Acquiring and maintaining patients as a dentist continues to be one of the top challenges in the industry. Patient retention numbers are high, with only about 41% of new patients returning for a follow-up visit, and getting people to book and show up for their routine appointments is an ongoing stressor. If you want to stand out from the competition, try these top dental practice marketing strategies.
1. Know What Sets You Apart
Differentiating yourself from your competition is critical in business. Before you start investing in marketing or advertising, define your practice’s selling point. Why should patients choose you over another dentist? Is it accessibility, specialization, bilingual staff, or your bedside manner? Once you understand what sets you apart, you can start figuring out how to reach the people who will benefit from your services..
2. Build Your Presence
Success starts with awareness. Don’t rely on insurers’ lists to send new patients your way. Foster a robust local brand by building out your Google Maps listing, keeping your website updated, and investing in a content marketing strategy that includes a newsletter and social media. Make yourself known in your community with strategic advertising, signage, and sponsorships, and attend local events and celebrations. With visibility comes trust.
3. Brand for Experience
Too often, when we think about branding, we stop at a logo. But branding is more than that. It’s the set of experiences that people have with your business. Everything from the words on your signage to how your staff greets patients is part of your brand. Hire top staff and train them so that they know what’s expected of them. Ensure your communications and messaging speak to the brand you want to convey. Strive to streamline – or at least acknowledge – typical points of friction so that your patients know that you understand their needs.
4. Embrace Technology
Technology can be a major selling point for your practice. Whether it’s the specific treatments and procedures you offer, your imaging options, or online accessibility. Explore the potential roadblocks that your patients face, and see whether there’s a business case for introducing a specific technological solution.
5. Elevate Your Premises
We say it all the time: where you practice shapes how you practice. Your dental practice should be professional, warm, and inviting. Patients should feel like they’re in good hands from the moment they step through the door or the moment they leave. A great dental practice location is easy to get to, has plenty of parking or access to transit, is simple to navigate, and feels light, bright, and tech-forward.
Need Help Standing Apart? Talk to GZ.
If you know your unique selling point but can’t get it to align with your existing premises, talk to the team at Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty. As the DMV’s experts in medical real estate, we can help connect you with the right location for your business goals. Whether you’re looking to sign a new lease with better terms or you’re looking to move into a new space, we can help. With our industry relationships and deep understanding of what makes a dental practice succeed, we’ll help you find the location that makes you the #1 choice for both new and existing patients. Ready to build your practice? Let’s talk!