Category Archives: Marketing for Dentists

Digital Communications: What Is It? What Good Is It?

(E.G., LIGHTHOUSE, REVENUEWELL, DEMANDFORCE, SOLUTION REACH, ETC.)dental digita communications

 

 

Use of this technology in dental offices has almost doubled in the last three years. 38% of area dentists now have it.

  1. If you haven’t got it, you’re probably looking into it and it is worthwhile to look into.
  2. If you have it, chances are you’re not using it to its full capabilities. That’s worth looking into.

Contrary to what the sales representative will tell you, Digital Communication is not an all-purpose cure to cancellations and failures. It can help keep a practice busier but we cannot prove yet that it reduces no-shows. We do know, however, that it frees up front desk time and we also know that clients have benefitted from its many applications:

  1. Patients really like text and email confirmations—it’s part of showing people you
    are keeping up with technology.
  2. This gives your front desk team more time to make appointments because they spend less time confirming them.
  3. It gives you the capability of getting surveys from patients, which is good feedback but, as importantly, can help you get more testimonials for your website online reviews. We know that testimonials are important conversion factors for converting website visitors into patients. Think of your own behavior when you shop for hotels and how you look at reviews.
  4. Promote services such as Invisalign: Example: a client of ours from Rochester used an email and text announcement to promote their “Invisalign Day”. They feel that this was responsible for 15 patient Invisalign starts.
  5. Fill last minute openings: Examples: A client in Wisconsin emails patients (RevenueWell) when they have last-minute openings in the hygiene schedule. They offer whitening (bite-down trays from Patterson) to the first person to respond and fill the appointment. “Last minute openings. Come out and get that checkup you’ve been putting off and you’ll get free professional-strength whitening…” Another client in Houston, TX uses digital email and texting (Demand Force) to announce last minute openings in their hygiene schedule. Their incentive is free movie tickets. They said some patients actually wait to schedule when they know they can get free movie tickets. Not all bad because it means that there are a lot of patients eagerly standing by to fill last-minute openings. You should not overdo it, but if you even do this once or twice a month to fill 2-8 hygiene slots as a result, it is a pretty good payoff.

There are many applications for digital communications and they’re growing! My associate, Kelly Larson stays on top of the constant changes and keeps a summary grid of the various digital communication companies to help you compare their offerings. Generally, they charge about $300/mo. Most arrangements are month-to-month (companies are no longer asking for one or two year contracts).

March 20 Is World Oral Health Day

World Oral Health Day LogoWorld Oral Health Day (WOHD) is an international day to celebrate the benefits of having a healthy mouth and also to promote awareness about issues around oral health. It is also an opportunity to stress the importance of taking care of oral hygiene needs, for everyone and every age.

It is a day to have fun – and to smile!

According to FDI World Dental Federation website, 90% of our world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime. Many of them can be avoided with increased governmental, health association and society support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment programs. In addition, World Oral Health Day offers the dental and oral health community a platform to take action and help reduce the global disease burden.

The Theme For World Oral Health Day 2015 Is “Smile For Life!”

This year’s campaign is focused on wishing all people a lifelong and healthy smile. The theme has a double meaning: ‘lifelong smile’ and ‘celebrating life’. It also implies positivity and having fun, since people only smile if they are health and happy!

The campaign organizers are challenging each organization celebrating the day to come up with a call-to-action, “Take the time to…” For example, a dental office could adopt the tag line, “Take the time to brush and floss your teeth!”

Promote Your WOHD Event!

The FDI World Dental Federation has put together some handy resources for you to help celebrate and promote your special day. Watch this video to learn how.

  1. Visit www.wordoralhealthday.org
  2. Chose an option: poster, Facebook cover photo or Twitter cover photo
  3. Select a picture
  4. Complete the form

For more information, visit ADA Website or WOHD Website

 

Keep Yahoo & Mozilla Firefox On Your Radar

Yahoo and Firefox join forces

Image Source: Search Engine Land

This year has been has seen a lot of change in local search and that has kept dental offices on their toes trying to keep up with the developments. Now there is another development that you should be aware of, as well. Now, Mozilla’s Firefox has changed it’s default search engine from Google to Yahoo!

