Tag

dental practice marketing

Blog

Tools for Dentists: Sample Press Release Templates

by Naomi Cooper September 22, 2013

Tools for Dentists: Sample Press Release TemplatesOne of the most common questions I get when one of my clients is in the process of planning a big announcement, such as a practice grand opening, a practice website launch or a new practice logo is, “How do we tell our community about this exciting news?”

When it comes to alerting the community at large about the practice’s news, a news release (also known as a press release) is the best format – it can be sent to local newspapers, magazines, websites, radio & TV stations and serves as a standard format for communicating to the media. For a sample dental practice news release template, scroll down and of course, and feel free to copy and paste for your individual use.

1. Sample template for a New Practice Grand Opening:

<<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING

Local dentist, <<DENTIST(S)NAME>>, announces the opening of <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> to provide area patients with top-notch quality dental care

<<CITYNAME>> – <<DATE>> <<DENTISTNAME>> is proud to announce the official opening of <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> at <<PRACTICEADDRESS>>. The mission of the practice is to provide the local <<CITY/NEIGHBORHOODNAME>> community with high quality dental care with a specific focus and attention to patients.

<<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> is a <<SPECIALTY>> practice, specializing in the <<SERVICESOFFERED>>,” says <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> founder, <<DENTISTNAME>>.  “To celebrate our grand opening, we are hosting an Open House on <<DATE>> from <<TIME>>. We invite our patients, friends, neighbors and colleagues to stop by our practice, meet our team and familiarize themselves with the new location.”

Founded in <<INSERTYEAR>> by oral health expert, <<DENTISTNAME>>, <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> works to enhance the overall health of the local community through each and every patient, and always welcomes new patients.

About <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>>  & Founder, <<DENTISTNAME>>

Insert Bio here. Consider including the following information:

– Year practice was founded and/or length of time the practice has been in operation

– Relevant school experience

– Location of the practice / contact information

– Link to practice website / blog / social media profiles

 ###

2. Sample template for a Dental Practice Website Launch:

<<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> LAUNCHES NEW PRACTICE WEBSITE

Local dentist, <<DENTIST(S)NAME>>, to provide the latest news and updates in the oral health industry to patients and the greater community at large

<<CITYNAME>> – <<DATE>> <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> is proud to announce the official launch of its new website at <<HYPERLINKWEBSITEADDRESS>>. Geared toward current patients and the local community, this website and blog will feature the latest dental industry news and trends as well as insightful commentary with a particular focus on building and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.

“The goal of <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>>’s new website is to serve as an online resource where patients, neighbors and fellow dentists can turn to for up-to-the-minute information and advice for all their oral health needs,” says <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> founder, <<DENTISTNAME>>. “ We aim to produce original content of interest to our patients, colleagues and the local community who are committed to learning more about the importance of good oral health habits, while having the opportunity to familiarize our practice with the community at large.”

Founded in <<INSERTYEAR>> by oral health expert, <<DENTISTNAME>>, <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> has become recognized in the local community for high quality dentistry with a special focus on patients. <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> works to enhance the overall health of the local community through each and every patient, and always welcomes new patients.

About <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>>  & Founder, <<DENTISTNAME>>

Insert Bio here. Consider including the following information:

– Year practice was founded and/or length of time the practice has been in operation

– Relevant school experience

– Location of the practice / contact information

– Link to practice website / blog / social media profiles

 ###

 

Blog

Tools for Dentists: Sample Email Templates

by Naomi Cooper September 22, 2013

Tools for Dentists: Sample Email TemplatesOne of the most common questions I get when one of my clients is in the process of planning a big announcement, such as a practice grand opening, a practice website launch is, “How do we tell our community about this exciting news?”

For practices that have over 60-70% of their patients’ email addresses and an automated patient communication system, I definitely recommend communicating news to existing patients via email whenever possible – sending an email blast via these methods is free and can be quite effective! However, for practices that are still using traditional postcard reminders and/or haven’t converted to electronic communication, a traditional letter on practice letterhead also works very well. Scroll down for a sample patient email/letter templates announcing practice news and feel free to copy and paste for your own use.

