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Every dentist knows that for patients looking for solutions to tooth loss, dental implants are a life-changing treatment. With approximately 120 million Americans missing at least one tooth and more than 36 million missing all of their teeth,1 dental implants are also a highly profitable service for dentists to offer. The potential base of patients looking for a permanent solution is vast and projected to grow.
While dental implants are lucrative, competition continues to grow as more and more practices offer prosthodontic services. The best way to boost your practice’s visibility and remain competitive in an increasingly saturated landscape is to actively engage in dental implant marketing. To this point, we’ve compiled a list of the best dental implant marketing strategies that dentists can implement to attract more patients.
Many dentists wonder if spending time and resources advertising their prosthodontic services is necessary. Increasingly, however, dental digital marketing has become a necessity rather than a luxury. As the demand for tooth loss solutions increases, more dental practices offer and market their services yearly. The best way to combat this saturation effect is to increase your practice’s visibility through dental implant marketing.
How can you increase your practice’s visibility and direct valuable traffic to your website? With a thoughtful dental implant marketing strategy. Here are some of the best ideas to get you started.
1. Use dental implant SEO.
Suppose you’re trying to bring in more dental implant patients. In that case, your website should be optimized for relevant keywords like “dental implants,” “dental implants near me,” and “dental implant services” so that search engines display your content. When you focus on effective SEO for dentists, potential patients are more likely to find your practice while researching information about dental implants.
2. Optimize for higher rankings on Google Maps.
The highest-impact place for potential patients to find your practice is Google Maps. Prioritizing dental implant SEO strategies on your website is a key piece of your overall SEO strategy, but creating and optimizing a Google Business Profile will direct more local patients to your practice.
Because Google Maps is geographically based, your practice will rank for specific keywords based on where the user is located from when they perform a search. Figure 1 shows a Google heat map of how well a practice is ranking for the keyword “cosmetic dentist.” Each of the colored dots is a Google search performed in a specific location. Each dot functions as though you stood at that geographic point and searched for “cosmetic dentist near me” on your phone. The dots are numbered to show the practice’s ranking for that keyword.
If you rank number 1, 2, or 3, your practice is ranking on the front page of Google! Higher rankings mean more visibility and more potential patients calling your practice.
Different keywords may have different rankings. The Google heat map in Figure 2 shows the same practice’s data for the keyword phrase “dental implants near me.”
If a practice ranks lower for high-value keywords like “dental implants near me,” then it’s a great idea to get some help with Google Maps SEO.
Try this: Request a complimentary Google heat map for your practice. Optimizing your Google Business Profile is a vital task for ranking higher on Google Maps.
3. Get more Google reviews from dental implant patients.
Google and other search engines use multiple factors to determine which websites rank higher for specific keywords. One of the most important is the number of positive reviews! Getting more reviews on your Google Business Profile will signal to the algorithm that your practice provides quality, relevant service to potential patients in your area. Ask satisfied patients to leave reviews as part of your dental implant marketing strategy, and consider using a dental reputation management tool to easily respond to and to acquire more reviews.
4. Use targeted online advertising.
Facebook Ads and Google Ads are great ways to target specific demographics. Since adults and older adults are more likely to require dental implants, precise targeting tools create a way to focus on local audiences who fall into this demographic.
5. Create email marketing campaigns.
Create dental implant-related newsletters, special offers, and informational content about dental implants. Build a list of email addresses for current and potential patients and send relevant, helpful information. Include calls to action encouraging recipients to contact your practice to schedule a consultation.
6. Implement referral programs.
Whenever you have a satisfied dental implant patient, encourage them to refer friends and family to your practice. Offer incentives for referrals like discounts on future services or dental care products. Word-of-mouth remains one of the best ways to attract patients!
7. Participate in community events.
Get involved in local health fairs, community events, and seminars to increase your practice’s visibility. Advertise free dental implant consultations and create branded informational brochures with educational content about dental implants and your practice.
8. Create educational content.
Patients searching for dental implants usually have some basic knowledge about treatment options but question the process and benefits. Developing and sharing informative content is a great way to answer patients’ most frequent questions and concerns. You can write posts for your practice’s blog, create videos on a YouTube channel, and leverage your social media accounts to post articles, videos, and other information. Well-written content can go hand-in-hand with your dental implant marketing and SEO efforts, helping your website rank higher for valuable keywords.
9. Build professional partnerships.
Collaboration with other health-care providers can be a great way to increase your patient base. Build a network of local referring professionals, such as dentists who do not offer dental implants.