According to an article on Search Engine Land, the number of searches on the Firefox that used Yahoo for the search engine has since grown from 9.6 percent to 29.4 percent.

What Does This Mean For Online Dental Marketing?

That is still to be determined. As clients of APM, we will keep you in the loop. In the meantime, make sure your Yahoo local business listing is claimed and up-to-date (in addition to your other basic listings on Google, Facebook, Yelp, HealthGrades, etc.). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kelly Larson at kelly@advancedpracticemanagment.com or by phone at (952) 920-3360.

Google Makes Another Change For The Better

Google My BusinessGoogle has made another significant change. Google Places is now called Google My Business. Now, before you groan let me tell you that this change is for the better and will make managing your dental office’s Google presence easier.

With this latest move, it is clear that Google is continuing to make a significant investment in empowering small businesses. They have rebranded the program and reorganized the business side dashboard to include all of the important controls in one convenient spot:

  • Your business listing
  • Your online reviews
  • AdWords Express
  • Google Analytics

What Should You Do Next?

  1. Log in to your Google account and make sure things transitioned smoothly to the new platform. If I originally helped you to claim your practice’s Google Places listing, you should have your Google login email and password. If you do not, contact me and I will get that to you.
  2. Make sure that you have a single business listing and no duplicates.
  3. Update your listing. Make sure your listing is up to date. Make sure you have a profile photo and cover photo. Are your office hours correct for the summer? Add an extra details and make sure to save your changes.
  4. Add a post. While you are logged in, add an update about your office. Do you have a new summer special for whitening? Have you added a new team member? Do you have a photo of a recent team event? Adding to your Google listing bolsters your online presence. It just takes a minute but the effort goes a long way.

Have any questions, feel free to contact Kelly Larson by email at kelly@advancedpracticemanagement.com.

Star Of The North 2014

The Dental Marketplace Keeps Evolving

I once heard somewhere that if you really want to keep up with what’s going on in America, you should walk through a major mall (like the Mall of America) every six months or so and see what new stores are open and which old stores have closed.

Likewise, you can tell what’s going on in Dentistry by looking at the convention floor at the 2014 Star of the North Meeting.

Interesting Observations From This Year’s Convention:

  • Websites: There were no stand-alone website companies represented (No Prosites, Officites, PBHS, Online Practice, etc, etc.) A few years ago there were plenty!
  • Dental Marketing: Likewise, fewer marketing firms (No 1-800-DENTIST, Yodel, P.O.S. or Valpak.) Our friends at DentalMarketing.net (formally, 123 Postcards) were there. They were the exception to the rule. 
  • Practice Management Software: 15 years ago there were more than a dozen practice software outfits. Now, there were only two stand-alone software firms (PEB with their XLDent product and MacPractice). Of course, Schein (Dentrix) and Patterson (Eaglesoft) were represented.
  • Practice Management Consulting Firms: Your team at Advanced Practice Management along with Jay White & Associates and Bob Proebstle at A.P.C. have outlasted a lot of the big national consulting companies. (Yay for the regional guys!)
  • Large Group Practices (a.k.a. “Corporate Dentistry”) are increasing their presence. Represented at the convention were Metro Dental, Park Dental, Comfort Dental, Midwest Dental and, new this year – Heartland Dental.

More About Corporate Dental Groups:

Aspen Dental was not at the convention. They are in Iowa and Wisconsin though, and they are on their way here! Midwest has about 130 Upper Midwest practices. Heartland Dental has over 500 and they are making an aggressive move into the area. Although they do not like to be referred to as such, these “Corporate Dentistry” outfits are really coming on strong. For clients who are approaching retirement they help keep practice values up. For those of us still working, they are competition.

