If you're just starting in the dental profession, or have a practice that is not growing, then you're likely wondering how to get more new patients. The good news is that there are many ways to do this - it just takes a bit of effort and creativity.
In this blog post, we will discuss 22 different ways to bring in more new patients and grow your dental practice. Some of these methods may be more effective for you than others, but all of them will help you reach your goal of increasing patient volume. So let's get started!
How to Get More Patients in a Dental Office
Growing a practice starts with marketing. Marketing will help you to get the word out there that your dental office exists and is open for business.
1. Create Your Dental Marketing Strategy
Effective dental marketing always begins with a marketing strategy. Without a plan, your marketing efforts will be scattered and ineffective.
When developing your dental marketing strategy, remember to target the right people - that is, those who are most likely to need dental services and are within your service area.
Prospective patients will generally begin their search for a dentist online, so be sure that your strategy includes your website and social media channels.
If your dental team isn't ready to build their own marketing strategy, a dental marketing agency can certainly help. They are trained to create an effective marketing strategy and will know how to implement it successfully.
2. Identify Your Target Audience (Most likely women)
Most purchase decisions are done by women. Women are a powerful consumer, and they're savvy shoppers looking for an unparalleled patient experience.
Women are the gatekeepers of the family’s oral health. It's important to identify the problems that women are experiencing with their teeth and oral health. This will help you to create marketing messages that resonate with them and compel them to take action.
Women are also more likely to refer friends and family members to a dentist they trust. So it's important to focus on building trust with your female patients.
Some key things you can do to appeal to women patients include:
- Offering a comfortable and relaxing environment
- Providing educational content that is relevant and interesting
- Creating marketing messages that focus on how your services will improve their lives
- Offering special promotions and discounts
- Hosting events that are relevant to women
3. Get New Dental Patients from Social Media
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 72% of all American adults use social media sites. This means that if you're not using social media as part of your dental marketing strategy, then you're missing out on a huge potential audience.
There are many social media platforms to choose from, but the most popular ones for dental marketing campaigns are Facebook and Instagram.
When creating your social media accounts, be sure to include information about your dental services, your location, and how to make appointments at the dental clinic. You can also post patient testimonials and before-and-after photos to show how your dental services have helped people.
Social media marketing will not only attract new patients, but it's an excellent way to stay connected to existing patients and enhance practice growth.
4. Use Paid Advertising to Get More Dental Patients
Paid advertising is an effective way to reach more prospective patients and drive them to your dental practice. Dental professionals can use paid advertising on social media, Google, and other online platforms to target people who are within their target audience.
Keep in mind that advertising can be expensive, so it's important to set a budget and track how well your ads are performing.
If you're not sure how to get started with paid advertising, or if you're not getting the results you want, a dental marketing agency can help.
5. Use Ad Retargeting
SEO and PPC are great advertising options to attract new patients, but ads retargeting takes digital advertising to the next level.
Retargeting ads work when people visit your website and do not book appointments or fill out a contact form. Your browser remembers their visit and will serve them ads on other websites they visit. These ads will encourage patients to come back to the practice website and schedule an appointment.
6. Get New Dental Patients with Referrals
Word-of-mouth referrals are one of the best ways to get new patients in a dental office.
The key to generating more referrals (and landing more dental patients) is to have happy and satisfied current patients. When your patients are happy with their experience at your dental office, they will be more likely to refer their friends and family.
You can also encourage referrals by offering incentives such as a free exam or a discount on services. And don't forget to say "thank you" when a patient refers someone to your practice!
If you're not getting the number of referrals you want, ask your patients how you can improve their experience at the practice.
You may also consider using a patient satisfaction survey as part of your referral program to track how well you're doing.
7. Sponsor Local Events
One way of increasing the number of patients to your dental practice is by getting involved with community events. It's the perfect addition to any dental marketing plan.
Attending and sponsoring events is a great way to get your name out there, meet new people in the community, and show how much you care about your community.
