Why Digital Marketing is Important for Your Dental Practice

When trying to attract new patients, how does your dental office do it? Are you still relying on newspaper ads and postal mailers? Spent thousands on a custom jingle for radio ads? These traditional methods are not just ineffective because of their limited scope to connect with the right customers at the right moment, but they're costly!

If you haven't discovered how digital marketing for dental practices has helped thousands of offices around the country maximize their reach and target specific patients, you're missing out! Dental marketing isn't just about garnering a larger audience but getting out in front of those looking for your services. This is something traditional advertising can't provide.

Digital Marketing for Dental Practices Brings Quicker ROIs

The best way to reach prospective patients is to tap into as many marketing channels as possible. While radio, print, and television adverts may seem to reach more people, the reality is it's geared toward brand awareness more than bringing in new patients. For example, thousands of people may have heard your commercial on their commute to work, but only three or four likely needed your services right now.

Instead, it would be best to leverage search engine advertising to reach those who specifically want to find your practice. For example, you may incorporate the phrase "dentist in NYC'' as part of your SEO strategy. This ensures that you target those who are interested in becoming a new patient in your area, and you only pay for those who actually interact with your ad. This is not only cost-effective but opens up other digital marketing channels for investment.

Traditional Advertising Can't Target Your Audience Like Digital Marketing for Dental Practices

One of the most significant cons of relying on traditional advertising is your message can't be customized to fit that specific audience you're looking for. No, instead, your message will fall on deaf ears, such as:

Those who want a dentist but aren't your patients

Your current patients

Those not wanting a dentist

Former patients who don't want to come back

Satisfied patients of other dentists

Because each of these types has different needs, you have to tailor your message. But, this isn't possible when using traditional advertising methods like the newspaper or radio. Even if you did customize multiple message types, the cost would be outrageous and still not as compelling as online digital marketing. You can't use the same message with every patient category, but that's what happens when advertising offline.

How Digital Marketing Pinpoints Your Target with Relevant Content

When you create a digital marketing campaign for your dental office, you can target former patients, prospective leads, reactivate former patients, and even convert your competitors' clients.

How? Below are just a few methods where effective online advertising over common channels can help you create a sustainable patient base:

Pay-per-click (PPC) ads on search engine results page (SERP) and directories where patients are actively looking for dental services

Display advertisements can help boost brand awareness to patients visiting local websites in the area you serve

Social media advertising providing value-added content that patients will find helpful and rely on while building trust in your dental office

Automated email marketing to remind current and former patients about new service offerings and appointment reminders

Capture Leads with Digital Marketing for Dental Practices

Digital marketing helps you get in front of people considering some type of dental service for themselves or a family member. For example, they may be considering dentures or are concerned about recurring toothaches causing them discomfort. Where do they look for information and answers to their questions? Online through social media, search engines, and informational content on your dental website.

Through targeted website content, you can reach these prospective patients and help them take the next step, and book an appointment with your dental practice.

Automated Email Marketing

Much like traditional marketing not effectively reaching targeted prospective patients, basic email marketing campaigns suffer similar weaknesses. The biggest downside is scale. If you need to get in front of thousands of potential customers, individualized emails or using a one-size-fits-all message won't be effective or efficient.

By incorporating automation technology into your email marketing strategy, you can create series of messaging that tailor to the exact needs of your audience. You can also set them up to trigger certain events and milestones, as well. For instance, say a lead signs up for your newsletter. By doing so, an automated email system will send them a welcome response and set up automatic follow-ups over set periods of time, so they don't forget their interest in your dental practice and services.

This is the beauty of leveraging automation to create a marketing funnel. It will help your website, landing pages, and even your emails generate new leads. But, you have to ensure that your content is value-added. Otherwise, your messages may trigger a spam filter and never be opened.