Looking to attract new patients to your dental practice? With so many dental marketing strategies available, it can be tough to know where to start. But fear not – we've compiled a list of the best dental marketing strategies to help you grow your patient base and take your practice to the next level.
Whether you're looking to optimize your website, use social media marketing, or implement ground marketing tactics, there's a strategy that can work for your practice. By using these best practices, you can effectively reach and engage with your target audience, build trust and credibility, and ultimately attract new patients to your practice.
But dental marketing isn't just about implementing tactics – it's about understanding your patients' needs and desires, building strong relationships, and creating a positive patient experience. By taking a comprehensive and patient-centric approach to dental marketing, you can not only attract new patients but also retain them and build a loyal patient base for years to come.
So buckle up and get ready to learn about the best dental marketing strategies to attract new patients for your practice. From optimizing your website to using social media marketing and ground marketing tactics, we've got you covered.
We will explore the best dental marketing strategies to attract new patients, including examples and case studies to help illustrate their effectiveness.
Let's get started!
Optimize Your Website
Your website is your online storefront and is often the first impression potential patients have of your dental practice. Therefore, it's essential to have a well-designed website that is easy to navigate, visually appealing, and provides valuable information about your services. Here are some tips for optimizing your website:
- Ensure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly and Responsive
- Use a website builder or theme that is mobile-friendly and responsive, such as WordPress or Wix
- Test your website's mobile-friendliness using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool and make any necessary adjustments to improve its performance, such as adjusting font size or image placement
- Optimize your website's loading speed by compressing images and using a content delivery network (CDN)
Example: Let's say a dental practice uses WordPress as their website builder. They choose a responsive theme and test their website's mobile-friendliness using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool. The test shows that the website has some issues with font size and image placement on mobile devices, so they adjust those elements to improve their performance. They also install a plugin to compress their images and use a CDN to speed up their website's loading times.
- Use Clear, Concise Language that is Easy to Understand
- Use simple, straightforward language that is accessible to all users, avoiding complex medical terms or industry-specific jargon
- Write content that answers potential patients' questions and addresses their concerns, such as a page on common dental procedures or a FAQ section
- Use headings and subheadings to break up long blocks of text and make the content easier to scan
Example: The dental practice updates their website's content to use simpler language and address potential patients' questions and concerns. They create a FAQ section that answers common questions about dental services and procedures, and use headings and subheadings to make the content easier to read.
- Include High-Quality Images and Videos
- Use high-quality images that showcase your practice, staff, and services, such as photos of your office or your team members in action
- Use videos that highlight your expertise or provide useful information for patients, such as educational videos about common dental procedures
- Optimize images and videos for fast loading times and compatibility with all devices, using compression tools like TinyPNG or Cloudinary
Example: The dental practice updates their website with high-quality images and videos that showcase their modern, state-of-the-art facilities and friendly staff. They use videos that educate potential patients about common dental procedures and optimize all images and videos for fast loading times using a compression tool like TinyPNG or Cloudinary.
By implementing these optimization tips, the dental practice can create a website that is user-friendly, engaging, and effective at attracting new patients.
- Add Patient Testimonials and Reviews
- Include patient testimonials and reviews on your website to build trust and credibility with potential patients
- Use a third-party review platform like Yelp or Google My Business to collect and showcase reviews from your patients
- Respond to both positive and negative reviews to show that you value patient feedback and are committed to providing quality care
Example: The dental practice adds patient testimonials and reviews to their website, highlighting the positive experiences that their patients have had with their practice. They also use Google My Business to collect and showcase reviews from their patients, and respond to both positive and negative reviews to demonstrate their commitment to patient satisfaction.
- Use a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
- Include a clear call-to-action (CTA) on your website, such as "Schedule an Appointment" or "Contact Us"
- Make sure the CTA is prominent and easy to find on every page of your website
- Use language that is clear and compelling, encouraging potential patients to take action
Example: The dental practice includes a clear call-to-action (CTA) on their website, prominently displayed on every page. The CTA encourages potential patients to "Schedule an Appointment" or "Contact Us" and uses language that is clear and compelling, emphasizing the benefits of their dental services and encouraging patients to take action.
