What's Wrong With Your Traditional Dental Marketing Strategy?

Dental marketing has evolved dramatically in recent years. Most dental practices, if not all, rely on traditional marketing techniques to attract new patients. However, you may be unaware that your traditional dental marketing strategy is causing more harm than good.

In this article, we'll look at some issues with traditional dental marketing and how you can alter your approach to attract more patients.

What People Think About Traditional Dental Marketing

Many factors contribute to why a traditional dental marketing strategy will not succeed:

• Most people don't trust traditional advertising. It's no surprise that people are skeptical of advertisements in a world where we're constantly bombarded with them. In fact, studies show that only about half of people believe what they see in ads.
• People are more likely to believe referrals from family and friends. When looking for a new dentist, people are much more likely to trust referrals from family members and friends than they are to trust advertisements in the local newspaper or online.
• People want to know what's in it for them. When people see an ad, they naturally wonder what's in it for them. What makes your dental practice superior compared to others? If your ad does not answer this question, people will most likely ignore it.

How about you? What did your patients think of your practice's marketing strategies? Why not ask them and use their responses to improve your dental marketing strategies?

3 Major Reasons Your Traditional Dental Marketing Strategy Isn't Working

There are numerous reasons why your traditional marketing strategy may be failing. But we've narrowed them down to three major ones. Check out our list below if you believe it applies to your practice.

Reason #1: Your Traditional Dental Marketing Strategy Is Outdated

If you are still using traditional dental marketing methods, it is time to make a change. Print advertisements and yellow pages are no longer effective in today's digital world. Dental patients increasingly use the internet to research dentists and dental care, so your marketing strategy must reflect this.

Moreover, patients are now using the internet to research dentists and dental care. If you don't have a solid online presence as part of your marketing strategy, you're passing up a huge opportunity to reach potential patients.

Reason #2: Your Traditional Dental Marketing Strategy Is Ineffective

If your dental practice isn't benefiting from traditional dental marketing strategies, it could be because they're ineffective. Using ineffective outbound marketing tactics and failing to use the most recent digital marketing tools and strategies is a no-no. As a result, your practice isn't growing as quickly as it could.

In addition, you may still rely excessively on print advertising. There has been a decline in the effectiveness of print advertisements. People are increasingly turning to the internet to find the dental care they need, so make sure your practice is visible online.

Investing in search engine optimization (SEO) to raise your website's visibility in search results and using social media to reach out to potential patients where they already spend time are both viable options. 

In fact, 75% of marketers believe that SEO tactics are highly effective in marketing.

Although videos are not commonly used in dental practices, they can be a powerful marketing tool. Including videos on your website and social media channels can help you connect with potential patients and show them what your practice offers.

Reason #3: Your Traditional Dental Marketing Strategy Is Expensive

Traditional advertising methods are frequently costly and do not always produce results. Let's look at some of the most common dental marketing expenses:

• Advertisement in local newspapers or directories: Depending on your market, this can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month.
• Radio or TV commercials: A quality commercial can cost several thousand dollars, not to mention the cost of airtime.
• Yellow pages ads: A full-page ad in the Yellow Pages dental section can cost up to $5,000 per year. ‍
• Direct mail campaigns: Mailing postcards or brochures to prospective patients can quickly add up, especially if you're aiming for a large geographic area. ‍
• Sponsoring community events: Many dentists support community events such as 5K races and charity walks/runs. While this is an excellent way to help your community, it can be costly.

Traditional dental marketing, as you can see, can be pretty costly. And, regrettably, there is no guarantee that your efforts will yield new patients.

What You Can Do To Improve Your Dental Marketing Strategy

Some marketing strategies rely on a combination of print advertisements, online directories, and possibly some word-of-mouth referrals. While this approach is not inherently wrong, it is essential to remember that the dental landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years.

Your marketing strategy must constantly evolve to stay ahead of the competition. Here are a few suggestions to help you improve your dental marketing strategy:

Invest in SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential to your marketing strategy. If you want more people to learn about your medical practice online, you need to optimize your website for relevant keywords.

Use Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for reaching a larger audience. Make sure you're active on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share exciting content regularly.

Create a Blog

A blog is a fantastic way to share helpful information with potential patients while establishing trust with your audience. Write about relevant topics to your practice and include keywords people are looking for.

Get Involved in Your Community

Building relationships in your community can assist you in attracting new patients. Participate in community activities, such as sponsoring a local sports team or volunteering at a local school or charity.

Building relationships in your community can assist you in attracting new patients. Participate in community activities such as sponsoring a local sports team or volunteering at a local school or charity.

Create Informative Content

One of the most effective ways to attract new dental patients is to provide them with helpful information. Create blog posts, infographics, or videos to educate prospective patients about dental health and treatment options.

Offer Specials and Discounts

Everyone enjoys a good bargain! To attract new patients, offer specials and discounts on dental services.

Move on from Traditional Dental Marketing

If you're like most dentists, your marketing strategy is probably outdated and ineffective. Traditional methods such as newspaper ads, Yellow Pages listings, and direct mail are becoming less effective as more people use the internet to find dental care providers.

Digital Resource specializes in digital marketing strategies, which you need to implement if you want to stay ahead of the competition.

With the help of our digital marketing experts, we can integrate search engine optimization, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and social media marketing strategies to help you reach more patients and expand your practice.

Contact us today for a free consultation.