So what can an SSL do to help you?

What is an SSL?

SSL is short for Secure Sockets Layer, which is a level of security between your website files (your website) and the website browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.). The SSL simply protects user information being passed through the website on any browser. The encryption through an SSL certificate ensures safe passage of user information such as names, passwords, credit card information, date of birth, etc.

Why Do You Need an SSL?

Even if you are not collecting information like credit card numbers and authorization through your website, you will need to install an SSL by July of this year. In October, Chrome announced that websites with SSL’s will be given an advantage in the search rankings over sites lacking an SSL. This alone is reason enough to move forward. If that doesn’t convince you, the update expected this summer should. Just last month, another update was announced stating that Chrome will alert the user of sites without SSLs by added a “not secure” message in the URL bar.

Photo Credit: A Secure Web is Here to Stay

The most recent Chrome update seems far worse to me than the anticipated update in July. If your site does not have an SSL you could be losing customers and patients by the minute. This is the messaging currently showing on Chrome for sites without an SSL. You can see how this could negatively impact your business, right? The average user doesn’t know or understand this message and will likely hit the back button on Chrome faster than you can say “secure sockets layer”.

How Do You Install an SSL?

You can install an SSL through your domain registrar. If you are a client with ProDental, please contact your Client Manager to have the SSL installed on your website. There is a $500 install fee which ensures complete SSL certificate installation as well as a comprehensive site security check. SSL’s require annual renewals of $150.

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Before we dive into the advertising options available for social media, we need to address the current state of your social media: Is it updated frequently? Does it contain a good mix of relevant educational material regarding procedures you specialize in mixed with fun posts showing your staff’s team-building exercises? We’ve asked this before, but maybe we should revisit the question: If you visited your practice’s Facebook page today, would you be able to confidently say it tells the story of what you do and who you are? Would patients be motivated to share a link to your Facebook page with a family member or a friend? What would a prospective patient looking for a new dentist discover about you through your social media identity?

With the rise of social media in the business realm, many businesses are now clamoring for attention. With so many creating conversations and content, you need to create a reason for people to want to Like and Follow you. Not only do you need to stand out and provide something your audience wouldn’t have been able to have access to otherwise but you also need to make it engaging.

To truly excel in social media you will need to provide a variety of content that is both interesting and locally relevant to your practice. This takes careful planning and time, as well as a financial commitment either in the hiring of an outside company or through the labor of your own staff.
All that has been accomplished? Great! You have an active social media presence, engaging posts that are both personal and relevant to your brand and you are updating your social media presence frequently and consistently. Now what?

Well-l, here at ProDental Multimedia we can offer several avenues for you to stroll down to increase the traffic to your social media sites and help strengthen brand awareness.

Facebook Timeline Ads

Facebook timeline ads are highly targeted and highly trackable without spending a lot out-of-pocket on internet advertising budget. ProDental Multimedia can demographically target these ads to your desired audience so they are hitting the right age group, right location, etc. These ads – when run adjacent with engaging, recurring posts on your Facebook profile – keep users engaged, showcases your personality as a practice, and are essentially the foundation to building a positive relationship with your new patients.

Facebook Targeted Likes Ads

These ads are designed to increase your following on Facebook by building up your page Likes. You have probably seen these types in your feed already. A post with a bit of information about the business or product with a prominent Like button in the bottom corner. The more of your patients or potential patients that Like this, the more followers you have. And as your page likes increase, your organic reach for your regular posting increases. It builds engagement with a larger and larger audience all the while increasing your brand awareness.

Facebook Remargeting Ads

These are similar to the remarketing ads we had discussed previously. They are designed to re-engage potential patients who have been to your website and weren’t quite ready to commit to booking an appointment. Like remarketing ads, ProDental Multimedia will place a pixel code on your website. When a potential patient, who has visited your website, decides to bounce off to peruse their friends most recent Facebook posts will see your display ads in their timeline.

We have been doing social media for some time now, and throughout the years have come up with interesting campaigns and tactics to jumpstart your social presence and create buzz. Have questions about building better brand awareness? Not sure about how to get the most out of your patient’s social media experience? ProDental Multimedia can help you. Contact us today!

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The good news is: You are not alone. What was once a design format used to ensure a user’s experience stayed the same, no matter which browser used, has been regulated to the same heap as 8-Track players and Gnathoscopes. The better news is, we aren’t here to simply point out your techno-phobia, we have solutions!

