Promoting the Hottest Trends in Dentistry with Grace Rizza of Identity Dental Marketing
Across the dental industry, competition is growing — and there is no slowdown in sight. In fact, the American Dental Association projects that the dentist workforce in the U.S. will increase through 2037 due to an influx of new and more diverse dentists. Ultimately, this means that dentists need to be on the leading edge when it comes to delivering innovative services and solutions that their patients require and expect.
We talked to Grace Rizza, the founder of leading dental marketing firm Identity Dental Marketing, to discuss four hot trends that dentists should likely have in their practice — or at least, on their radar screens — so they can stay ahead of the curve and avoid the risk of falling behind:
3D Printing
3D printing technologies aren’t just changing the dental industry — in some respects, they’re revolutionizing it. For example, 3D printing is already being used to replace and repair damaged teeth, build accurate orthodontic models, create a wide range of dental implants (e.g. crowns, bridges, dentures, caps, and more), and fashion the drill guides needed for certain dental procedures. And this is just the beginning: the 3D printing market in the dental industry alone is estimated to reach a whopping $3.1 billion by the year 2020.
Identity Dental Marketing, a marketing firm that provides end-to-end digital and offline marketing services for dentists around the world believes that 3D printing has the potential to dramatically lower costs for both dentists and patients. At the same time, it enables dentists to provide faster and better service to more patients, which ultimately boosts revenues and patient satisfaction.
Customized, Interactive, and Mobile-Friendly Websites
There was a time when most dental websites were generic, template “cookie cutter” creations that essentially differed only in the practice name and contact details. In many cases, dentists competing in the same marketplace for the same patients even used the same stock photos. Well, that time is over!
Today, an increasing number of quality, profitable patients — especially millennials — are paying very close attention to what they encounter on dental websites. Specifically, they’re looking for evidence of thoughtful leadership, patient-centric policies, online tools (e.g. scheduling an appointment, sending and receiving documents, etc.), and original content such as blog posts, articles, and eBooks that don’t try and sell them anything, but instead educate them so they can ask intelligent questions and make informed decisions. And just as importantly, patients are looking to see who they’ll be meeting if they decide to book an appointment. They want to see high resolution photos, read bios, and watch videos from any device — desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Identity Dental Marketing explains that there are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to the dental office and staff photos. For example, hiring a professional photographer is a must, and updating photos once a year is also important. Having professional photographs is a very simple first step to having a more reputable webpage.
Optimizing Facebook for Patient Acquisition and Engagement
By now, most (if not all) dentists have a Facebook page. However, most of these are not being used to their full potential to acquire profitable new patients, keep existing patients engaged and, on the roster or enhance and extend a practice’s brand throughout the marketplace.
Identity Dental Marketing has a Facebook for Dentists FAQ on their website because Facebook gives dentists a convenient and extremely cost-effective way to connect with patients beyond the office — and in some cases, within the office as patients launch their tablet or smartphone and surf while they’re waiting for their appointment. However, social media strategies and tactics that work for retail companies and in the B2B space don’t necessarily translate into the dental sector. There are some key adjustments to make and different paradigms and approaches to use. Simply put, dental marketing isn’t like other kinds of marketing, which is why we specialize in the area.
Elevating the In-Practice Patient Experience
Last but certainly not least, the “old school” model of dental offices as somewhat cramped, uncomfortable spaces complete with flickering fluorescents lights and worn-out PEOPLE Magazines from decades past is no longer the status quo. In its place are sleek, stylish, spa-like modern practice environments that feature flat-screen TVs, video games systems for kids, fast wi-fi access (and plenty of outlets and USB ports for charging), hot and cold beverage stations, LED lighting, comfortable seating, and more.
Dentists need to appreciate that today’s patients aren’t just looking for competent dental services and solutions. They want to build relationships with practices that are progressive and patient-centric and are clearly sending the message that regardless of their previous successes, their best days are ahead. Elevating the in-practice patient experience and making the waiting room environment an asset is a critical part of this profitable long-term strategy.