Recently, a story made headlines about a dental patient who received an extreme amount of work done in a single visit and is now suing the dentist who performed the work for pain and suffering. Local and national news outlets picked up the story, featuring it in broadcasts, online, and on social media. Regardless of how people in the dental community view the story, the potential for it, or another story like it, to scare people who already distrust dentists is very real.
Not all marketing activities are going to net immediate results, so is it worth spending time and money on them? It is a reasonable question, and one I have had to address with many of my clients. Most business owners understand that, with marketing, rarely will they get instant gratification. However, when it comes to implementing a marketing strategy for their business, they may have difficulty understanding why they should invest time and effort in activities with a longer term payoff.
Immediate Results Aren’t Everything — Here’s Why Playing the Long Game in Marketing Is Worth It
In today’s evolving marketplace, where patient expectations continue to shape the way dental practices operate, one key aspect has made its way to the forefront: diversity and inclusion in marketing.
Why Diversity in Marketing Matters
Most dentists understand that marketing is almost all online now and may be looking for a way to make their digital marketing more effective. Whether you’re new to digital marketing or you have been harnessing the power of the Internet for some time, there are two things you can do immediately that will elevate your online marketing significantly.
2 Things You Can Do Now That Will Impact Your Marketing
Understanding and implementing strategies to attract Premium Patients not only enhances the quality of care but also positions a practice for sustained success.
7 Principles for Attracting Premium Patients
Dentistry is about more than just creating healthy smiles. It’s also about fostering strong, lasting relationships with patients. Because patients have a wealth of choices and plenty of information at their fingertips when it comes to selecting a dental practice, it is crucial for dentists to adopt a patient-centric approach to marketing. Building trust and loyalty is vital not only for a dental practice’s success, but also for the overall well-being of the patients who rely on it for the sake of their oral health.
Patient-Centric Marketing: How Dental Practices Can Build Trust and Loyalty
Dental implants are a revolutionary solution for patients facing tooth loss, significantly improving their oral health and their overall quality of life. Effective marketing of dental implants can yield numerous benefits for dental practices, attracting high-quality patients who are committed to their treatment plans. Even if a dental practice does not perform implant placement, marketing for dental implants can still be a strategic way to target patients with specific needs and establish long-term relationships.
The Power of Dental Implant Marketing
What’s the difference between a corporate and a private dental practice in the eyes of a patient? In most cases, there is none. Dental practice owners, of course, can rattle off a list of things that make a private practice different from a corporate one. But… are they getting that across to their potential patients?
Corporate vs Private Dental Practice: How can Patients Know the Difference?
Have you recently tried to search a business, service provider, or medical professional on the internet only to find that they don’t have any real online presence to speak of? Maybe you can find the phone number and address on Google, but no website. Maybe you find them on Facebook, but there hasn’t been a post in over a year. Maybe you locate a website, but it does not contain much useful information other than contact details. How likely are you, as a consumer, to trust that business or professional?
Dental Practices Online: Why It Is Important to Have an Online Presence
When it comes to marketing any business, data never lies. However, it is easy to let our personal tastes and inner voices prevail, even if we do not have the data to back it up. The business owner’s opinions certainly have a place in devising their marketing plans, but they should never become an obstacle to success. And that is why I always use hard numbers to guide my marketing plans rather than gut feelings.