As of 2016, ProDental Multimedia only designs responsive websites. These are interactive, responsive sites that do adapt to whatever sized screen your potential patients are viewing it on.  Are they mobile friendly?  You bet!  Are they exactly what your practice needs to be successful?  They sure are.  Can they come in different varieties?  Seems like a leading question…

You have your custom built, responsive website that relates the story of your practice, provides patient education, can be used to make appointments, is mobile friendly and search engine optimized. What you really want now is to showcase a specific procedure or offer. While you could add some additional call-outs to your site, why mess with perfection? There is a better solution.

Like peanut butter to jelly, sugar to tooth-decay or rinsing to spitting, a landing page naturally pairs with a Pay-Per-Click search campaign. These are tailor-made websites designed to promote a special offer or focus attention on a specific procedure. You want more patients signing up for Invisalign? A landing page focusing on this product will help direct those potential patients to this service.  It will provide these patients easy access to information about how you can help, and provide you with the metrics to show the return on your investment.

By setting up a Paid Search campaign utilizing a Landing Page, when leads click on your ad about Invisalign, that is what they will get.  No distractions.  Sure, you took our advice and have a beautiful, custom, responsive website, but with a Landing Page showcasing this one specific topic, we’re dialing these leads straight in to what they are looking for. What you’re looking for.  It’s another perfect pairing.

Unlike full websites that have navigation to include general patient information (i.e. About Us, Patient Forms, education, services, etc.), a landing page normally has 4-5 sections that are anchored from the top navigation on down. All your content is displayed on one page in a clear, concise format that is reflective of your campaign’s specific goal.

And while these landing pages are designed with one specific product in mind, they are also designed with one specific goal: lead conversion. Your ad’s “hot leads” want quick, digestible information that is hyper-relevant to their initial search. They shouldn’t have to wade through numerous pages to find the Contact Us form to submit an appointment request, nor should they be distracted by unrelated content. No distractions from other products equals higher and faster buyer ratings. What the patient wants. What you want. It sounds like another perfect pairing.

But let’s not get distracted solely by the quick conversions and the rapid return on investment. Landing pages still contain heaps of relevant content. Not every potential patient is singularly focused on achieving your dream of a quick conversion from lead to patient. Heightened interest in your practice’s services does not necessarily mean a lack of interest in who you are. There are future patients out there that still want to get to know you a bit better.

A well-made landing page, while showcasing your product and facilitating easy access to it, should also display a bit of what makes your practice unique. ProDental Multimedia designs landing pages to be the hyper-active little-brother of your practice’s website. We take the overall feel and design and distill that into a smaller, more purpose driven vessel. You will still find dentists’ bio’s, pictures of staff and other information that makes your practice unique, but remember, you have a site for that. Where your website is your digital storefront, a landing page is the big neon sign overlooking the highway, calling attention to itself and you.

What are the key components of an effective landing page?

    A Clear Callout: One that mirrors the goal of your campaign.
    An Intake Form: Name, email, and phone number are all you need.
    Relevant, Digestible Content: Concise and on-point information relevant to the campaign.
    An Informative Video: A quick patient testimonial or 30-second description of the procedure.
    Information about the Practice and/or Doctor: These leads want to know a little bit about the practice, too.
    Lifestyle Images: Choose images that reflect your town, common hobbies of your patients, or the current time of year.

Another salient point: A landing page is its own site. In addition to be the pipeline used to funnel leads to your practice, by their very nature, landing pages rank high in organic search results.  And a well-made, well designed landing page? Google rewards high-quality campaigns with a higher average ad position and a lower cost-per-click! With a dedicated, relevant landing page, your campaign’s Quality Score (A value that takes into account your ad’s click-through-rate, ad relevancy, keywords, budget, landing page quality, account history, and overall ad performance) will shine. Save money and make more patients.

To summarize, a landing page is a unique, targeted one-page website that is designed to convert your leads into patients. They are used alongside online advertising campaigns such as your Pay-Per-Click search campaign or Facebook timeline ad. At ProDental, we believe a landing page is the soul behind your paid search campaign’s return on investment.