10. Participate in community sponsorships.
Build community goodwill and boost brand recognition by sponsoring local sports teams, community events, or health fairs. People are more likely to consider your practice for their dental implant needs if they see your practice’s branding around their community.
11. Offer patient financing options.
The cost of dental implants is one of the most significant hurdles many patients face. Offering payment plans or other financing options can make treatment more accessible. Create marketing materials highlighting these financial options to address the cost barrier immediately.
12. Showcase patient reviews and testimonials.
Learn how to get reviews and incentivize satisfied patients to leave positive ratings. Displaying testimonials from platforms like Google, Yelp, and Healthgrades on your website and in dental implant marketing materials can influence potential patients considering dental implants.
13. Offer virtual consultation services.
Virtual consultations appeal to potential patients who may be hesitant to schedule an appointment for an in-person consultation. Use a virtual consultation to address concerns and answer questions about dental implants while demonstrating personal care to build trust. Creating a positive first impression for patients will make them more likely to call and set their first in-person appointment.
14. Provide a dental implant guide.
Create and offer a downloadable e-book that educates patients about the entire dental implant process, from the initial consultation to post-surgery expectations and care. You can offer this guide in an email, which gives you the added benefit of building your email contact list for future marketing campaigns.
15. Host free webinars.
Patients have plenty of questions about dental implants. Position yourself as a reputable expert by organizing webinars with information about dental implants and their benefits, the procedure itself, financing options, and more. Building trust through engagement is a great way to encourage potential patients to choose your practice for dental implants.
16. Display info on advanced technology and techniques.
Use social media and your website to showcase the latest dental implant-related technology and techniques. Consider these posts a way to position your practice as the gold standard of care and to build trust.
17. Create FAQ videos.
Identify the most common questions you receive from patients and use them to produce short videos with informational content. Share the videos on your website, post them to your YouTube channel, and share them on social media.
18. Seek expert help.
Look for a reputable dental marketing company to create and execute a custom strategy based on your practice’s needs. Digital marketing companies expertly handle everything from website SEO to content creation.
19. Offer special promotions.
Create limited-time promotional financing options or discounts for dental implant procedures. Promoting the offer on social media can encourage hesitant patients to take advantage of the deal to schedule their first appointment.
20. Get active (and consistent) on social media.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X are valuable tools for showcasing before and after photos, patient testimonials, and success stories. Regularly post content to your dental social media accounts that resonates with your target demographic. Creating eye-catching, professional graphics to share on social media is a great way to brand your practice and attract interest. Apps like Canva have plenty of options to create simple images quickly. For more variety and to create a unified brand identity, consider using a custom graphic design service for your dental practice and services.
21. Start a blog and write about dental implants.
There’s a reason why all the best dental websites have blogs: engaging content goes hand-in-hand with online visibility. Consider committing to regular blogging to help potential patients find your website when they look for dental implant information. Blogs create opportunities to boost your search engine rankings for relevant keywords, making it more likely for your website to attract patient attention.
Dentists can increase visibility and assure patients of the value of dental implants by implementing thoughtful, targeted dental implant marketing strategies including local dental SEO and social media content. A solid marketing plan is the key to competing and remaining relevant as more patients consider prosthodontics yearly. Utilize expert advice from a digital marketing company to create a cohesive and comprehensive strategy.
How do you advertise dental implants?
The best way to promote your practice’s dental implant services is through digital marketing strategies like social media marketing, local SEO, content creation, and patient education. A comprehensive dental implant marketing plan targeted to your prospective patients can build your practice’s visibility, trust, and reputation.
How can I get more dental implant patients?
In addition to general dental marketing, make sure to focus on dental implants in your efforts. Optimizing your website and Google Business Profile for dental implant-related keywords can increase your search rankings and help potential patients find your practice. Consider contacting a dental marketing company for help with a custom dental implant marketing strategy.
How do I optimize my website for dental implants?
Update existing website pages and write engaging new content optimized for dental implant-related keywords to improve your chances of ranking higher in search results. Regularly publish blog posts about these topics and review your technical SEO strategy to ensure that the backend of your website is fully optimized as well.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in DE Weekend, the newsletter that will elevate your Sunday mornings with practical and innovative practice management and clinical content from experts across the field. Subscribe here.
Reference
Adrian Lefler is a dental marketing expert and the vice president of My Social Practice, a digital dental marketing agency. Lefler regularly travels to speak and educate dentists about dental marketing topics. You can book him to speak on this page. He lives in Draper, Utah, with his professional chef spouse, four kids, and two dogs.