When selecting an event to sponsor, be sure to consider your target audience and how the event will help promote your dental services.
Sponsoring events can also increase brand awareness, increase patient engagement and help you create a positive image for your dental practice.
8. Encourage Reviews
Online reviews are an important part of any dental marketing plan. New dental patients are checking search engines and digging through google search results looking at and reading patient reviews.
A positive review will help more patients learn more about dental practices, how they treat their existing patients, and the quality of your services. Positive reviews can also help increase website traffic and attract local patients.
If you're not asking for patient reviews, then you're missing out on a valuable opportunity to get new patients.
You can ask for reviews by sending a follow-up email after their appointment, or placing a review request in your office waiting area.
Make sure to respond to any negative reviews and try to resolve the issue with the patient. A satisfied patient willing to leave a review will definitely help attract more patients.
9. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Every list of 2024 dental marketing ideas will include SEO.
SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it appears higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
When new patients are looking for a dental practice in their area, they will likely enter keywords related to dental services into a search engine. If your website appears near the top of the search results, you're more likely to get new patients.
SEO for a dental website is a long-term investment, and it can take some time to see results. New dental practices will want to add SEO strategies to the top of their dental marketing ideas list.
Though SEO does take time, if you're patient and continue to optimize your website, you will start seeing an increase in website traffic and SEO will attract new dental patients.
There are many factors that go into how search engines rank websites. Some of the most important factors for dental websites include:
- The quality of your content
- How often you publish new content
- The keywords and phrases you use on your website
- How well your website is designed
- The number of links to your website from other websites
Your dental website is the key to practice growth and its not something that should be ignored. Most dentists will benefit from hiring an agency to maintain their web presence, optimize the website SEO, and attract new dental patients.
10. Distribute Press Releases
Press announcements are a good way to enhance your online reputation. When potential patients are researching dental practices, they will likely come across press releases.
Press Releases help to position your dental practice as a thought leader in the industry and can help you attract new patients.
They also increase website traffic and provide backlinks to your website, which helps improve your SEO ranking.
When creating a press release, be sure to include newsworthy information about your dental practice, such as new services, awards won, community involvement, etc.
You can distribute press releases through online PR distribution services or by emailing them to local media outlets.
If you're looking for a way to get more exposure for your dental practice and attract new patients, then press releases are a good option to consider.
11. Chat Service
Adding a chat service to your dental website is a great way to communicate with potential patients.
Chat services allow you to answer patient questions about your dental practice, schedule appointments, and provide general information about dentistry.
They can also help increase patient satisfaction by resolving any issues that may arise during the appointment process.
Loyal patients will appreciate having a new, easy way to communicate through online tools.
12. Make Sure Your Website is up-to-date and Looks Professional
The website is often the first impression people will have of your practice. A great website is critical to attract new dental patients.
Make sure your website is up-to-date with the latest design trends and that all of your information is accurate.
Also, be sure to test how your website looks on different devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
Your website should be easy to navigate and provide visitors with all the information they need about your dental practice.
If your website doesn't look professional or is difficult to navigate, you will likely lose new patients.
13. Create a Special Offer
One of the best ways to attract new patients to your dental practice is by offering a special deal.
Special offers can be anything from a free consultation or exam to a free cleaning , teeth whitening or any other new patient special.
Be sure to promote your special offer on your website, in press releases, and through social media to boost word of mouth.
14. Use Traditional Advertising
One common way to attract patients is through traditional advertising methods such as TV, radio, or print.
While these methods can be expensive, they can also be very effective in reaching a large number of people.
When choosing traditional advertising, it's important to target the right audience (including existing clients) and use catchy slogans or jingles that will stick in people's minds.
15. Get Listed in Online Directories
Online directories are a great way to connect with potential patients who are looking for a dentist in their area. Make sure that your practice is listed on all major directories, and be sure to fill out all of the information accurately.