The post Responsive Websites: Landing Pages appeared first on ProDental Web Design.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that a cookie cutter approach eliminates a huge opportunity to showcase your practice to both existing and prospective patients. When people see the same stock photographs and read the same generic content, everything else bright and unique about your practice fades. The lost opportunity to communicate and connect as a distinct business and not as part of an industry is immeasurable…

…except it’s really not.  It’s simple math and mainly subtraction.  And while your financial state may also be something that makes you unique, there is universality to the simple reality of: a lost patient equals lost revenue.

Investing some time and resources into brand development and the customization of your multimedia presence can have a huge impact on the value of your business and its ability to retain and attract patients.  Shake off the cocoon of the quick and easy.  Spread your wings and let your practice become the beautiful butterfly it was always meant to be.

What is Branding?

Branding is a fundamental way for companies of all sizes to build value in their product. A strong brand provides your business with value by operating as an experience, as opposed to just a trademark.  Whether you are a small, local practice or an international auto manufacturer, branding is how you get your current and future clients to associate your value with your service.

Branding goes far beyond a graphic component or a reputable logo – when you create your brand, you need to consider the entire patient encounter, including website, social media, and your employees. Essentially, your brand is the way your patient perceives you and the experience they have with your business. Branding promotes recognition, which is crucial as people have a tendency to do business with companies they are more familiar with. If your branding is recognizable and a consistently enjoyable experience, it will help patients feel more comfortable visiting your practice.

It is important to remember that your brand represents your company in every aspect, from your staff to your marketing materials. It helps you create a perspective of clarity and stay focused on your goals, mission, and vision as an organization. The full brand experience tells your patients about the kind of business that you are, which means you want to be telling the right story about your company.

Branding and Your Marketing Strategy

Brands act as a strategic guide to marketing efforts, which ends up saving your business time and money in the long run. Marketing is what you use to get your brand in front of potential patients.

One of the easiest ways to boost your branding is through online marketing – utilizing your website and social media platforms is the simplest way to show patients the voice of your company. A powerful brand is essential in generating referrals or viral traffic.  If you want people to recognize your practice and have an emotional connection to their experience with you, let them see the personality of your practice by utilizing the infinitely customizable opportunities found via online marketing.

In previous blogs, we’ve discussed ways to promote brand visibility through online marketing.  If you haven’t read it, let me refer you back to the article about Remarketing.  Remarketing is one of the many methods to keep your practice top-of-mind online.   From running ads utilizing Google’s Display network; building-up your social media presence and keeping it active and engaging; to creating an educational blog that also promotes your business (a personal favorite), branding can take many forms.  Developing and customizing your brand identity is the first step in an ongoing process of maximizing the impact of the comprehensive marketing strategy necessary to meet your practice growth goals in today’s dental market. 

At ProDental Multimedia, we specialize in creating branding campaigns that run the whole spectrum of digital media to ensure our clients stand out from the crowd.  By using a mix of strategic display ads and a meaningful social media identity you too can craft a customized brand that builds and sustains the relationship you have with existing patients.  And by spreading your wings you can create one that is also highly attractive to new ones.

The post Branding that Sets you Apart appeared first on ProDental Web Design.

And now?

Odds are, you are reading this blog from the deck of majestic ocean-going vessel.

What was that all about? Other than taking some well-deserved vacation days, you experienced one of the newer miracles of online marketing known as remarketing.

What is remarketing and why is it important?

Remarketing, also known as retargeting or when in formal settings: Behavioral Marketing, is a method of Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising that allows you to target users who have visited your website, or even specific pages on your website, in the past. Combined with a custom landing page, which helps track the traffic, it is an excellent way to re-engage users while building brand awareness and increasing your conversion rates. With remarketing, you can tailor your ad with a special message or even provide an offer to users who have visited particular pages on your website.

Remarketing tools allow you to place limits as to how often the ad is seen, the period of time the ad will show and the geographical locations where the ad will appear.

How does it work?

Remarketing uses a special tracking code to place website cookies in the computer of people visiting your website. It then serves ads to those with that cookie, specifically, on the Display network. You can then adjust the frequency and the duration of those ads to meet your needs. So, once a potential patient has visited your site, even a few days later they can still be reminded of and encouraged to come back to your site.  Remarketing combines the best of both Search and Display services. Although remarketing relies on Google’s Display Network to present image and text-based ads, the people who see them have already shown an interest in your practice or service through search. Knowing this, you can greet them with a specialized offer or message to get them back to your website. As with the Display Network, remarketing ad clicks tend to be far cheaper.

Why is remarketing important?

