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A dental marketing plan isn’t just nice to have – it’s necessary.
A well-executed dental marketing strategy will help your practice attract new patients, retain existing ones, and grow your business.
Imagine getting 20+ new patient conversions per month for under $100 per patient—it is possible!
By focusing on the right keywords and writing great ad copy you can own your market and be the go to for emergency dental care or whatever your specialized high-value treatment focus is.
A good marketing plan will deliver measurable results and growth. Ready to turn your dental practice into a profitable business? Let’s get into the key elements of a dental marketing plan.
Understanding your target audience is key. Analyse your local competition to see who they’re targeting. This will help you find gaps in the market.
Ask yourself— "what type of patients could I care for, treat the best, and make me the most money?"
Conduct patient surveys to get insights about why they came to your practice. Ask about their needs, preferences and experiences with other clinics. Use this feedback to inform your marketing.
Understanding these demographic factors helps in effectively targeting current and prospective patients through tailored marketing strategies and personalized communication.
Look at competitors' strengths and weaknesses to develop effective dental marketing strategies. Check their online reviews, services, and pricing. What sets your practice apart?
Patient feedback is gold:
Know your target market and use it to tailor your marketing and help you stand out.
Setting marketing objectives is key to your dental marketing efforts and your dental practice’s success. SMART objectives – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound – will give you a framework.
The most common goal of all dental practitioners.
Getting more prospective patients requires specific strategies:
Retaining existing patients is long-term growth:
Adding services will attract a wider audience and is one of the effective dental marketing ideas:
Using SMART goals in these areas will help you measure progress. For example, get 15% more new patients in 6 months. This is a specific and time bound target.
A solid dental marketing plan includes a strong online presence, effective use of social media, email marketing, offline tactics, and digital advertising to maximize visibility and growth potential.
Your dental practice must have a good online presence and effective digital marketing. Start with website optimization. Make sure your website loads fast, looks appealing, and is mobile friendly and easy to navigate. Use SEO to rank higher on Google. Focus on keywords like “emergency dental care” and “local dentist”. Update your Google Business Profile listing regularly with accurate information.
Right now, in 2024, Google Reviews are THE #1 FACTOR to showing higher on Google Maps.
Choose the right social media for your dental marketing strategies. Facebook Instagram, and TikTok are good for dental practices. Create a content strategy with educational posts, patient testimonials and behind the scenes of your practice. Engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages quickly. Make yourself personable and show off your authenticity and experience.
Email marketing (paired with text messages) keeps patient relationships alive. Send monthly newsletters with oral health tips and practice updates. Use TEXT MESSAGE AND EMAIL appointment reminders to reduce no-shows and cancellations. Offer special deals via email and text to encourage repeat visits.
Offline marketing still has value when combined with online marketing. Direct mail campaigns can target local households. Partner with local businesses or sponsor local events to get visibility. Print advertising in local newspapers or magazines will increase brand awareness.
Dental marketing efforts are key to your dental marketing plan. It includes Google pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, social media ads and display advertising. Each will get you in front of potential patients.
PPC campaigns put your ads at the top of the Google page. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad. However, it is often more expensive compared to other tactics like SEO.
Example: An ad with “emergency dental care” targets urgent needs.
Social media platforms offer targeting options based on user data. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will get you in front of different demographics.
Example: A video of a patient testimonial builds trust fast.
Display ads appear on websites within the Google Display Network or other networks like Bing Ads.
Example: A banner for teeth whitening services grabs the attention of potential patients browsing health sites.
Use these digital advertising methods to get visibility and attract more patients to your practice fast and easy.
Creating content is key to being seen as an authority.
Focus on producing high quality blog posts, articles, video content, and patient testimonials. Incorporate innovative marketing ideas such as digital marketing, search engine optimization, social media engagement, content creation, and utilizing marketing tools.
Embrace modern approaches like artificial intelligence and leveraging referral systems to enhance your marketing efforts.
Who are you speaking to? Tailor your content to their needs and interests.
Create different types of content.
Plan your content in advance. Post consistently.
Incorporate keywords naturally into your content to improve your ranking on search engines.
Share your content across multiple platforms to get more visibility.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential tools for gauging the success of your campaigns. These provide valuable insights into various aspects of your marketing efforts, including:
To facilitate data collection and interpretation, it's recommended that analytics tools or CRM is used.
Google Analytics is excellent for website traffic reports, while SEMrush offers comprehensive SEO and competitor analysis. Hootsuite is a popular choice for managing social media engagement.
Regular review of performance data is also critical to continuous improvement.
"If you can't measure it, you can't improve it."
-Peter Drucker (management expert)
This quote underscores the importance of having concrete metrics to evaluate your marketing efforts.
To ensure your dental marketing plan remains effective over time, it's advisable to review your strategy quarterly or monthly. During these reviews, make adjustments based on your KPI findings.
This ongoing process of review and refinement will help you optimize your marketing efforts and achieve better results for your dental practice.
Allocating your dental marketing budget correctly is key to successful dental marketing efforts. Start with your total budget, then break it down into online advertising, content creation and local events.
