Dental Marketing Tips: How to Attract More Dental Patients
It is important to create an effective dental marketing plan for your dental office and to set goals. What do you want? How much do you want it? When do you want it? These questions help define specific objectives based on what your customers (or potential customers) need or value. For example, if one of your objectives was “increase inquiries from current patients” you could measure that by tracking the number of times your office receives a phone call from a current patient or you could set up an interactive online system where visitors to your website can subscribe to a monthly newsletter by providing their email address.
When someone needs your services, they’re going to need information about scheduling an appointment. You’ll want to include this information prominently on any promotional pieces such as postcards or brochures. Think of ways in which you can increase accessibility – make sure phone numbers are displayed clearly and provide multiple options for contact including email addresses and links to social media networks. Make sure it is easy for potential patients to get necessary information without having to leave their home (or office).
1) Marketing on the Internet
The internet has changed the rules of business – customers are no longer expecting businesses to find them; they are actively seeking information about their next purchase everywhere from social media networks to local search directories. By creating and maintaining online profiles on these sites, not only will you be able to reach interested customers who are nearby, but you’ll also be establishing yourself as a thought leader.
Creating an online profile is incredibly simple and can be done for free; all it takes is a user name and password (and perhaps some initial contact information) to get started. Social media networks offer businesses similar benefits – they’re free to join and take little time to maintain, so there’s no reason not to take advantage of this opportunity!
Your website should contain at least basic information about your practice including hours, address and other contact details. You may also want to create an “about” or “bio” page which describes the services offered by your dental practice along with patient testimonials. This content should be updated regularly to reflect any changes that could impact your business. SEO for dentists is also very beneficial for their website.
2) Marketing through Special Offers and Events
You may find it useful to periodically highlight a specific service or product at your dental office by advertising a special offer; then, direct interested individuals to come in for a consultation with one of the practitioners on staff.
Use discounts and coupons sparingly as they can devalue products if overused. For example, “spa days” entice potential new patients into your practice while simultaneously offering current patients an incentive to refer additional clients – but you should avoid more promotional marketing campaigns like these which can disrupt overall service quality or detract from other sales efforts.
3) Update and Optimize Your Google My Business Page
Your Google My Business page is one of the most powerful tools available to you for promoting your dental practice and increasing visibility. Make sure that this profile contains a complete and accurate description of your business along with contact information, location details and reviews from past patients.
Effective dental marketing plan always includes maintaining an active presence on these profiles will ensure that you’re leading interested customers to your website via search engines i.e Local SEO and Google Maps. Your goal should be to maximize the number of people coming into your office without going over budget by marketing in ways which are not as intensive or expensive.
4) Using Dentist Directories
Sites like MouthHealthy offers its visitors (a majority of whom are looking for cosmetic procedures or services to improve their smile) an extensive database of dental provider information including contact details (including specialty), customer reviews, a business description and general location. These kind of sites are mostly free to join and you can add as much or as little content as you desire. You’ll also have the opportunity to feature your practice in special sections such as “Dentistry-for-the-Entire Family” so that customers looking for this type of service will be able to find you easily.
5) Spread the Word: Print Materials
Direct mail campaigns can seem costly but they’re one of the most effective ways to drive traffic into your office; consider sending flyers or coupons which offer discounts on dental care to homes nearby. If your dental marketing efforts are successful, these individuals will have already heard about your practice before making the trip for their scheduled appointment – this means that they’ll also be more likely to become a permanent patient!
Similarly, don’t forget about other traditional advertising options such as signage and flyers. The reason why these techniques are so successful is because they’re easily distributed in public places which makes them convenient and time-efficient.
6) Relationship and Referral Marketing
Forming relationships with dentists and other professionals in your area that serve the same kinds of patients will help you to increase referrals. By becoming a leader in your community, others may look to you as an industry expert and refer clients to you when they’re not available.
Remember that marketing does not stop once someone becomes a patient; it should continue throughout their entire experience with your practice. A good way to do this is to provide incentives for referrals – current patients are statistically more likely to send new business if you give them something in return (discounts on future services or anything else they value).
You may find it beneficial to form relationships with media outlets such as newspapers, radio stations or television shows which reach out audiences similar to those served by your dental practice. Set up interviews with local publications and provide practitioners with a press kit that includes your office’s mission statement, key contact information and recent published materials.
7) Pricing
Pricing is one of the most essential elements for dental marketing. Before deciding on a specific pricing strategy, you should know what other practices in your area are charging for similar procedures. You may also want to do some research to explore the costs involved in delivering those services – remember that you must stay competitive but remain profitable as well!
Once you understand which procedures potential patients value most, determine how much they are willing to pay for them – this will help define your price structure. But keep in mind that there is no “one-price-fits-all solution; each patient’s situation is unique and you should be able to customize your services accordingly.
If your dental practice offers cosmetic procedures, consider offering financing options which can help patients afford the care they need immediately (and increase goodwill). Some finance companies offer zero or low-interest loans for dentist’s offices in exchange for a monthly fee. This is often an easy way to pay off expensive treatments quickly without forcing patients who cannot afford it at present into making payments that will take years to cover.
Final Words
So, these 7 dental marketing tips will help your dental practice grow steadily, leading to many more patients and greater income. Utilize them and get the most out of your marketing efforts. You need to figure out what works best for you and then take actions accordingly.
