Hey Dentists, it’s no secret that dental practices don’t always have the biggest budgets for marketing. In reality, there are a lot of effective marketing strategies that don’t cost much. The key is to execute them correctly and time them well.
Your marketing strategy should be about ROI (return on investment). So, how do you get the most bang for your buck when marketing your dental practice? Keep reading to find out!
Right now, it’s the 4th quarter of the year, which means many people have dental benefits expiring that they have not used. A good marketing strategy during this time of the year is to remind those people and even offer a small discount or incentive for them to become new patients at your office.
Here is the complete list of budget-friendly marketing tips that any dental practice can start implementing today:
Tip #1: Direct mail marketing
It is the fastest way to let thousands of homes know about your dental practice and remind people with a “Use it or Lose it” message of their expiring insurance benefits. It can be an effective way to reach out to potential and existing patients to effectively communicate a message as every home gets their mail. Postage does cost money and requires an investment but remember the key to marketing is ROI. Invest in your practice and let thousands of homes know about you in just a few weeks.
Pro tip: Hire a dental direct mail company that specializes in the dental industry and can track your results to make it easier for you to continue to invest with a great ROI.
Next Level Direct Mail Marketing with MVP Mailhouse
We take the guesswork out of direct mail marketing with our cutting-edge technology. We can target the specific homes that are most likely to become your patients with our cutting-edge marketing platform
Get ahead of slower months by mailing August and September. Ramp up your marketing efforts now and avoid the lull in production!
MVP Mailhouse can help you design and implement a direct mail campaign that gets results. To learn more about how we can help you grow your practice, contact us today.
Better Targeting with MapIQ
With our MapIQ targeting software, we can help you identify your hottest neighborhoods of existing patients and then target their neighbors with mailings.
MapIQ targets specific neighborhoods instead of broad zip codes around your practice to make sure your marketing dollars have the highest return.
Check out this video on Better Targeting with MapIQ
Better Designs with DesignLab
We help you carefully plan your design using insights from MVP’s Design Lab.
We’ve tracked results from thousands of designs and offers so we know what offers and messaging work to attract the right type of new patient. We do all the work! Our team of marketers and designers helps you carefully plan your custom design by leveraging your office’s strengths with proven concepts. Each data-driven design is peer-reviewed and proofread (twice) for easy approval and flawless, full-service execution.
Better Tracking with CallPro
Our data shows that an average new patient spends well over $1,000 within 12 months. The average office only closes about 45% of its inbound leads compared to over 80% for top offices.
MVP’s Call Pro system monitors and scores your phone calls so your staff gets instant alerts about missed opportunities. We even use Call Pro to help your staff improve how they handle calls and set more appointments.
Tip #2: Create a blog
A blog is a great way to share helpful information about your dental practice with potential patients. You can write blog posts about topics that are relevant to your target market and include links back to your website. This is a great way to attract new visitors to your site and get them interested in what you have to offer. Keep your blogs specific to the season. For example, leverage the “Use it or Lose it” insurance message right now.
HERE ARE 5 SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO CREATE A BLOG IN 1 HOUR
Step 1: Choose your blogging platform – there are many different blogging platforms available, such as WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. Do some research to find the one that best suits your needs.
Step 2: Choose a domain name and host – your domain name is your blog’s URL. You will need to choose a web hosting service to host your blog.
Step 3: Set up your blog – once you have chosen your platform and host, you will need to set up your blog. This usually involves choosing a theme or template, and customizing it to suit your needs.
Step 4: Write your first post – Now it’s time to start writing! Write about anything that interests you- there are no rules. Just be sure to proofread your post before you hit “publish.”
Step 5: Promote your blog- the final step is to let people know about your new blog. Share it with your friends and family, and consider using social media to spread the word.
Tip #3: Utilize social media platforms
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are great places to start promoting your dental practice. You can create a profile for your practice on these sites and start sharing content that will be of interest to your target market. Make sure to include a link back to your website on all of your social media posts so that people can easily find you online.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE PRESENT IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:
FACEBOOK – A Facebook profile serves as a great way to connect with friends and family, but it can also be used to promote your business. Make sure to include some basic information about your business on your profile, and be sure to link to your business’ website.
TWITTER – Twitter is all about sharing short, concise updates. When it comes to promoting your business on Twitter, make sure to share updates about your product or service, as well as any special offers or discounts you may be running. Be sure to use relevant hashtags so that your tweets can be easily found by potential customers.
INSTAGRAM – Instagram is a great platform for sharing visuals, and it can be used to promote your business in a number of ways. Make sure to post high-quality photos and videos that showcase your product or service, and be sure to use hashtags and geotags to make your content more discoverable.
PINTEREST – Pinterest is a great platform for sharing visuals, and it can be used to promote your business in a number of ways. Make sure to post high-quality photos and videos that showcase your product or service, and be sure to use hashtags and geotags to make your content more discoverable.
LINKEDIN – LinkedIn is a great platform for connecting with other professionals in your industry, and it can also be used to promote your business. Make sure to include some basic information about your business on your profile, and be sure to post updates about your product or service. You can also use LinkedIn to run targeted ads that reach a specific audience.
GOOGLE+ – Google+ is a great platform for sharing news and updates about your business. Make sure to include some basic information about your business on your profile, and be sure to post updates about your product or service. You can also use Google+ to run targeted ads that reach a specific audience.
YELP – Yelp is a great platform for connecting with customers and promoting your business. Make sure to claim your business page and fill out all of the relevant information. You can also post updates about your product or service, and offer special deals and discounts to customers who leave positive reviews.
Tip #4: Send out email newsletters
Email newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with past and present patients. You can use these newsletters to promote special offers, share helpful dental tips, and keep people up-to-date on what’s going on at your practice.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST TOPICS TO DISCUSS IN YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS:
Dental Care Tips – From flossing to brushing to choosing the right toothpaste, there are a number of things you can do to take better care of your teeth. Share some tips with your patients in your email newsletter.
New Dental Technology – Advances in dental technology can make treatments quicker, easier, and more effective. Patients will be interested in learning about new technology that can make their dental visits more comfortable.
Dental Health Articles – Keeping your patients informed about the latest developments in dental health is a great way to show you’re invested in their well-being. Sharing articles from reputable sources is a great way to do this.
Tips for Improving Oral Health – Good oral health is about more than just brushing and flossing. There are a number of lifestyle changes that can make a big difference. Share some tips with your patients on how they can improve their oral health.
Patient Success Stories – Sharing stories of patients who have had success with your dental treatments is a great way to show potential patients what you’re capable of. These stories can be an inspiration for others who are considering dental treatment.
Tip #5: Use search engine optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a great way to get your website to rank higher in search engine results pages. When people are searching for a dentist in their area, you want your practice to be one of the first ones they see. You can improve your SEO by using relevant keywords on your website and in your blog posts.
HERE’S A SIMPLE CHECKLIST FOR SEO:
- Research your keywords and make a list
- Use those keywords throughout your website content, including in the title, headers, and tags
- Make sure your website is mobile friendly
- Build backlinks by creating great content and networking with other websites
- Monitor your progress with Google Analytics or another web analytics tool
By following these budget friendly marketing tips, you can get your dental practice in front of new patients without spending a lot of money. Investing some time and effort into marketing your practice will pay off in the long run.
If you’re looking for more marketing tips, be sure to check out our blog. We regularly share dental marketing advice that can help you attract new patients and grow your practice.