4 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Dental Practice’s Online Presence in 2022
Need a New Year's resolution? The new year is a great time to try brushing up your practice’s online presence.
From websites and social media, to automated appointment reminder software, patients are increasingly looking to digital and online tools for the most recent information — and that includes oral health and their dentist! In fact, according to Dental Economics, 97% of patients prefer to go to a dentist's website rather than call the office for information. This has become especially important over the last year, as office hours and policies may change frequently during the pandemic.
Whether you already have a strong online presence, or are just getting started, there are simple things you can do to make sure your patients can find and engage with you online.
1 - Do a Website Check-up
Making sure your website and other online channels are up to date with important information is crucial to keeping your patients engaged. You want to make sure that your patients know who you are and how to find you. They want their questions answered as quickly and easily as possible, so keep everything they need to know accessible, ideally at the top of your home page.
- • Make sure your information is up to date. Contact information and hours are the most important to keep up to date. Updated policies and procedures related to COVID protocols should be prominent and easy to find. Other information that may change and need a refresh includes any changes to team members or their bios, or new services offered.
- • Check for broken links. Is any of the information on your website out of date, or does it include links that have expired or no longer work? The new year is a good time to go through your website content and double check.
- • Don’t have a website? Don’t stress! You can find many simple, templated “website builders” that are affordable and easy to use. Most only require you to choose a template and type in whatever information you want to include.
For more information on updating your website, check out our blog: Does Your Dental Practice's Website Need a Checkup?
2 - Get Social
Social media is a great tool to engage with your patients and your community. Facebook is a good place to start, as it is considered the most widely used platform and tends to be one of the first places people look for more information. If you’re already on social media, take a minute to look at what’s working and the content your patients are engaging with to improve your accessibility and presence. If it’s not working, try something new! Here are some ideas for content to share:
- • Post any changes to hours or policies/procedures.
- • Share updates on new team members – include a photo!
- • Highlight new services available.
Investing in your social media presence makes your practice human and approachable. It builds your relationship and contact with patients between visits, and is a chance to integrate yourself in your community. You can also remind patients during their visits to follow you on social media, letting them know it’s the best place to get timely updates to hours and services.
(Pro tip: make sure your social media is also linked on your website!)
3 - Take Advantage of Email
Email is a great way to connect with your patients and provide them with important information that directly impacts their care, from appointment reminders to service updates. Consider using an email newsletter with regular updates to keep your patients informed about your practice. There are many templates available online that serve as a great starting point for what to include. Having consistent email communication can be beneficial for patients looking for appointment reminders or even general oral health tips. It’s also an important tool for patients to understand the most current protocols during the pandemic, so they know what to expect and come in prepared and more likely to have a positive experience during their visit.
4 - Consider “Automated Appointment Reminder Software”
Most people are looking for information on-the-go these days, and are using their phones to keep track of everything in their lives. To be extra accessible to your patients and make sure they make – and keep! – their appointments, consider adopting “Automated Appointment Reminder Software” technology to allow patients to make appointments online. Your patients may also prefer to get reminders via text message. Some “Automated Appointment Reminder Software” tools even send a text that allows someone to automatically add their appointment to their calendar. The easier it is to make an appointment, the easier it is to make sure your patients are getting the oral health care they need. There are many software options available that integrate online scheduling with your business – resolve to check them out this year!