Finding My Footing as a New Practice Owner

When I bought my practice two years ago, I was excited, and honestly, a little overwhelmed. Like most optometrists, I came out of school confident in my ability to care for patients, but less certain about how to grow a practice, stand out, or make sure patients could actually find us. I was ready to build something long term, but I quickly learned that while great care is essential, it isn’t always enough on its own. People have to know you’re there.

Turning to VSP Premier Edge
I’ve been part of VSP Premier Edge since the day I took ownership, continuing the relationship established by the previous owner. Looking back, that decision made a big difference early on.

Premier Edge significantly increased our visibility, especially among VSP members who are actively looking for providers where they can maximize their benefits. Today, many of our new patients find us through VSP’s provider directory because we’re listed as a Premier Edge location. That visibility has played a meaningful role in our continued growth.

Finding Direction with Marketing Support
Marketing was one of the biggest unknowns for me as a new owner. I didn’t want to guess or waste time on changes that wouldn’t matter. That’s what led me to Premier Edge Marketing Support.

The team reviewed our website, directory listing, and overall online presence and focused on small, practical changes that were easy to implement. One simple update, adding a clear “Schedule Now” button to the top of our homepage, led to a noticeable increase in online appointment scheduling.

They also helped strengthen our Google presence, which resulted in more patient reviews and greater trust from people researching us online. Those reviews reflect the care and experience we already provide; the marketing support just helped make that more visible.

Growth Backed by Care
In my first two years of ownership, the practice grew by about 25%. Leveraging VSP Premier Edge and its marketing support helped bring patients through the door; what truly keeps them coming back is the care.

We focus on relationships, consistency, and making sure every patient feels supported. That’s what I’m most proud of. Some patients have followed me from practice to practice over the years, and that kind of trust means everything.

Moving Forward with Confidence
If I could offer advice to newer practice owners, it would be this: use the resources available to you. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own—and you don’t need to have marketing perfected on day one.

Today, I feel confident about where the practice is headed. As Eye See It, I’m focused on steady growth, strong community connections, and building something lasting, rooted in thoughtful care and genuine relationships with our patients.