The 24-in-72 Follow-Up System for New PT Leads
Most clinics don't actually have a lead problem.
They have a follow-up problem.
In this episode, Jeremy breaks down the follow-up system he used at Ripple, including why a single "touch" should involve multiple channels and how 24 individual reach-outs in the first 72 hours can dramatically change lead conversion.
Episode Topics
- Why most clinics give up on leads far too early
- What Jeremy means by one follow-up "touch"
- The 24-in-72 cadence for new leads
- How follow-up changes based on where the lead came from
- Why automation and AI are essential at scale
Most Clinics Stop Before the Lead Responds
A new lead comes in. Someone calls once, maybe leaves a voicemail, sends a text, and then moves on.
The lead gets labeled as unresponsive or unqualified.
But that person may have simply been at work, at their kid's practice, or unwilling to answer an unknown number.
Jeremy's point is simple: they didn't reject you—you stopped following up.
In many cases, the response doesn't come until the third or fourth touchpoint.
One Touch Means Four Channels
For a brand-new lead, Jeremy defines one touchpoint as:
- A phone call
- A voicemail
- A text message
- An email
That matters because every patient communicates differently.
Some answer texts immediately. Others live in their inbox. Some need the voicemail before they'll trust that the number belongs to a real clinic.
The goal isn't redundancy. It's giving the patient multiple ways to respond.
The 24-in-72 Formula
The first follow-up should happen within minutes of a new inquiry.
Then the clinic should continue reaching out multiple times per day during the first 72 hours.
Six touchpoints across four communication channels equals:
24 individual reach-outs in the first three days.
That may sound aggressive compared with the typical clinic, but Jeremy argues that the patient already asked for help. Consistent follow-up shows that your clinic is paying attention.
Lead Source Changes the First Message
The cadence may stay consistent, but the first conversation should match where the lead came from.
- Missed calls: Call and text back immediately. These are often your highest-intent leads.
- Workshop leads: Start with the workshop topic and bridge naturally toward an evaluation.
- Instagram DMs: Get the lead's contact information into your CRM and move the conversation beyond the DM inbox.
- Lead magnets: Continue delivering value before transitioning toward an appointment.
- Referrals: Stay consistent even if the referred person doesn't respond immediately.
The lead source determines the first message. The point where they stall determines the ongoing follow-up.
You Can't Do This Manually at Scale
Twenty-four individual reach-outs per lead quickly becomes impossible to manage manually once lead volume increases.
Jeremy recommends combining human follow-up with CRM automation and AI so no lead gets forgotten simply because the clinic gets busy.
The system can handle repeated texts, calls, reminders, lost-lead outreach, and longer-term reactivation while the owner focuses on the conversations that actually require a person.
The Takeaway
Your ads may already be generating enough opportunities.
The question is whether your clinic is still present when the patient is finally ready to respond.
Stop judging your follow-up by how many times you've tried.
Judge it by whether the lead has responded, booked, unsubscribed, or clearly told you they're no longer interested.
Get the Free Follow-Up Guide
Jeremy built a free guide that breaks down lead types, follow-up cadence, funnel stage, and message strategy so you can build this system inside your clinic.
Download the Free Follow-Up Guide
More Free Resources
Subscribe to the Physical Therapy Marketing YouTube Channel for more strategies on patient acquisition, follow-up, AI, Google Ads, and clinic growth.
- Free AI Admin Training
- Get a Free AI Phone Agent Built for Your Clinic
- Free Google Ads Audit
- Free Local SEO Audit