When you are starting in any industry, it is nerve-wracking. It is important to remember that this is normal. Everyone goes through these feelings. Even Bill Gates might have felt nerves when he was making his very first software. If geniuses can feel nerves when their ideas are being tested, then we ordinary mortals can feel the same. Starting a new dental practice is a brave thing to do but you must remember that dental marketing strategies are even scarier when you think about it.
If you are not bringing patients from a previous practice, it means you are essentially starting from scratch. Whether you’re a new dentist who has just opened their own practice or a veteran moving from another state, your marketing strategies will define the success of this new venture.
Focus on Your Website
Everything’s happening on the internet. People are searching for information, business, food, medical services, and supplies on the internet. They are using the internet to communicate with lovers, partners, friends, families, business associates, bosses, and employees. As a dentist, you should also focus on building your website and making it easy for your target market to reach you.
What are the features that should be on your website? There should be an online appointment booking, online bill pay, profiles for each dentist, and content that teaches patients about dental hygiene and procedure. If you have more time, write an FAQ so your patients don’t have to reach out to you for every question.
Give Your Local SEO a Boost
When building your website, it is important to keep local SEO in mind. Dental practices are local businesses. This means your target market is the immediate community where your practice is located. Members of this community will search for a dentist near them. If your website isn’t showing up on their search results, there’s no way for them to know about you (aside from traditional advertising methods like handing out flyers).
Claim and Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
This is important to give your local SEO a boost. Many dentists fail to see the importance of a GMB listing. This one’s free and if you optimize it well enough, you’ll find a lot of traffic being driven to your website. It’s free because it makes it easier for Google to find your website and display the information for the web users.
As part of your dental marketing strategies, your GMB listing should include, among others, your clinic’s exact address, a map to your clinic, telephone numbers, website, FAQs, and operating hours. In the future, it would be nice if your patients can leave reviews and recommendations.