As marketing professionals, we understand the importance of having a strong online presence to attract and retain patients. Your ability to retain and gain new patients is the lifeline of your practice. Even still, we know that not every single patient who needs dentistry is the patient for you. Many of the dentists we work with are cosmetic, neuromuscular, and sleep dentists, so we understand how unique your patients are. It’s important for dentists to utilize the right online marketing tools (in the right way) to gain more quality patients.

In this post, we will share online dental marketing ideas, including optimizing your website for local SEO, creating the best dental website, updating your website with E-E-A-T content, having a consistent social media presence, investing in pay-per-click advertising, and encouraging online reviews. Explore our dental marketing ideas for new patients. These strategies can help you attract new dental patients and gain more quality patients through effective online marketing for dentists.

Create the Best Dental Website

Okay, this may seem obvious! Of course, you need a website. But you can’t create any old website and expect it to convert people into patients for your practice. Your website needs to lead patients through a journey of discovery as they search for answers to their problems. Your website is the first impression potential patients will have of your dental practice. So make sure your website is:

  • Easy to navigate.
  • Visually appealing.
  • Optimized for search engines (so patients can find you!)
  • Includes clear calls to action
  • Highly functional with intuitive features.
  • ADA compliant.
  • Full of helpful and unique content.
  • Showcasing the services you want to perform.
  • Targeting your ideal patient through copywriting specifically tailored to their (dentistry-related) hopes and dreams.
  • Targeting your ideal patient through photos that speak to them.
  • Optimized for mobile use.

Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

Optimizing your website for local SEO will help you rank higher in local search results. This means adding location-specific keywords, such as “cosmetic dentist in [city name],” to your website’s content and meta descriptions.

Using the right keywords is just one aspect of local SEO. We have written numerous articles detailing exactly how to target local patients through search engine optimization. You can start with the article What’s Local SEO for Dentists? And then branch off to other articles that give actionable information on targeting local patients, like Want to Meet the Mark with Local SEO? Here’s the Type of Content You Should Post. We even have video content on SEO if that’s more appealing to you!

Update Your Website with E-E-A-T Content

E-E-A-T stands for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. These are four of the major factors Google looks at when determining what website to show when a patient makes an organic search, like “Should I get veneers or ortho?” Your website needs to be functional, intuitive, and optimized for mobile, at the very least, to meet these standards. But beyond that, your website content must emulate experience, expertise, authority, and trust. There are a few ways you can do this:

  • Starting a blog post is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract more patients. Write about dental procedures, oral health, and any other topics that your patients might find interesting.
  • Write Patient Education articles.
  • Update your existing website pages and add more when applicable.
  • Write a patient newsletter and post it to your website.

Ask yourself these things each time you plan to post content to your site. If you answer “no,” go back to the drawing board and really dig deep to make sure your content is great.

  1. Is it relevant to the kind of dentistry I want to perform?
  2. Does it target specific keywords that I researched and know my ideal patient is searching for?
  3. Is this piece of content complete? In other words, does it thoroughly explore the topic or link to another piece that does?
  4. Is this piece of writing coming from a unique angle?
  5. Does it include reasons to believe (RTB)? Like organizations that back up your expertise, reviews from other patients, or how many people you’ve helped with that specific problem.

Pro Tip: don’t overload your piece with RTBs! Only use one or two.

Have a Consistent Social Media Presence

Social media is an excellent way to connect with existing and potential patients to promote your dental practice. Share posts about your dental service offerings, before-and-after photos of patients, and any community events you participate in.

Facebook Ads for dentists allow you to specifically target your audience, making it an excellent way to promote your dental service and attract new dental patients.

Pro Tip: staying involved with the community creates a sense of belonging for your patients. Since you’re active in the community, patients feel like they matter to you, and you matter to them. Your involvement makes patients’ commitment to you stronger because you make them feel like they belong simply by going to your dental practice.

If we had to give one tip about winning on social media as part of your marketing campaigns, remember that social media is social! Make sure you’re participating in your patient’s day by interacting with their posts and responding to their comments. Being social with your audience allows you to participate in the conversation rather than lecturing at the front of the room. Being social is the purpose of social media, so it’ll go a long way in helping you gain new followers, connections, clicks, and patients.

Start a Facebook Ad Campaign

Facebook remains a powerful platform for dentists looking to expand their reach and attract new dental patients. Starting a Facebook ad marketing campaign offers a unique opportunity to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring your dental services are seen by those most likely to need them. Here’s why dentists should consider Facebook ads and some best practices for launching a successful campaign:

Why Facebook Ads for Dentists?

