Dentistry is an intensely competetive field, and in the United States there is no shortage of practitioners. One of the reasons for that, judging by recent statistics, is that more new dentists are graduating from dental school each year, while fewer are retiring once they reach the age of sixty-five.
Nationwide, it works out to something like sixty-one dentists for every 100,000 people. That ratio does not appear to be a blip on the radar, either: trend-watchers say the number of practicing dentists is expected to continue growing for at least another fifteen years.
Marketing!
How do you compete for new patients, when there are so many dentists for people to choose from? The answer is that you must market your practice. You may already have heard how important marketing your practice is, in order to stand out in a crowded field. Do you have a clear idea how to do that?
There are a lot of different strategies. In this day and age there is an emphasis on the Internet, but no single approach is the best.
Here are just few things to think about:
- Be active on social media. When members of your community follow you on social media you can reach them, 24/7/365. Sharing your expertise and providing updates on your practice builds your reputation and is a great way to get patient reviews.
- Emphasize Local Search. When people search the Internet for goods and services near their home, they use local terms. No one searches for “teeth whitening,” for example, without including the name of their town. The content on your website must have all the essential terms people look for, including the name of your city, its neighborhoods, and even local landmarks.
- Get involved in your community. Offline, there may be nothing better to raise your profile locally than being active in the community. Share your knowledge of dentistry at local schools, sponsor a youth sports team, and have a booth in your town’s summer festivals. Each of these enables you to build personal relationships.
Marketing your dental practice helps you stand out from the crowd, and ProspectaMarketing can help. We are an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. We help you reach key prospects who are looking for what your practice has to offer. Our unique and thorough approach provides visibility, financial accountability, and ongoing refinement and improvement. You can find out more by contacting Lane Anderson toll-free at 1-877-322-4440 Ext 101, by email using the form on our Contact Us page, or online at ProspectaMarketing.com.