The Importance of Marketing in the Dental Industry: Common Mistakes and Solutions

Best Dental Marketer, Grace Rizza

As a founder and CEO of Identity Dental Marketing, a company that offers ethical branding and digital marketing services to dentists, I have come across several mistakes that dental practices make when it comes to marketing. In this article, I will discuss these common mistakes and provide solutions to ensure that dental practices can avoid them.

Firstly, branding exists whether a dentist has intentionally crafted it or not. Therefore, it is crucial to audit a dentist’s digital footprint to ensure that their brand is well represented. However, many dental practices make the mistake of choosing a marketing company based on the lowest cost or biggest promises, which often leads to disappointment. Dentists should invest in companies that provide regular internal reports showing new patients, leads, and conversion rates to ensure that their marketing budget is well invested.

Secondly, many dental practices fail to set realistic expectations for their marketing campaigns. A branding campaign will have different goals and outcomes compared to a campaign aimed at generating immediate leads. Dentists should consult with marketing professionals to understand how different initiatives work and set realistic expectations.

Thirdly, some dental practices invest below the minimum viable budget, which is not an effective way to test or gauge a marketing method. Investing in a $300 ad spend is merely dabbling and will not provide accurate feedback on the effectiveness of a marketing campaign.

To avoid these common mistakes, dental practices should seek professional advice and take advantage of complimentary marketing planning sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss expectations, timelines, and minimal viable budgets. They also help dental practices to understand the importance of regular reporting and the need to set realistic expectations for different marketing initiatives.

In conclusion, marketing plays a crucial role in the dental industry, and dental practices should avoid these common mistakes to ensure that their marketing budget is well invested. Dentists should invest in setting a system providing regular internal reports, seek professional advice, set realistic expectations, and invest in minimum viable budgets. Dental practices that follow these steps will likely see a positive return on their marketing investment.Get started today with your complimentary marketing planning session: https://identitydental.com/grace

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How to Generate More Word-Of-Mouth Referrals

Word of mouth referrals are one of the most powerful ways to grow your dental practice. When happy customers recommend your products or services to their friends, family, and colleagues, it can lead to a steady stream of new business. But how do you encourage more word of mouth referrals? Here are ten strategies to consider:

  1. Provide exceptional customer service: Customers are more likely to recommend your business if they have a positive experience with your customer service team.
  2. Offer referral incentives: Consider offering a discount or free service to customers who refer new business to you.
  3. Create a referral program: Develop a formal referral program that rewards customers for referring new business to you.
  4. Encourage online reviews: Positive online reviews can be a powerful form of social proof that can encourage more word of mouth referrals. Encourage satisfied customers to share their experience on review sites like Yelp or Google.
  5. Make it easy for customers to refer you: Develop a simple and straightforward referral process that makes it easy for customers to recommend your business.
  6. Stay in touch with customers: Regularly communicate with your customers via email, social media, or other channels to stay top of mind.
  7. Offer exceptional value: Provide exceptional value to your customers so that they are more likely to recommend your business to others.
  8. Develop a strong brand: A strong brand can help differentiate your business from competitors and make it more likely that customers will recommend you.
  9. Attend networking events: Attend networking events and business conferences to meet new people and build relationships that can lead to more word of mouth referrals.
  10. Thank customers for their referrals: Show your appreciation for customers who refer new business to you by sending a thank you note, offering a discount, or providing some other form of recognition.

In conclusion, word of mouth referrals can be a powerful way to grow your business. By providing exceptional customer service, offering referral incentives, creating a referral program, encouraging online reviews, and making it easy for customers to refer you, you can boost your word of mouth referrals and drive more business to your door.

If you need to boost business in a predictable way, consider adding professional digital marketing. Start with a no-pressure complimentary marketing planning session. Book with Grace Rizza here: https://identitydental.com/grace

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How to Create a “Marketeam” (A dental team that contributes to the marketing of your practice.)

As a dental practitioner, one of the most effective ways to grow your practice is through word-of-mouth referrals and positive online reviews. But how do you get your dental team to actively participate in generating these referrals and online shout outs? The answer lies in clear goal setting, accountability meetings, and regular delegation, all aided by a project management system.

Make sure your team believes in your clinical recommendations and trusts you. It’s hard to know this, but a seasoned leader learns to read the non-verbal micro-expressions to ensure his or her team is on board and working toward shared goals. It’s also helpful to incentivize those who get reviews, give shout outs on social and record patient video testimonials. The people contibuting in this way to your practice are invaluable and need to be truly appreciated. Others will follow if they believe in what you do and understand the value that you bring to the community. 

The first step is to set clear goals for your team. This could be as simple as setting a goal for the number of Google reviews you want to receive each month, or as complex as developing a comprehensive social media strategy. Whatever your goals, make sure they are specific, measurable, and achievable.