In summary, optimizing your website involves ensuring that it is mobile-friendly and responsive, using clear, concise language that is easy to understand, including high-quality images and videos that showcase your practice and services, adding patient testimonials and reviews to build trust and credibility, and using a clear call-to-action (CTA) to encourage potential patients to take action. By implementing these best practices, you can create a website that effectively attracts and engages new patients, helping your dental practice to grow and succeed.
To me, the website is super important. I personally went with Studio8e8 to create my website. They're a dental marketing agency who creates amazing websites and brands for dental offices. I liked what they did so much for dental practices that I wanted them to do it for my website. So, the website you are on right now is from Studio8e8. I am letting you know this because they are offering my readers $1000 off any website package if you're interested. Just click this link to check it out.
Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for specific keywords related to your dental practice. This can help potential patients find your practice more easily when they search for dental services in your area. Here are some tips for using SEO to attract new patients:
- Conduct Keyword Research
- Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify relevant keywords for your dental practice, such as "dentist near me" or "teeth whitening services"
- Use long-tail keywords that are specific to your services and location, such as "Invisalign provider in [city name]" or "emergency dental services in [city name]"
- Identify high-volume, low-competition keywords to target in your SEO efforts
Example: Let's say a dental practice in Los Angeles uses Google Keyword Planner to conduct keyword research. They identify relevant keywords for their practice, such as "dentist in Los Angeles" and "cosmetic dentistry services". They also identify long-tail keywords that are specific to their services and location, such as "Invisalign provider in Los Angeles" and "emergency dental services in Los Angeles". They prioritize high-volume, low-competition keywords to target in their SEO efforts.
- Optimize Your Website's On-Page SEO
- Use relevant keywords in your website's page titles, meta descriptions, and header tags
- Optimize your website's content to include relevant keywords and provide value to your target audience
- Use internal linking to connect related pages on your website and improve navigation for users
Example: The dental practice optimizes their website's on-page SEO by using relevant keywords in their page titles, meta descriptions, and header tags. They also optimize their content to include relevant keywords and provide value to their target audience. They use internal linking to connect related pages on their website, such as linking from a page on teeth whitening services to a page on cosmetic dentistry services.
- Build Quality Backlinks
- Identify authoritative websites in your industry and reach out to request backlinks to your website
- Use social media and other online platforms to promote your website and attract backlinks naturally
- Publish quality content, such as blog posts or infographics, to attract backlinks from other websites
Example: The dental practice builds quality backlinks by identifying authoritative websites in their industry and reaching out to request backlinks to their website. They also use social media and other online platforms to promote their website and attract backlinks naturally. They publish quality content, such as blog posts or infographics, to attract backlinks from other websites.
- Monitor and Analyze Your SEO Efforts
- Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your website's performance and track your SEO efforts
- Analyze your website's traffic, rankings, and backlinks to identify areas for improvement and optimize your SEO strategy accordingly
- Stay up-to-date with changes to search engine algorithms and adjust your strategy as needed
Example: The dental practice monitors and analyzes their SEO efforts using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. They analyze their website's traffic, rankings, and backlinks to identify areas for improvement and optimize their SEO strategy accordingly. They stay up-to-date with changes to search engine algorithms and adjust their strategy as needed to maintain their search engine rankings and attract new patients.
In summary, using search engine optimization (SEO) involves conducting keyword research, optimizing your website's on-page SEO, building quality backlinks, and monitoring and analyzing your SEO efforts to continuously improve your strategy. By implementing these best practices, you can improve your website's visibility in search engine results and attract new patients to your dental practice.
Use Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
PPC advertising is a form of online advertising where you pay for each click on your ad. PPC ads can be highly targeted and can help you reach potential patients who are actively searching for dental services in your area. Here are some tips for using PPC advertising to attract new patients:
- Set Up Your PPC Campaign
- Choose a platform for your PPC advertising, such as Google Ads or Bing Ads
- Identify your target audience and create ads that are relevant to their needs and interests
- Set a budget for your PPC campaign and choose a bidding strategy that aligns with your goals
Example: Let's say a dental practice chooses to use Google Ads for their PPC advertising. They identify their target audience as individuals searching for dental services in their local area and create ads that highlight their dental services and expertise. They set a budget of $500 per month for their PPC campaign and choose a bidding strategy that prioritizes clicks and conversions.
