In the competitive  field of dentistry, it’s important to stay ahead of the game. That’s why we put together this list of 101 dental office marketing ideas you should know to help grow your practice.  —Remember: The more marketing you do , the more your practice will thrive.

Let’s get started!

69 Dental Office Marketing Ideas for Dentists Who Need to Attract New Patients.

You could have the world’s best dentists and the most cutting-edge technology, but it won’t benefit your practice if nobody knows it. Follow these tips to get patients in the chair. 

How to Create a Top Dentistry Website.

Having a website today isn’t optional—it’s a requirement to stay in the game. By using these tips to optimize your website to get traffic and drive conversions, you’ll bring new patients into your practice.

1. Make your website mobile-friendly

A mobile-friendly website will adjust to become visually appealing and easy to navigate on a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet.The vast majority of people today own smartphones. Out of those who see your website on their mobile device, around 44 percent will book an appointment. Don’t scare them off with poor design!

2. Lengthen your landing page

With the shortness of today’s attention spans, many websites are designed to keep the landing page short and sweet. . However, there are still advantages to  having longer and more detailed web pages. Longer landing pages tend to perform better for SEO, they position you as an expert authority, and they give you more of an opportunity to show your value.

3. Have a clear call-to-action

Your website needs to tell visitors what to do next, such as book an appointment. Make your call-to-action (CTA) logical and visible.

4. Focus on titles and tags

Your page titles and title tags play a significant factor in SEO rankings and also help readers understand your content. Have your target keywords in your page titles to optimize your website.

5. Use real photographs

The photos you use on your website are important . While it may take more effort, it’s better to use actual photographs of your clinic and staff members instead of stock photos.

6. Have a professional domain

Yes, it’s  tempting to host your website on a free domain such as WordPress or Blogger. However, you’ll come off as more professional if you pay for your own hosting and domain. This will improve SEO as well.

7. Use HTML and CSS

Having your own domain makes website design trickier, so you’ll likely need to hire a designer. They should use HTML to create the written page content and CSS to customize the layout, colors, and any visual effects. The more custom your website, the more it stands out! 

8. Use robots.txt

Robots.txt is a text file that instructs search engine robots on what to read and index for their search engines. You control what pages you want them to focus on, meaning you can also hide pages that are still in development.

9. Create a sitemap

A sitemap is a list of all the pages that make up a website. When you create a sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console, it’s easier for search engine bots to find your site’s pages.

10. Get backlinks

When reputable websites link to your site, it tells Google your website is of high quality. Google wants people to view quality websites, so this improves your search ranking. There are a variety of ways to get backlinks,  like promoting your content on social media.

11. Link out to authority sites

It’s not just about getting backlinks—you should link out when appropriate as well. Google checks the anchor text of your links to better understand what your content is about. Using links also shows potential patients  that your information comes from reputable sources.

12. Update your website

Make sure your address, contact information, and business hours are current so potential patients can always get a hold of you. Photographs should show how your practice looks like currently. Updating your website lets visitors know your business is still running and gives them the best idea of what to expect if they become a patient.

13. Create a new logo

Trends come and go (and so do logos)! Depending on how old your practice is, your logo may need a fresh update. 

14. Include patient testimonials

Testimonials are a great form of social proof that highlight the excellent service prior patients received. You can incentivize customers to leave reviews as well as pull from reviews on other platforms such as Yelp. (Pro tip: testimonials including a photograph or video will perform better.)

15. Allow for online appointment booking 

Many people rather skip the phone and book their appointment online. Make sure your website allows for this. 

16. Install  a live chat

People who dislike talking on the phone or don’t have time to wait for an email response appreciate a live chat feature on websites. Most live chats are simple to install (just some copy and pasting code). This is a crucial dental office marketing tip.

Tips for Enriching Your Dentistry Blog.

Blogs build trust in your brand, improve SEO, and engage your patients. However, not all blogs are created equal—and you should only create a dentistry blog if you plan to post high-quality content. Here’s some tips below. 

