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When was the last time you gave your dental practice’s marketing strategy a check-up? As a dental professional, you understand the significance of routine oral care, which is why every six months you remind your patients to come in for a cleaning, to help them stay in good health. But what about the health of your practice’s marketing strategy?
We’re here to help you understand what to expect when conducting your six-month marketing check-in and what to do next.
Attracting New Patients: Filling the Gaps in Your Marketing Strategy
Regular cleanings prevent cavities, and regular marketing check-ups prevent roadblocks in attracting new patients. So let’s review what you should do and what questions to ask during your dental marketing audit:
Evaluate your current marketing channels and metrics.
- Are you leveraging social media, PPC, and direct mail effectively?
- Are your performance metrics still supporting the strategy you’ve employed?
- How’s your progress with reaching this year’s marketing goals? Are you on track or falling behind?
- Do these channels work together to create a seamless experience?
Incorporating an omnichannel approach into your marketing strategy can help you improve your visibility and stand out from your competitors. This approach ensures that your patients receive a unified message across all touchpoints, for a more effective marketing strategy.
Analyze your website’s performance.
- Is it optimized for SEO?
- Is it user-friendly and mobile-responsive?
- Does it load quickly and provide patients with an easy navigation experience?
- Are patients able to schedule appointments online?
A surprisingly small number of dental practices (less than 20%) have incorporated appointments into their website experience. However, the convenience of real-time, self-scheduling is the new standard for what your patients want. If you don’t offer this already, it’s time to adapt.
Assess your target audience and patient profile.
- Do these match the demographics of your current patient base?
- Have you identified any underserved segments within your community that could benefit from your services?
- Are you tapping into the new mover market to reach those who have yet to find a new dentist?
Direct mail is a great way to reach these segments and get your foot (—or mailer) in the door, and a proactive approach to marketing is just as crucial as preventative care in dentistry!
Retaining Current Patients: Keep Them Coming Back
Patients appreciate a practice that stays in touch and addresses their needs. Regular marketing reviews help ensure your communication remains relevant and valuable, so you can foster better patient loyalty and trust.
Here are a few things you should spend some time focusing on to boost patient retention:
- Personalized patient communications. Are you sending appointment reminders and follow-up emails? This makes a big difference in patient comfort, reducing no-show rates and keeping your calendar full. Personalized follow-ups show that you care about their well-being and make interactions more meaningful.
- Loyalty programs and incentives. How are you keeping your patients engaged and coming back for their next check-up? Make them feel appreciated and valued for choosing you as their provider. By offering rewards for regular visits, referrals, or adherence to treatment plans, you create a tangible reason for patients to stay committed to their oral health —and to you.
- Measure patient satisfaction. You can go a step further to secure your patient base by sending out surveys to gather insights and adjust your strategy based on the comments. Use what you learn from your existing patients to improve your marketing outcomes.
Staying Ahead of the Competition with a Healthy Marketing Strategy
Just as you ask your patients to schedule a cleaning every six months, you should do the same with your marketing strategy to stay on top and ahead of your competition.
A regular marketing assessment is your chance to reassess your progress, eliminate any ineffective strategies, and prevent dwindling patient engagement. So brush up on your marketing plan, fill any gaps, and work towards a marketing strategy as strong as your smile.
Contact the experts at UpSwell to learn more and get started with a free marketing assessment!