In addition, make sure that you Claim Your Listing on Google My Business and update your information regularly. A new patient is likely to land on your Google Business page before they visit your website.
16. Be as Flexible as Possible With Payments
It has become increasingly important to have dental insurance in order to cover dental services. Although many dental providers offer coverage, some of them don't. For patients who had not had dental treatment because they couldn't afford it, booking a visit can be traumatic. You can attract more patients through flexible payment options.
Dental financing plans, such as CareCredit or LendingClub, are a great way to help potential patients get the dental care they need.
You can also offer a discount for paying in cash or provide a payment plan that spreads the cost of treatment over several months.
Being flexible with payments will make your practice appealing to more patients.
17. Give a Tour on Your Website
One way to show people what your dental practice is like is by providing a virtual tour on your website.
A virtual dental tour can help new patients get an idea of the types of services you offer and how your office looks.
It can also help more patients feel more comfortable about their appointment.
Make sure your virtual dental tour is high quality and provides a realistic view of your practice.
18. Be a Thought Leader
Starting a practice blog is a great way to become known as a thought leader in the dental industry.
When people see that you are an expert on dental topics, they will be more likely to trust your opinion and be more likely to choose your practice.
Make sure your blog is well-written, accurate, and up-to-date. You can also share your blog posts on social media and through other digital marketing channels to reach a larger audience.
Blogs show up well in online searches and are a competitive advantage for new dentists looking for cost effective ways to get to the top of business listings in their local area.
19. Increase Patient Demand
In order to increase patient demand, you can hold in-office promotions that expire at a certain time. Be sure to promote these offers on your website and on every social media site.
Patient specials that expire create a limited time opportunity that a new patient prospect will be attracted to.
Dentists should also consider how they might bundle services to increase demand and perceived value.
For example, a special that includes a cleaning, check-up and fluoride treatment will be more attractive than just a cleaning special.
For a new dentist, promotions can be a critical piece of the digital marketing investment.
20. Local Listings
For local businesses, getting local listings is a requirement. If you're not listed in all of the major local directories, then you're missing out.
Make sure that your dental practice is listed in all of the local directories: Google My Business, Yahoo! Local, Bing Places for Business, and Yelp.
In addition, make sure that your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is consistent across all of the directories. Inconsistent information can confuse potential patients and hurt your business.
21. Offer an Annual Membership Plan
Your patient base is looking for ways to save money on dental care. By offering an annual membership plan, you can provide a way for them to do just that.
Membership plans can include services such as exams, cleanings, and x-rays. You can also offer discounts on other services.
An annual plan will show your patients that you are committed to providing quality dental care at an affordable price.
22. Leverage Email Marketing Campaigns
In 2024, Email marketing still remains a potent tool for dental practices looking to enhance patient retention and attract new ones. By crafting informative, engaging email newsletters, you can keep your practice top of mind for your existing patients and encourage them to share your content with friends and family who might be looking for a dentist.
Segment your email lists to send personalized messages, such as reminders for check-ups, dental tips, and special offers, directly targeting different groups within your patient base.
This personalized approach not only increases the likelihood of engagement but also positions your practice as caring and attentive to individual patient needs.
23. Implement Virtual Consultations
Embracing technology can significantly broaden your patient base, and virtual consultations are a game-changer in this digital era. Offering virtual consultations not only caters to the convenience of potential patients but also opens your doors to those who might be hesitant to visit in person initially.
It's an excellent way to provide preliminary assessments, discuss treatment options, and build trust with new patients without them having to step foot in your office.
Additionally, it showcases your practice as modern and adaptable to current technological trends, enhancing your appeal to a tech-savvy demographic.
24. Partner With The Diamond Group
If you're looking for a dental marketing partner that can help you get more new patients in 2024, then look no further than The Diamond Group.
We are experts in helping dentists attract more patients and grow their practices.
Our team of experienced healthcare marketers will work with you to create a custom marketing plan that meets your specific needs and goals.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you grow your dental practice.
