One of the most important aspects of a dental practice is marketing. Knowing where marketing should fit into your business plan can take time and effort. Professional dentists sometimes need more time to devote to marketing, and often feel like they should spend more money on staff and technology. While these investments are important, there are plenty of ways that a dental practice can effectively market without breaking its budget.
What is Dental Marketing?
Dental marketing is any activity dentist, or dental office uses that puts your practice in front of new patients. The goal is to get a patient into the office and through your front door. The process should follow a well-thought-out plan that considers current and potential new patient needs. Dental marketing will help you obtain and retain long-term patients when done correctly. Here are some strategies we have used to market our dental practice effectively without breaking the bank.
1. Upgrade Your Website Design
One of the best ways to market your practice is to have a professional-looking website. A website should be easy for patients to use and have the latest technology. It is vital that patients can read about upcoming dental procedures and schedule appointments online. Websites are used by almost all patients when they are researching dentists online, making it very important that yours is attractive, easy to use, and informative.
2. Optimize Your Google Business Profile
A business Profile is necessary for competing in the highly competitive dental market. A highly optimized Google business profile can help you stand out from your competitors. This is accomplished by ensuring that all your information is accurate, up-to-date, and presented in an attractive format. It's also important to include keywords on your website and business card directly related to the services you offer.
According to Nick Fiammetta of Visionisto, a local SEO agency in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, “Google My Business has the potential to be a goldmine for many small businesses. Especially dental practices. By signing up for, optimizing, and monitoring your Google My Business profile, it can slowly become a prominent source of new patients for your practice.”
3. Create Relevant, Engaging & Informative Content
Your website content must be exciting and relevant to your target market. You want patients to read everything you post on your website, from the home page to the blog, dental procedures information, and even any trusted patient reviews. Ensure your information is current and always relevant to the needs of your target market.
4. Offer a Dental Membership Program
A dental membership program can be a great way to attract new patients. Your program must be structured in a way that keeps patients coming back to your practice. Your membership program should include incentives for returning and staying with your training. You can also use the program to generate referrals, and promote specific dental procedures. These programs are top-rated, and many practices have had great success. A membership program is beneficial because it helps build patient loyalty and provides patients with information about your practice, and special discounts and promotions.
5. Ask Your Patients for Reviews
If you are practicing in an area where patients are widely sharing experiences, you must request these reviews. Make sure that you do not link to or publish reviews from people who aren't related to your practice or have a medical background. You can use online review sites explicitly made for dentists to help spread the word about your practice. Review sites like Yelp and Dentistry.com allow patients to upload pictures, and comments about their experiences with their dental office.
As one of the leading dentists in Port Washington, our reviews continue to be one of the key reasons we get so many new patient inquiries each month!
6. Host a Dental Contest Giveaway
One of the best ways to get patients to share their dental experiences online is to host a giveaway. This is an excellent way for patients to feel like part of your dental practice's team. It can be a great way to generate leads and increase brand awareness. People often participate as they think they are helping you with your marketing efforts and want an extra incentive or reward for their time. Try different contests every six months or so, just as new products and services come out so that you can stay fresh in their minds.
7. Start a Dental Podcast
Another great way to generate interest in your practice is to start a dental podcast. Podcasts are getting increasingly popular and can be a great way to connect with potential new patients. You can use a podcast to educate patients on topics related to your dental practice or dental health. Many dentists have found that podcasts are beneficial in sharing valuable information with their patients, like current news stories or issues relating to the dental industry.
8. Support Local Charitable Organizations
Charitable events, fundraising, and even sporting events are great ways to connect with potential new patients. Being involved in local organizations is also a great way to market your practice. Creating partnerships with volunteer organizations and local businesses can be a great way to get your name out there. It would help if you remembered that most people attending these charitable events have never considered visiting your practice. This should be an excellent opportunity to connect with new potential patients.
9. Offer Discounts & Specials for New Patients
After a new patient visits your practice and receives their first cleaning, ensure that you provide them with a gift certificate or coupon for future services. There are so many ways that you can use this to market your dental practice. Using a marketing strategy like sampling, you could provide new patients with discounted product samples. You may also offer complimentary dental services for new patients after the initial appointment (such as x-rays or cleaning). These kinds of offers can be very effective in getting more referrals.
Marketing and promoting your dental practice is essential in building a successful business. You can learn how to market your dental practice online and generate more patients. It would help to create a marketing strategy that works best for your practice. These tips will help you reach more potential patients and generate new leads for your dental practice.