The dental industry is currently worth a whopping $138 billion, with over 200,000 dentists in the US alone. This makes it a highly competitive market, and if you have a dental practice, you need to look for a way to make it thrive. There is so much to a dental practice than offering superior oral health care.
After all, this is a business like any other. The way you manage it will ultimately affect customer retention. So what tips for dentists will help you succeed and grow your dental practice?
This is what we’ll address in this post and help you take the right steps.
Table of Contents
Have a Well-Designed and Responsive Website
There is a very high chance your patient’s first interaction with your dental practice is with your website. More and more people are searching for businesses online, so this is one of the most important aspects of your business.
The thing is, your website is a reflection of your dental practice. It needs to be well-designed, professional, and, more importantly, responsive.
A majority of consumers are searching for products and services online through mobile devices. Additionally, your website page loading speeds need to be incredibly high. A slow-loading website only encourages patients to search for competitors.
Hire Good People and Train Them
After your website, the next point of contact patients are likely to make is with your receptionist. It could also be anyone else on your front desk, but they will have to interact with your staff before they get to you. This makes your stuff one of the most important parts of running a successful dental business.
Their dental practice management, professionalism, communication skills, and attitude will directly impact how a patient feels about your practice. It’ll also leave a lasting impression that could either make or break your business. Your patients will decide whether to come to your dental practice based on their first contact experience.
That said, it’s incredibly vital for you to hire the right dental office management who share your vision. Provide professional training and encourage continued education. Ensure that they are friendly and accommodating and make the most of every patient interaction.
Encourage Patient Referrals and Reviews
One of the best tips for dentists when it comes to growing a dental practice is encouraging patients to leave reviews and refer their practice. Online reviews have become incredibly important.
They match recommendations from family members, friends, or colleagues. About 91% of people read online reviews, and they can be the sole reason why a potential patient chooses your practice over another.
The thing is, a lot of patients are busy with their lives and may not necessarily leave a review after receiving services. What you need to do is encourage them to do it by proactively asking for patient referrals. Sometimes all you have to do is ask a patient to leave a positive online review on your website or various review websites Google Reviews.
You can also provide referral cards or even offer referral bonus programs. Make sure that you provide quick links on your website that lead to other online review sites. It’ll make it easier for patients to make one click and write their reviews.
Focus on Local SEO
Dental practices are generally local businesses. The best way to attract people in your immediate area is to focus on local SEO. Target the patients in your immediate neighborhoods.
Optimize your website for the keyboards they’re searching for. If patients are searching for cosmetic dentistry, a service that you offer, make sure your website ranks for that keyword.
It’s essential for you to appear on Google My Business for local searches. Make sure you fill out all the necessary information that’ll help you rank on the first page of Google. To increase your local exposure, get involved with nonprofit organizations.
Getting involved in your local community is one of the best things you can do to grow your dental practice. It’s an exceptional way to get your name out there. The best way to do it is by partnering up with a local nonprofit organization.
It’ll not only leave a lasting impression on your community, but help increase your local presence. People love working with businesses that give back to their communities. It means if you become an active participant in local events, you will have the opportunity to engage with your patients and attract more patients.
Increase Your Social Media Presence
Social media has about 3 billion users, making it one of the most important places for growing a business. Social media provides you with platforms where you can interact and engage with your existing customers.
It gives you the ultimate opportunity what attracts new ones. Make sure you post genuine and valuable content that will encourage people to follow you and engage you.
Be an authority figure by answering questions with accuracy and confidence. Show patients that they can trust you and come to you. Go the extra mile and show your personal side because patients love to know the person behind the practice.
Post helpful content, promotions, discounts, and new-patient-specials to attract new customers, then leave clear calls to action. This is one of the best tips for the dentist that wants to stand out.
Offer Round-the-Clock Appointment Scheduling
Instead of having patients make calls to book their appointments, get an online appointment scheduling platform. A scheduling platform will offer round-the-clock opportunities for your patients to book appointments.
A quality scheduling system will do more than just book appointments. It’ll maximize productivity and offer exceptional customer service that the patients will appreciate.
Make sure that you have flexible, up-to-date, and efficient scheduling software at all times. Even better, send appointment text reminders to your patients. This way, you can cultivate relationships without disrupting their day.
Reduce Dental Practice Overhead
Your dental office management is important because you need to reduce overhead and maximize profits. Take advantage of technology wherever you can, keep a close eye on collections, and invest in your staff.
More importantly, one of the top financial tips for dentists is to examine how and from where they get their supplies. Take a view here on getting the right dental supplies.
Offer Flexible Payment Options
One of the best business tips for dentists involves offering flexible payment options for patients. With these options, they will be more inclined to come back for ongoing dental care.
You should have insurance coverage and various payment options. Include credit and debit cards, cash, personal checks, and other special financing options.
The Ultimate Tips for Dentists: What You Need to Know to Grow Your Practice
These are some of the top tips for dentists who want to grow their businesses. Remember to utilize digital marketing and to set an encouraging tone when treating your patients. Patients always remember the dental practice that treats them nicely, addresses their fears without chastising them, and offers impeccable services and customer experiences.
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