The American Dental Association says that over the next fifteen years, we’ll be seeing a surge of new dentists in the United States. That means competition for patients is going to be more intense than ever, and dental practices are going to have to make an effort to stand out in a crowded field.
There are already about 200,000 dentists in the United States. Patients and would-be patients have a lot to choose from; it’s not enough to provide them with excellent services.
Your day-to-day operations already consume most of your time. So what can you do to attract new patients, and keep your current ones? Here are a few things you can do to set yourself apart from your competeition:
Highlight the services that make your practice unique.
Maybe your office is more than just nine-to-five. Do you stay open later to catch the after-work crowd? Are you open on Saturday? If you answer yes, then that information should be prominent on your website: on its homepage, on its Contact page, and wherever else it fits.
Maybe you offer urgent dental care 24/7, or specialize in orthodontics. Whatever it might be, idenitfy what makes your practice unique, and put that information front-and-center.
Put a lot of testimonials on your site.
Study after study has shown that people trust the opinion of others. That is as true of online patient reviews as it is standard word-of-mouth.
Compile as many patient testimonials as you can. You should have a page of them on your website. Not only that, you can print and frame some of them for display in your office.
In keeping with the previous point about demonstrating what is unique about your practice, at least some of the testimonials you select should include that.
Sometimes dentists don’t feel comfortable asking for reviews. You can query your patients on social media; you are likely to be pleasantly surprised at the response. You can even ask them while they’re in your waiting room. Most are going to have a smart phone with them, and can do it right then and there.
Have a good logo.
You should have a memorable, professionally-designed logo for your practice. Put it on everything: your sign, marketing supplies (those free toothbrushes you hand out), and in your office.
Logos help people remember you and your practice. Whenever they see that logo in the future, they’ll think of you.
Invest in Digital Technology
Investing in digital technology means more than having a fully-optimized website (although that is essential).
There are plenty of digital technologies available that you should take advantage of. They’ll benefit you and your patients: automated appointment reminders and scheduling tools, for example.
Keep an eye on technology, too. New tools are always becoming available. Your patients are going to be aware of them, and expect you to keep up with the times.
Of course, you have a practice to run, and you went to dental school, not business school. Professional guidance will always get you the best results. ProspectaMarketing is an Internet marketing firm specializing in helping dental practices reach their audience. We use all of the tools of Internet search marketing to 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.