No, internet marketing is not only for tech companies. Actually, online access to a large number of new clients means the most to smaller businesses that cater to individuals rather than corporate clients.

1. How to Create a Bulletproof
Dental Marketing Plan

2. Internet marketing can be a powerful
tool for attracting new patients, but only
if conducted according to a carefully
prepared plan.
No, internet marketing is not only for
tech companies. Actually, online access
to a large number of new clients means
the most to smaller businesses that cater
to individuals rather than corporate
clients.
Social Media Marketing is a must for all
businesses.

3.  Dental practitioners certainly fit this
description and, in fact, can be well served
by this medium if they play their cards right.
Creating a viable dental marketing plan is by
all means a serious matter and success can
never be guaranteed, but it has been
decisively proven in the marketplace that it
is possible to take advantage of the new
media to grow a dental business.
 Here are a few strategic directions that can
help dental professionals understand the
possibilities in this amazing new field:

8. Google Page Ranking Makes all the
Difference in the World
Many patients go online to compare
different service providers in their area
and will usually examine several before
making a decision. Entries located near
the top of the search results will be
favored to win each and every time. If
your webpage appears on the fifth page,
chances are you will see very little hits
on your website originating from search
engines.

9. That’s where Search Engine Optimization
(SEO) comes into play. Put simply, SEO
is a cluster of techniques used to boost
ranking of a webpage on major search
engines like Google or Bing.
This is a broad area that includes many
different activities, ranging from addition
of keywords and tags to content indexing
and inclusion of multimedia, so it’s not
surprising that many dentists are
struggling to understand why this is
such a crucial edge for them.

10. In reality, all it takes is simple
manipulation of content and metadata to
fit search algorithms patterns for the
selected keywords, so that service
providers can be located by the web
surfers most likely to use the offered
services.

11. While it is difficult to achieve top rank
status for general search terms such as
“dentist” on a global level, it is feasible to
claim primacy for better defined
keywords, often by specifying specialized
types of services, location, or other
pointers that could differentiate the
website from competitors.

12. Search engines are based on the
principle of content relevance, so the
main goal of SEO activities is to target
searches that stand the best chance of
leading to an actual sale.
This is an especially suitable way for
establishing new leads, giving the dental
personnel a chance to shine.

13. Pat Crawford has been able to follow
these steps ranking for #1 for keywords
like “Kenosha Dentist” and “Dentists in
Kenosha WI”.

15.  Social Networks are a your Window into
the Customers’ World
 The power of the social media can’t be
ignored, so every good dental marketing
plan must encompass presence on major
networks such as Facebook, Twitter or
LinkedIn, in addition to any local networks
and/or industry-specific platforms catering
to the target group. This is an affordable
way to stay in daily contact with the patients
and monitor their attitudes and needs while
also promoting the brand at the same time.

16. Think about the network as an
information era manifestation of the agetested “word-of-mouth” promotion.
By publically announcing their association
with the existing clients, service
providers can gain exposure to other
potential patients who are already
connected through the network.

17. That way, every satisfied customer can
become an active advocate for a
business, which is not all that different
from the way top dentists operate
anyway.
 The only true innovation is the scale –
it’s possible to reach huge audiences in a
very short time when social platforms are
used properly.

18. Advanced-level application of such
platforms can include online customer
service or special offer promotions, but
the key will always remain to include as
many potential customers into the
network of contacts and to keep them
activated at all times.
Social networking alone is rarely an
adequate strategy for stimulation of sales
– it works best when integrated with
other online promotion methods into a
comprehensive campaign.

19.  Targeting New Customers with WellPlaced Contextual Ads
 Small businesses are always cost-aware and
this is where online dental marketing offers
some unique possibilities, namely to pay
only for the ads that actually work. That’s
exactly what Pay-Per-Click (PPC) networks
such as Google Adwords are all about,
empowering a wide range of service
providers to conduct far more aggressive
promo drives without too much concern
about the finances. Money spent on
attracting new business is money well spent.

20. These online ads are smart enough to
automatically target people who are
interested in the type of service listed in
the ad.
The software analyzes actions of online
users and displays the ad only to those
who have a record of accessing related
contents, greatly increasing probability
that the advertisement will be clicked on.

21. With good wording of the ad and a solid
business offer to back up the claims, it is
possible to acquire plenty of new leads
while paying only a fraction of what a
dentist would have to give up for similar
traction in the traditional media.

22. Knowing this, it isn’t too hard to
understand why contextual advertising
platforms often form the core of any
smart dental marketing plan.
Being proactive matters in the grand
scheme, Google Adwords and similar
tools allow for cost-effective use of
company resources to consistently drive
up the revenues.

23. Maintaining Spotless Online
Reputation is Anything but Easy
There are plenty of other ways to interact
with the world through an online
interface and not all of these interactions
will be positive. Dentists must find a way
to manage their public image, responding
to patient’s expectations and demands in
real time.

24. In many instances it even makes sense
for dental companies to hire professional
help from community managers and
online marketing specialists in order to
maximize their chances for sustained
profitability and growth. The competition
is already using this channel to gain an
edge, so it is extremely dangerous to
ignore new prospects made possible by
the advent of online marketing for dental
services.
http://crawfordandobrien.com/