• 8
• Dental Marketing ,
• 17 Feb

If you want to have a successful dental business, you can no longer trust word-of-mouth marketing as the focal point.

Nowadays, even when visiting a restaurant or a historic site, you will check Google to get some additional information about the place.

Now, imagine how different the situation is when you’re looking for a good dental office. People will make an extra effort to ensure they are in good hands.

Never underestimate the dental anxiety!

Most people stick with one dental office for life, which is why finding the optimal dentist is such a big thing for potential patients. They will relentlessly browse the web until they find the right option.

Because of this, the quality of a dental website has emerged as one of the most important factors for closing new clients.

So, what are the main benefits of a good dental bespoke website design?

• It presents your company in the right way
• Shows professionalism and cleanliness
• Allows user to get additional information quickly
• It helps your marketing efforts
• Makes processes easier
• Generates profits and saves money

Back in the day, we had business cards.

This format has become obsolete, and its replaced by dental office websites.

If your business is located in the US, having a quality site can mean a difference of several $100,000!

What’s the average cost of an awesome dental website design?

If it was so cheap to create an excellent dental website design, every dentist would have one.

The biggest problem is the price.

Premium dental practice websites can go from $5,000 to $10,000. You can get one for even cheaper, but then the quality may be lower.

It is of utmost importance that you hire a reputable marketing company with a good track record. You should also find someone who is good at dental SEO, as this will be one of the site’s focal points.

Nevertheless, it is still puzzling why the price is so high.

Premium websites are much more than a responsive, pretty dental website design. They are also regularly updated and unique. Low-tier marketing companies often design sites that are similar to each other.

We focus on creating a full, customized experience that will be unique for your brand.

As a marketing company, we know what works and what doesn’t. We also love talking to our clients and listening to their wishes. Our company’s main goal is to find something unique that defines your dental office and building from there.

One of the main emphasis is on SEO or search engine optimization.

In the end, there is no point in creating a flashy dental website that no one will visit. We focus on a good optimization foundation, so you can reach top spots on Google.

Small mistakes during designing can completely prevent your site from ranking, which in turn will prevent you from getting all that web traffic. Furthermore, you can employ us to work on your optimization once the site is ready.

We are truly a one-in-all company that can meet all your digital needs!

How much time does it take to create a new website?

Although you’re probably eager to have a fresh, new site, perfection cannot be rushed.

Generally speaking, it takes between 2 to 4 weeks to create an awesome new dental practice website. However, we usually like launching a site after 30 days, so we can test it properly.

Keep in mind that site creation is just the beginning of your journey. As mentioned, it is much more important how you’re using this site. Just having static pages will not do you much good in the long run.

The dental website has to be a thriving platform where your potential clients will gather and communicate with your business.

You also have to connect this site to your social profiles. They are another channel where you can gather leads.

Ideally, you should hire a marketing company afterward, so that they can manage your SEO and SMM (social media marketing). Then, you can start getting the awesome results that will propel your business to the next heights.

12 Main features of dental websites

There are 12 main features common for dental practice websites.

Keep in mind that not all of them are mandatory; we usually make suggestions as to what can look nice and what can be seen as redundant.

However, it is almost certain that you will have some combination of these dental website design elements:

1. HIPAA compliance

We don’t have to tell you how important HIPAA compliance is for healthcare providers. While some other features on this list are optional, you should always have this compliance. In fact, it is legally required in the US. This is especially vital if your potential clients need to fill various forms or to pay procedures online. It is really easy for the data to be hacked, which is why you require a certain type of encryption. First and foremost, your site will need an SSL certificate. Nowadays, most sites have them as they are, but there needs to be special emphasis if you’re a healthcare provider. If a marketing company promised you a premium service and they cannot deliver on this front, we suggest that you don’t pay them until they do!