17. Post educational and engaging content

Don’t write your blog posts like advertisements. Instead, they should show your dental expertise and have informative content readers will want to share with their community. Professional writers can be very useful in creating blog content that drives traffic to your site.

18. Post regularly

It doesn’t work to just put up a few blog posts at the beginning and then never post again. Posting fresh content on a regular schedule looks professional, helps SEO, and regularly brings new visitors to your website. This can have a major impact on the effectiveness of your dental office marketing.

19. Have both evergreen and timely content

Evergreen content is always relevant and useful, no matter when it’s read. Timely content involves current events and topics that are popular at the moment, but become less relevant over time. Both types of content are great to share. 

20. Link to your content and other sites

When one of your blog posts mentions a topic you’ve written a more in-depth article about, link to that article. The links help readers learn more about topics they are interested in and keeps them on your website longer. Also link to relevant information on other websites.

21. Add social media buttons

Make it easy for people to share your blog posts by having social media buttons they can click to share. 

22. Add an RSS feed

RSS, which stands for “really simple syndication,” allows people to gather all the content from various blogs that they’re interested in, put it in one feed, and get updates on new content. By adding an RSS feed, you’re allowing people with an RSS reader to add your content and increasing how many overall readers you’ll have.

23. Enable reader comments

Some readers will have questions about your content or want to share personal experiences. Turning on the comment functionality gives them that opportunity. These comments can give you insights on what your patients (and potential patients) have experienced and what they would like future content to focus on. Consider an anti-spam filter to weed out spam comments from bots or inappropriate responses.

24. Reply to comments

Make sure you answer any questions in your comments.  Your answers will show readers you’re paying attention and care what they say. This can make a big difference in your dental office marketing.

25. Ask for topic suggestions

Reading comments can help you come up with topic ideas, but you can also directly ask readers what they want to learn about. This takes the pressure off of you to always have fresh ideas and ensures you’re giving readers the information they care about.

26. Try guest posting

Aside from hosting your own blog, there are benefits to contributing content to other websites. You can link back to your website to increase traffic and get attention from potential patients. Guest posting also opens up opportunities to do partnerships and cross-promotions.

27. Embrace video content

Your blog section doesn’t just have to be text and images. Videos can attract attention as well. Upload short videos about oral health and dentistry that people will want to share with others (remember to have social media buttons for easy sharing).

28. Ways to Advertise Your Dentistry Services

Your website, blog, and social media are incredible ways to gain patients over time; but sometimes you just need to fill that dental chair more quickly. Advertisements are a wonderful way to get quick boosts in traffic.

29. PPC Advertisements

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising lets you target potential patients who’ve been searching for a dentist in the area. You pay each time someone clicks your ad.

30. Geo-targeting

Geo-targeting, also called local PPC, allows you to advertise to people where your various dental practices are located. It determines a person’s location and returns the page that’s most relevant to their location so they’ll see the practice that is closest to them.

31. Retargeting

Create advertisements specifically for people who have visited your website but didn’t book an appointment. This is a really simple yet effective dental office marketing tip.

32. Direct mail

It’s true. People still love getting mail! Over 70 percent of Americans prefer being contacted by brands through direct mail.

33. Use QR codes

On fliers, postcards, and any other physical advertisements; consider adding a QR code with a UTM link. A simple scan of the barcode and like magic, they are on your website.

34. Facebook advertisements

Facebook advertisements are beneficial because of how much you can target specific groups of people and how their algorithm learns more the longer your advertisement runs.

35. Guerilla marketing

This strategy focuses on unconventional marketing tactics that draw a lot of attention. You could try an unexpected event or eye-catching installation.

36. Visit the Chamber of Commerce

Attending Chamber of Commerce meetings helps you to network with other local businesses.

37. MeetUp events

Make an effort to attend fun and informal events found on Meetup.com so that you can network with potential patients and future business partners.