At APM, it’s our job to help you keep up with and succeed despite the presence of these conglomerates. In a way, being part of our practice management family, you have one of the advantages that these big companies do—professional management.

We monitor over $25,000,000 worth of dental activity per month in over 250 offices that we
work with. That gives us a wide and deep frame of reference. You better believe that my staff and I are constantly looking to keep up with the best business practices so you can have the best practices!

Have You Seen Our Video Yet?

If you were at the Convention, you got a look at our new video that tells about what we do at APM. If you were not, you can take a look at it here.

 

 

Seasonality In Dentistry

Don’t Fight The Seasons

Instead, use them to your advantage.
by Bill Rossi

To everything there is a season….” If you have been in practice for a while, at least you are vaguely aware there is a rhythm to the year. Tuning into these rhythms can help you manage your time, talents, and resources and add to your bottom line. It also can help your peace of mind.

dental exams per hours worked graph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For example, I have noticed that every year I get lots of calls in May and September from dentists saying, “My schedule really feels light. Is it just me, or is it happening everywhere? Is the economy turning south or what?” As I monitor the data from more than 200 practices each month, I notice patterns in other things, too. So, we combed this data to see what the year patterns actually were. This article outlines these patterns and their ramifications.

Hours Down Per Dentist Hours Worked Graph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Patients

What is your best month each year for establishing new patients? For many practices, it is August. It’s the back-to-school rush. October, February, March, and April also are fairly good new-patient months. Conversely, November, May, and June are slow new-patient months.

New_Patients_Per_Hours_Worked

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can you do with this information? First, don’t try to fight the seasons! For example, if you do a new-resident mailer, hold back the list of names in May, June, November, and December, then mail those names during later months. (Mail the May and June names in late July or early August. Mail the November and December names in January and February.) You might think it is better to advertise when you aren’t as busy, but you will fare better if you go with the flow.

If you were in the restaurant business, you would not try to have your grand opening on a Monday night – you would have it on a Saturday night because that is when people want to go out. If you plan a direct-mail campaign, newspaper ad, flyers, or any other event, do it during good new-patient months.

Also, look at your work hours. Avoid taking time off in August – particularly late August. Instead, plan your time off for months that are traditionally light for your practice. Again, would it make sense for someone in the restaurant business to take off Saturday night? Some offices even ask staff to not take time off during August. Plus, if you know of months in which you are less busy, why stress yourself out sitting around with a light schedule? Take a vacation. Also, if you plan on remodeling, don’t do it during one of your peak months.

Patient Traffic

The simplest and best indicator of patient flow is total exams: recall, new patients, and emergency exams. Again – August, October, November, and April are big patient-traffic months. May and September are lower patient-traffic months. What does this mean for your office, and how can you use this information to your benefit?

 Crown and bridge production per hours worked

 

 

 

 

 

 

During high patient-flow months, expand your hygiene capacity. Your hygienist could put in an extra day or two, or you can use more CRDA time in helping you with kiddie prophies or use assisted hygiene. If your practice calls for more patient check-ups during those times, then be ready. During months with lighter patient traffic, you and your hygienist should promote other services such as perio or bleaching. The hygiene schedule should be less hectic, and hygienists should have more time to focus on those issues.

perio-production-graph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A practice grows (or shrinks) through its hygiene capacity. If you want to grow, add hygiene time every summer around July – perhaps a day or two a week. That will ratchet your practice up a notch. Then, in the late fall or early winter when there is less patient traffic, trust that the hygiene time will stick and you will keep things busy by providing perio and other services. The point is, add to your hygiene capacity during the high season because that will give you the best chance for success.

Crown & Bridge Production

December, January, and February are the biggest crown and bridge months for most practices. This is due to dental insurance. Near year-end, people want to use their benefits, and many patients with fresh benefits want to use them the beginning of the next year. In the fall, send a letter to patients explaining that if they or family members have pending treatment, they should not delay. Many versions of this letter have been developed over the years, and we’ve displayed an example on the following page. Patients will appreciate the notice, and you will pick up a few extra cases.

