• 2
• Dental Marketing ,
• 29 Oct

Today, it is really hard to have a successful business without proper advertising. This also goes for dental offices that traditionally get clients via word of mouth.

However, as more and more people flock to cities, most of them don’t have many friends who they can ask for a recommendation.

As a result, they try to find a dentist by themselves.

Given that traditional ads and Yellow Pages are pretty much obsolete, people will usually refer to social media and Google for information.

This is why your dental practice needs high visibility.

Here are some of the main things every dentist needs to know about dental internet marketing.

What kind of benefits can I expect?

Let us hit you with some numbers:

• People who blog regularly can achieve 13 times more ROI

• By the end of 2020, more than 80% of web content will be videos

• Almost 90% of users in the US use their smartphones to browse online

• 46% of millennials trust social media when making a purchasing decision

While these numbers are quite staggering, they will only increase in time.

Basically, young generations are used to doing everything on the Internet, and this trend will become even more noticeable with the next generation. So, by focusing on dental internet marketing, you are getting immediate results, but you’re also ensuring the company’s future.

Of course, the main reason why you’re doing this is to increase profit. But, there are even more ways online marketing can help you in the long-run:

• You can do all your advertising through one and the same company

• After the campaign, you will retain the benefits (you will have all the content, followers, Google positions)

• Unlike traditional marketing campaigns, you get much more control and the ability to modify things on the fly

• There are several channels you can utilize creating more customized campaigns

• You can access all this data from your computer

• Even if you only break even, the campaign should be regarded as a success

Dental internet marketing is very flexible; it provides various advantages and helps you build based on previous results.

What marketing methods can I use?

Although experts use the term “online marketing,” this professional is extremely fragmented.

There are various services that people provide, and ideally, you should have a person for every specific campaign that you run. For example, while social media manager can do a great job with your Facebook, he or she might make mistakes when optimizing for Google.

This is especially important if you’re looking for an all-in-one service. You need to check if a particular company can perform each one of these processes on a high level. Otherwise, it is better to get an expert for optimization, an expert for a paid campaign, videos, etc.

Here are some of the most common types of dental internet marketing services:

• Search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO is probably the most complex online marketing service. It takes a lot of time to optimize your site, but the results are simply amazing. Unlike paid campaigns, a dental practice will retain these results. Once you reach one of the top spots, it will take a lot of time for another company to overtake your positions. The successfulness of a campaign usually depends on an expert who is performing it. Of course, even when you reach a few top spots, it is still viable to perform this service, ensuring that you reach top spots for additional phrases. It also prevents you from slipping. Local SEO is especially great for dental offices, as most patients come from close vicinity. Like restaurants and other service providers, you will get a lot of revenue from these clients.

• Pay-per-click (PPC)

When it comes to Google traffic, experts focus on two options: organic traffic (SEO) and paid traffic (PPC). Paid traffic is the other side of the coin. While SEO is regarded as a natural traffic source, focused on long-term growth, PPC provides immediate results. With PPC, you will get traffic based on how much you’re willing to pay. You will compete with other advertisers, and based on your proficiency; these campaigns can be cheap or expensive. Pay-per-click provides immediate results. Unfortunately, as soon as you stop paying, you don’t get any more traffic. PPC is good for getting some quick cash but is less than ideal for brand growth. This term is also used for paid campaigns on Facebook and YouTube.

• Social media marketing (SMM)

When talking about dental internet marketing, most people will first think about social media. That makes sense; we spend so much time on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, which is why we can relate to the concept. If you want your brand to have more personality, there is no better way to do it besides SMM. It allows you to connect with your clients on a more personal level. Also, when your dental office has any promotional activity, your followers will quickly pick up on it. Social media marketing gives life to your dental office. Active social media profiles are one of the best ways of retaining clients, which, in turn, is the best way to build a dental business. While Facebook is always great for dental offices, you should also consider Instagram, Twitter, and even YouTube. We can certainly help with each of these platforms!

• Content marketing

In most cases, content creation is regarded as a part of a campaign. For example, when you hire a person to do your SMM, you presume they will create all the content by themselves. Sometimes, this might not be the case, which is why you need to be very precise when making a deal or creating a contract. Certain companies already have their SEO, PPC, or SMM experts, and they just need a person who will create content for them. Of course, there are some companies that create amazing blog posts and videos, which is why you should always give them a look. Content creation is very important for conversion, and it helps any type of campaign that you’re running. Content creation experts are especially important if you want to launch a YouTube channel.

• Reputation management

Potential dental clients pay a lot of attention to things such as online reviews. Given the sensitivity of dental services and potential negative impact on your body, most people are really hesitant when choosing a person for the job. To make things even worse, there is a lot of people willing to slander you online. Oftentimes, this is your competition. In order to manage all these negative reviews, it is very important to have a person who will handle your dental reputation management. These comments and posts are crucial for your business. Not only do they affect conversion, but they also have an impact on the prices.

What type of content should I create?

While all these campaigns are very different, each service depends on highly-actionable content.

Proper phrasing, catchy title, great images, and videos, can have a major impact on your brand and campaign’s success.

So, whether you wish to go with dental SEO or social media marketing for dental clinics, it is imperative to have proper content as a basis.

But what is the ideal content for dental offices?

Here are four of the most popular content types and how they can affect your campaigns:

• Blog posts

Some people may think that blog posts are an obsolete concept, but this cannot be farther from the truth. There are still a lot of people who love a written word. Another great thing about blog posts is that you can easily write one. However, if you want to make a bigger splash, you might want to consider investing a bit more into them. They are very personal, they give you dental office a voice, and can be a great tool for optimization.

• Videos

Videos are becoming more popular with years. Younger generations simply love them, and older people are getting used to them. Videos can be posted both on social media and blogs. The great thing about them is that they convey your message quickly. A lot of people love visuals, which is why they might convert better than your regular blog posts. Keep in mind that it takes much more time to create a good video. Sometimes, you will have to invest money to make good content. If you also consider the initial investment in a camera or mic, this means that you have to be fully invested in the idea before proceeding. Or better yet, think of purchasing a dental video marketing service and get help from professionals who know their stuff.

• Images

Images are often overlooked as a type of content. Most companies simply take content from the web and pose it as their own. However, if you have the means for it, we suggest that you create your own images. Keep in mind that you don’t need too many of them; just a few photos on your homepage and main pages will be enough. Most web companies do not provide this service, though, so its something you will need to do in-house.

• Infographics

Infographics were extremely popular at one point in time. Nowadays, they are not used as much, but they can still be great for freshening up your pages. While their main purpose is to gain links and boost your SEO, they can also be efficient promotional content for social media and websites. They do need some time to create. There is also no point in creating too many infographics as they might become redundant.

These are the main types of content.

Most online marketing agencies will focus on written content for dental offices. They are the simplest ones, and you can always benefit from them.

Other formats also have their merits but require a hefty investment in both time and money.

Last thoughts

If you’re just starting with a dental practice or if you’re a seasoned professional who wants to improve the business, we suggest that you hire a dental internet marketing company.

Keep in mind that it’s really hard to perform some of these things by yourself. Even SMM, which most people think it’s easy, has its nuances. Small mistakes can deter potential clients from visiting your office, thus affecting your bottom line.

No matter what kind of help you need, make sure to contact us today.

We can always give you good advice and even better service!