As we head into the new year, you might start thinking about the goals you want to set for your dental practice. For many, improving patient retention and new patient growth rates are key objectives, both of which you can support through effective marketing.
To help you stand out from the crowd and achieve your growth goals in the new year, the following marketing ideas for dental offices are a great place to start.
Ask Patients to Leave Reviews
According to a recent survey, 67% of people looking for a new dentist will consult online reviews first. Thus, having a positive online reputation with existing patients can be a powerful marketing tool. In general, the higher the rating, the better, as it will make your practice come off as trustworthy and professional and help you attract more patients.
Expert Tip: After patients leave their appointments, send a follow-up text message asking them to leave a star rating and review. Include a link to your Google profile or other online review site to eliminate friction in the process. DentiMax Software has a great reviews management feature that makes all of this a very simple task.
Highlight Your Use of the Latest Tech
If your practice has invested in advanced technology to deliver better patient care and comfort, make sure to showcase this in your marketing campaigns. Potential patients want to see that you stay up-to-date with the latest technology and capabilities and aren’t using outdated technologies. So, if you use equipment like the DentiMax Dream Sensor for high-quality X-rays, include this in your marketing materials.
Expert Tip: Get high-quality photos of your team using advanced tech to include on your website or social media pages. You can even create in-depth blog posts or educational videos explaining why or how you use the equipment, with a clear emphasis on how it benefits your patients.
Make Video Content
While you don’t have to create a viral video to grow your dental practice, the data shows that video content marketing is more effective than ever. According to one survey, 82% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a video.
Expert Tip: Start with something simple yet effective: before and after smile transformation videos. People love watching them, and they’re easy to produce and edit. Ask patients who are receiving teeth whitening, veneers, or orthodontics treatments if they consent to being used in your videos. Shoot, edit, and post the videos to your website or social media pages to showcase your skills and credibility to prospective patients.
Set Up a Membership Program
If you’re specifically focused on improving the retention rates of existing patients, a dental membership program can be a great way to do so. This involves charging a flat rate per month or year in exchange for a certain number of treatments and access to discounted rates or exclusive offers on other services.
Expert Tip: Set up a punch pass system where patients pre-pay for a certain number of teeth cleanings or teeth whitening treatments at a discounted rate. This encourages patients to continue visiting your practice and helps generate steady cash flow for your business.