Also, let your staff know that November and December are high season for presentation of dentistry. Tell them to plan accordingly. You might want to hold some time open near the end of December for crown seats so you can get in under the insurance deadline. And, as you diagnose treatment in autumn and if the patients insist on waiting because their insurance has run out (and they won’t be budged into continuing until their benefits are fresh), then appoint them in January. Commit them to treatments so they don’t get lost between the cracks.
Yes, I know that ideally you should not have to be dependent on insurance companies for case-presentation rhythms, but it does make a difference in everyday, normal practice, so accept it and plan accordingly.

Your awareness that it is high season will help you prepare. If your practice is busy with crown and bridge in December, don’t make December your vacation month. We adjusted data to the number of work days per month.) Some offices have a lot of returning college kids, and if that is true for you, set aside some time near the holidays so you can accommodate them. This will include hygiene time and maybe a little bit of follow-up operative time set aside so they can be treated quickly.

Resort areas and agricultural communities have their own rhythms. In northern Minnesota, it is common for a community to be home to 5,000 people during winter and 10,000 people during summer. If doctors conscientiously plan their staffing, hours and time off will benefit.
In agricultural communities, treatment and payment are factors. Farmers often will put off bills until the fall. In many country practices that is OK, but make sure in the fall that these accounts are paid off. You will want your front desk people to be on top of those collection accounts right after harvest. Agricultural community winters are ideal for farmers to come into your office, so recall them then.

Yearly Events

Keep an annual calendar to plan your year. It should take into account the seasons as aforementioned (your marketing programs, when to add to hygiene capacity, when to stress perio, crown and bridge, etc.). Plan for annual events such as performance reviews, staff outings, continuing education, in-service days, and CPR training. Doctors’ vacations should be planned well in advance so staff can adjust. Most offices don’t insist that staff take vacations when doctors do, but if you give them advance notice, you have a greater chance of their being able to. Why invent make-work while you are gone or work understaffed other times? This can significantly affect your bottom line.

The rhythms of your practice may be slightly different than the data shown. Review your computer reports. Track new patients, crown and bridge, production, and exams during the past two or three years to find your rhythms. Do in-service routines during lighter seasons. Many times these are done on the spur of the moment or not taken care of at all.

Doctors sometimes overreact by cutting back on their hygiene capacity or otherwise making inappropriate decisions in states of near panic. This can hurt practices. You can buffer the effect of the seasons. During low months, ask the staff to contact existing patients while you promote the practice a little less. Even though December, January, and February are big case-acceptance months, don’t give up on your efforts year-round. The majority of patients still don’t maximize their insurance benefits in any given year.

There are plenty of other seasonal events. For example, think about Dental Health Month, school holidays, state conventions, goal setting, budgeting, and Yellow Pages renewals. Dental Health Month in particular is something to plan for. In my opinion, Dental Health Month should be to dentistry what Christmas is to Macy’s! It’s a great time of year to promote dental health and your practice. Most doctors find it awkward to ask for referrals. In January and February, it’s easy:

“Mrs. Smith, Dental Health Month is approaching. Did you know that one in three Americans hasn’t seen a dentist in two or more years? We want to change that, but we need your help. So we’re asking our patients to get their friends and acquaintances to see the dentist for a check-up. If you have a friend who has been putting off a check-up, tell her to call us. Everyone is welcome here.”

This way you’ll feel less like you’re asking for help and more like you’re offering it. Many of my clients also encourage referrals by sending Dental Health Month mailers to patients, and they pick up an extra month or two worth of new patients. To get the best results, don’t wait until February; start planning your Dental Health Month promotions now!

Plan for and work with the seasons. Doing so will help you make more and worry less.