Remarketing is especially important when we consider the life cycle of a potential lead. Perhaps when they first looked up information on your website, they were in the research and discovery process. With remarketing, you now have the ability to get the attention of this potential lead by placing your ad in front of them as they browse the web. This doesn’t just build brand awareness, it reinforces it by keeping your practice top of mind as your future lead browses the web. Serving this potential lead a unique and engaging message based on their interest will further help you bring them in the door. This cannot be done with any other type of marketing.

If I’m already doing AdWords – should I stop?

The short answer is no. Remarketing is a great companion for traditional AdWords campaigns. As mentioned above, remarketing should be seen as a key branding tool that can enhance your current marketing endeavors.  For example: someone in your geographical target may search “Teeth Whitening Services” and see one of your ads. They click the ad and do some research but decide they’re not quite ready to commit. This is when remarketing is most powerful. Someone has actively shown an interest in a service you offer, and has seen your website – now is the best time to re-engage these users by reminding them of their interest in the services you provide.  By reminding them of you!

If you would like to learn more about remarketing, its pricing, and how it could help your practice, ProDental Multimedia is here to help.

The post Remain Relevant With Remarketing appeared first on ProDental Web Design.

Wait!  Before you grab your dental kit, don your smock and knot your laces to rush out to find them, perhaps there is a better way…maybe they can find you!

While 20 years ago, potential patients would strength train by heaving open their yellow-pages to conduct a search for a dental provider, times have changed.  Most likely your future patients will be honing their digital dexterity by doing their search online.  What are they going to find?  A lot of that depends on you.

Building an eye catching, user-friendly, responsive website is just the start when it comes to being found on the internet. You’ve spent all this time, money and resources to make your website engaging to visitors, don’t simply abandon it to the wilds with the hope someone will stumble across it.

Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) and You!

When it comes to being found on the internet, we are talking about internet search results.    While there are a variety of search engines to choose from, when it comes to market share, Google is the clear winner.  As of June 2017, 79.45% of all searches are done through Google (netmarketshare.com).  So, let’s focus on them.

The first thing to talk about is the Organic Search results.  That’s the bit on Google below the Ads, and below the maps.  There are quite a few different factors that Google looks at in order to rank and display your website.  Is there traffic coming to the site, is the site modern, does the site contain content that is pertinent to the search? And Content is key.  Original content is even key-er.  We here at ProDental Multimedia have staff solely dedicated to writing original content for sites because original, relevant content is a deciding factor of how your site will rank.   Writing original content, refreshing what is on the site, all things that you can do if you put your mind to it.  That is why Organic SEO is extremely important and the most commonly known aspect of SEO. And while it can often take weeks or even months for your hard work to start making a difference in your site’s ranking, it will take far longer if you leave your website alone in the wilds of the internet.

To help strengthen your SEO results and get you to the first page of search results sooner, it is critical to branch out into other avenues of online marketing to help people find you and your brand. Two often overlooked areas are local search and social media. Tying all of these aspects back to your website boosts your page rank significantly and gives you a wider more unified online presence. Local search ties your business to an actual physical location and allows searchers to find the localized business they are searching for. Well known for the little red balloon that draws the eye to the address and phone number of a business, this feature of Google has been swallowing up phone books ever since its inception.

The Social Media Experience

Social media should be an obvious choice, particularly if you are marketing to a younger generation. And let’s face it, teeth are important and each successive generation seems to have them.  The social media experience has become expected from consumers of today regardless of generation. Reports show that on average, people are spending nearly 2 hours a day on social media sites (January 2017 socialmediatoday.com).  That is a significant portion of their day spent in a medium designed to feed them information about goods and services they need.  Shouldn’t they be learning about you?

Not only is social media a good way to engage and interact with your consumers, but it also gives them a reason to come back again and again. Additionally, Google is now looking at the social signals your brand is involved in. The more likes, shares and comments your Facebook page contain, the greater effect it will have on your page’s rank for your practice’s website.  These aspects of SEO are necessary to get you to the first page of search engine results and keep you there.