38. Join BNI

Business Network International (BNI) is a networking organization that helps members connect and discuss best business practices while also sharing referrals. (WIN/WIN!)

39. Create your own meetup

If the organized groups in your area don’t appeal to you, create your own networking events. You can promote these events on your social media channels or on Meetup.com.

40. Pass out business cards

No matter the networking events, make sure to bring business cards so others can easily contact you.

41. Visit schools

Running events in schools that teach children dental health practices can get you noticed by parents and school staff.

42. Sponsor a podcast

Podcasts are growing in popularity, so sponsoring a podcast could attract new customers. Alternatively, start your own podcast!

43. Sponsor a charity or team

When you sponsor something, you show your commitment to your community as well as get people thinking about your practice when they see your branded gear.

44. Create press releases

Reach out to local newspapers with press releases about upcoming events or charities you’re sponsoring.

45. Submit opinion pieces

Send opinion pieces to local newspapers or magazines about dental topics to showcase your knowledge.

46. Give guest lectures

Giving guest lectures or speeches at a university or local library is a great way to show your expertise.

47. Get doctor referrals

Very often people go to the dentist after a doctor recommends it. Network with doctors who can refer you to their patients who need dental work done.

48. Get patient referrals

People highly trust recommendations from their friends and family. Encourage your current patients to suggest you to others.  Incentivize them with a reward if they refer a new patient.

49. Start an email list

Email lists are an amazing way to share valuable content and promote your business.

50. Perform live demos

Live demonstrations can create a lot of buzz and interest in your practice. Make sure to heavily promote demonstrations on your website, through social media, and in press releases.

How to Promote a Dentistry Practice on Social Media.

Currently, 3.48 billion people use social media. That’s roughly 45 percent of the total global population.

If your practice isn’t using social media, you’ll miss out on endless opportunities to reach these people. Social media is an incredible way to promote yourself and to stay in contact with patients. Dental office marketing is very effective on social networks.

51. Link to your website

While you don’t constantly want to be self-promoting on your social media, occasionally linking to content on your website can boost your website’s overall traffic. Once on your optimized site, you can urge people to book appointments.

52. Ask questions

The questions you pose on social media can help you gain insight into patients’ needs. They can also make people feel involved and create a sense of community.

53. Answer questions

People like to ask businesses questions on social media because it’s quick and easy. It also allows other people who may have the same question to see the answer. Respond to questions asap and as professionally as possible.

54. Reply to reviews

Claim your profiles on popular review sites and make sure your profile is accurate and complete. Thank patients who left positive reviews and reach out to those who provided any negative feedback. This is a crucial dental office marketing tip.

55. Promote discounts and deals

By mentioning current deals and discounts, you can entice new patients to book an appointment. They may also share your post with others who could benefit from the discount.

56. Host a giveaway

People like discounts, but they love the chance to get something for FREE!. If you have people submit an email address to enter a giveaway, you can use that to market to them later. Make your prize relevant to your field, such as a free teeth whitening or dental products.

57. Comment on others’ posts

Don’t have your social media plan focus only on what you post. Interact with other people’s posts with likes and comments. When people see an interesting comment, it can draw them to your profile.

58. Link to blog posts

Linking to blog posts on your website increases your website’s traffic. You can pull an interesting quote or statistic from the article to give a hint at what the rest of the article holds.

59. Make announcements

Is your location changing? Are you going to have different business hours for the holidays? Regular patients may not frequently check your website, but they are often on social media. Use your media channels to make any important announcements that may affect them. 

60. Introduce new services or staff

Get the word out about your new services or staff members with a social post. This can encourage people to learn more about your services and potentially use them. 

61. Provide advice

Not every social media post has to be long and elaborate. Patients appreciate short tips and tricks for good dental health as well.

62. Position yourself as an authority

Social media allows you to show your expertise. For example, answering people’s dentistry questions on Quora can show how knowledgeable you are about dental health.