Sample Letter

DATE: XX/XX/XX
RE: YOUR INSURANCE AND FLEX PLANS

Dear Patient,

Most insurance companies have a year-end deadline for benefits. Therefore, if you or your family members have been postponing any dental treatment or check-ups, it would be to your advantage to have the treatment completed before the end of the year. Please call our office today so we can reserve a time for you.

In preparing for a new year, many employers offer a benefit of setting aside pretax dollars for medical and dental needs. We would like to offer our services to you in estimating for next year. Give us a call if you have any questions on your future dental treatment.

If you have no dental needs at this time, great! We’ll see you during your next check-up visit.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!

Sincerely,

Connie Example
Office Administrator

P. S. Please don’t wait until the last minute to call! Our schedule is already filling up with the end-of-the-year rush. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

The author wishes to thank Dr. Bruce Trimble and Sharon Walbran for their technical support during the writing of this article.
Bill Rossi is the president of Advanced Practice Management in Minneapolis. He and his staff are actively involved in the ongoing management of more than 200 upper-Midwest dental practices. For more information, you may reach Rossi by phone at (952) 921-3360 or via the Internet at www.advancedpracticemanagement.com.

How Recent Google Changes Will Affect Your Dental Practice

You may have heard the big news last Wednesday. With another step forward in becoming your integrated online resource, Google Places has been merged with Google’s Social Network, Google+. Essentially, your new Google+ Local page is still your same Google Places page just with a new look. The difference being that Google+ pages also have the social features available to Google+ users.

What Does This Change Mean For Your Dental Practice?

Not much, yet.

As we’ve been coaching our network of dentists, Google is in the process of building a big-time social community that is bringing people together and with local businesses on multiple levels (see graphic below). They clearly want you as a business owner in your community to become a part of the conversation at some level and to interact with your patients online. What that means in practical terms for you and your dental office is still developing, but this is another move in that direction.

Google's Plan for Your Local Business

Right now, you don’t have to do anything. Google has already merged the pages for you. You still log in through your Google Places dashboard and the content is basically the same with the exception of videos and reviews; there are no videos on the new local business listings and your reviews are still there but they have been converted to the Zagat (1-30) point system (a company that Google has recently acquired).

If you already have a Google+ business page, Google will soon be merging local business listings with their actual business pages in Google+. Google says that there will eventually be just one page to manage with information integrated across Google Search, Google Maps, Google+, and mobile. For now, if you already have a Google+ account, you will manage these pages separately.

Update: More Answers To FAQs About Google+ Local

In addition to our observations mentioned in last week’s post regarding the announcement of local Google+ pages, here are a few more insights we have learned from Google:

  • Do you have to create a Google+ account for your dental practice right now?

Not necessarily. Some of the dentists in our network who are active online already have. They post content to their Google+ business page as they do for Facebook and Twitter. You may want create a Google+ page and try out some of the social features. If you do, Google says be sure to choose the Local category so that they can bring your multiple pages together to create one listing later on.

  • Are your patients’ reviews still there?!

Yes, Google says that your reviews will be transferred over. The ranking system has changed, however; instead of gold stars you will be ranked 1-3 with the Zagat scoring system and the score will be multiplied by 10. You may notice that they are now out of chronological order. Above the first review, there is a pull-down menu. The default is set to “Most helpful” which takes into consideration many aspects of each review’s text and author, as well as feedback from users who vote on whether the review was helpful or not.

  • Do your patients need a Google+ account to leave a review?

Yes. Reviewers need to be logged in to Google+ to leave a review. If they have a Google account but they have not yet created a Google+ profile, they will be prompted to do so. Reviews that were transferred over will be attributed to “A Google User” until the user has a Google+ account and then it will be labeled with their Google+ name.
This adds another layer of complexity in getting patients to submit reviews. If we have helped you to set up systems already to facilitate patient leaving you reviews on your former Places, don’t worry; we can help you to adjust to the new system as well.

  • Will This Change Your Google Ranking?

