For many people, the dentist’s office is a place they’d rather avoid. A root canal on a Saturday morning doesn’t exactly scream “a good time.” Even routine check-ups have been known to give some people anxiety.
That said, when it comes to their teeth and overall health, most people know a good dentist is invaluable, and many will search far and wide for the best dentist to not only take care of their pearly whites but to make them feel comfortable while doing so.
However, if you’re not properly marketing yourself, you’ll find it tough to build a good client base — no matter how patient, warm, and knowledgeable you are.
Read on to discover ways to market your dental clinic so that your business grows as wide as your clients’ smiles.
Just because you’re a dental office doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a fun, personable social media presence. After all, most people love showing their beautiful smiles for the world to see. When it comes to reaching prospective dental patients, try different creative dental marketing ideas and ramp up your social media activity when implementing a new digital marketing strategy.
Having a social media channel comes with many benefits, but the biggest is being able to market to the age demographic that visits the dentist the least: the 18-44 age bracket.
To increase awareness at your dental clinic, your social media marketing strategy should include:
While building a social media presence is the first step to a successful dental marketing strategy, you’ll need to continually engage with your audience in order to grow your brand. In an interview with Dental Tribune, Mark Schaefer underlines the importance of engagement: “To really succeed in social media, you need to leverage that potential by truly engaging with your audience in a unique, personal and memorable way.”
Based in Asheville, NC, Asheville Smiles Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is a small dental practice that knows the impact of a good social media page.
Curated by Dr. Rebekkah Merrell, Asheville Smiles’ social channel features pictures of beautiful teeth, promotions, and the office’s gorgeous landscaping.
By fully engaging with their audience through social media, Asheville Smiles makes potential clients feel less anxious about visiting the dentist while also finding opportunities to build their customer base with online-exclusive incentives.
Like many social media platforms, Nextdoor lets you engage with a wide audience. But unlike the others, Nextdoor doesn’t require you to attract followers. What’s more, by focusing on hyperlocal (rather than global) connections, Nextdoor gives small, local businesses the ability to connect with their local communities in ways that traditional social media platforms simply can’t.
While there are many benefits to growing your dental office’s brand through Nextdoor, a few of the most prominent include:
A clean, informative dental website is absolutely vital to a successful marketing campaign. In short, if your website isn’t accessible, how can clients trust your practice and find services that address their needs?
When drawing up the blueprints for your new website, prioritize keeping the design neat and user-friendly. It should be straightforward and intuitive so that users can easily find the information they’re looking for. Another good place to start is by adding a team page that allows visitors to familiarize themselves with the dentists and dental hygienists who’ll be taking care of them. This way, you can start to build trust with your patients before they even set foot in your office.
Other website essentials include:
If you’re looking to go above and beyond, look to Clemson Dental Associates for inspiration.
Based in Clemson, S.C, it’s a small dental practice with a carefully considered web design. In addition to a well-organized menu with tabs for leadership, scheduling, and services, their website includes client testimonials, patient education, and pictures of the office’s inside. And though their website provides a lot of information, it never feels cluttered.
To successfully engage your audience through your website, consider the following questions when building it:
SEO is fundamental to any effective digital marketing strategy for dental practices. By optimizing your website for search engines, you make it easier for potential patients to discover your services. Implementing on-page SEO techniques, such as incorporating relevant keywords and boosting site speed, enhances user experience and increases site traffic. Furthermore, Google provides various analytics tools to assess your site's performance, guiding continual improvement efforts to maintain a competitive online presence.
One of the best dental marketing ideas is also the most community-oriented. A great way to reach a wider audience is to engage in community outreach.
For Dr. Roger P. Levin, the value of community outreach can’t be understated. “Although community outreach certainly qualifies as “soft” marketing that typically yields actual results (new patients) over the long term,” states Levin, “it serves as a solid foundation for a people-oriented business, such as your dental practice.”
Though community outreach initiatives take on many different forms, the most common include:
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing for small businesses.
Similar to loyalty programs, patient referral bonus programs incentivize current patients to bring in new clients. In short, if a current patient brings in a new patient, both end up benefiting.
Though the benefits may vary, common advantages for current patients include:
But current clients aren’t the only ones who benefit from referral bonus programs. New clients can also take advantage of the program by receiving new patient specials and other promotions.
However you choose to incentivize referrals, effective strategies make use of the following:
In today's fast-paced digital marketing landscape, it's essential for dental practices to leverage Google tools to boost their marketing strategies. Ensuring your Google Business listing is up-to-date is crucial for enhancing local search visibility and helping potential patients find your practice. Keeping your Google Business profile optimized not only aids discoverability but also strengthens your dental marketing efforts, making search engines a consistent source of new leads. It's equally important to manage online reviews through your Google Business listing, as positive feedback can influence and attract new patients.
Email marketing stands as a vital component in digital marketing, offering the potential for significant engagement with both existing and potential patients. Whether sending appointment reminders or sharing dental health tips, a well-planned email campaign can improve patient relations and foster loyalty. Ensure your emails are informative and engaging to prompt recipients to act, like scheduling an appointment. With strategic use of email marketing, dental practices can retain their current patient base while also drawing in new clients.
While digital strategies are prominent, traditional advertising methods still play a significant role in dental marketing. Techniques like flyers, local newspaper ads, and radio spots can augment your digital marketing efforts by reaching audiences less active online. This integrated approach ensures that your dental practice's marketing campaigns reach the broadest audience possible, spanning both tech-savvy individuals and those who favor traditional media.
Creating a strong professional brand identity that aligns with your community is a cornerstone of effective dental marketing. Engaging in local events and providing free dental services are valuable ways to offer concrete benefits while promoting your practice. By showing genuine concern and commitment to your community's welfare, you enhance your reputation and attract potential patients who value a dentist that not only meets their oral health needs but shares their community-centered values.
For many people, finding the right dentist can be challenging. Not only do you have to find a dentist who specializes in your needs but also one who you can feel comfortable with.
Fortunately, Nextdoor allows you to build your community’s trust by giving your dental office the ability to reach a hyperlocal audience. By creating a Nextdoor Business Page, you can keep your community smiling—and local dentistry thriving.
Take the next step promoting your warm, transparent, and knowledgeable dental practice in your neighborhood. Claim your free Business Page to get started.
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