2. Pages for each location

One of the biggest signs of unprofessionalism is cramming all the content on several pages. This is especially true if your company has several dental offices spread throughout. Whether you’re in different cities, or in the same city but in different locations, you must have a separate page for each office. This is not only important as it makes your site easier to use, but it is also important for subsequent optimization. You can also consider creating separate websites for each location, but we suggest against this (especially when we consider how costly premium sites can be).

3. Pages for each dental service

Again, like with location, it is recommended that you have separate pages for each service. Such an approach will help your SEO, and will also have a positive impact on clients. You can add additional information for each one of these services and even embed videos showing how it’s done. Small things such as this can have a positive impact on patients and also reliever their dental anxiety!

4. Adding social media buttons

When launching a new site, you must create social media profiles at the same time. Then, you will have to create social media buttons and interconnect all these platforms together. By doing so, you will allow potential dental leads to reach you through various channels. So, if someone is spending the majority of their time on Facebook, they are more likely to be exposed to your messages.

5. Team members’ biographies

You always have to account for dental anxiety when making a site. Most people are very reluctant to give a new dentist a shot. It can be a really hard thing to bridge, which is why you need to instill confidence in them. One of the best ways of doing that is by showing your true face. Share dentists’ and nurses’ biographies; tell short stories. Make them feel more comfortable even before they step foot into your office. Dental services are a very personal experience, and you have to make it personal at your end as well.

6. “About Us” page

Almost every website will have an about us page. This isn’t something that should be mentioned. However, when it comes to dental practices, the “About Us” page should have much more significance. As already mentioned, your task is to instill confidence. Potential patients will often check your bio and “About Us” page prior to giving you a chance. On this particular page, you can disclose your education, experience, and background. You can also use it to talk about dental practice’s goals and mission. This would make patients feel much more comfortable.

7. Dental reviews and testimonials

Due to local SEO, you can find dental reviews for almost any dentist in the world. However, these reviews also have to be showcased on your site. Why are they so important? They are vital for the decision-making process! In fact, about 72% of people will not take any action prior to reading a company’s review. Furthermore, 15% of people don’t trust businesses without disclosed reviews. Because of that, you must have lots of reviews not only on Google but also on your site. Make sure to add highlighted testimonials. They work for almost any business, and they will definitely work for your dental practice.

8. Before any after

This particular entry is a bit hit or miss. Not every company is willing to show before and after images. Sometimes, they might look scary to people with anxiety. While it’s pretty great to showcase your skills and the patients’ transformation, it isn’t always ideal. On the other hand, these images can also lead to extra conversion.

9. Online patient forms

The website should make the whole process more convenient for patients. High conversion should be the focal point, which means that a company needs to have online forms that patients can fill. These forms should be connected to the site’s management tool. That way, everything can be streamlined, and you would lose less time. Online patient forms can come in PDF and other formats, as well.

10. Online scheduling

Another nifty feature is online scheduling. Needless to say, it is much easier to book appointments via the website. The best thing about this feature is the fact online scheduling is always available. A patient can access it at any time. This is very convenient for them, but it also means that you don’t have to spend resources on phone scheduling. It is one of those features that you should prioritize.

11. Lead generation

Like with social media, it is very important to turn your site into a lead generation channel. Companies often provide intimate information; they give limited options for communication. Every dental practice website should have forms (like previously mentioned ones) that can connect you to potential clients.

12. Tracking your calls

Among others, it is very valuable to track your calls. There are certain programs like CallRail, that can help you with that. Keep in mind that having a database is very vital for dental businesses. You can make lots of profit through returning clients, so it’s necessary to retain all of those who are interested in your services.

Conclusion

Obviously, there are lots of benefits to having a quality, reliable dental website design.

While some dentists see this as an unnecessary expense, it is the best and quickest way to scale your business. Great sites are especially important for businesses that want to expand and open new offices.

But it is very important to make the right decision when hiring a marketing company for dentists.

Always bear in mind there are lots of marketing agencies out there, and it’s your task to find the right one for your particular needs. Give it some time, do the proper research, and you will find a company that suits your needs!