Discover five resources to announce your dental practice expansion.
Whether you’re incorporating orthodontic treatment options or pursuing other types of dental practice expansion, much of your success will come down to your marketing strategy. There are many ways to approach marketing strategies for dentists, and you can find the method that works for you by exploring these five potential resources.
1. Leveraging Social Media
When it comes to sheer reach, there are few resources more suitable for dental marketing strategies than social media. The vast majority of your patients are likely to use social media of some kind, including both those who could benefit from adult orthodontics and parents with adolescents in need of treatment.
Establishing a social media presence for your practice is an absolute must. Some of the most popular platforms that are amenable to marketing strategies for dentists include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Set up your accounts and furnish them with plenty of photos and videos (if possible).
Just setting them up isn’t enough, though. You also need to maintain engagement. Routine posts will help spread your reach, whether you’re sharing simple dental facts, promoting a new treatment, or sharing testimonials.
2. Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing is still among the most powerful tools available due to the direct and personal nature of the medium. Ideally, you should have some form of software or platform in place to manage promotional emails for your practice. Keep in mind the potential privacy concerns that can arise when managing your email lists.
You’ll have email addresses for existing patients on file, and you can also expand your list by simply asking for email addresses on contact forms and when offering resources to download. Over time, you can build a strong list that provides a direct connection to both existing and prospective patients.
3. Local SEO Optimization
When you are looking for ways to grow your practice, it’s important to remember that a dental practice isn’t the same as many other businesses. You’re not an online retailer that services customers anywhere—you have a physical office that specifically serves local patients. To capitalize on that, you need to include local search engine optimization (SEO) in your strategy.
At the most basic level, local SEO includes keywords that contain your city name, such as “dentist in [city name].” The keywords should also include variants, such as the names of smaller towns, regions, or communities that an outsider might lump together but are well known by local residents. Make sure to use them naturally rather than stuffing them in wherever you can.
Claim your Google Business Profile and update it with proper contact information and other details. This is one of the first things that anyone searching for a local dentist will see, so it could be one of your most valuable assets.
4. Engaging With Online Reviews
Positive online reviews are one of the best ways to improve your credibility. However, it’s generally considered to be a best practice to take the time to respond to reviews. This can sometimes be difficult because you have to carefully navigate HIPAA requirements in your responses.
Sticking to a simple “thank you” is a straightforward way to handle positive reviews. When it comes to negative reviews, don’t try arguing with the reviewer. This makes you look bad and may very well violate HIPAA by acknowledging that they are a patient. Instead, ask the reviewer to reach out to your practice directly.
5. Collaborative Partnerships and Referral Programs
Working with local businesses can be a great way to let more potential patients know about your dental practice expansion. This could be as simple as another business, allowing some counter space for brochures or a leaflet on a bulletin board.
If you’re ambitious, you might try to work out some kind of discount or promotion that works for both you and the other business.
Your patient base can also be an exceptional resource to bring in new patients. Referral programs that incentivize word-of-mouth recommendations can work wonders. Consider offering discounts or even minor procedures for free in exchange for successful referrals.
Find the best foundation for expanding your practice.
Following these tips can help you achieve an effective marketing strategy for your dental practice expansion. However, your success also depends on having a solid foundation with the skills and experience you need to handle every step of orthodontic treatment.
Williams GP Orthodontic Seminars provides a variety of orthodontic courses for general and pediatric dentists. These courses are tailored to deliver the comprehensive education you need to offer orthodontics with confidence. You’ll learn from Dr. Brad Williams—a respected dentist with decades of experience in continuing education instruction—and you’ll have the chance to network with like-minded professionals. Find the best course for you today.