1. Email blast for New Practice Grand Opening

Email Subject Line: <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> Grand Opening!

Greetings!

We are happy to announce the official opening of <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>>. Our goal is to provide the local <<CITY/NEIGHBORHOODNAME>> community with high quality dental care with a specific focus and attention to our patients.

Located at <<PRACTICE ADDRESS>>, <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> is a <<SPECIALTY>> practice, specializing in the <<SERVICESOFFERED>>. In order to welcome patients to our new practice, we are hosting an Open House on <<DATE>> from <<TIME>>. We are excited to see our patients, friends and colleagues while providing brief tours and information about our new practice.

We are now accepting appointments. Patients may contact our office via phone at <<PHONENUMBER>>, or online at our practice website <<WEBSITEADDRESS>>. And we invite the community to connect with us on Facebook <<HYPERLINKTO FACEBOOKPAGE>>.

We look forward to seeing you in the new practice soon!

2. Email blast to announce new Dental Practice Facebook Page

Email Subject Line: Like the <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> Facebook Page!

Hello Patients!

We are happy to announce the official launch of the new <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> Facebook Page. Our goal is for this page is to be a resource for our patients, offering useful content including:

  • Important updates from around the practice
  • Oral health best practices and tips
  • Links to compelling articles and blog posts on a variety of oral health topics
  • Doctor and team profiles
  • Photos & videos…and more!

Look for regular posts of fresh and relevant content of interest to you, our patients, who place a value on their oral health, and their overall health in general. And we look forward to the opportunity to staying connected with patients throughout the year!

Click here <<HYPERLINKTOFACEBOOK PAGE>> to check out the <<DENTALPRACTICENAME>> Facebook Page, and if you “Like” what you see, don’t forget to “Like” our page!

Thank you in advance!

Blog

Responsive Design – The Latest Website Must-Have For Dental Practices

by Naomi Cooper August 5, 2013

Responsive Design – The Latest Website Must-Have For Dental PracticesIn working with my clients on maximizing their marketing dollars and their online presence, I’m finding that while many dentists are aware of the importance of a well-designed dental practice website, not everyone has heard about some of the most recent advances in mobile website optimization.

A standard website does not always function well when accessed on a smartphone, so changes must obviously be made in order to keep the website accessible on all types of devices. Just a year ago, the best solution was to build what was essentially a second website just for mobile devices, or “mobile-optimized site”. However, the standard today is something entirely new: Responsive Website Design.

A responsive website is essentially a site that reconfigures itself automatically based on detecting the type of device that is being used to access it. A responsive website resizes itself instantaneously for any device, whether desktop, laptop, netbook, tablet or smartphone. And it has the distinct advantage of keeping all of the practice’s site traffic going to one online destination, giving it the potential to have more authority and popularity with the search engines rather than splitting traffic between a “regular site” and a “mobile site”. Google has made it clear that having one site is best for SEO purposes, and has even recently stated on its official blog that responsive web design is it’s recommended solution for mobile optimization.

Here are 4 tips for dentists to keep in mind when optimizing their websites for mobile devices and upgrading their website to one that utilizes Responsive Web Design:

  • Convenience is Key – Mobile websites are all about convenience and ease of use. A dentist’s mobile website needs to be a streamlined version of the desktop website. Smartphone users are looking for specific information and need to be able to find it quickly. The practice phone number, online scheduling features, driving directions and patient testimonials all need to be part of the mobile or responsive designed website, making the information easy to find for the mobile user.
  • Branding is a Must – Appearance-wise, the mobile website should mirror the desktop version. Any branding elements used in the desktop version—a distinct font, the practice logo or color scheme—should remain the same in order for patients to recognize the practice, whether they are on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Having a responsive web design ensures this kind of consistency.
  • Mobile = Opportunity – In 2012, Pew Internet research found that 31% of Americans used their cell phones to look for health and medical information online. If your dental practice website cannot be accessed from a smartphone, the result is countless missed opportunities to connect with potential patients.
  • Work with a Pro – There are many self-proclaimed “experts” when it comes to website design and mobile optimization. I always recommend working with trusted professionals, especially those vendors with a history of success in the dental profession. Sesame Communications has a proven track record of creating standard, mobile and responsive design websites for my clients.

