In a digital age, having a strong online presence is a necessary tool for success for any dental office. But it’s not just about having a website; if you know the most effective digital marketing strategies, you can get the most out of your marketing budget. Here are some steps to take to increase your digital visibility and build your practice.
1. Regular Content Creation
One key foundational strategy for online marketing is to regularly create content. When your site and online presence are rich in content, this shows patients that your dental office is available, engaged, in touch, and prompt. Consistent posting gives your audience more opportunities to spend time on your site, shares useful information with patients, and improves your professionalism.
The first step to regular content creation is keeping up with a blog. Post 2-3 times a month covering topics related to your practice and frequently asked questions. Be sure to share your posts on social media accounts and use them as an opportunity to engage with the community. Another part of content creation is adding videos to your site. These can showcase your expertise and help clients connect with your staff and your office. By consistently providing valuable information to your audience, you demonstrate your knowledge and experience and build trust with potential patients.
2. Google Business Profile
Having a Google Business Profile is essential for any dental office looking to reach new patients. This profile allows you to manage your online presence, including your business information, reviews, and photos. These are some basic ways to optimize your profile:
- Make sure it’s accurate: Always make sure that information like contact details and hours of operation on your profile is accurate.
- High-quality photos: Don’t skimp on the images – put some effort into regularly uploading high-quality pictures of your office and staff. Google rewards pages that are updated regularly as opposed to stale profiles.
- Respond to reviews: When patients leave reviews, respond! This lets the public know that you do read and appreciate these reviews, and that you take suggestions into consideration.
- Keep info up-to-date: Post new information and photos to keep your profile up-to-date and relevant.
3. Client Retention
Retaining existing patients is just as important as attracting new ones. Go the extra mile to make sure patients know that you care about them. Follow up with patients regularly to ask about the service provided and their experience in the office. Always set up automatic appointment reminders via text (preferably) or email. Additionally, be sure you inquire about the source of referrals on intake forms. This makes it easy to personally thank patients for referring others. This kind of personal interaction makes patients feel appreciated.
4. Ask for Reviews
Positive reviews and a large volume of reviews are probably the single most important factor to both Google and potential patients. Reviews are king when it comes to digital marketing, so don’t be afraid to ask for them. Happy patients are nearly always eager to leave you a positive review if they like your business. Any compliment given in the office is an opportunity to ask for a review.
You may not get a chance to ask every patient to leave a review. Here’s a pro tip: put up a sign in the waiting room to remind patients to leave a review while they’re waiting for their appointment. California dental office Fab Dental reports that they immediately saw an increase in reviews after posting signage in their office. Just this small visual reminder lets your patients know what they can do for you.
5. Be Active on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a valuable platform for dental offices looking to reach new patients and network with other professionals in the industry. To optimize your LinkedIn profile, make sure to include a professional headshot, a detailed description of your business, and any relevant credentials or awards. You can also engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages, and share valuable content and promotions with your audience.
6. Invest in SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages. To make your site more relevant in search results, use relevant keywords and regularly update your site with fresh and relevant content. You can also boost the authority of your site through link building, or increasing the pool of sites that link to your site. By investing in SEO, you can improve your online visibility and attract more traffic to your site.
7. Utilize Social Media
Social media is another great way to reach new patients and engage with your existing ones. Choose the platforms that are most relevant to your target audience, and engage with them by responding to comments and messages. Share valuable content and promotions with your followers to keep them engaged and interested in your dental office. As mentioned before, turn your recent blogs into posts and start conversations using these topics. In 2023, short video content is all the rage, so keep up with trends and try your hand at quick videos that are immediately engaging to viewers. If you post consistently, one of your videos might even go viral – there’s a high demand for videos that showcase beauty procedures, and this includes teeth cleaning, whitening, or straightening a smile.
About the Author
Dr. Alag is a highly accomplished dentist with a passion for providing personalized care and utilizing advanced technology to ensure a comfortable patient experience. With degrees from Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences in India and New York University College of Dentistry, she has honed her expertise in Prosthodontics and Implantology. Dr. Alag is committed to community service, having provided dental care to underprivileged children and spreading oral health awareness. She enjoys staying updated through continuing education courses and has been recognized by multiple professional organizations. When not practicing dentistry, she loves traveling, biking, and swimming.