Next, hold regular accountability meetings with your team to review progress towards these goals. Use this time to celebrate successes, identify areas for improvement, and hold team members accountable for their assigned tasks. This will help keep everyone on track and motivated to achieve your goals.

Delegation is also key to getting your team actively involved in generating referrals and online shout outs. Assign specific tasks to team members based on their strengths and interests. For example, someone who is particularly social media-savvy could be tasked with creating and posting regular social media content, while someone else with strong communication skills could be responsible for reaching out to patients for video testimonials.

To keep everyone organized and on-task, consider using a project management system. This could be as simple as a shared Google spreadsheet or as complex as a dedicated project management software. Use this system to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress towards your goals.

In summary, getting your dental team to actively participate in generating referrals and online shout outs requires clear goal setting, accountability meetings, and regular delegation, all aided by a project management system. By following these steps, you can help your team take ownership of their roles in growing your practice and achieve measurable results.

Internal marketing is incredibly valuable. It also doesn’t hurt to build a strong, professional, digital footprint. Claim your complimentary (FREE) dental marketing planning session here: https://identitydental.com/grace

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The Pros and Cons of Website Builders

In today’s digital age, every business needs to have a strong online presence to compete in their respective markets. For dental practices, having a website that is optimized for search engines is crucial in attracting new patients. However, the rise of website drag and drop builders has made it easier for dentists to create their own websites, but it has also made it harder for them to rank well in competitive markets.

Website drag and drop builders are easy-to-use tools that allow anyone to create a website without any knowledge of coding. They provide a variety of templates, pre-made sections, and design elements that users can drag and drop to build their website. While this sounds like a convenient and affordable option for dentists, it can actually be detrimental to their SEO efforts.

One of the biggest issues with website drag and drop builders is the lack of flexibility and control over the website’s structure and code. These builders often generate messy and inefficient code that search engines may have difficulty crawling and indexing. This can result in poor website performance, slower load times, and lower rankings in search results.

Another problem with website drag and drop builders is the limited customization options they offer. While they provide pre-made design elements, dentists may find it challenging to create a unique and visually appealing website that stands out from their competitors. This lack of creativity can negatively impact their branding and make it difficult for patients to remember their practice.

Furthermore, website drag and drop builders often use pre-made content and generic titles, headings, and meta descriptions that do not accurately represent the dentist’s practice or services. Search engines rely on these elements to understand what the website is about and rank it accordingly. If the content is generic or irrelevant, it may lead to lower rankings and fewer clicks from potential patients.

Lastly, website drag and drop builders may not offer essential SEO features such as schema markup, SSL certificates, and XML sitemaps. These features are crucial for search engines to understand the website’s structure, content, and relevance to search queries. Without them, the website may not be fully optimized for search engines, and dentists may miss out on potential patients.

In conclusion, while website drag and drop builders may seem like an easy and affordable option for dentists to create their own website, they can actually harm their SEO efforts in competitive markets. It is essential for dentists to prioritize SEO and work with experienced web developers who can create a unique, visually appealing, and fully optimized website that will attract and convert potential patients. It’s vital to ensure your marketing agency does not use builders. Many companies tout “custom” sites, but use tools that will compromise rankings on Google.

If you are seeking a stellar website that not only reflects your unique brand and selling points, but also works to impress Google and gain traction when paired with SEO services, contact Identity Dental Marketing or claim your complimentary marketing planning session here: https://identitydental.com/grace

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Marketing to the Patients of a Retiring or Selling Dentist (without buying his patients or practice)

When a doctor retires or sells his practice, it can be a challenging time for patients who have relied on that doctor for their dental needs. As a dentist or marketer, you may see an opportunity to offer your services to those patients. However, buying the retiring doctor’s practice or patient list may not be feasible or appropriate for various reasons. In this article, we will discuss some alternative marketing strategies that can help you reach out to the patients of a retiring or selling doctor without buying their practice or patient list.

Create a webpage welcoming the patients of the retiring doctor

One of the most effective ways to market to the patients of a retiring or selling doctor is to create a webpage on your website specifically welcoming those patients. This page should provide information about your practice, including the services you offer, the qualifications of your healthcare providers, and any other information that may be relevant to those patients. Additionally, it is essential to make it clear that you understand the unique needs of those patients and are committed to providing them with the same level of care and attention they received from the retiring doctor.

To ensure that your webpage reaches the intended audience, you can use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. This involves optimizing your website content with relevant keywords and phrases that potential patients may use to search for healthcare services. By doing so, you can improve your website’s ranking on search engine results pages and increase the chances of being discovered by patients who are looking for a new healthcare provider.