Ranking Number One with Paid Search

So you understand the importance of organic search and social media, but you want your website to have value and be found right now. What can you do to get found instantly as you are building this SEO powerhouse of a website? One way to ensure you show up-top is to run a paid search campaign (also known as PPC). These are the searches at the top of Google with a green box that literally says “ad”.  Google AdWords campaigns are a fantastic way to get you instantly noticed because you are paying to be found.  Sure, once you stop paying for your campaign you will no longer be at the very top of the AdWords section of search, but hopefully in the meantime you’ve built up your organic, local search and social media campaigns so you’re on the first page for many of the terms you wish to be found for. Additionally, paid search gives you the benefit of showing up for places you aren’t physically located at to reach a bigger audience with your marketing campaign or even focus your marketing on specific locations and people.  All of this compliments your ongoing SEO and social media efforts.

These are the best ways to get yourself found.  If you can do a structured and strategic mix of these different items, you will eventually find your website climbing its way to the top of search engines’ results.  Along the way, should you have any questions or need some help, give us a call at 207-887-2204, we’d be happy to help.

The post Being Found Online appeared first on ProDental Web Design.

And then there are the other websites and that 5th dentist.

I’m sure in your travels through the internet you’ve come across one: the vacant, boarded up look of an outdated website. As website specialists and dental enthusiast ourselves, these ugly old things make us cringe for multiple reasons. A website that may have been top-notch just three years ago can have features that now look outdated, that don’t provide accurate information, that aren’t converting patients as well as current offerings, and (for older websites) could be turning away traffic to the competition.

An old website can hurt your business. Think of it as curb appeal for the modern age, but with higher informational expectations – after all, what other reason is there to visit a business’ website than to access services or garner more information about those services? Despite the adage “don’t judge a book by its cover”, we all know the reality: We do judge a book by its cover…and we lie about flossing. According to a study by PEW Research Institute, 78% of consumers research a product or service online before deciding on their purchase.

Below are some surprising (or maybe not-so-surprising) ways that your website can impact consumer perception, and how it may be making your visitors perceive your business.

1. Inaccurate or Outdated Information Equals a Poor Customer Experience

Most brick-and-mortar shops excel at having signs that correctly display their business’ name, advertisements that accurately list their street address and goods in the window that reflect what they actually sell. Shouldn’t your website do the same? A website is an extension of your business – potential consumers visit your website with the sole intention of learning more about your services, philosophies, and how you can be accessed.

If the information provided on your website is inaccurate, consumers can take this as a reflection of poor customer service, incompetence or just outright laziness. Serious red flags in this area include incorrect addresses, phone numbers, outdated forms, listing employees that no longer work at your practice, and listing services that are inaccurate.

Outdated information on a website is simply not an option in today’s technology driven world. Your users expect accuracy and ease of access to the information they need.

2. You Don’t Want Your Business perceived as Complacent, Do You?

Having an outdated website can speak volumes, such as “I don’t care to do more than the minimum” or “We just aren’t successful enough to compete”. It’s harsh, but real examples of how outdated websites can impact consumer perceptions. If you think that just having a website is sufficient and disregard the user’s experience, this can create assumptions that the business itself is managed similarly in practice.

According to one study, conducted by oneupweb, 76.5% of people state that their purchase decisions are impacted by a site looking ‘credible and trustworthy’, which was directly affiliated with having a clean and professional design.

3. Mobile Friendly is a Must!

Yes, even the medical field can be affected by trends and the perception of being hip or not being hip enough – especially in practices dependent on cosmetic surgeries. But let’s remember, advancements in technology aren’t simply trends, they are advancements. Much like fire and the wheel, mobile phone technology doesn’t seem to be a passing craze.

If your site is ugly or just really outdated, chances are the millennial demographic (or any demographic, for that matter) sees this as an indication that the business is not with the times or lacks a good understanding of modern business practices. But then if they can not even access it from a mobile device?  Yikes.  However, no access could be better than if they can access an outdated site that is nearly illegible without a lot of pinching and zooming.

Traffic from mobile devices makes up more than 40% of the users of our websites. Not being mobile friendly or simply being inaccessible on a mobile device makes a business seem negligent towards a large chunk of their current clients. And for potential clients? Chances are you won’t be getting feedback from them at all.

4. Your Business is a Winner!

People like winners. You know what The Little Engine that Could, George Washington and Rocky have in common? They believed in themselves, they worked hard and they were winners. Sure, technically Rocky lost his first fight, but he came back and won in Rocky II and by Rocky IV he was ending the Cold War. What I’m saying is: People are far more likely to support a business that believes in itself.

