The rise of globalization via the Internet means that you, as a dentist, have access to patients from around the world. Wherever you are located, your potential patient base is probably much larger than you imagine. If you make the effort to reach out to patients online with a salient offer and credible proof of your value, you may be able to transform online interest into a lucrative new base of customers. By developing a properly branded, accurately targeted online, digital marketing strategy, you can build your practice in ways that most dentists have never considered.
How can you develop such a marketing strategy? The process is complex and requires advanced marketing knowledge and experience. But following are a few tips that can help you get started in the right direction:
1. Develop a Brand
A brand is much more than a name or a logo. It’s a set of values that a potential patient associates with your name. It is the most effective way to make a patient choose you over the competition. It provides the safety and assurance that the patient is looking for. Your brand is your promise. Make a strong marketing promise and then keep your promise with excellent quality care and personal service. Strong brands always win.
2. Make Your Website SEO Friendly
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In simple terms it means that you adjust your website and its content so that it gets recognized and promoted by search engines, such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. SEO also helps your brand rank higher, and therefore is seen by more people, thereby increasing the number of visitors your website attracts.
3. Develop a PPC campaign.
You can’t be present everywhere, all the time, especially in the vast sea of information that is the Internet. That’s why it’s a good idea to develop a network of partners or affiliates that will help you spread your message. One of the cheapest, yet most effective ways to do this is through a PPC campaign. PPC stands for “Pay Per Click” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a marketing strategy where you pay only if your partner gets people to click on your ad. Google Ad Words is one such partner. When developed properly, a strong Google Ad Words campaign can generate considerable new patient business. When done poorly, it can waste your marketing budget quickly and leave you scared to try again. Make sure to hire professional help before attempting a PPC campaign directed at new patient acquisition.
4. It’s All About the Offer.
When a potential patient sits in front of a computer and types in search terms (keywords), it’s because he or she has a problem and is looking for a solution. With a plethora of options at his or her disposal, half solutions just won’t do. That’s why your offer has to be engaging. The best offers demonstrate quality, affordable pricing and give patients a guarantee to ensure confidence. Know your market before crafting your offer. A luxury market will value reputation, convenience and service. Price conscious markets are value-oriented. Your offers may vary by demographic and geographic targeting. With limited space and a short window of time to keep their attention, crafting an engaging offer online is an art that is learned with great practice.
5. Create Confidence with Video!
No matter how convincing a piece of text is, it will never have the power of a face and a voice endorsing your services. Video testimonials are a way of connecting emphatically with your audience and making them feel that someone just like themselves has used your services and received 100% satisfaction. The social approval generated by a video testimonial can make a huge difference by convincing potential patients that the claims being made are true and that you are trustworthy.
Attracting new patients is not easy. But with these tips, potential patients are far more likely to:
- Know who you are
- Like what you offer, and
- Trust their dental care to you.
If your dental clinic is ready for a results-driven digital marketing campaign, contact The Goodness Company to learn more about our innovative dental marketing programs that have proven to increase dental patient traffic by 100%-300%.
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