Getting new customers has always been a challenge for many businesses across all industries. The COVID-19 outbreak has made it especially difficult for dental health professionals to attract new patients.
Many individuals have put off getting their kids braces or replacing their missing teeth with dentures because they need to wait for things to get financially better, while some are concerned about their health and safety in a dental setting.
The pandemic has indeed impacted consumer behaviors and changed the dental landscape, giving birth to new dental industry trends.
Being able to recognize these trends ahead of time and respond to them is crucial for the survival of your business today and its success tomorrow.
To help make sure that your dental practice doesn’t get left behind, we’re sharing the top five dental industry trends of 2021 you need to know about.
Adapting to trends is the best way for you to cope with the changes the pandemic has created and start growing your business like you originally planned.
In this digital age, consumers are on every app, platform, and social channel you can think of. According to the Pedowits Group, 98% of Americans switch to different devices on the same day, and 86% of shoppers move across at least two channels when shopping online. This means people no longer rely on a single channel to make a final purchase decision. You must meet potential clients wherever they may be.
But before anything else, what is an omnichannel approach? The omnichannel approach refers to the process of integrating channels with each other to provide a seamless and consistent experience. It aims to make it easier for patients to navigate and switch between channels and convert. Aspect Software found that businesses that started using the omnichannel approach reported to achieve 91% greater customer retention year after year.
This 2021, you should consider using an omnichannel approach to continue to engage and meet your prospects as they travel through every stage of the buyer’s journey. It’s the best way for you to stay relevant and strong in a highly competitive market.
Over the years, we have seen the dentistry landscape evolve, and it reached its peak during the COVID-19 outbreak. Patients are no longer just numbers, they have the power to make or break your business in a single review. It takes more than just running ads to convince them to do business with you.
Today, to convert potential patients into loyal clients, you need to establish trust first by providing them an excellent patient experience that goes beyond the four walls of the dental clinic. This means being able to provide the following:
It’s also essential to optimize the digital experiences you provide with patient experience in mind. In other words, engage with them, provide valuable content, meet them at every stage of the sales funnel, and create a consistent experience across all touchpoints.
Communication is very important for businesses, especially during these uncertain times. To stand out among your competitors, you need to be empathetic when it comes to communicating with your patients.
Research from Edelman revealed that 71% of people are more likely to lose trust in a brand that tends to put profit first over people during this pandemic. An article by Forrester stated that 52% of US adults who buy online prefer companies that show how they’re keeping their customers safe from the virus. This suggests that showing empathy plays a role in building trust and nurturing your relationship with your patients and prospects during a time when dental care isn’t a priority.
To communicate empathy to your patients, you can create various forms of content showing how your dental clinic is taking precautions and keeping everyone safe during the pandemic. Make videos on how patients will be greeted when they walk into the clinic, the safety measures that should be followed, the sanitation and equipment sterilization before the procedure, and the post-op protocols.
Another idea is to walk your audience through the changes in your clinic, so they know what to expect when they get there. These will allow you to demonstrate that you’re on top of the COVID-19 situation, putting assurance and security first.
Showing empathy is also a wonderful opportunity to boost your brand reputation and position your dental practice uniquely in the minds of people.
Be sure to include the following in your content, communication, and other marketing strategies:
The need to invest in SEO, PPC, and content marketing strategies is now more important than ever, especially since the majority rely on the internet to research products and services, find local businesses, and relevant information before making a final purchase decision. Because of the changes in consumer behavior and the dental industry trends, you must optimize these three strategies to accommodate such developments.
When people are searching for a dental clinic, they always prefer a practice that’s located nearby. Many don’t want to travel hours and hours just to see a dentist. So, you want to take advantage of this by using local SEO to boost your visibility for local search. Here’s what you should do:
Providing high-quality, targeted content is a great way to highlight your expertise and authority in your field, as well as to build trust among your audience. It also helps you attract, convince, and drive potential patients straight to your door. During this pandemic, people love reading anything that allows them to look after their health and the wellbeing of their loved ones. That’s why we suggest you create more content that revolves around the importance of staying healthy and seeking dental care despite the pandemic. Furthermore, you can optimize your content using these tips:
Now that people are spending more time online, you must take advantage of this by investing in paid social and PPC advertising. Here’s how:
Automation is becoming increasingly important, with 90% of consumers demanding a unified experience across all touchpoints. Below are the three ways you can utilize automation:
It’s critical to respond and adapt to these new dental industry trends to help your business thrive post-COVID.
At Digital Resource, our digital marketing experts can help you develop and create a marketing plan that is tailored to help you achieve business goals and respond to your patient’s needs. We will help you pivot and enforce the necessary changes to help your business succeed! Contact us to know more!