Business narcissism (without getting too carried away) is key – do you want good things for your practice? Does your practice deserve to be recognized as the best? Do you believe in your message and your brand? Sure you do! A beautiful, modern website is a way to prove to your potential clients and existing patients that you are willing to invest in what is best for your business. You believe in putting your best face forward. So, get your staff involved in updating and maintaining the website! Keep up to date on your social media postings. Write a blog! These actions showcase your determination to be the best.

5. First Impressions…

Let’s tie the other 4 points together and wrap this up. You make sure your brick and mortar practice looks nice because a good first impression will lead to second impressions. Doesn’t it seem reasonable that clients would expect a beautiful, modern, updated and user-friendly website as well? For a lot of folks, their online experience will be their first impression. Its common sense then to invest in your digital storefront like you would your physical storefront. It says that you care about what people think of your practice. That you’re not complacent. That you believe in yourself!

Call us biased (we live for beautiful website design!), but countless consumer studies show the above to be major factors in consumer perception and purchasing habits. ProDental Multimedia is one of the medical industry’s leading website design and marketing companies – if your website is outdated, it may be time to give us a call.

The post Updating Your Online Presence appeared first on ProDental Web Design.

Well … no. Let me clarify. We talk about Google a lot here at ProDental Multimedia. Maybe you’ve heard us say, “Google likes this”, or “Google doesn’t like that”. You’ve probably even someone say: “it’s Google’s sandbox, and we’re all just playing in it.” We spend a lot of time discussing and monitoring how Google works because it far outranks any other search tool. Chances are, your patients and prospects are searching for their medical needs using this behemoth of a search engine so we’ve learned a lot, and there’s one thing we know for sure: Google loves a blog. If you aren’t using a blog, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity not only to personify your practice, but to boost your rankings and online visibility.

Here are five reasons why a blog is yet another weapon in your practice’s arsenal ready to boost rankings and push past that pesky competitor:

Reason #1: Your Content Just Might need Some Polish

Is your website just how you want it? Have you outlined the ins-and-outs of each procedure, perfected your dentist’s bios and the verbiage of your technology page is just wonderful? Well, as good as it feels to have your web content just right, if you have stopped updating your pages, Google may see this as you neglecting your site.

We know that’s not the case so you have to show them otherwise. That is where a blog comes in. Google loves to see fresh content on websites, and blogs are an easy way to show Google that you are making updates. By posting the occasional blog to your site (we recommend about two per month), search engines see that you are maintaining your website and keeping it current. Even just one blog page goes a long way! Content is king to search engines and blogging could be the small factor that your competitors aren’t paying mind to.

Reason #2: A Keyword That Just Isn’t Ranking Well

Rankings change all the time. Did a term you care about just drop a few spots? Search engine algorithm changes, what your competitors are doing, and what you are doing are just some examples of what can make a ranking change. If your competitor starts pushing to rank for Invisalign, that term may go up for them… and when someone goes up, someone else has to go down. This is where blogs can help. If you want to push your ranking back up, blogs are a great resource to write keyword rich content that can begin to increase (or further solidify) your website’s ranking position. A few articles about the benefits of Invisalign, Invisalign features, or testimonials from patients whose lives (or teeth) have changed thanks to Invisalign treatment, and you just may see blogs making a difference in your website’s visibility. As simple as it sounds: Blogs are the keyword tool you’ve been hoping for.

Reason #3: Social Media is Trending.

Another thing Google loves? Algorithms. But pertinent to this Blog: Social media. The more social signals coming to your website from sites like Facebook or Twitter, the better your ranking potential. With ProDental’s social media packages, you can automatically feed your blog articles to Facebook or Twitter. This vastly increases the visibility of your posts, catching more readers, and bringing increased traffic to your website (and of course, traffic to your website is great for rankings). If you have a well-designed website, a funny thing happens once people are directed to your site: they start looking around. Someone may see an interesting blog article on Facebook, and next thing they know, they’re reading about your services and maybe even thinking about booking an appointment! The capacity to feed your blogs to social media vastly increases your chances of getting prospective patients right where you want them: on your website.

Reason #4: You’ve Got Personality, and Patients Like That.

