5 Proven Marketing Strategies to Boost Your Dental Practice

Last week, a dentist came up to me with a pressing inquiry: "What are the most impactful marketing strategies for a dental practice?" Without hesitation, I swiftly articulated the following rapid-fire recommendations:

1. Local Awareness Social Media Campaigns: Utilise targeted local groups on Facebook as well as Twitter, and Instagram posts to reach nearby audiences and enhance brand visibility within the community. Share reviews, testimonials, video testimonials, educational content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the practice to engage with the local community.

2. A good website and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Enlist a reputable company to execute a robust SEO strategy, enhancing the practice's online visibility and making it more accessible for potential patients searching online.

3. Content Marketing: Consistently publish fresh, unique, and pertinent content on the practice's website to offer valuable advice and insights to potential patients and establish the practice as a credible authority in the dental industry.

4. Free Consultation via Educational Events: Host free educational events with a hook of a free consultation to provide prospective patients with an opportunity to experience the practice firsthand, meet the team, and learn about services such as Invisalign and Dental Implants.

5. Engage with Existing Patients: Collaborate with current patients to harvest recommendations and referrals, leveraging their influence and trust to connect with a similar audience. As well as Google reviews.

These strategies have been proven effective in increasing patient base and fostering growth for dental practices.

The power of video testimonials in Dental practice growth

There's no denying that social media has profoundly influenced our purchasing behaviours. Whether it's the latest gym leggings, a revolutionary teeth-whitening toothpaste, or a trendy diet promising to shed pounds in a week, we've all been enticed at some point by someone raving about a product or service they've used.

Scrolling through your feed, you'll likely encounter a sea of influencers and celebrities endorsing various products, from fashion to fintech. The compelling power of these endorsements often leads us to make purchases, even if we're not planning an immediate trip to the gym!

This phenomenon isn't just limited to consumer goods and services. It extends to the healthcare industry as well, where patient testimonials can play a significant role in influencing prospective patients' choices. It's a strategy known as social proof, and its impact is massive.

What is Social Proof?

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people mirror the actions of others, believing those actions to be correct. In other words, we trust what others say about a brand more than what the brand says about itself. When it comes to healthcare and dental patients are more likely to trust a practice if they see positive reviews or testimonials from other patients.

The Importance of Patient Video Testimonials

In the age of digital marketing, patient video testimonials have emerged as a powerful tool for dental practices. These testimonials serve as authentic endorsements, showcasing your practice from the perspective of those who matter most - your patients.

You don't need to find celebrities to endorse your practice or pay them thousands to post about you. Instead, you can leverage your satisfied patients' experiences, asking them to share their stories online for all to see.

Video testimonials are particularly effective as they provide a personal touch and enable potential patients to see real, tangible results. A patient discussing their positive experience with your practice, or showing before-and-after results, can be incredibly persuasive.

Harnessing Patient Endorsements

Encouraging your patients to share their experiences with your practice is a simple yet effective strategy. Here's how you can leverage patient endorsements:

·      Ask for Testimonials: After a successful treatment or consultation, ask your satisfied patients if they would be comfortable providing a video testimonial.

·      Make it Easy: Provide clear instructions on how to record and submit their testimonials. You could even offer to record it at your practice to ensure good audio and video quality.

·      Share their Stories: With their permission, share these testimonials on your website and social media platforms. This not only provides social proof but also humanizes your brand, making it more relatable to prospective patients.

In conclusion, patient video testimonials are a powerful tool for healthcare practices. They provide social proof, build trust, and can significantly influence potential patients' decisions. So, next time a patient raves about your service, consider capturing that endorsement on video – it could be the most influential marketing tool you have!

Teach the team...

Understanding the power of patient video testimonials is one thing; implementing it is another. If you're unsure of how to go about creating compelling video testimonials or editing them professionally, don't worry – I'm here to help!

Grabbing the attention

Did that grab your attention?

It certainly did mine.
And that's the power of effective marketing. As a dentist looking to grow your practice and reach new patients, capturing their attention and making a lasting impression is essential. Just like the Specsavers campaign, your marketing should stand out and tell prospective patients that you're not only established but also fun to be around!

Yes, fun!

Making the experience more enjoyable and less intimidating, more personable, and making patients feel welcome and appreciated.

Remember, don't settle for boring or generic marketing. Make an impact and stand out in our crowded market. #marketing #experience

Direct mail - the return of its popularity

Direct mail is making a comeback in the mainstream marketing world, and for a good reason - it's an important channel to use for building relationships between dental practices and their patients. With businesses of all kinds continuing to embrace digital technology, email, Google ads, Instagram and social media, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends.

Fortunately, a physical letter offers one solution that still stands out from the rest when it comes to engaging your patients and future patients.

This blog post talks about how direct mail works and why its popularity is growing among dental practices everywhere!

Understanding the appeal of direct mail- why it has become popular again

Direct mail may seem like a thing of the past, but it has actually become increasingly popular again in recent years. So what's the appeal?

