7 Dental Marketing Best Practices to Get More Patients
Brand Development
By
Lara Ramos
•
Dec 10, 2022
Being able to consistently get new patients is crucial for small dental practices. According to Aldrich Advisors, every dentist needs at least 20 new patients each month to thrive and achieve success.
But the million-dollar question is, where can your dental practice find these patients?
Without a doubt, your prospective patients are online! A report by Pew Research revealed that 77% of people go online to research dental treatments and find dentists. These experiences are also increasingly powered by mobile and “near me” searches.
This means that your target patients are scrolling through their social media feeds, searching for your dental services on Google, and they’re probably looking for you on Maps too.
Make sure you capture them by taking your practice’s digital presence to the next level! Wondering how? You can start by following these dental marketing best practices.
Creating a profile on Google My Business and filling it with essential information is important to get patients to convert or book an appointment with you.
It will also boost your visibility online, allowing you to appear for “dentist near me” searches and all other kinds of relevant Google search experiences.
Once you’ve claimed your dental practice on Google, here are some best practices to keep in mind to help you win over patients and rank high on search results:
Fill out each section correctly and consistently. This is very critical because all information on your GMB page will automatically sync into your Google’s Local Map Pack. The Local Map Pack is a listing that groups similar or related businesses by location. The closest to a searcher’s location will rank the highest!
Make sure your business name is consistent with the one you use on your site, practice signage, social media, and other online presence.
Your business name and address should match exactly with your other listings across the web.
Indicate your COVID protocol, business hours, and holiday hours.
Optimize the “from the business” section of your GMB by repurposing your “About Us” or mission statement. Include keywords.
Choose the right category for your practice. 84% of Business Profile views on Google come from discovery searches. This means that the user who searches for a product or service used a categorical term to find business profiles.
Set applicable attributes that your potential patients will look for, like "accepts insurance,” "flexible payment terms,” "free first check-up,” and so on.
Add photos of your dental practice and friendly staff. People like to see that they can be comfortable in your clinic and that you have updated equipment to provide them with the care they need.
Fill out the question and answer feature in Google Business Profiles. Answering frequently asked questions might just be what potential customers need to convert.
2. Enlist Your Practice in Dental Directories
25% of people prefer to use their state dental society or dental board to find a dentist. Make sure you reach that 25% by enlisting your dental practice in relevant dental directories, including:
Enlisting your dental practice in these dental directories will help people find you easier. It also boosts your local SEO and improves your rankings directly.
Optimize your listings just like you would with your GMB. Follow the same best practices, such as making sure that your business name, address, and contact number are consistent.
It's also important to include other crucial information, such as the services you offer, certifications, and promos.
3. Update Your Websiteand Optimize for SEO
It’s not enough that you just have a clean and beautiful brick-and-mortar dental practice, you also need to have an A+ website.
Your site could be your practice’s first point of interaction with patients, and you don’t want them to judge you wrongly just because you have an outdated web design.
In fact, 94% of first impressions are related to your web design. 75% of people judge your credibility based on the design as well.
Update your website to make sure it functions well and looks aesthetically pleasing to your target patients. It’s also important that it ranks well in the results pages so optimize it for dental SEO.
Here are some SEO best practices you need to follow:
Align your site’s content with your target patient’s search intent.
Include keywords in your title tags and meta descriptions.
Optimize your images by compressing them, using the best file format, and providing alt text.
Improve your site’s loading speed. It should load within three seconds or less.
Build an internet linking structure to help potential patients navigate through your content efficiently.
Work on improving your site’s user experience by making your content visually appealing and easy to read. It's also important that you avoid using intrusive popups and make your site mobile-friendly too.
Make your URLs search-friendly by ensuring that users and search engines have an idea of what the destination page is all about.
Earn backlinks from authoritative sites.
Publish useful and relevant content for your target patients.
To make your website more user-friendly, here are other best practices to follow:
Don’t use jargon or any complicated language. As much as possible explain concepts and terms to users as simply as possible.
Make it easy for your potential customers to find the information they want by adding an internal search bar.
Use a simple, brand-consistent, and user-centered web design.
Provide authoritative content by sharing your expert tips, opinion, and dental hacks through blogs, videos, whitepapers, and more.
Introduce the dentists, staff, and office environment to your potential patients.