- Select Your Keywords
- Use keyword research tools to identify relevant keywords for your PPC campaign, such as "dentist near me" or "teeth whitening services"
- Choose high-volume, low-competition keywords to target in your PPC ads
- Use negative keywords to prevent your ads from appearing for irrelevant searches
Example: The dental practice selects relevant keywords for their PPC campaign using keyword research tools. They choose high-volume, low-competition keywords to target in their PPC ads, such as "Invisalign provider in [city name]" or "emergency dental services in [city name]". They also use negative keywords to prevent their ads from appearing for irrelevant searches, such as "pediatric dentistry" or "orthodontic appliances".
- Create Compelling Ads
- Write ad copy that is clear, concise, and compelling, emphasizing the benefits of your dental services
- Use ad extensions, such as sitelink extensions or call extensions, to provide additional information and improve click-through rates
- Test different ad variations and optimize your ads based on performance data
Example: The dental practice creates compelling ads that emphasize the benefits of their dental services, such as "Get the Bright, Healthy Smile You Deserve - Visit Our Los Angeles Dental Office Today". They use sitelink extensions to provide additional information, such as links to their services pages or their patient testimonials page. They test different ad variations and optimize their ads based on performance data, such as click-through rates and conversion rates.
- Monitor and Analyze Your PPC Campaign
- Use analytics tools to monitor your PPC campaign's performance, such as Google Analytics or Bing Ads Intelligence
- Analyze your campaign data to identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly
- Continuously optimize your ads and bidding strategy to improve your campaign's performance and achieve your goals
Example: The dental practice monitors and analyzes their PPC campaign using analytics tools like Google Analytics or Bing Ads Intelligence. They analyze their campaign data to identify areas for improvement, such as low click-through rates or high cost-per-click. They continuously optimize their ads and bidding strategy to improve their campaign's performance and achieve their goals, such as generating more leads or increasing appointment bookings.
In summary, using pay-per-click (PPC) advertising involves setting up your PPC campaign, selecting relevant keywords, creating compelling ads, and monitoring and analyzing your campaign's performance. By implementing these best practices, you can effectively use PPC advertising to attract new patients to your dental practice.
If you're looking for a recommendation on a company that can do this for you, I recommend Crimson Media Group. Shane Simmons has worked really well with a lot of our members and he has helped many dental practices get more implant cases, Invisalign cases, and overall new patients from paid ads alone. He will give you a completely free comprehensive assessment on your marketing, so that alone is pretty valuable.
Use Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is a cost-effective way to reach potential patients and engage with your existing patient base. Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, offer a variety of tools and features that can help you promote your dental practice and attract new patients. Here are some tips for using social media marketing to attract new patients:
- Choose Your Social Media Platforms
- Identify the social media platforms that are most relevant to your target audience, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
- Set up a business account on each platform and optimize your profile with a profile picture, cover photo, and bio that reflects your dental practice and services
- Use consistent branding and messaging across all of your social media profiles
Example: Let's say a dental practice identifies Facebook and Instagram as the most relevant social media platforms for their target audience. They set up a business account on each platform and optimize their profile with a profile picture, cover photo, and bio that reflects their dental practice and services. They use consistent branding and messaging across all of their social media profiles, such as using the same logo and tagline.
- Create Engaging Content
- Use a content calendar to plan and schedule your social media posts in advance
- Create engaging content that is relevant to your target audience, such as dental tips, behind-the-scenes photos or videos, or patient testimonials
- Use visual content, such as images or videos, to make your posts more engaging and shareable
Example: The dental practice creates a content calendar to plan and schedule their social media posts in advance. They create engaging content that is relevant to their target audience, such as dental tips for maintaining healthy teeth or behind-the-scenes photos or videos of their team members. They use visual content, such as images or videos, to make their posts more engaging and shareable.
- Engage with Your Followers
- Respond to comments and messages from your followers in a timely and professional manner
- Use social listening tools to monitor mentions of your dental practice on social media and respond to any feedback or reviews
- Encourage user-generated content, such as patient photos or reviews, to increase engagement and build trust with potential patients
Example: The dental practice engages with their followers by responding to comments and messages in a timely and professional manner. They use social listening tools to monitor mentions of their dental practice on social media and respond to any feedback or reviews. They also encourage user-generated content, such as patient photos or reviews, to increase engagement and build trust with potential patients.
