Dental

Bite Into Better Business: 9 Masterful Dental Marketing Tips

Let’s face it. Nobody likes visiting the dentist.

In fact, worldwide, 1 in 5 people are afraid of going to the dreaded dentist! 

Because of this stigma, more than any other field, dentists need to market their practice well. If they don’t, potential patients may look for somewhere that seems more up to date. Or they may avoid going to the dentist altogether.

Dental marketing is more than just sending an appointment checkup postcard and having an ad in the local newspaper. But what are the latest dentist marketing ideas for 2019? We’ve done all the research, so you don’t have too.

Brace yourselves, it’s time to bring your dental practice into the 21st century.

1. Begin with a Brand

Before you start creating a marketing strategy, you need to define your brand. A brand is like a trademark. It will run throughout your entire marketing venture both now and in the future.

It all begins with a logo and design palette that is unique to your dental practice. This design should run throughout your website, merchandise, printouts, clinic decor, and more. When a person sees your branding, they should be able to recognize your practice without needing a double take.

2. Picture Perfect Printouts

Although many of these dentist marketing ideas are online, printed handouts still have their place. Nothing can replace the convenience of sticking an appointment card to the fridge, after all.

Send postcards to new potential clients in the area. Or remind existing patients of their appointments. You could also send announcements of new procedures or services available.

You can also use business cards, flyers, and other printed items to market your brand. It is always beneficial to have a few printed items for older customers who may not be online savvy too.

3. Straight to Their Inbox

Another dental marketing idea is emailing. Emailing is a great (and cheap) way to keep in contact with current and potential patients.

Send out a monthly e-newsletter. But don’t make it all about you. Add dental tips, new technologies, research, discounts, and funny dental jokes. 

Emails sent in this way work as gentle reminders without being overly pushy.

4. Get Your SEO On

Have you ever wondered why your website isn’t coming up high on Google search engines? It’s probably because your website isn’t SEO friendly.

SEO (search engine optimization) is content that drives people to your website by listing your page in search engines. To get noticed, make sure your website is full of SEO content.

For example, when searching for a dentist many will type “Dentist in (location)” into Google. If they see your website listed on the first page, they will be more likely to choose your clinic. But how high you feature in Google depends on your SEO score.

5. A Killer Website

One of the most vital dental marketing tips is to have a killer website.

Your website is the online version of your customer lobby. If it looks dated, disorganized, and unwelcoming, the customer will walk right out. The same applies to your website.

Setting up a website isn’t as easy as you might think. As mentioned, there is SEO to think about. There are also keywords, blogs, mobile optimization, bots, and more.

Can you handle all that?

It’s always best to hire a dental marketing specialist to create your website. Marketing firms, like Somnowell Marketing, are experts in creating websites for dental practices. They can help you to stay ahead of the game and not get left behind.

6. More Than Words

More than reading, people love watching videos. Bring your dental practice down to earth by using videos featuring real people. Here are a few trending video ideas:

• Patient testimonials (a powerful word of mouth method)
• Dentist answers commonly asked questions
• How-to videos
• Behind the scenes
• Meet the team (make it real)

This is one of the best dental marketing ideas that can help you develop a personal connection with your clients. This personal relationship will then lead to trust, recommendations, and loyal patients.

7. Go Viral

No dental marketing plan is complete without using social media to the full. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, and more. There are so many different ways to use social media to grab attention.

Here are a few dental marketing ideas you can use on social media:

• Behind the scenes snapshots
• Update patients about events, deals, and more
• Dental quotes, puns, and jokes
• Create a printed Instagram-sized frame so your patients can have a photo after their session.
• Social media contest with a cool prize. For example, a “best smile selfie” contest.
• Facebook Ads (targeted towards specific audiences)

Social media is a cost-effective approach to market your dental practice. It’s one of the best ways to engage with old patients and new.

8. Word of Mouth

Every customer that walks into your dental clinic is a potential marketing opportunity. People love to talk and recommend places (or warn them where not to go).

And it works. 92% of consumers believe recommendations from people they know over other forms of advertising. Make sure to encourage those recommendations!

You can do that by giving referral bonuses. For every referral that makes an appointment through their recommendation give the patient a bonus. This could be a discount or a gift.

The benefits are two-fold. As you’ll have new patients flocking in and old patients staying engaged and connected with the clinic.

9. Online Reviews

Online reviews are another dental marketing idea that plays on word of mouth. Encourage your clients to write online reviews. This will build up your online reputation, and you may also find areas to improve.

There are many online tools that can help you manage reviews. But sometimes the patient can forget to review when they get back home. Try a kiosk feature in the customer lobby so that they can fill in an immediate review before they leave the practice.

Don’t Get Left Behind: Follow these Dental Marketing Tips

It’s clear to see that dental marketing has jumped headfirst into the 21st century. To make sure your practice doesn’t get left behind make sure to follow these 9 dentist marketing ideas. If you do, you’ll have new patients lining up at the door.

Now you know the drill with marketing, what’s next? An important step is getting yourself up and running on social media. Check out this article to find out how to start a killer social media campaign.