I bet your practice is quirky, your employees are friendly, and what’s more, outside the office, you have lives. You aren’t just members of the community, you are Active Members of the Community. It was you that held that huge charity, wasn’t it? I heard people loved that. So why wouldn’t you share that!? Let the world know what you and your co-workers are up to beyond your dental prowess. Blogs are a method of communication that give you control over how you are perceived. If you are able to keep readers engaged, you are keeping readers on your site. This helps your rankings by increasing the amount of time that people spend on your website. Page view duration is yet another factor that search engines take very seriously.
Everyone loves a business with personality, a story, a likable staff and community involvement. A blog is a perfect way to brand your practice and show the community that it’s not just “business as usual” at your location. Post pictures of a baby shower, share your involvement with charity, celebrate your victories in the community! And where better to showcase this?

I’m hoping you said: by posting a blog.

Reason #5: We Can Do the Work for You.

Did you know that ProDental is the leader in internet marketing and web design? You’re at #5 in this blog article so I hope we haven’t been too subtle regarding this point. This is what we do. Our coders will make your blog custom, coding and designing it to match and fit with the look and feel of your website. Our blog system even provides you tools to ensure that you’re tagging the correct terms you want the article to help rank for. Once the blog module is live on your site, we give you options. It’s your property, so of course we can show you how to use the system and post your own blog articles at your discretion.  That said, we also understand that at a lot of dental practices, it’s far too busy to even think about your blog, let alone write a full-fletched blog article. Thankfully, we have Social Media experts that can do the work for you. Our social media plans allow you to decide; we can do scheduled postings twice a month (or more) in some packages, or we can post “per diem” articles at your discretion.

In Conclusion: Just like getting folks to floss regularly, it takes persistence. There is no one thing that works for solidifying your practice at the top of ranking results, but we’ve found that getting there takes a multi-pronged approach. While blogs can’t do everything, in our experience at ProDental Multimedia we’ve found them to be an approachable tool to help with SEO and a great method of boosting engagement. Have questions? Call us. It’s time to talk about blogging.

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Excel at What You Do…

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Being good at your job is its own reward. Consider this: if every person in your practice excels at what they do, the rest (for the most part) will simply take care of itself. A nice bedside manner is still important, but from a patient’s perspective being qualified is more so.
When you excel at your job, word gets around. Those that excel are celebrated and become naturally discussed. There is very little marketing needed for the excellent, it simply lives a life of its own. So, strive to be consistently excellent at your job but know that, in reality, this is difficult to do day-in and day-out. Strive for it, but also be realistic and recognize that you just might not be excellent 100% of the time.

…and Be Nice while Doing it.

Excelling at your profession will help minimize customer complaints but so will a pleasant demeanor and a friendly and understanding attitude. While not all patients will blossom under the shine of your radiant smile, you can bet that some would wilt under a stern and stoic manner no matter how you excel. Those patients, already nervous about sitting in your chair, could certainly use a friendly face; those patients, already having a bad day, may be looking for someone to take it out on.

So, smile and at least minimize the reasons why someone would take their bad day out on you via a negative review.

Be Aware of Your Online Reputation…

Your patients are talking about you online. Do you know what they are saying? Most practices simply do not take the time to investigate what their online reputations look like. Once they start, they might see issues right away and wish they had started sooner.

Here’s a common scenario: A practice decides to search for themselves online. They soon come across a couple of the more popular review sites, right there on page one of their search. Unfortunately, their profiles that populate on these popular review sites contain some unflattering reviews about their practice or the individual doctor. Worse still, these comments may have been online for months without any response from the practice. This has allowed multiple potential patients to see a very one-sided, and negative, version of the practice.

Do you often provide business to companies with a large number of negative reviews? Even though the reviews you read are from strangers, you probably pass on those establishments and take your business elsewhere. So what is to be done?

…and Respond to it!

Had you known of a negative review right away you could have worked with that patient to resolve their issue. Engaging immediately with a dissatisfied patient often changes their opinion of you. That works with negative online reviews too! This can lead to the reviewer changing or removing the negative post. At the very least, you can post a public response that advises the way the reviewer feels they were treated is not at all how you wish to run your practice. This online response goes a long way towards influencing the next person who sees that review. If you take the time to respond professionally to criticism it shows you care and want the best for your patients.

You know how to deal with the negative reviews, so let’s get some positive feedback… online!

Implement Reputation Management Software

There has been a recent uptick in the number of dashboards and programs that can assist with the process of getting your patients to provide feedback. Many do this with simple emailed requests and then house the feedback on their own sites. Others do it so the feedback can potentially go on the highly valued review sites themselves. The latter is the preferred method as people do go to actual review sites to research your practice.

