appointments?
- Are patients being asked for reviews consistently?
Look for bottlenecks or gaps. Improving these internal systems pays huge dividends — happy patients talk, refer, and return.
Pro Tip: A five-minute patient experience audit can reveal where your marketing is leaking conversions.
10. Align Your Marketing With Your Mission
Finally, November is a great time for reflection — not just about numbers and campaigns, but purpose.
Why did you start your practice? What kind of patient experience do you want to create? What do you want to be known for in your community?
When your marketing aligns with your mission, everything else — content, branding, patient communication — becomes more powerful and authentic.
At Ai Healthcare Marketing, we believe great marketing starts with clarity. When a practice knows who they are and what they stand for, patients can feel it.
Wrapping It All Up: Your November To-Do List
To recap, here’s your Year-End Countdown Checklist for keeping your marketing strong:
- Review your 2025 marketing performance.
- Plan and launch year-end promotions.
- Audit your website and local listings.
- Train and refresh your front office team.
- Revisit your brand and message.
- Plan your 2026 marketing calendar.
- Reconnect with your patients.
- Capture updated photos and videos.
- Evaluate your patient journey.
- Realign with your mission and goals.
By focusing on these 10 areas in November, you’ll finish the year confident, organized, and ready to attract more patients in 2026.
Ready to Finish Strong?
At Ai Healthcare Marketing, we help healthcare professionals plan and execute powerful, personalized marketing strategies that work year-round. From SEO and websites to staff training idea tools, direct mail, and seasonal campaigns, our goal is simple — to help your practice grow with clarity and confidence.