Patient Acquisition for Modern Dental Practices
The dental industry is more competitive than ever. New patients have dozens of options, and they’re making decisions based on online research long before they call your office. Here’s how to ensure they choose your practice.
Google Is Your New Front Door
97% of patients search online before choosing a dentist. Your Google presence — Google Business Profile, website rankings, and reviews — is more important than your office location in determining patient volume.
The Three Pillars of Dental Marketing
1. Google Business Profile
Complete every section. Add photos weekly. Post updates regularly. Generate reviews systematically. Respond to every review within 24 hours. An optimized GBP alone can increase new patient calls by 50-100%.
2. Dental SEO
Rank for the searches your patients make: “dentist near me,” “emergency dentist [city],” “Invisalign [city],” “dental implants [city].” Create dedicated pages for each service and location you serve.
3. Google Ads for Dentists
Google Ads capture patients who need a dentist right now. Emergency dental searches, “accepting new patients” searches, and specific procedure searches all indicate immediate intent. Target these high-value keywords with compelling ad copy and a conversion-optimized landing page.
Social Media for Dental Practices
Before-and-after smile transformations, team culture content, patient education videos, and behind-the-scenes content humanize your practice. Instagram and Facebook are the primary platforms for dental practices.
Measuring Dental Marketing ROI
Track cost per new patient acquisition. If a new patient is worth $3,000-$5,000 in lifetime value and you’re acquiring them for $100-$300, that’s exceptional ROI. Use call tracking to attribute new patient calls to specific marketing channels.
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Specialized healthcare marketing that drives new patients.
