Now more than ever before people are turning to the internet in order to find
the products and services that they want at the most cost effective and competitive prices. Businesses, service providers and dental practices alike must therefore embrace the many facets of digital marketing in order to maximise their customer, client and patient base. From modern informative websites to social media and blogs, now is the perfect time to expand your marketing horizons, and by doing so you will surely reap the considerable rewards.
Research shows that 61 per cent of global internet users now investigate products online and that 97 per cent of online researches begin by using a search engine. Thus the importance of having an up-todate, valid and accessible website that ranks highly on search engine results pages becomes essential.
However, just having the website is not enough, it will need regular updates in order to stay relevant and your online presence will need to be augmented by incorporating the many forms of social media. It was reported in 2013 that 52 per cent of all marketers found a customer through Facebook, and that companies that regularly blogged generated 67 per cent more leads than those that didn’t. Therefore by facing up to the many opportunities provided by the
web your practice will be stepping forward and welcoming the growing number of internet users who are doing their research first. Moreover this approach to digital marketing will stand your practice in good stead when you consider that the growing trends are only likely to continue and so any practice or business without an up-to-date website or online presence faces being left way behind the market and their competitors.
Recession ending
However these are not the only reasons that make now such a great time to be moving forward in the world of digital marketing. As the recession begins to fade away and we see the first shoots of economic recovery start to grow,
the uncertainty that the financial situation caused also starts to abate. In 2011 a survey suggested that 17 per cent of adults had stopped going to the dentist altogether as a result of the recession, with 28 per cent saying that they had either reduced the number of visits or put off a treatment. So, four years later, those patients who may have put off seeing their dentist unless it was an emergency might now begin to consider making more regular appointments, or even switching their dental practice for one that can more fully accommodate their needs. Surely their first step in doing so would be to search the internet for a local, wellrepresented practice that not only offers the services but also looks the part and is visibly modern in its approach to
technology.
Patient demand
With the economic upturn there also comes an increase in the demand for more specialist treatments. There can be no doubt that the appetite for more cosmetic procedures and straight white teeth has increased in recent times, indeed the provision of short term orthodontics for aesthetic reasons is one of the fastest growing areas in dentistry.
Therefore if your practice offers such treatments, a website that clearly promotes this will enable you to increase the number of patients and conversions you see.
By employing the services of expert website designers your practice can ensure that it stays ahead of the game. A dedicated company that specialises in dental practice websites will be able to make certain your website stays
compliant and also ticks all the right boxes to promote your practice and the specialist services you provide in the most beneficial way.
Missed opportunities
A study published in the British Dental Journal in 2011, revealed that a massive 65 per cent of dental practices did not have a working practice website. Of the websites that were found, levels of compliance with rules and regulations was found to be generally poor, with essential items of information frequently left out. Though a number of years have passed since the report was first published, it would seem clear that still too many dental practices are missing out on the opportunities that come with using the internet as a marketing tool. Ensure that your practice takes full advantage of the current trends across the profession by enhancing your digital footprint and embracing online marketing.
References available on request.