What are the best ways for a new dentist to advertise and get results quickly and cost-effectively?
Firstly, have a website.
A local business has the advantage over large national companies. These companies will have to struggle to get their sites high up in the Google rankings. You are off to a head start, and if you are in a town that has only a few dentists, you will definitely be a winner.
Why? Because if your practice is in Aldershot for example, someone looking for a dentist Surgical Tooth Extraction Near Me will Google the term “dentist Aldershot” and your website will be on page one.
Use Google’s free ‘Keyword Tool’ to see what phrases people are using to search for a dentist. Make sure you use your specialties as keywords too, in case someone puts, for example “teeth whitening Aldershot,” or “dentures Aldershot.”
Consider offering a Referral System, with an incentive attached. Anything free or with money off will get people talking and that is what you want. Consider what will be the best thing to offer and the monetary value you should give for each patient referred. A�20 off is about the average amount.
If you have joined a larger practice, it may be an idea to go through the lists of patients that have stopped coming, introduce yourself in a letter. You could offer an incentive if they come back to the practice.
Now, what information should your website contain? If you are in a small town, add a nice picture of yourself and your family, or you and your dog, whichever you go out with the most. Make yourself recognisable! Do not put a stock photo up there of some old man in a white coat – brand yourself!
One of the most valuable aspects of a website is being able to build a list. Make sure you have an opt-in form and a good autoresponder system like Constant Contact, that way when people sign up you can send them a monthly newsletter about what is new in the world of dentistry, Can Dentist Charge More Than Insurance Allows or remind them of their next appointment. Build a relationship. You can also send out emails about any specials you are running, and you may need to do that to build your client base. If you can offer something free, it is a great way to attract new customers.
If you specialize in children’s dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, or nervous dentists, let the public know. Have a picture on your site of you standing in front of all your certificates and give people an interesting bio about you and your family. You will be a part of community, so people will want to know about you, where you are from, what your interests are, and where you went to school. Add a blog to your site, so you can answer questions regularly, and if someone writes a glowing report about your expertise, post that as a testimonial on your site.
One of the simplest ways of setting up a website is with WordPress. It was originally designed as a blogging platform, but people are using it for all kinds of business today. There are hundreds of designs to choose from, or you can get one custom-made. They also offer plug-ins that do the Search Engine Optimisation for you. It is probably the cheapest form of advertising on the Internet today and can be designed easily, just the way you want it.