Proven Dental Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Practice

Using call tracking to identify potential new patients who called but didn’t book an appointment can be an effective dental marketing strategy. Patient Prism, for example, can alert a practice to missed opportunities with coaching tips that help the team close the gap and win those patients back.
Direct mail is another traditional marketing strategy that continues to yield a high ROI for many dental practices. Developing a solid patient persona is vital to effectively target your messaging to prospective patients.
Social Media Marketing
Social media effectively shows your personality and promotes your services as a marketing strategy to attract new patients. Posts geared toward your patients will keep them engaged and interested in your practice, so try posting informative, educational content relevant to their oral health needs. You can also create posts that are more light-hearted to make people smile.
To take this a step further, consider using a patient engagement platform like DemandHub to communicate with your patients via text messages, email, or social media. This is a great way to share appointment reminders, special offers, and important information about your dental practice.
This type of digital marketing can be very cost-effective, as you only pay when a potential patient clicks on your ad. Another way to reach your local audience is through sponsored ads on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Google Maps and Google Ads
Many potential new patients find dental practices through search engines, review sites, and social media. That’s why investing in SEO optimization and Google Ads is essential. These marketing tactics will ensure your practice’s website is visible in local searches and that you’re ranked above your competition on search results pages.
Another proven dental marketing strategy is building relationships with other community medical professionals. This is a great way to generate dental referrals, as people will trust and respect doctors they know. You can contact these doctors by sending them a postcard or holding an in-person meetup, like a community dental health presentation.
You can also leverage text messaging to send appointment reminders and communicate with existing patients. This tactic is especially effective for re-engaging patients who have missed recall appointments or otherwise fallen off the map. Using an automated text messaging platform is a simple and affordable way to do this.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ads
One dental marketing strategy that has stood the test is contacting local doctors who can refer patients to you. This can be done via email, direct mail, or social media. If done well, this is a great way to reach a broad audience, as many doctors have patients who live in the neighborhoods near your practice.
Before you implement any dental marketing strategies, it’s essential to set measurable and achievable goals. This will allow you to track your progress and see what is working. For example, to increase your number of new patients, set a specific plan for how many you’d like to acquire in a month. Then, choose a marketing strategy that will help you achieve those goals. It’s best to work with an experienced marketing agency that specializes in dental marketing. They will know which methods to use and how to maximize your ROI.
Email Marketing
Dental marketing ideas that make sense for your practice can only be as practical as the team members who implement them. That’s why stellar new-patient call handling is so important. It can be the difference between a patient who calls and books and one who goes to the competition.
Using email to send appointment reminders is an easy and effective way to keep your patients informed of services, special offers, and more. It’s also a great way to stay in touch with current patients and generate new leads.
Once you’ve set goals and objectives, it’s time to choose your dental marketing strategy. Some strategies are free, while others may require some investment. It’s best to have a comprehensive plan combining methods to maximize results. This way, you can reach more potential patients and grow your practice. The right marketing partner can help you develop the best approach for your unique practice needs.
Content Marketing
Producing quality content is one of the best dental marketing strategies for growing your practice. This can be done through blog posts, infographics, and even videos. The key is to target your audience and create content that addresses their needs and pain points.
Social media is another excellent tool to promote your dental business and services. However, it is essential to understand that organic reach on social media is virtually non-existent, so you will need to invest a little money into paid ads if you want your message to be heard.
Finally, dental practices can leverage traditional print marketing tools such as postcards and mailers to help reach their target audience. This strategy can be particularly effective for attracting new patients, as it ensures that your business is directly in front of potential clients when they need a dentist. Moreover, it is a cost-effective way to advertise your dental services.
Referral Marketing
For dental practices with a strong track record of satisfied patients, referral marketing may be a good option for growth. A successful referral program can encourage existing patients to recommend your practice to friends and family members, helping you gain endorsements from within your community.
Online advertising is also a great way to promote your referral program. With retargeting ads, ad networks like Facebook can show your advertisements to people who have visited your website or expressed interest in your services. This helps you to re-engage with potential customers and incentivize them to book an appointment.
Another great way to generate referrals is by handing out business cards at your office or tucking them into mailings. You can even incentivize your current patients to spread the word by offering a referral bonus, such as a discount on their next visit. Developing a solid referral strategy is an excellent way to increase patient numbers without breaking the bank.