Starting a private dental practice is the goal for many dentists when they begin. They gain experience working for someone else but eventually branch out to make more money. That’s why 73% of dentists are private practice owners.
However, that also means you have a lot of competition. You can find many private practices in every location, so it’s hard to stand out when you’re new.
Are you wondering how to use dental marketing to get more leads for your practice? Keep reading to learn how to use digital marketing for dentists to grow more.
Create a Website
Creating a dental practice website is one of the best ways to start marketing your new practice. Instead of constantly reaching out to find customers yourself, your website acts like a 24/7 salesperson telling people what your practice can do.
It also isn’t hard to set up a website these days. Most web hosting platforms allow you to install the most popular website software with a few clicks. You can also find dental practice themes to create a good-looking website quickly.
If you don’t want a cookie-cutter website, you can hire web design specialists to help. Doing this will help you create a fantastic website experience for your visitors.
Use Google My Business
One big issue local dentists face is gaining visibility. Potential patients may discover your practice while going about their days, but people aren’t usually in the state of mind to see if your practice is worth visiting.
Most people search online for new dentists today. They load Google and search for local dentists. This is easier for most people because they get a list of local dentists close to them and can read patient reviews.
You’ll need an account with Google My Business to take advantage of this. Sign up for an account to get Google to send your practice a postcard. Once you verify your business location, you can enter your hours and everything else to begin showing on local maps.
Create Keyword-Rich Content
Maps aren’t the only thing people use to find dental information. If they have a problem with their teeth and are looking for answers, they will search on Google to find information about their specific situation.
You can take advantage of this by creating a dental blog and writing articles that target those search phrases. If you include local keywords in that content, you’ll end up ranking for local keywords.
Of course, it will take time to figure this out. Reach out to a local dentist SEO company to get help creating a keyword strategy and writing articles.
Encourage Reviews
One big problem new dental offices have is a lack of reputation. You don’t have any negative reviews putting people off, but people still don’t want to give a chance to a dentist who isn’t proven.
However, that doesn’t mean you won’t get patients. You’ll still get walk-ins and new appointments from people who can’t find a free dentist.
That means you have a group of people who can review your practice. Ask your current patients to leave reviews on local websites. Not everyone will check, but you only need a few people to do so.
This will give you more authority in your local area.
Offer Referral Rewards
As your dental practice grows, more dental patients will come from referrals. Many rely on their friends and family to tell them their trusted sources. You’ll miss opportunities if you don’t offer an attractive reason for referrals.
A referral program is a great way to do this. You’ll create more loyal patients doing this because you show people you care about their trust. It also helps you get the word out about your practice without spending much money on marketing.
You can offer rewards in a few ways. Many dentists stick with discounts and dental products as a reward.
Sponsor Local Events
One of the best ways to create brand recognition for companies is to get involved with local events. People don’t always go out of their way to find new businesses. They encounter them in everyday life in the community.
Events are a great way to do this. Take a charity, for instance. Your practice can sponsor a local charity to give back to people in need and let people know who you are.
As a result, people are more likely to think of your practice the next time they need dental work. You may not get many immediate benefits, but it can be an excellent tactic for long-term growth.
Pay for Ads
Some marketing methods for dental practices take time to work. SEO can take months to rank, and getting in patients’ minds won’t produce results tomorrow. If you want quicker results, you’ll need to pay for eyeballs.
One place dental practices do this is through paid ads. You can bid on local keywords people use to search for dentists and show up on the top of the results.
It’s also possible to do this on social media. You create an account and boost your posts to people in your local area. Doing this will generate engagement with your brand and make your brand known to people looking for a new dentist.
Don’t Wait to Invest in Dental Marketing
You have a lot of competition when you run a dental practice. There are countless local dentists that give patients a ton of options to choose from. On top of that, many people already have preferences that they always go to.
That means you need to do a lot of work to stand out. Use the dental marketing tactics above to grow your practice’s community presence and get more leads.
Head back to the blog if you want to learn more small business marketing tips.