Leverage Google Ads Retargeting Options

Most marketers do not leverage all that Google has to offer. One of the least utilized options involves showing display ads to people who have visited the websites of competitors. That’s right, even without the ability to drop a pixel or retargeting code on a website, you can target the viewers of a competitor’s site. This means you can create a visual ad welcoming the patients of this practice. By placing your photo, highlighting your 5-star reviews and pairing that ad with a headline such as “We welcome the patients of Dr. Grace Rizza to our practice,” you can effectively pick up patients from the retiring doctor. Of course, it’s far better to purchase the patient list, but if you feel it’s over priced, this is an alternative way to attract these patients.

Amp Up Your Social Media Presence

Although Facebook and Instagram do not allow you to target competitors’ traffic as easily as Google, you can still increase your exposure by running a paid ad and blanketing your community with a statement informing them that you welcome new patients. Methods such as appropriate audience targeting, re-marketing visitors from your website, and making sure your message is compelling and true to your brand will enhance the effectiveness of this ad.

There’s no free way to market to these patients, besides knocking on doors or simply posting unsponsored content on your website or social media pages. Non-funded content will not get as much exposure, but it’s certainly helpful if you’re on a shoestring budget.

Press Release Marketing

By having the Identity Dental Marketing team write and distribute a custom press release welcoming the patients of the retiring doctor, you can immediately become affiliated with the retiring / selling doctor.

Important Considerations

It would be inappropriate and unprofessional to announce a doctor’s retirement or practice sale. If this information is not common knowledge, we don’t recommend announcing it on his behalf. If the doctor has already closed his doors or left the practice, it may be less intrusive to publish content welcoming his patients. If you can purchase the patient list, we’ve seen this as a way to massively increase a business and we do recommend considering it.

Next Steps

If you’re new to Identity Dental Marketing, set up a complimentary marketing planning session here: identitydental.com/grace and learn what how we may be able to assist you in accelerating practice growth.

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The Benefits of a Comprehensive Marketing Plan from Identity Dental Marketing

Digital marketing is a crucial aspect of growing and maintaining a successful dental practice. With the majority of consumers turning to the internet for information about local businesses, having a strong online presence is essential. However, managing all the different aspects of digital marketing can be overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s why it’s important to have all of your digital marketing assets managed under one roof.

One of the biggest advantages of having one company manage all your digital marketing efforts is consistency. A consistent brand image and message across all platforms will help build trust with potential patients and establish your practice as a leader in your field. A cohesive marketing strategy also ensures that your message is clear and consistent, and that all your marketing efforts are working together towards a common goal.

At Identity Dental Marketing, we understand the importance of a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. We offer a full range of services including SEO, social media management, digital advertising, and website design. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping dental practices like yours grow and succeed.

One of the benefits of working with Identity Dental Marketing is that there’s no long-term commitment. We believe in results, and we want our clients to be completely satisfied with our services. That’s why we offer a flexible, results-driven approach to digital marketing.

So why wait? Take the first step towards a successful digital marketing strategy by contacting us today. Our team would be happy to offer you a complimentary marketing planning session to help you get started. We’re confident that we can help you grow your practice and achieve your marketing goals.

In conclusion, having all your digital marketing assets managed under one roof is crucial for the success of your dental practice. By working with a trusted and comprehensive digital marketing company like Identity Dental Marketing, you can enjoy a consistent, cohesive marketing strategy that will help you reach your goals. So don’t hesitate, contact us today for a complimentary marketing planning session!

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The Importance of Individuality in Marketing

When it comes to marketing, it can be overwhelming trying to determine the most effective way to promote your business. Working with a company that understands the unique needs of your business and can tailor a marketing plan to your individual needs is key to the success of your marketing campaign. That’s why Identity Dental Marketing is the most suitable choice for all your dental marketing needs. 

Identity Dental Marketing creates customized marketing plans for dentists, specialists, dental consultants, dental brokers, dental billing specialists, dental lab technicians, and any other dental-related business. The following are just a few of the reasons Identity Dental Marketing is the right choice to ensure the success of your marketing campaigns: 

  • Tailored Solutions: Your marketing plan will be tailored to meet the specific needs of your business when you work with a company that understands your unique needs. While recommending solutions, they will take into consideration your location, team strengths, dental niche, goals, and more. 
  • Experienced professionals: If you work with a company that specializes in your profession, you can rest assured that they have the knowledge and experience necessary to develop a successful marketing strategy. Identity Dental Marketing has experience with marketing for all dental professions and can create a marketing campaign exclusive to your unique needs. 
  • Comprehensive Services: The comprehensive range of services offered by Identity Dental Marketing is designed to ensure that you are getting the most out of your marketing campaign. Whether you’re in need of a complete dental marketing plan or a comprehensive advertising strategy, they can help! Among the services they provide are: 
  1. Custom website design 
  2. SEO 
  3. Branding 
  4. Social media marketing 
  5. Dental Marketing Design 
  6. Google Ads optimization 
  7. Event marketing  Business Cards, Brochures, Flyers & More
  • No Long-Term Contracts: Identity Dental Marketing does not typically require long-term contracts and will make marketing recommendations based on your current marketing needs and goals. This is an excellent opportunity to start working with a company that understands your business and is able to provide custom solutions that will assist you in achieving your goals. 
  • Visible Results: Identity Dental Marketing’s main goal is to get you visible results and provide unparalleled customer service. It is critical to work with a company that understands your business’s particular needs in order to create a plan that will maximize the success of your organization. 