Is Dental Insurance Worth It? Here Are 8 Alternatives You Need to Consider

Dental insurance costs anywhere from $15 to $50 a month. But the coverage isn’t comprehensive, and benefits max out at less than $2,000. Meanwhile, a single porcelain dental crown can cost $3,000.

The math doesn’t add up.

Is dental insurance worth it when it doesn’t even cover the cost of fixing one tooth? If your employer isn’t footing the bill, it might not be.

Here are eight alternatives to paying a monthly stipend for dental insurance.

1. Discount Dental Plans

Unlike dental insurance, discount dental plans provide coverage for one yearly fee of around $100. It’s like the Costco of oral health. Joining this club gets you access to quality dentists operating at a discounted rate.

You’ll be able to get routine services, like x-rays and cleanings, at a reduced cost. Even minor procedures, like root canals, and specialties like orthodontics are less expensive.

Discount dental plans may also offer a break on cosmetic dentistry. Teeth whitening, veneers, chipped tooth repair, and dental implants are considered non-essentials and aren’t covered by insurance.

There’s also a contingency for emergencies.

2. Negotiate

Find out if your dentist can give you a better rate than advertised. It doesn’t hurt to ask for a discount.

Many practices can shave off 10%. You might benefit from paying upfront or paying with cash. Some dentists offer payment plans for regular customers.

Explain your situation. It’s in the practice’s best interest to keep patients. If your dentist isn’t willing to work with you, shop around and find someone who is.

3. Nonprofit Dentists

See if there are any nonprofit dental clinics in your area. Committed to providing oral health care to those that need it most, these pop-up clinics host events offering free care to anyone who shows up. A team of volunteers staffs events and can see thousands of patients.

There are also free dental clinics for children of families below the poverty line. Kids who qualify for free and reduced lunch also qualify for free cleanings, fillings, and surgeries as needed.

4. Go Back to School

Did you know you can get basic dental work done at a dental school, sometimes for free? Every dentist was once a student honing his skill, and dental students need mouths to practice on.

For a fraction of the standard cost of care, you can have your teeth cleaned, sealed, and x-rayed at a school. Professionals advise students every step of the way. While it might take longer than it would at a dentist’s office, quality is ensured.

If you only need a regular cleaning, you might be able to get it done for free through a dental hygienist program. Ahead of licensing exams each year, schools offer free cleaning and x-rays to patients who meet exam criteria.

5. Leave the Country

Sometimes it’s cheaper, and more exotic, to take a dental vacation. Many countries offer top-notch dental care for much less than the US.

While it’s not worth traveling to get your teeth cleaned, if you need extensive reconstructive work done, you can save a lot of money. Full mouth reconstruction can cost $40,000 in the States, sometimes more.

Mexico and Costa Rica are close by and easy to get to. South Korea is adept at medical tourism and has similar standards to America. Hungary, Spain, Thailand, and the Philippines are also popular destinations for procedures.

This is not a decision to take lightly and requires thorough vetting on your part. Gather patient accounts and recommendations. Investigate infection-control practices and safety protocol. If something feels off, don’t go through with it.

6. Pay Out of Pocket

It’s possible that simply paying out of pocket for routine services will be cheaper than your dental insurance cost. If you’re in good health and have strong teeth, you might be able to get away with budgeting for dental visits.

The average teeth cleaning is less than $130. Fillings are around $100 per tooth. X-rays can be as little as $20 up to $250 for a full set.

7. Go Halfsies

You can cut your dental bill in half by going half as often. A yearly cleaning is sufficient for most people in good health. Bi-annual cleanings are a scientifically unsupported custom.

If you are at risk for periodontal disease, you should follow the advice of your dentist. In patients with several risk factors, more frequent cleanings have a direct correlation to tooth retention.

8. Pay with Prevention

The best way to save money on dental care is to need less of it. Take care of your teeth with healthy choices and good oral hygiene.

Protect your tooth enamel by minimizing acidic foods and carbonated drinks. Once enamel wears off, it cannot be replaced. Wait to brush your teeth for 30 minutes after drinking coffee or eating citrus.

Reduce tooth decay by avoiding sugary drinks and brushing your teeth after dessert. Sugar feeds the natural bacteria in the mouth which causes teeth-damaging acids.

Keep your alcohol use in check to prevent dry mouth. Alcohol temporarily reduces your saliva. Saliva helps rinse the mouth and keep food from sticking to your teeth and is a main factor in preventing cavities and infections.

Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Don’t skip brushing before bed. The longer plaque sits on your teeth, the better chance it has to calcify, which can only be removed by a hygienist.

If the taste of toothpaste is keeping you from brushing regularly, find one you actually like. This dental company puts an emphasis on high quality, good tasting toothpaste.

Floss daily. It’s the only way to get the space between your teeth clean. Floss sticks make it excuse-proof.

Don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Frayed bristles can erode gums and damage tooth enamel.

Is Dental Insurance Worth It to You?

Have you been making your monthly payments while wondering, “Is dental insurance worth it?” As with many medical questions, the answer depends on the person. If you’re only seeing your dentist twice a year for healthy teeth, you could probably make do with an alternative.

Has questioning your dental insurance cost got you wondering about other insurance plans? Browse our articles for blogs on supplement packages, life insurance, and even coverage for freelancers.