Some of these programs are complicated. Some of these programs are expensive, while others offer limited functionality. We have done research and found what we feel is the best option for dental practices. Because of our research, ProDental has partnered with MDidentity to bring this functionality to you and we strongly encourage you to think very seriously about investing in a reputation management platform. Without a clear and easy system in place for your patients to provide feedback and reviews, you are losing out on the ability to maintain and build your online reputation.

Care About the Issues that Your Patients are Complaining About!

It is very important to know what people are saying about you and understand how your patients feel about the time they spend with you. You might think you’re doing an excellent job, day-in and day-out, but then discover that this is not necessarily what your patients think.
A common example: You might feel that the video you paid a lot of money for that is running in the waiting area is highly informative and a great addition to your office. Your patients, however, may feel otherwise.

It is not uncommon for the environment of an office to be viewed from two completely different viewpoints: yours and theirs. There is an obvious disconnect and your patients are telling you where to find it. Be aware of it, adapt and change. Your patients will tell you exactly how they feel about their experiences with you, your staff and the overall environment. Listen and be aware of what they are telling you.

Showcase Your Humanity not your Technology

Believe it or not, your existing and potential patients want to see the human side of your practice. They want to see you (plural) as people. While you might be the best dentist, hygienist, practice administrator or receptionist in the area, they want to see you as human and the office should reflect that desire.

Showcasing your skill is wonderful but showcasing your humanity is far better. People respond to discussions of what the office did last week far more than they do about the technical aspects of dentistry or what new piece of equipment you have installed. Posts and discussions like “Becky celebrated her 10-year work anniversary on Wednesday” or “Mike ran the 5k for Breast Cancer Awareness and raised $2,500” get far more engagement than a technical post on the latest advances in oral care. Remember: your patients are coming to you because you are a professional. They want you to be amazing at your job. They expect you to be up on all the latest technology and trends for your profession; but, they also want to know that you are a caring, fun and compassionate person. They want to spend time with you, so show them how amazing that time is going to be.
This might seem daunting at first but it’s actually quite simple.

The items discussed above can propel a practice into being the most amazing practice they can be. So: strive to excel both professionally and personally; showcase your humanity; know and respond to what people are saying about you; and, ask for and respond to feedback. See? Easy as brushing your teeth.

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It’s 2017 and everyone is on social media. What began as a platform primarily used to see what your gym class buddy was up to is now a conglomerate of worldwide content-sharing networks. Social media allows us to discover current events, political happenings, pop culture trends and fads, how-to guides; the best new artist, the biggest breakout invention; that video, that discount, that recipe. If you’re not on social media, you are simply missing out. We offer free consultations so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to give us a call at 207-887-2204 or CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

“…But how do we use social media in the dental industry?”

Glacial Multimedia has expanded into the world of dentistry with our new division Prodental Multimedia expressly to answer this question for you. Every business has to approach social media differently, of course, depending on their niche and relationship with patients, guests, customers, or clients. Even so, interacting with your audience is easy if you recognize, at the core of this connection, are the value of trust and the feeling of a friendship. They are entrusting their teeth, their smile and their health to you. Patients follow their dental practice online for the friendship and the content you share there builds their connection and their trust. And if you think this social media presence is inconsequential to your business think again!

Here are four building blocks to grow patients’ trust and cultivate their friendship:

1. Personification. Your patients see every part of the process – from the front desk staff, hygeinists, to the dentist, and scheduling administrator. They experience everyone on the team. Use social media to showcase your personality, your mission, your brand, your staff, and individual employees. Post about birthdays, holiday parties, new hires, anything  to remind patients, especially prospective patients, that you are all humans.
2. Staying “in the know”. What is happening in your town? Are you connecting with locals? Are you collaborating with other businesses? Stay a current, active member of your community – this resonates with patients.
3. Educating. Use social media to educate patients before their appointment which saves time in the long run. Keep them interested and curious about what you offer. Choose a new disease, service, technology, common problem like flossing, or surgery each month that you want to focus on. What are the symptoms? Treatments? Causes? Myth vs. facts? Proper usage?
4. Offering. Give patients an initial incentive to follow you on social media. Offer themed promotions to be used as an ad campaign. Join forces with the Red Cross to host a blood drive, and enter each donor into a drawing to receive free teeth whitening! Start a promotional campaign available to only those who follow or like your page.

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