Revolutionizing Dental Practice with Digital Marketing

---

 The medical sector, particularly in Europe, has always been reluctant to advertise. Professional orders prefer that the profession is linked to a certain discretion in promoting one’s business. The situation is a little different in the United States of America, as is the case for other professions such as lawyers, accountants and so on.

Despite this general reluctance to promote themselves, due to regulatory facts, more and more professionals are turning to digital channels to increase and optimize their business.

Increasing the business means increasing one’s visibility, i.e. getting noticed by those who need the services offered.

Other times a need can even be stimulated in those who are not yet aware of the same. In the case of dentists, we are talking about regular dental cleaning (which not everyone does) or teeth whitening services with increasingly innovative and less invasive techniques. Sure, we talk about aesthetics, but when you need professional and trusted medical consultation, choosing the right professional is often tricky, so you rely on word of mouth.

In recent years, the Internet has seen an explosion in the number of channels through which professionals can enter the market. No more the label on the door or the Yellow Pages, as was the case in the past.

Not even a site, without due promotion or optimization, can remain like a business card locked in a drawer—wasted money. Digital dentistry has been growing in recent years since more and more dentists realised that without a solid and reliable online presence, they miss tremendous opportunities eaten by competitors. Digital tools also help them to streamline the funnel, for example, by implementing a CRM that moves from lead generation to calendar booking and marketing automation to send reminders and promotions (including brands they work with).

First, a professional can get noticed through the map service offered by Google, Bing and other platforms. In this case, however, he must know that he also faces the possibility of being reviewed by customers and competitors who, in some instances, unethically unleash a second fake account, or an agency, to be more organized to discredit their colleagues. An unfair practice that the various platforms aim to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate.

Another online channel is represented by the world of social networks, which are constantly changing in terms of popularity, formats and users – and within them, trends and user microcosms change; in fact, the organic reach is often very limited to a small number of nearby contacts. Even in that case, on the one hand, a boost to the contents may be necessary to increase reach, and on the other, an optimized and constant presence with quality content (but suitable for the channel, therefore not long, dull texts but usable media in the feed, such as short informative vertical videos with subtitles). Don’t open a track if you don’t use it: it’s like activating a telephone line that nobody answers.

Even on social networks, there is a risk of damaging one’s reputation, not only for posting inappropriate content but also indirectly, when users leave negative comments on their profiles and pages. This can be minimized, but not entirely.

For professionals, directories are essential in ranking on search engines (SEO). Tend to have a significant presence because they collect numerous keywords searched for by prospects, starting with the names of professionals, as well as from their profiles and specializations, linked to various locations and call-to-actions that often go hand in hand with intent keywords, the most expensive in search advertising (SEA, like Google or Bing Ads).

The organic ranking is free because you do not pay the cost per click of the SEA (or of other channels such as social, display, video, and native), but organizing an SEO campaign that works has its costs, the benefits of which can generally be seen in the medium /long term. So it’s a lasting investment that’s not good for impromptu initiatives or when you need results quickly right after launching (or relaunching) your business (SEO and go-to-market don’t always get along).

Loyalty channels such as newsletters and messaging should not be forgotten. Still, these may have little to do with some professions (unless there are punctual reminders to which special offers could be associated, e.g. teeth cleaning for a dentist or the tax return for an accountant).

Dental practices must have a solid online presence in today’s digital age. With most patients searching for dental services online, it is crucial to have a digital marketing strategy in place to attract and retain patients. By implementing digital marketing strategies, dental practices can revolutionize their business and stay ahead of the competition.

One of the most effective digital marketing strategies for dental practices is search engine optimization (SEO). SEO involves optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). By ranking higher in SERPs, dental practices can attract more traffic to their website and increase their chances of converting visitors into patients. SEO can be achieved through various techniques, including keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building.

For example, a dental practice I worked with in Brussels a few months ago saw a 274% increase in website traffic after implementing an SEO strategy. The course ranked higher in SERPs for keywords related to their services, which led to more patients booking appointments.

Another digital marketing strategy that can revolutionize dental practices is pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. PPC advertising involves placing ads on search engines and social media platforms and paying for each click. By targeting specific keywords and demographics, dental practices can reach their ideal patients and increase their chances of converting them into patients.

For instance, a dental practice could reach a 4x increase in leads after running a PPC campaign on Google Ads. The training targeted keywords related to their services and location, which led to more patients booking appointments.

Social media marketing is another digital marketing strategy that can revolutionize dental practices. Dental practices can attract and retain patients. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow dental procedures to showcase their services and connect personally with patients. Dental practices can attract and keep patients by creating engaging content and building a solid social media presence.

A social media marketing campaign can help increase client referrals. By creating engaging content and interacting with patients on social media, more patients can book appointments and refer their friends and family.

While implementing digital marketing strategies may require an investment, the benefits can be significant. Dental practices can increase revenue and grow their business by attracting more patients and retaining existing ones. Additionally, digital marketing strategies can help dental procedures build a strong brand and reputation, leading to long-term success.

Dental practices can revolutionize their business by implementing digital marketing strategies. SEO, PPC advertising, and social media marketing are just some designs available. By investing in digital marketing, dental practices can attract and retain patients, increase revenue, and build a strong brand and reputation. I can help any professionals reach their goals via digital channels. Book your free consulting call, and let’s discuss your case.