In a world where people spend their time online, it is essential to have customised marketing strategies in place to ensure your dental practice is visible to potential patients. With the rise of technology, every business must now have a digital marketing strategy to remain competitive.
In a recent survey, it was found that nearly 60% of people would rather communicate with businesses online, making digital marketing more important than ever.
Dental marketing strategies have changed as internet usage on smartphones has increased dramatically. Therefore, it’s important to understand how the marketing method has changed and what strategies are most effective in increasing new patient growth.
Dental Marketing in the Digital Age
As you move further into the digital age, dental marketing is evolving. Print ads and Yellow Pages are no longer the primary way to reach new patients.
Today, dental marketing means utilising a variety of digital channels to reach patients where they are spending the majority of their time: online. From social media to dental website design, there are several ways to reach new patients and grow your dental practice.
The good news is that several respected firms provide dental marketing services. You can contact one of these agencies to help develop and implement an effective advertising strategy for your dental practice.
What strategies will be most effective for dental marketing practices in 2022 and beyond?
Let’s take a look at the seven most popular dental marketing strategies:
Social Media Advertising
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter provide an opportunity to connect with potential patients in a way that was not possible before. Through social media marketing, you can share valuable content, engage with potential patients, and build trust and credibility for your practice.
Maintaining an up-to-date social media presence, including oral practices, is essential for any business in the modern age. Facebook is Australia’s most popular social media platform, with 15 million active users. This presents a massive opportunity for practices to connect with potential patients actively using social media.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is one of the most effective dental marketing strategies. You can attract prospective patients by creating and sharing valuable blog posts, infographics, images, and videos.
Valuable content helps to build trust and credibility with potential patients, which is essential for converting them into new patients. About 70% say they would rather learn about a product or service through an article than an advertisement.
Google Ads
Google Ads is a paid advertising platform that allows you to place ads on Google.com and its partner websites. When people search for dental-related keywords, your ad will appear at the top of the search results. It is an effective way to reach new patients actively searching for a dental practice like yours.
If you are based in Australia, you can also utilise Google’s “Local Services Ads”, which are designed specifically for local businesses. These ads appear at the top of the search results when potential patients search for relevant keywords and include your practice’s location, reviews, and contact information.
Online reviews and testimonials
In the past, people relied on word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family when choosing a new dentist. While this is still important, online reviews have become increasingly influential in recent years. 88% say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Encouraging your existing patients to leave reviews on popular platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp can help to attract new patients who are looking for a reputable practice.
Conclusion
The dental industry is ever-changing, and so is the advertising and marketing landscape. If you want to stay ahead of the curve and increase new patient growth in 2022, consider implementing one or more dental marketing strategies.