For one, it allows for a more personal connection between your patients. In a world where we are bombarded with digital advertisements, ping after ping after ping. A letter stands out as something tangible and physical. Additionally, direct mail can be highly targeted, allowing practices and referral practices to send news and service offers specifically to those most likely interested.

With the rise of technology, the art of receiving something in the mail has become a novelty, and direct mail has proven to be an effective way to stand out from the noise and hangs around longer.

The tactile human

You see, the thing is, we are human beings, and we still like to hold things in our hands. If you want to grab the attention of potential customers through direct mail, it's important to make sure your piece is both creative and effective. The key is to think outside the box and come up with a unique approach that will make your piece stand out from the rest.

• Dentists like to take their time over interesting cases on a Saturday morning.

• Patients like to pass on newsletters to friends and family.

Keep in mind that successful direct mail campaigns require both creativity and strategic thinking, so take the time to carefully craft every aspect of your dentist/patient piece to maximise its impact.

If you are thinking of running a newsletter campaign, call me, and we can chat about some game-changing tactics.

Attributes to building trust

The Eldermann Trust Barometer is an annual survey measuring the levels of trust people have in various institutions and businesses worldwide.

The survey covers a range of industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and government. According to the results of the Eldermann Trust Barometer, there are several key attributes that businesses can cultivate to build trust with their customers.

Building trust is a crucial aspect of any business, and dental referral practices are no exception. By implementing the Eldermann Trust Barometer, referral practices can cultivate a strong reputation and build relationships with dentists and patients alike. Here are some ways to put the Trust Barometer into practice in a dental referral practice:

Transparency: Referral practices can build trust through transparency by clearly communicating their referral process and fees to dentists. They should ensure their fees are competitive. Transparency can also extend to the follow-up process, actively updating the referring dentist on their patient's progress for transparency and providing all necessary patient notes in the transfer process.Providing advice of when the referred patients is being returned tot he practice.

Integrity: Referral practices can demonstrate integrity by always putting the needs of the patient and referring practitioner first. Referral practices should ensure high ethical standards in their decision-making. The referral practice takes responsibility for patients that have been referred as if they were in-house.

Competency: Referral practices should demonstrate high clinical skill and experience to build trust with referring dentists. This means sharing continuing education events, supporting referral clinics on new techniques, and sharing reports among the industry so referring dentists can see growth and development.

Empathy: Referral practices can show empathy by treating referring dentists as friends/peers. Practitioners within the referral practices should listen actively to the referring dentist's needs and concerns, promptly taking any necessary actions where necessary to support and assist assisting the clinician when there is something delicate that needs to be addressed in terms of patient care with regard to the referral.

By implementing the Eldermann Trust Barometer, referral practices can build long-lasting relationships with referring dentists by emphasizing transparency, integrity, competency, and empathy, resulting in more referrals and better patient outcomes.

 If you re considering building your referral practice. Feel free to contact me if you are in the SouthEast of England. Let’s chat!

Building Referrals - The Trust Factory

Building trust is vital in any business but especially crucial in growing a dental referral practice. Here are a few reasons why:

Firstly, trust helps to establish credibility. When referring dentists trust your practice, they are more likely to refer their patients to you, and their patients are more likely to accept the referral and trust the treatment plan. By building a reputation where you nail excellent patient outcomes, do exactly what is prescribed and provide good communication to the dentist, you can secure more referrals and grow your practice.

·       Listen and understand potential referring dentists’ service needs

·       Cohesively work well as a team/multi-disciplined approach

·       Place treatment ahead of profits for the best outcome.

·       Has highly regarded and widely admired clinical skills

You don't need a huge marketing budget – but you need to build relationships, and this can take time.

Secondly, trust helps to establish loyalty. You don't need 100’s referrals; just 30 dentists that trust your practice and you become friends, and then they are more likely to partner with you for the long term, making repeat referrals based on their positive experiences with your practice. This repeat business can create a steady revenue stream and help solidify your position in the industry.

·       Treat only within the prescribed referral from the GDP

·       Communication process so nothing gets missed

·       Be 100% transparent and open to discussions with the GDP

·       Socialise, mentor and support.

·       Creates great educational programmes which positively affect the impact on local practices

Thirdly, trust fosters collaboration. Referring dentists who trust your practice are more likely to work collaboratively with you to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients. This can lead to a more robust referral network and higher patient care.

·       Provide the highest quality evidence-based treatment for patients

·       Seen to be an innovator of new products and services

·       Does it need saying?... Return every patient

·       Highly regarded and widely admired

Finally, trust leads to positive word-of-mouth. When patients receive high-quality care from providers they trust, they are more likely to spread the word to their friends and family. This can help to increase your patient base, leading to more referrals and further growth for your practice.

Overall, building trust is an essential aspect of growing a successful dental referral practice. By cultivating a positive reputation for delivering excellent outcomes, building long-term relationships, fostering collaboration, and encouraging positive word-of-mouth, you can position your practice for growth and continued success.