- Use Social Media Advertising
- Use social media advertising to reach a larger audience and promote your dental services
- Choose the right targeting options, such as location, demographics, or interests, to reach your ideal patient audience
- Use compelling ad creative, such as images or videos, and a clear call-to-action to encourage users to take action
Example: The dental practice uses social media advertising to reach a larger audience and promote their dental services. They choose the right targeting options, such as location, demographics, or interests, to reach their ideal patient audience. They use compelling ad creative, such as images or videos, and a clear call-to-action to encourage users to take action, such as scheduling an appointment or contacting their dental practice.
In summary, using social media marketing involves choosing the right social media platforms, creating engaging content, engaging with your followers, and using social media advertising to reach a larger audience. By implementing these best practices, you can effectively use social media marketing to attract new patients to your dental practice.
I personally think it is best to have someone in-house doing all your social media marketing, their finger can be on the trigger and catch any "candid" and "authentic" content that happens in your practice and life. If you feel your team needs training with social media marketing, video marketing, even creating amazing content through Canva, then I highly recommend Minal Sampat's course: Marketologist.
Do Ground Marketing Always
Ground marketing is a form of marketing that involves promoting your dental practice directly to potential patients keep going in person, such as at local events, health fairs, or community gatherings. Here are some tips for using ground marketing to attract new patients:
- Identify Your Target Audience and Location (starter list)
- Identify your ideal patient audience based on demographics, location, and interests
- Identify the location and areas where your target audience is likely to be found, such as local events or community centers
Example: Let's say a dental practice in Los Angeles identifies their ideal patient audience as local residents aged 25-50 who are interested in cosmetic dental services. They identify local events and community centers in their area where their target audience is likely to be found, such as a health and wellness fair or a local gym.
There's an in-depth, FULL, article on how to create your starter list when it comes to Ground Marketing. You can read it here. If you are interested in doing Ground Marketing to attract new patients, I recommend you start with reading that article.
2. Attend Local Events and Engage with Your Target Audience
- Attend local events or community centers where your target audience is likely to be found
- Engage with your target audience by handing out your marketing materials and answering any questions they may have
- Offer promotions or incentives, such as a free consultation or discount on dental services, to encourage new patients to visit your practice
Example: The dental practice attends a local health and wellness fair where their target audience is likely to be found. They engage with their target audience by handing out their marketing materials and answering any questions they may have about their dental services. They offer a promotion for a free cosmetic dental consultation to encourage new patients to visit their practice.
Here is an example:
3. Follow Up with Potential Patients
- Collect contact information, such as email or phone numbers, from potential patients you meet at local events
- Follow up with potential patients after the event to provide more information about your dental services and schedule appointments
- Use email marketing or other outreach methods to stay in touch with potential patients and nurture them into becoming regular patients
Example: The dental practice collects contact information from potential patients they meet at the health and wellness fair. They follow up with potential patients after the event by providing more information about their dental services and scheduling appointments. They use email marketing or other outreach methods to stay in touch with potential patients and nurture them into becoming regular patients.
In summary, using ground marketing involves identifying your target audience and location, creating branded marketing materials, attending local events and engaging with your target audience, and following up with potential patients. By implementing these best practices, you can effectively use ground marketing to attract new patients to your dental practice.
If you want more training, all the strategies, the accountability, my guidance, and the confidence to attract new patients through Ground Marketing, then I personally can help you with that through The Ground Marketing Course. Feel free to check that out here. All the testimonials you see above have received guidance and help from The Ground Marketing Course.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've taken the first step towards growing your dental practice by exploring the best dental marketing strategies to attract new patients. But don't just stop at learning – it's time to take action and implement these tactics to grow your practice.
By optimizing your website, leveraging social media marketing, and implementing ground marketing tactics, you can effectively reach and engage with your target audience and attract new patients to your practice. But don't forget the most important piece of the puzzle – creating a positive patient experience and building strong relationships with your patients, that's what will set you apart from all the other dental offices, the experience you provide.
By focusing on the needs and desires of your patients, building strong relationships, and delivering exceptional care, you can not only attract new patients but also retain them and build a loyal patient base for years to come.
So, what are you waiting for? It's time to take action and start implementing these best dental marketing strategies today. Whether you're a new practice looking to establish your brand or an established practice looking to take your marketing to the next level, there's no better time to start than now.
With the best dental marketing strategies and a patient-centric approach, the sky's the limit for your practice. I hope these tips have been helpful, and I encourage you to take action and start implementing them today. Let's work together to transform your dental office and elevate the patient experience.
