There are over 1.5 billion websites on the internet today. While the world wide web might seem a little crowded, it’s actually the best place to market your practice. Most doctors and dentists attract patients through other marketing or advertising means. By creating an eye-catching website, you can save money by investing in a website that builds your dental practice business for you.
Without a website, however, you’re falling behind! Your competitors are snatching up patients before you even have a chance to make a first impression.
Still not convinced? Keep reading to learn why dental practices need a website in 2020.
1. It’s Always Active
70 to 80% of consumers research a business online before visiting it in person. However, not all of these searches occur during business hours. Once your office closes for the day, how can prospective patients get in touch? Who can they talk to in order to learn more about your dental practice?
Your website is always active and ready to help. Even after the office closes, you can still provide prospective patients with useful information. Your website will work around the clock, meaning people can still learn about your practice during holidays or weekends.
Consumers head online to find the answers they need, anyway. They won’t know to call your practice to ask questions if they don’t know you exist. In many cases, your website is the first time people will hear about you.
Once on your site, people can learn about your services, staff, and locations.
They can find all the answers they need, whether they have questions about procedures, insurance, and treatment costs. Providing this information online will free up time for your employees. Instead of answering calls, they can focus on patients at the office.
If a possible patient has more questions, they can fill out a form on your website. You can also list your number on the site. Either way, you’re making it easy for people to find the information they need about your practice.
2. Keep Up With Competitors
The internet isn’t a passing trend. If your competitors don’t have a website yet, they’re probably considering it. Online marketing is the future of all marketing efforts and business growth.
Do you need a website? Yes! Otherwise, you’ll fall behind your competitors.
The internet changes constantly, too. You’ll need to keep up with the latest web design and search engine optimization (SEO) trends. SEO makes it easier for patients to find you on search engines like Google.
Improving your website with the latest design trends will improve the user experience (UX). When your site is easy to use, patients will stick around and explore. Improving your UX will also boost your SEO ranking.
The higher you rank, the more credible you’ll look to patients. When you rank above your competitors, patients will click on your site first.
Both SEO and UX are great ways to give your site a competitive advantage.
With a website for dentists, you can improve your visibility and attract more patients.
3. Manage Your Reputation
What are patients saying about you? Without a website, you might not hear what patients think about your practice.
Maintaining a website will allow you to generate comments from your patients. You can then respond to these comments and resolve any issues. Remaining active and solving these problems quickly will improve your brand.
You can also use your Google My Business listing to improve your brand reputation. Ask your patients for reviews. Post those reviews on your new website, too.
Patient reviews will strengthen your brand. It helps your SEO, too, allowing you to reach more patients.
4. Increase Brand Trust
Patients want to choose a dentist they can trust. If they don’t know anything about your dental practice, what reason do they have to trust you?
Providing patients with information through an informative website can build transparency. Let them know about your services, the dentists at your practice, and more. You can also maintain a blog to keep patients up-to-date about new services or changes.
Make sure your website represents your brand. Keeping your brand consistent across numerous marketing channels will help build brand recognition. Otherwise, people might think you’re a different practice.
5. Make It Easy
Patients shouldn’t have to flip through a phonebook to find your practice.
You need a website to make it easy for people to find you. Make sure to create a thorough Contact Us page that includes your phone number and office location. You can also use a plugin to display a map.
Making it easy for people to find and learn about your practice will improve brand trust and new leads.
Maybe people want to find your special offers. You can dedicate a page on your website for treatments, special offers, and coupons. Adding this content can help you attract visitors.
At the same time, you’re making it easier for them to find what they’re looking for.
6. Gather Feedback
Allowing comments and form submissions on your blog will allow you to gather feedback. Listening to your patients will give you a chance to find new ways to improve your practice. Making these improvements will show patients you’re listening.
It also tells them that you care about their concerns.
7. It’s Cost-Effective
Internet marketing strategies are much more affordable than traditional strategies. For example, you can use SEO, pay-per-click advertising, and social media marketing to attract new patients. However, you need a website to lead those potential patients to a form.
Creating a website will allow you to diversify your marketing strategy. You’ll also find new opportunities to market your business without exceeding your budget.
8. Measure Your Success
It’s impossible to tell which flyers or leads brought in business. Websites provide thorough analytics, so you can determine what pages are attracting leads.
You can even tell where people came from, who they are, and what they do while on your site.
By measuring this data, you can determine what’s working and calculate your ROI.
9. Schedule Appointments and Generate Leads
Make it easy for people to contact you or schedule appointments. With a website for your dental practice, you can keep your office staff organized and save time for your patients. Instead of calling you, they can make an appointment easily, straight from their phones.
Brush Up: 9 Reasons Your Dental Practice Needs a Website in 2020
It’s time to brush up on your digital marketing strategy. With a new website, your dental practice can reach new potential patients and bring them into the office!
Ready to discover your new website? Contact us today to get started.
With experience in business and digital design, he enjoys helping organizations address their online marketing challenges.
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