Imagine you’re planning a luxury vacation. Would you search for the cheapest hotel—or look for one that reflects the experience you want? Patients go through a similar process when choosing a dentist. Those seeking cosmetic enhancements, full-mouth restorations, or a more personalized level of care aren’t focused on price—they’re focused on quality, trust, and results.
Most dental practices measure success by one thing: how many new patients they bring in each month. And while attracting new patients is important, it’s not the only—or even the most reliable—way to grow.
Connecting with patients is always important, and while we often think about that in terms of personal relationships, it’s just as crucial in patient care. When someone reaches out to schedule an appointment or inquire about services, they’re looking for reassurance, guidance, and a reason to choose your practice. A delayed or impersonal response can leave them feeling overlooked—and more likely to book elsewhere.
Think about the last time a recommendation helped you make a decision—whether it was for a product, a restaurant, or a service. Now imagine seeing and hearing that recommendation directly from the person who shared it. That’s the unique power of video testimonials: they bring authenticity to the forefront by turning a simple review into a compelling story.
A new year is always a good time for reflection. This year, my dental-focused marketing agency, My Dental Agency, is celebrating a big milestone: our 10th anniversary. Just as your dental practice has likely experienced significant shifts over the past decade, so has our agency—and our approach to marketing has evolved dramatically.
Think about your last big purchase—maybe a car, a new phone, or even a vacation. Chances are, you didn’t make your decision after seeing just one ad or reading a single review. Instead, you researched, compared, and interacted with the brand in several ways before you felt confident enough to commit. Now, consider this: your prospective patients are doing the exact same thing when choosing a dental practice.
Running a dental practice is more than just providing exceptional care—it’s about ensuring patients find you, trust you, and keep coming back. But how much should you invest in marketing to make this happen? Many practices struggle with this question, often spending too little or without clear direction.
Many dental practices believe they don’t need to worry about the competition down the street. After all, with a larger team, cutting-edge technology, or a more personal approach to patient care, it’s easy to assume your practice naturally stands out. While these strengths may hold true in real life, they can be lost when prospective patients search online. Their decision often boils down to what they can find on the internet—which may not always reflect the true patient experience your practice delivers.
This article originally appeared in the October/2024 issue of the Academy of General Dentistry’s AGD Impact magazine. Revealing Your Practice’s Personality Through Digital Marketing: Adapting to Changing Patient Attitudes Toward Dental Care By: Jackie Ulasewich Cullen In the modern world, consumers have enough options to refuse to settle for anything less than the best service.…
The digital marketing world evolves so quickly that it can be hard to keep up (even for us digital marketers). While there are now more social media and digital platforms to consider than ever before, that doesn’t mean “older” marketing strategies have lost their edge.