Google says that the Google+ Local launch was “an interface and design change” and that there was nothing specific to this change that will affect your search results, but it’s clear that they want you to join the party! In the same breath, they are clear to state that ranking algorithms are continually changing, so listings are always moving up and down. Unofficially, we are seeing that businesses that are involved with Google+ are being rewarded.

As time goes on we will have more information for you. We know you are busy providing great dentistry and patient care. It is my job to keep you in the know, so that the APM team can help you create realistic strategies that work for you and your practice. You can check back to this blog for timely, concise updates on how developments with the internet will impact your dental practice. If you have specific questions, feel free to give us a call at (952) 921-3360.

Interested in hearing about the update from Google directly?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO5wd2fl2Vs]

Google Places + Google+ = The New Google+ Local

Dental Marketing Changes with Google's Announcement of Google+ LocalFor most dentists, keeping up with Google and ranking on Page One in local search are focal aspects of their marketing efforts for attracting new patients.

You know the drill. Claim your listing. Verify it with a PIN number. Follow Google’s guidelines to a T. Try to consolidate duplicates. Check back regularly to make sure things are in good standing. And, try like heck to encourage happy patients to submit reviews so you keep little gold stars next to your name.

This may seem like a lot of busy work, but the truth is that web searchers and potential patients perceive value in having gold stars next to your listing and are influenced by the reviews they read. Also, it’s the single greatest common denominator we’re seeing to help dentists “get found” on line. Let’s face it, Google reviews are your modern day “word of mouth referral from a friend.”

Well, Today The Game Changed Again. Introducing Google+ Local.

A better word might be “evolved.” If you checked out your Google Places page today, it may have looked a little different to you. This morning, Google announced that the merge of Google Places and Google + into the new Google+ Local.

Dentist Reviews on Google+ Local Page

But, don’t worry. Despite getting used to a new format, this next evolution of Google’s local program is considered to be an improvement by the early feedback of local search experts such as Linda Buquet and Mike Blumenthal. And, this is certain not to be the last trick that Google has up it’s sleeve so the game continues.

What we do know at this point is:

  • You can still manage your information via your Places dashboard, verify your listing data and respond to reviews.
  • You can still post offers the same way.
  • You cannot upload videos to your Place page anymore.
  • Instead of the scoring system of receiving 1-5 stars, Google has incorporated the more comprehensive 1-30 Zagat scoring system.
  • Reviews from both Google and Zagat users will reside on your Google+ local page and will be attributed to either “A Google User” or “A Zagat user” until that user chooses to change it to their name.
  • If you haven’t done so, consider setting up a Google+ business page.
  • More updates will follow in the coming months.

We will continue to keep our clients updated on new advancements. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more you can read about Google+ Local in the Google Help Forum. For questions about your particular Google Places listing or setting up a Google+ Business Page, please contact APM at (952) 921-3360 or apm@advancedpracticemanagement.com.

Online comments and reviews

Monday, June 21, 2010
Protect Your Reputation.

Keep an Eye Online!

As you probably read in the recent Northwest Dentistry, given the pervasiveness of The Web, every Dentist is vulnerable to receive a derogatory review online.

I’ve seen several occasions in the last few weeks where Dentists didn’t even know that there were negative reviews online. Do a Google search for your area…for example, “Maple Grove Dentist.”

First of all, see if you come up under Google Maps within the first page or two. If not, get after your web guys. Also, make sure there is a link to your website. We’re surprised how often there isn’t.

Then read the reviews. The only defense against a negative review is to have it diluted by a preponderance of positive reviews. Get patients who you are especially close with to write positive reviews ASAP.

When you’re looking for vacation places or searching online, you read reviews, don’t you? As you know, in many places (but not all, yet), The Web is replacing Yellow Pages as a source of new patients. And despite years of controversy, I personally have seen Yellow Page and online advertising work, so it’s worth staying on top of this. A bunch of good reviews can make a difference in your new patient flow.

