It is fair to say that the knowledge and skills that dentists have may allow them to work wonders with patients’ teeth and oral health.
However, when it comes to marketing their dental practice, their know-how and experience might not be as strong.
We say that as a compliment to their dental credentials and to make the point that the marketing experts are those who make their living from it, such as those who run and work for digital marketing agencies.
However, that does not mean that dentists should not at least have some background knowledge about how to market their dental practice and, specifically, what digital marketing strategies they should be focusing on.
With that in mind, we thought it would be useful to highlight five of the most effective online marketing strategies for local businesses to follow, especially for dentists.
They all require varying degrees of time, patience, and money. However, all of these can provide substantial returns on investment, so let us get started.
#1: PPC Advertising
For dentists keen to see increased traffic to their website immediately and who are willing to pay for it, the quickest method of doing so is pay-per-click advertising or PPC. PPC advertising allows you to select the relevant keywords you wish your ad to appear for and then bid on them.
If your bid is high enough, your ad will appear frequently, influenced by the number of competing bids. You stay in control of what you spend each day.
#2: SEO
You have search engine optimisation, or SEO, at the other end of the timescale to PPC. This is how website owners, including dentists, attempt to have their website reach the highest possible position on Google when specific search terms are entered.
These search terms need careful researching before the website is fully optimised, and backlinks to the website are acquired so that Google knows which keywords the website is trying to rank for.
#3: Email Marketing
This is a marketing strategy that has proven over the years to be one of the most effective, and it remains so to this day. Collecting email addresses from prospects and patients allows you to communicate with them regularly, but be assured this is not an exercise in spamming or bombarding them with sales messages.
For optimal results, emails should instead contain lots of useful information and advice relating to oral health, with the occasional marketing message included.
#4: Online Videos
If the internet has done one thing more than any other, it has provided the means for anyone to create and post videos online, and that includes dentists.
Many people go to YouTube for information and advice.
By making short videos in which you provide expert advice on keeping teeth and gums healthy, you can build a loyal audience and increase traffic to your website.
#5: Podcasting
Podcasts are popular, but podcasting is still an under-used online marketing strategy for businesses.
Many people enjoy listening to audio, and a podcast with helpful advice, the latest developments and answers to common patient questions can attract a steady audience.
In addition, it can help build your reputation and your dental practice’s brand, which helps when you are trying to grow new patient numbers.