63. Discuss current events in dentistry

Link to articles about new dental research, upcoming technologies, and interesting interviews. Sharing current events shows you know the latest happenings in your field and these types of posts are often passed on to others.

64. Use images and videos

Visuals are reshared more on social media than text posts alone. Research by Buffer shows that when they included images in tweets; they received more clicks, favorites, and retweets.

65. Use social bookmarking sites

Social bookmarking websites such as Reddit, Digg, and StumbleUpon can increase your website traffic. However, when using these sites it’s essential to provide as much value as possible and not come off as too self-promotional.

66. Facebook Messenger

When people perform a designated action on Facebook, such as downloading something from your website or commenting on one of your posts, they become a subscriber to your Messenger list. Once they’ve subscribed, you can automatically message them appointment reminders, specials offers, or any other type of message. Messenger has an over 80 percent open rate.

67. Create tutorials

One important dental office marketing tip is to create video tutorials showing your services and products. This can be posted to YouTube and shared over other social media.

68. Evaluate analytics

Check the analytics of your social media posts to see which type of content is working best for your brand. Do more of what is working and less of what isn’t.

69. Encourage sharing

When promoting a discount or giveaway, encourage users to share with others. Optionally, it can be an entry requirement for a contest. When it isn’t a contest, you can still encourage people to share a post others would have useful. For example, if you linked to a recent blog post about dentures, you can encourage people to share it with someone considering getting a pair of dentures.

29 Dental Office Marketing Ideas to Help Dentists Keep Their Patients Happy.

Even more crucial than finding new dental patients is keeping your current patients happy. If they like your practice, they’ll keep returning as well as refer you to others.

How to Design a Dental Waiting Room Patients Enjoy.

Your waiting room impacts the first impression patients develop when they enter your practice. Here’s how to make sure they’re relaxed and not anxious.

70. Make it easy to find

Have signs at the building’s entrance that make it easy to locate your waiting room.

71. Add cozy elements

Having plants and other “cozy” items will make patients feel more at home and relaxed.

72. Have comfortable seating

When patients arrive tired and have to wait for their appointment, you want them to be able to sit somewhere soft and uncrowded. Comfortable, moveable chairs will relax them and give them a sense of control if they want to change where they are sitting.

73. Use calm colors

Don’t have a plain white sterile feeling room.   Instead, use warm and inviting colors like green (which promotes serenity) and yellow (which promotes positivity). 

74. Play music

A study conducted at the University of Montreal discovered that dental patients who listen to music before their treatment have fewer stress hormones than people who try to relax their nerves with medication.

75. Have a self check-in

A new trend is to have tablets that allow patients to check-in without assistance so they don’t have to wait in line..

76. Market in your waiting room

Among other reading materials, include brochures showing services you provide.

77. Provide digital entertainment

Televisions, tablets with headphones, and other entertainment reduce patients’ stress as they wait for their appointment.

78. Update posters

Much like your website, it’s important to keep your waiting room updated. Frequently remove any time-sensitive posters about past events or expired promotions.

79. Accessible bathrooms

Signs in the waiting room should make it clear where patients can find a bathroom.

80. Have enough space for movement

People should be able to walk around the room with ease and reach any items they need without obstacles in their path.

81. Be minimalist

You don’t need to over-design your waiting room. Simple designs work well too.

Ways to Make Wait Times More Enjoyable.

Even if your waiting room has a world-class design, patients don’t want to feel as if they’ve been sitting in it for an eternity. Do your best to reduce wait times or at least make it feel as if patients haven’t been waiting long.

82. Shorten wait times

According to the healthcare market research company Vitals; people in Alaska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin typically have the shortest wait times. It takes an average of 16 minutes to be seen. In comparison; people in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi have the longest wait times. They spend nearly half an hour waiting. The shorter the wait time, the happier patient!

83. Have outlets and chargers

Make it easy for people to charge their phones and other devices.