  • Targeted Reach: Facebook’s advanced targeting options allow you to narrow down your audience based on location, age, interests, and even behaviors. This means your ads can be shown to people looking for dental services in your area, maximizing the chances of conversion.
  • Cost-Effective: With Facebook ads, you control the budget. Whether you want to run a small test campaign or a full-scale ad blitz, you can set your spending limits and adjust them based on the campaign’s performance.
  • Measurable Results: Facebook provides detailed analytics on your ad campaigns, giving you insights into reach, engagement, click-through rates, and conversion. This data is invaluable for understanding what works and refining your strategies over time.

Best Practices for Starting a Facebook Ad Campaign

  1. Define Your Objectives: Before launching an ad campaign, clearly define what you want to achieve. Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, or promoting a specific service, your objectives will guide your ad strategy.
  2. Craft Compelling Ad Content: Your ads should include engaging visuals (images or videos) and copy that clearly communicates the value of your dental services. Highlight what sets your practice apart and use a clear call-to-action (CTA) to encourage users to take the next step.
  3. Use A/B Testing: Don’t settle for a single ad version. Create multiple versions of your ad to test different images, headlines, and ad copy. A/B testing helps you discover which elements resonate best with your target audience.
  4. Optimize for Mobile: With the majority of Facebook users accessing the platform via mobile devices, ensure your ads and landing pages are mobile-friendly. This means fast loading times, responsive design, and clear, concise content.
  5. Monitor and Adjust: Once your campaign is live, monitor its performance closely. Use Facebook’s analytics to make data-driven decisions, tweaking your ads and targeting as needed to improve results.

Invest in Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a highly effective way to drive traffic to your website and attract new patients. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, and you can target specific keywords and demographics. Read more about why PPC is important for dentists and what keywords you may want to target with your campaigns.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

For dentists, a Google Business Profile (GBP) is more than just an online listing; it’s a crucial tool for attracting new patients and enhancing your practice’s online presence. An optimized GBP can significantly improve your local search visibility, making it easier for potential patients to find, contact, and choose your dental practice. Here’s how to effectively optimize your profile:

  • Complete Every Section of Your Profile: Ensure every part of your GBP is filled out in detail, including your practice’s name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. The more complete your profile, the higher Google ranks you in local search results.
  • Select the Right Category: Choose the most accurate category for your practice, such as “Dental Practice” or “Cosmetic Dentist.” This helps Google understand exactly what services you offer and match your profile with relevant searches.
  • Add High-Quality Photos: Upload professional, high-resolution photos of your practice, including the exterior, waiting room, treatment areas, and team members. Photos help build trust with potential patients by giving them a visual understanding of your practice.
  • Collect and Respond to Reviews: Encourage satisfied patients to share their experiences, leveraging word of mouth to attract new dental patients. on your GBP and take the time to respond to each review, whether positive or negative. Reviews not only boost your profile’s visibility but also influence potential patients’ decisions.
  • Use the Posts Feature: Regularly update the Posts section of your GBP with news about your practice, special offers, or oral health tips. These posts can improve engagement and keep your profile active, which is favored by Google’s algorithm.
  • Ensure Accuracy and Consistency: Make sure your practice’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online platforms. Inconsistencies can confuse Google and potential patients, negatively impacting your search rankings.
  • Utilize the Q&A Feature: Monitor and answer questions posted by users in the Q&A section of your GBP. This not only provides valuable information to potential patients but also demonstrates your practice’s commitment to patient communication and care.

Your GBP is often the first impression potential patients have of your practice, so make it count.

Encourage Online Reviews

Encouraging your patients to leave online reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook can help boost your online reputation and attract more patients. This online marketing for dentists idea is two-fold. You’ll need to encourage the reviews and respond to them. You can learn more about how to respond to reviews here.

Pro Tip: Ask for reviews but don’t pay for them! When a patient tells you how wonderful their experience has been, politely ask them to leave a review and give them an easy way to find your review platforms. Like through a QR code or timely text message after they leave the office.

Write a Patient Newsletter

Newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your current patients and remind them to schedule appointments or of other things (ex: the importance of good sleep hygiene.) It’s possible that your patients will forward the email to someone else who may need your services!

Get Online Marketing for Dentists From Marketing Experts

Implementing these online marketing strategies for dentists with the help of dental marketing experts can help you attract more patients and grow your practice. If you need help getting started, reach out to us. We’d love to help you take your online marketing to the next level!