Make online scheduling or setting an appointment as simple and easy as possible.
Publish helpful videos and informative images.
Showcase social proof like patient user-generated content, reviews, and testimonials.
Allow online bill payment, prescription renewal, and account management capabilities on your site.
Use chatbots and other messaging capabilities so patients can communicate with you quickly and get the answers they need the right way.
4. Create a Consistent Content Calendar for Your Dental Blog
To build trust, establish authority, and increase your credibility as the best dental practice in your area, you need to consistently publish helpful content.
Content dental marketing also helps boost your presence online. By using the right keywords and writing interesting topics your target patients will most find helpful, you can generate organic traffic to your site and attract patients.
Blogs, videos, and infographics are also some of the best ways to educate your potential patients. Make sure you publish them consistently to boost engagement and put your brand at the top of your target patients' minds.
Here are some best practices when writing blog posts or creating other forms of content for your dental practice:
Address common dental problems.
Introduce dental procedures.
Explain specific, more complex dental problems simply.
Provide oral health tips and expert advice.
Debunk myths and incorrect assumptions.
Explain new techniques.
Discuss emerging trends and industry news.
You want your blogs to create value for your patients and help you rank high on search engine results pages. It’s also an effective way to connect with your patients and position yourself as a dental expert.
5. Be More Active on Social Media
Take your dental marketing to the next level by being more active on social media.
Since 1.79 billion people are active on social media every day, you must stay active on the platform your target patients are on.
Here are a few ideas on how to be more active on social and get more out of your social media channels:
Remind people about the dental benefits they’re not using. Studies show that more than 25% of people with dental insurance are unaware of their full dental benefits. Tell them about the cleanings, check-ups, and x-rays that are covered to try and get them into your chair.
Create short-form video content that highlights your dental procedures, patient testimonials, and before and after results. This is a great way to show how professional, experienced, and reliable you are at handling dental cases.
Publish eye-popping statistics that your potential patients will find interesting.
Create before and after photos and videos of your patients. This is a great way to convince patients to get a smile makeover.
Repurpose client reviews, blogs, photos, and videos for social media.
Launch social media ads that target potential patients who have already shown interest in your practice, such as those who have engaged with your posts or messaged you in the past.
6. Publish More Video Content
Video should be an essential part of your dental marketing mix. Need some ideas on what kinds of video content you should be publishing more?
Check this out below:
Publish welcome or introductory videos to introduce potential patients to your practice.
Create profile videos about your dentists, surgeons, and other staff members. This will help put a face on your dental brand and build trust. It’s also a great way to humanize your dental practice. Ask them to discuss their background, training, practice philosophy, and their areas of expertise.
Create videos of your dental treatments and procedures to give potential patients an overview of what they can expect.
Publish educational videos that touch on important oral matters, like hygiene and dental awareness. This will help promote check-ups and regular cleanings.
Answer FAQs about common dental procedures and other questions your potential patients might ask.
7. Invest in Paid Search and Social Media Ads
If you want to capture potential patients who are ready to convert, do so by investing in paid social and PPC ads.
PPC ads allow you to place lead-generating content at the top of search results, while social media ads allow you to capture potential patients who are scrolling through their social feeds.
What’s great about investing in ads is that they can get you immediate results.
Both types of ads are great for advertising special offers, and discounts, and putting engaging content in front of your intended audience.
Here are some tips for improving your PPC campaigns:
Use negative words to help filter out irrelevant searches.
Create landing pages that match your ads.
Use targeting to make sure you only show your ads to potential patients that will likely convert.
Use a compelling call to action to get potential patients to convert.
Offer something valuable and irresistible to your target patients.
Test your ad copy.
If you prefer to use social media ads, here are some tips to help you get started:
Determine your target patients.
Advertise on social media platforms where your target patients spend most of their time on.
Set the right goals for your social media ads.
Use high-quality images.
Create a dedicated landing page.
Use a compelling call to action.
Test your ads to see which copy generates the most engagement.
Take Your Dental Marketing Strategy to The Next Level!
Now that you know the seven dental marketing best practices to help you acquire more new patients, use them to your advantage!
If you feel like you need expert help, Digital Resource is the best dental marketing agency for the job!
Our digital marketing specialists will work with you to create a customized dental marketing strategy that will help you generate more patients and achieve business goals.
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