Blog

Attracting Quality New Patients to Your Dental Practice

by Naomi Cooper July 29, 2013
Attracting Quality New Patients to Your Dental PracticeMinoa’s President, Naomi Cooper, was recently featured as a guest on Gary Takacs’ podcast Thriving Dentist Show. Click the link below to listen to the podcast, and discover…
  • The #1 marketing mistake made by dentists
  • The most common misconception when it comes to dental marketing
  • Best tactics for attracting quality new patients to the practice

Attracting Quality New Patients

And our thanks to Gary Takacs for the opportunity to work together once again!

Blog

Cultivating Online Synergy for Your Dental Practice

by Naomi Cooper July 16, 2013

Cultivating Online Synergy for Your Dental PracticeWith dental patients becoming increasingly reliant upon the Internet for healthcare information, a dentist’s online reputation is more important than ever. Just a few years ago, it was enough for dentists to have a static website that was nothing more than an online version of their practice brochure. These days, the website is a powerful marketing tool, functioning best when supplemented by online efforts such as social media and online patient reviews.

According to recent whitepaper on social media marketing by Dr. Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS and Diana P. Friedman, MA, MBA, respondents to a national survey of 88 dental and orthodontic practices administered by Sesame Communications confirmed that social media continues to provide a strong driver for practice website traffic. In fact, more than 91% of dentists surveyed agreed that social media helps drive traffic to the practice website.

And one of the most crucial things a dental practice website needs is third-party validation from around the web to give it additional credibility. When patients “Google” their prospective new dentist’s name, they will not only find that dentist’s website, but also all the other websites in those search results that feature information about that dentist. This is what constitutes “social proof”.

Content on social media and online patient review sites plays an important role in building social proof and driving traffic to a dentist’s website. Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter give dentists multiple opportunities to stay connected with patients on an ongoing basis. And patient reviews on Yelp! and Google+ Local carry at least as much, if not more, weight than the information on the dentist’s own site because it’s ostensibly from a neutral source. These types of social proof from other places around the web serve to corroborate the information provided on the practice’s own website, giving prospective patients a well-rounded picture of the dentist and the practice.

It is essential for dentists to have a strong online presence in order for patients find them when searching online. A dentist’s website, social media profiles, and online patient reviews work cohesively to create online synergy. They provide more ways for patients to connect with the practice—and learn about the services available that might help them achieve their ideal smile.

Blog

The Role of Marketing in the Sale of Your Dental Practice

by Naomi Cooper July 9, 2013

BLOG THE ROLE OF MARKETING IN THE SALE OF YOUR DENTAL PRACTICEMany questions – and emotions – arise when the topics of retirement and the potential sale of a dental practice come up. While it may not be obvious at first glance, marketing and branding will play major roles in facilitating the sale and transition.

The importance of branding should not be minimized. Branding distinguishes a practice from its competitors. Some dentists may mistakenly believe that branding is just for group practices or large corporations. But in reality, it serves to enhance the practice’s local affinity, small business sensibility, and professional feel.

Any dentist within 10 years of retirement needs to consider whether having his or her own name on the shingle makes for the best exit strategy. It’s key to be able to maximize the practice’s value when it’s time to sell, and having all of its brand equity wrapped up in the primary dentist’s name means that one of the practice’s major assets isn’t transferrable.

Additionally, branding strategy is not something that can be created overnight. It takes time and effort to build and sustain a strong brand that inspires recognition and loyalty in patients and the community. So, there is no time like the present to begin building your dental practice brand! Even dentists who are just starting to think about retirement will benefit from honing their branding strategy now.

Every dental practice owner desires to find a suitable buyer of their practice – one who will maintain the quality of care, someone the dentist feels comfortable handing off their patients of record to. Having a solid branding strategy already in place will attract more qualified and desirable buyers to the practice, thereby easing the transition.

Just as you coach your patients on the benefits of preventative care, put your recommendations to work for your dental practice. Don’t wait until retirement is just a few years away to develop a marketing strategy. Having a plan in place ahead of time is one way of ensuring a smooth transition for you and your patients.