84. Add a retail area

Allow patients to browse and buy dental care items. Shopping can make time feel as if it’s passing faster.

85. Estimate wait times

Data from the firm Sequence shows that 55 percent of patients wish they could see estimated wait times while in the waiting room.

86. Have digital signage

Digital signage has been shown to decrease perceived patient wait time by about 33 percent. Additionally, it helps you educate your patients and spread valuable information.

87. Have a waiting room liaison

A waiting room liaison greets patients, asks if they have any questions, and preferably is familiar with their profiles and situations.

88. Provide free WiFi

WiFi is one of the best ways to keep patients distracted and not thinking about how long they have been waiting. Sometimes they are taking off work for an appointment and would like to catch up on emails while they wait.

Dental Office Marketing Tips for Providing Great Customer Service.

Providing a great onboarding process and well-trained staff will make a major impact on how positive patients feel about your dental practice.

89. Be familiar with the website

People who call your office will often refer to something from your website. Make sure staff are knowledgeable about website content.

90. Provide forms on your website

Having forms online allows patients to fill them out whenever it is most convenient for them.

91. Have physical forms ready

There will always be people who want to fill out the forms in person (or didn’t realize they needed to fill them out), so always have physical copies ready.

92. Know commonly asked questions

It’s likely a lot of patients will have the same questions. Be prepared with the answers so the onboarding process goes as smoothly as possible.

93. Keep a positive attitude

Always greet patients with a smile and a good mood. 

94. Don’t shame patients

While it’s necessary to teach patients how to keep their mouths healthy, shaming them about poor dental hygiene will make them feel embarrassed and not want to return.

95. Update your equipment

Having new equipment shows patients you’re a successful practice. 

96. Keep in touch

Send your patients mail to wish them a happy birthday or happy holidays. You can also remind them of upcoming appointments or new deals. 

97. Ask for advice

Follow up with patients with a short survey about their experience to learn how to improve your practice. An incentive, such as a chance to win a prize, will garner more completed surveys.

98. Extend business hours

It can be stressful for patients to take time off of work to go to the dentist. Extend business hours by even an hour earlier or later to give patients the ability to go before or after work.

3 tips for providing the best patient experience during COVID-19.

 Life has definitely entered a period of adjusting to “the new normal.” People have been staying at home and social distancing from their family and friends. Patients are nervous, and understandably so. But, there are things you can do to ease their mind.

99. Use visible sanitization 

The best thing you can do to ease your patients’ minds is to make sure that sanitation measures are strictly followed. Masks, hand sanitizer, and visible sanitization measures should be done at a minimum in front of your patients to show that they’re safe. Provide sanitizer throughout the office. Even though dentists have already been extremely vigilant about sanitation, it’s important to talk about it and let your patients know the steps you’re taking to keep them safe. 

100. Minimize interactions with people 

Social distancing is one of the main ways we can all do our part to stop the spread of the virus. Your patients want to avoid unnecessary contact with people. One of the ways you can do that is by allowing for contactless check-in, plexiglass between your reception and your patients, and making sure that your waiting room is always empty.  Now is a great time to use technology to your advantage. Apps like Opencare, to communicate with your patients and iPads to check-in. 

101. Display safety standards and proof of infection control

 When we asked our Opencare patients how they felt about their dentist having proof of infection control and following proper sanitation guidelines, 29% said they felt confident and trusted their dentist to follow proper protocol. Another 40% said they felt confident, while 18% said they felt worried, and 12% said they felt anxious and would want to see certification or proof. Much like our first suggestion, make safety visible to ease your patient’s mind. Display signs outlining symptoms of COVID-19, reminders to sanitize and wash hands and even email your patient ahead of their appointments or message them on Opencare with a “What we’re doing to keep you safe message.

For more information on how to ease your patients’ minds during the pandemic, get your free guide to reopening during COVID-19 here.

So, which of these 101 dental office marketing ideas will you apply today?  Remember to focus on the dental office marketing tips that make the most sense for your practice.