Track each marketing activity to measure ROI. Use:
To calculate ROI use this formula:
[ ROI = (Net Profit / Total Investment) x 100 ]
Review these regularly to adjust for better efficiency and higher returns.
A good dental marketing plan is key to your practice’s success and growth. By targeting keywords, patient feedback and SMART goals you’ll get new patients and retain existing ones. Expanding services and creating content that’s relevant to your audience will get you further.
Allocate your budget across multiple marketing channels so every pound counts towards your goals. Social media marketing and local SEO are cost effective for small practices.
Reviewing metrics like conversion rate, patient retention rate and cost per acquisition will allow you to measure ROI accurately. This ongoing review will help you adjust for better efficiency and higher returns so your dental practice stays ahead of the game.
A good dental marketing plan is key to getting new patients and retaining existing ones. It helps with target keywords, SMART goals, patient feedback and patient acquisition and retention strategies.
Content marketing builds trust and authority. By creating content like blog posts and videos that answer common dental questions or educate on procedures you’ll engage with your audience more and position your practice as an authority.
Allocate budgets across online advertising (Google Ads), content creation (blog/videos), social media campaigns, email marketing and local events. Review regularly to fine tune.
Small practices can use social media marketing by posting regularly. Use email marketing to stay in touch with patients. Use local SEO to show up in local search results without high costs.
Measure ROI using metrics like conversion rate (new patient sign-ups), patient retention rate (repeat visits) and cost per acquisition (CPA). Review each campaign regularly to adjust for better returns.
So you can provide service and content to their needs and wants. More personal interactions = more patient satisfaction and loyalty.
To properly develop your dental marketing plan, let us audit your existing website for potential issues and problems preventing people from finding your website online. Click here to get started!
Tired of not getting new patients? You’re not alone. MOST dentists struggle to be seen in a crowded market.
Imagine having a constant flow of patients wanting your services. Your dreams of having more patients than you have chair time for are over.
A good dental marketing strategy and solid dental marketing can make this a reality by increasing your practice’s visibility and reputation.
If you are looking for dental marketing ideas that will generate more leads and grow your patient base, read further. These strategies will benefit current and prospective patients by promoting wellness initiatives and facilitating patient-doctor dialogue. Get ready to level up your practice with proven strategies that work.
We've worked with hundreds of dentist across North America and here is what we've seen that works best.
We've broken this down into the following categories:
➡️ Online Strategies
➡️ Local Strategies
➡️ Referral Programs
➡️ Email Strategies
➡️ Video Strategies
➡️ Traditional (Old School) Strategies
➡️ In-office Strategies
➡️ Targeted Strategies
+ A BONUS section around Tracking and Analytics — which most dentists struggle with.
Don't have a CRM or even know what one is?
Dental marketing is key to being seen. Implement these to increase your visibility and get more patients.
Search engine optimization makes your dental practice rank higher on search engines by improving online visibility in local Google Maps searches.
Use keywords like “dental clinic in [your city]” throughout your website. Optimize meta descriptions, title tags and headers. Quality backlinks from other reputable sites also boost rankings.
SEO is a long-term strategy, often taking up to 1 year of investment to pay off, but it often has the overall highest ROI compared to all online strategies.
If you want to learn more about the nuances of Dental SEO -> READ HERE
PPC Ads put your business at the top of Google search results. Set a budget, choose your target keywords and create your ad copy. Google Ads is the most popular PPC platform.
It's simple, it's quick (we're talking, new patients... this week) however, it is more expensive.
Social media offers many ways to engage with potential patients as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. Share educational content about oral health on Facebook and Instagram. Run targeted ads to specific demographics.
Social media marketing benefits include the following:
Organic Social Media Marketing (just posting naturally) doesn't often have a direct increase in new patients, but PAID Social Media Marketing can often work extremely well, especially for very established clinics and specialized clinics focused on a specific discipline or treatment-set.
Local strategies can increase your practice’s visibility in the community and attract prospective patients.
Engaging with current and potential patients through the local community can enhance your authority and increase brand awareness, indirectly leading to new lead generation (MORE NEW PATIENTS!)
Google Maps is continually increasingly more important year after year. Optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) makes you visible in local Google Maps searches. Add accurate information, high-quality photos, and patient reviews to build credibility and attract patients.
Post on Google My Business regularly (once a week!) and collect review to keep your business high on the list.
List your practice in local directories like OpenCare, Dentist On Demand, CareCru, Flossy, BirdEye, Connect The Doc, and other modern directories specifically for dentists. These listings increase your online presence and make it easier for locals to find you.
Engage with the community by sponsoring events or participating in health fairs, local markets and regular holiday events. This will position your practice as a caring community member and build trust.
Sponsor local sports teams or school events. This puts your brand in front of families, and they positively associate your practice with them.
Partner with nearby businesses like gyms or pharmacies. Cross-promote services to reach a wider audience.
Use these to engage with the local community, increase visibility and get more patients to your dental practice.
Incentivising dental patient referrals grows your practice. Offer discounts or free services to dental patients who refer others. For example 10% off their next visit or a free cleaning.
