As doctors, we know you don’t always take the time to think about your marketing strategy. However, it’s an integral part of every business and that includes dental practices.
To keep you focused on dentistry, not marketing, we’ve come up with a few easy ways to market your practice, giving you opportunities to get more patients and more time to treat them.
- Work on your website
Sending a clear and consistent message about your practice and what you have to offer will help current and potential patients relate to you. Websites that have practice, staff and office photos invite prospective patients in and let them know what they can expect when they arrive. Your online presence can help people easily find your practice, making it more identifiable. Plus, accessible information that’s readily available on the internet opens the pool of potential patients. Building a quality website is hard work, but hiring a great marketing team or outsourcing a knowledgeable and talented individual will be worth the investment, especially when you take the time to add some personalization to it
- Get your boots on the ground
Getting involved in the community is a great way to put you, your face and your practice out there for potential patients to see. Have flyers or cards designed and printed, and take a day to personally hand them out to local businesses. Participate in community outreach programs, or volunteer at local community events. This gives you an opportunity to meet people and tell them about your practice. Putting in a little face-time and showing that you’re involved in the community will go a long way in solidifying your image and reputation. Many of our clients are involved in their kids’ schools and sports programs, which is an easy way to get your toes wet without a ton of time or investment.
- Plan your social media presence
Along with a great website and community engagement, your social media presence can help strengthen your brand. It’s also an opportunity to show who you really are as a practice, dentist and person. Social media is about building a community, so personal touches and details will be appreciated. Also, it’s something you can do in your down time. Team photos, birthdays and weekend activities are just a few easy ways to show off the practice and the amazing team you’ve built. Just be thoughtful about how you want to represent your practice and things should fall together naturally.
- Ask for reviews
When patients have had a great appointment or in-office experience, it’s the perfect time to ask for a review. Reviews are great selling points for potential patients and online reviews are the internet equivalent to word-of-mouth recommendations. Send a link to a Google, Yelp! or Facebook review page in a follow-up email or text after the appointment – while the experience is still fresh in their minds. Remember, asking in-person greatly increases the odds that your patient will leave a review so be sure to take a couple of minutes at the end of the appointment to do so. It might seem awkward, but anyone who’s had a good visit will be happy to help out.
Dedicating just a little extra time to these efforts can go a long way toward the longevity of your practice. Now apply a few of these tips to get your marketing strategy off the ground!