Posted by Bill Rossi at 7:51 AM
Labels: Advanced Practice Management, Bill Rossi, online reputation

The Truth About Getting New Patients On The Internet:

Friday, July 8, 2011

We have a unique advantage because through our work in the field visiting well over 200 dental offices we can really see what’s going on out there. What’s working and what isn’t. We know that getting more new patients is of great interest to most of our clients. So you can bet we keep our eyes and ears open about the sources of new patients.

Over the past two years the Internet has really come on and in many areas is superceding other sources of new patients such as Yellow Pages and direct mail. Clearly this is where the marketplace is going but there is also a lot of hype. Every week we hear of a new scheme involving special promotions*, social media, etc. Usually the bigger the promise, the more the bull. There is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to increasing new patients. Believe me, if there were, we would know about it. However, it is a sure thing that if you don’t do anything, you won’t see more new patients.

Over 60% of area dentists now have websites. Most dentists go with the major outfits such as Officite, Prosites, PBHS, IDA, Sesame and The Online Practice. All of these companies have their strengths and weaknesses. Many dentists also hire an acquaintance, patient or relative that “knows websites.”

The common denominator is this. When most dentists get their website up, they more or less ignore it. It just sits there. Getting more new patients from the Internet isn’t just about your website. And no, it isn’t all about Facebook either. It’s a combination of factors of which, leading the pack are your presence on the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Most importantly, the Google “Place Page.” There are many other directories (such as Yelp & Insider Pages) that attention needs to be paid to also.

Since 70% of all web searches take place through Google, the Google Place Page is the “front porch” of your website. You have to have the lights on and make sure that there are positive reviews to entice people to proceed on to visiting and scheduling on your website. Once they get into your website, they shouldn’t have to wait a while for flash or fancy graphics though. Web searches today want quick access to pertinent information. There should be very concrete information about your practice and appropriate copy and design to lead people to act…that is, make an appointment!

Website enhancements can include a “video brochure”, video testimonials, offers, photos and biographies. If you were looking for a healthcare professional, what would you want to see on a website? You wouldn’t want a lot of filler or platitudes, “Fine quality care, comfortable surroundings, blah, blah, blah.” You want to know about that Doctor, the staff, the hours, the services and what to expect. You want to see that they are a nice looking, clean cut group of people in an atmosphere where you will feel safe.

Further enhancements can include Twitter, Facebook and blogs but most of you can get well ahead of the competition by paying attention to your Google Place Page and having a website that truly reflects you…and that can be done even with one of the generic companies such as Officite or Prosites if you work at it.

How many positive reviews do you have up on Google? Do you know? If you don’t, you probably don’t have as many as you should! Yes, you can use “Demand Force” and other companies to help you in gathering reviews and testimonials (reviews are on the website and testimonials are within your website). However, don’t just rely on those.

We’re all very busy and it’s hard to have a lot of time to putter around with your website. There is also a lot of jive out there. We all probably get just as confused by the web peoples’ jargon as patients get confused by dental jargon. So, on the requests of many of my clients, I have lined up top rate Internet marketing help. We can help you tune up your Web Presence all the way through; Whatever website company you are with, wherever you practice. You see, if you are paying attention to and tune up your website, your presence in the directories, etc., you’ll be ahead of the competition in your area. You’ll have a stronger presence on the Internet and you will get more new patients.

The bottom line is this; getting your website to the top of page one on Google and optimizing it to attract potential patients is like aiming at a moving target. Be leery of anyone who tells you otherwise. What you can count on from my team is that we have our ears to the ground and are staying on top of the ever-changing Internet landscape to keep you on the path and a step ahead. The Internet is increasingly where people go to select a Dentist and we’ll help you make sure they select you.

 

*For example, we have seen some spectacular numbers with Groupon and Groupon Clones but patient retention has been a challenge. We are learning how to improve this.

Posted by Bill Rossi at 5:13 PM
Labels: Advanced Practice Management, Bill Rossi, Economic news for midwest dentists, New patients via the internet, Practice Management