Having a referral tracking system ensures you can measure the effectiveness of these programs. Use software like a Dental CRM track referrals. These platforms manage patient data and streamline the referral process.
Ask existing patients to leave online reviews by offering small rewards like gift cards or dental care kits. Positive reviews boost your online reputation and attract new patients looking for a reliable dental service.
Consider running referral contests with prizes like electric toothbrushes or teeth whitening sessions. This creates buzz and gets more patients involved in your referral program.
Email marketing is still a powerful tool for dental practices. Building an email list is the first step. Collect emails through your website, social media and in-office visits. Export your patient management system into a CRM or email marketing software and send away!
Adding dental marketing tools can take your email marketing to the next level with modern messaging and benchmarking features.
Gather emails from prospective patients by offering incentives like discounts or free consultations. Use sign up forms on your website and social media pages. Always ensure you have permission to send emails.
Personalised campaigns get more engagement. Use patient names and tailor content based on their history with your practice. Segment your list into categories like new patients, regular visitors and those who need follow ups.
Newsletters keep patients informed about services, promotions and dental health tips. Send monthly newsletters with content like:
Each newsletter should have a clear call-to-action (CTA) to book appointments or visit your website.
Use tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact or your Dental CRM to automate emails for appointment reminders, birthday wishes, and follow-up care instructions. This will save time and keep patients informed. Emails before and after appointments increase show rate and make collecting reviews easier.
Monitor open rates, click-through rates (CTR), and conversion rates to track campaign success and adjust strategy for future campaigns.
These email marketing strategies will increase patient engagement and retention for your dental practice.
Video marketing is one of the most important dental marketing tools. It increases your dental practice’s visibility. Create educational dental videos to educate patients about procedures. Virtual office tours can make new patients feel comfortable before their first visit.
Educational videos help to demystify dental procedures. For example, explain the steps of a root canal or the benefits of regular cleanings. Use clear visuals and simple language so patients can understand.
Virtual tours show your practice environment. Highlight areas like the reception, treatment rooms and sterilisation zones. This transparency builds trust and reduces patient anxiety.
Patient testimonials in video format are powerful credibility builders. Real patients sharing their experiences resonate more than written reviews. Make sure these videos are authentic and relatable.
Use these in your marketing plan to get more engagement and new patients.
Traditional marketing still has value in dental office marketing. They offer tangible touchpoints that digital can’t.
Direct mail campaigns can target residents. Sending postcards, brochures, or newsletters to homes increases visibility. Use high-quality images and compelling offers to grab attention.
Print ads are still a powerful way to reach new patients. Placing ads in local newspapers, magazines, or community bulletins gets you in front of people who don’t often go online.
Radio spots are a great way to reach a wider audience. Craft short messages about special offers or new services. Local radio stations have loyal listeners who trust their content.
TV ads create visual impact and credibility. Show patient testimonials, introduce your team or highlight the technology used in your practice. Though expensive, the wide reach justifies the spending if the budget allows it.
Using these traditional methods with modern digital strategies covers all patient bases.
Dental office marketing gets patient engagement and promotes services in your practice. It creates a professional environment and informs patients about the treatments available.
Use waiting room displays to showcase dental services, promotions, and educational content. Digital screens can show before-and-after photos of procedures, and posters can list the benefits of specific treatments.
Provide brochures that detail each dental service. Patients can read while they wait or take home for further consideration. Keep the design clean and informative.
Train your staff to upsell services well. Give them knowledge on different treatments so they can recommend options during patient conversations.
Send educational materials to help patients understand their oral health better. Use pamphlets, infographics or even short videos in the waiting room to convey important information quickly.
In-office marketing not only gets patient experience but also drives practice growth by getting patients to make informed decisions on dental care options.
Seasonal promotions get new patients and retain existing ones. Offer discounts on teeth whitening around Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Use limited-time offers to create urgency and get bookings.
Focus marketing on specific dental services to target the right audience. Promote orthodontic treatments during back-to-school season for families with kids. Promote cosmetic dentistry before wedding season for brides-to-be.
Target campaigns by age group for better engagement. For young adults, use social media like Instagram and TikTok with content about wisdom teeth removal or Invisalign. Older adults can use email newsletters about dentures or dental implants.
Each campaign should use the right channels and messaging for the audience and their needs and preferences to get maximum impact across all demographic segments.
Tracking tools help you measure your dental marketing plan. They give you insights into your campaigns so you can make data driven decisions.
Several tools to track these metrics:
Data analysis helps fine-tune marketing. Review your website’s user experience or call-to-action buttons if conversion rates drop. Low email open rates may mean you need to work on your subject lines.
By using tracking tools and monitoring key metrics, you can ensure that your dental marketing is effective and adapts to changing trends.
Running multiple dental marketing strategies can increase your practice's visibility and patient engagement. Using both online and in-office marketing, you can create an overall marketing plan targeting different age groups and demographics.
Use tools to track and analyse key metrics to fine-tune your approach so your campaigns stay effective and adaptable. Stay data-driven and evolve your strategies to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of dental marketing.
We hope this guide helped provide you some interesting ideas for your dental marketing!
If you need any assistance or want us to do this for your clinic—shoot us an email!