If you are seeking a marketing company that understands the needs of your business and is able to create a plan that will ensure your success, Identity Dental Marketing is here to help. With their experienced professionals, comprehensive services, and tailored solutions, Identity Dental Marketing is the perfect choice for all your dental marketing needs. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary marketing planning session. https://identitydental.com/Grace/

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Facebook KPI’s

Meta provides several metrics when analyzing a Facebook ad campaign, including:

  1. Impressions: The number of times your ad was shown to users.
  2. Reach: The number of unique users who saw your ad.
  3. Clicks: The number of clicks on your ad, including clicks on links, calls-to-action, and other elements within the ad.
  4. Click-through rate (CTR): The ratio of clicks to impressions, expressed as a percentage.
  5. Cost per click (CPC): The average cost of each click on your ad.
  6. Cost per thousand impressions (CPM): The average cost of 1,000 ad impressions.
  7. Action rate: The ratio of actions taken (such as link clicks, form submissions, or purchases) to the number of impressions.
  8. Engagement rate: The ratio of engagement (such as likes, comments, and shares) to the number of impressions.
  9. Video views: The number of times your video ad was viewed, including views of at least 3 seconds or more.
  10. Conversion tracking: The number and cost of conversions, such as website purchases, lead form submissions, and phone calls, resulting from your ad.
  11. Audience demographics: Information about the age, gender, location, and interests of users who have seen your ad.
  12. Ad placements: Information about where your ad was shown, such as in the news feed, right column, or Instagram.
  13. A/B testing: Option to compare performance of different ad variations and identify the most effective one.
  14. Retargeting: Option to retarget users who have engaged with the ad or visited the website.
  15. Custom Audience: Option to target a specific group of people based on their behaviors, demographics, and interests.

Note that these are just some examples of metrics, depending on the type of campaign and the goal of the ad, the metrics that are relevant for you can vary.

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What KPI’s Should I Look at When it Comes to Google Ads?

When analyzing a Google Ads campaign for a local business, some key performance indicators (KPIs) to look at include:

  1. Click-through rate (CTR): This measures the number of clicks your ads receive compared to the number of times they are shown. A high CTR indicates that your ads are relevant and appealing to users.
  2. Cost per click (CPC): This measures how much you are paying for each click on your ads. A lower CPC indicates that your ads are more cost-effective.
  3. Conversion rate: This measures the number of conversions (such as phone calls or website purchases) divided by the number of clicks on your ads. A high conversion rate indicates that your ads are effectively driving desired actions from users.
  4. Bounce rate: This measures the percentage of visitors to your website who leave after only viewing one page. A lower bounce rate indicates that your website is providing a good user experience and that the ad is relevant to the user.
  5. Impressions: This measures how many times your ad was viewed.
  6. Quality score: This measures the quality and relevance of your ads, keywords, and landing pages. A high quality score can lead to lower CPC and better ad placement.
  7. ROI: Return on investment, this is the most important metric, it measures how much money you are making compared to how much money you are spending on the campaign.

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Traditional and Digital Marketing: Synergy in Marketing Creates a Stronger ROI

Traditional marketing and digital advertising can complement each other in several ways to create a more effective overall marketing strategy. Here are a few examples:

  1. Print Ads in Magazines and newspapers can be used to target a specific audience and can be used to drive traffic to the website or social media.
  2. Radio and TV ads can be used to create brand awareness and reach a large audience, with a call-to-action that directs listeners or viewers to the website or social media.
  3. Direct Mail can be used to target a specific audience with a promotional offer, with a call-to-action that directs recipients to the website or social media.
  4. Event Marketing can be used to engage with customers in person and can also be promoted through digital channels like website and social media.
  5. Public Relations can be used to create positive media coverage, which can be amplified through digital channels.
  6. Use QR codes on traditional marketing materials to drive online engagement
  7. Use traditional mediums to build your email list, which can then be used for targeted digital marketing campaigns.

By using traditional marketing and digital advertising together, businesses can reach their target audience through multiple channels, increasing the chances of engagement and conversion. The key is to integrate the different strategies and make sure they complement each other.

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