10 dental marketing ideas to grow your practice
Dee Overfield - 20 January 2020
The dentist can be a place of dread for many people, children and adults. If you are a new practice or looking to bring in new patients, it can be daunting to know where to start. There are plenty of different marketing suggestions out there but the vast amount can be overwhelming. To help you along the way, we have collated them all into one place.
Here are our top 10 dental marketing ideas to grow your practice…
1. Facebook ads
Facebook ads are a great way to target local areas, as well as specific demographics. The main age group to target would be 30+ as these are the people either booking for themselves or with young families and teenage children. This demographic is also the most likely to be Facebook users.
2. Digital appointment reminder
A simple email when a patient has an appointment coming up or is due to book in for their next one is a subtle way to stay present and ensure patients keep coming back. This is also a great opportunity to encourage people to leave a positive review.
Business cards or postcards can work too, however, they are more likely to get lost amongst other print marketing material.
3. Google Ads / Maps Ads
Location-specific Google Ads allows you to advertise to those in close vicinity to your practice. Ensure you are visible on Google Maps and people will begin spotting you when simply searching for an address or if solely looking for a new dentist within their area.
4. Get involved in the local community
Becoming a pillar in your local community is a great way to earn the trust of the residents and create a positive association with your dental practice.
Start by reserving a stall at the nearest fete, advertising your services and encouraging people to register or book an appointment. Give out business cards and freebies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste or dental floss to ensure you are remembered.
5. Local SEO
SEO is important for any business’s digital marketing. Local SEO works particularly well for smaller businesses based in a specific area; people are only going to travel so far to visit a dentist and Google knows this. Location-specific keywords, directory listings within your local area and competitor analysis are all important as part of a local SEO strategy.
6. Perfect your website
A poor quality website can indicate unprofessionalism and therefore affect whether potential patients choose you or not. Investing in a smart, high quality website will completely transform your patient database, allow your professionalism to shine through and encourage new patients to put their trust in you.
7. Monthly newsletter
Keep patients in the loop, update them on recent events and achievements and remind them to book in their next appointment. Sending out a monthly newsletter will keep you at the forefront of their minds, spark interest and remind your patients to tick another thing off their to-do list.
8. Google My Business
Google My Business is becoming an increasingly popular marketing tool. Keeping this updated and utilising all the features will enhance your online presence and improve your professional appearance. We recommend using up to date images, inputting important business information, answering questions and listing products and services. It is also free which is an added bonus for this effective marketing technique.
9. Start a blog
Adding a blog section to your website and frequently posting relevant and interesting content will add another dimension to your business and increase traffic to your website. Be sure to think outside the box and produce blogs that patients will actually want to read rather than discussing technical, medical-based topics that may not be of interest to your target audience.
10. Frequently post on social media
Being present on social media is crucial to digital marketing. Image based platforms such as Instagram are ideal for showing the ‘behind the scenes’ of your practice, portraying your friendly staff and humanising your business. Alternatively, business-based platforms such as LinkedIn are more suited to showcasing recent achievements and milestones within the workplace.
With these ideas in mind to get you started, why not take a look at our ultimate guide to marketing for the dental industry to ensure that you are equipped to grow your practice through the use of marketing. Of course, some of these require taking on external businesses and outsourcing work. If you are interested in working with a successful, expert digital marketing agency, get in touch with us today.
