Does Your Dental Website Need a Checkup?

In today's digital age, where everything is available online, your website is often the first point of contact with prospective patients.

Print & Go GuidanceBy Genni Burkhart

First impressions are everything, and that includes your online presence. In today's digital age, where everything (including oral healthcare) is available online, your website is often the first point of contact with patients. Therefore, to provide a positive experience, your website should be well-designed, easy to navigate, and provide current, clear messaging.

By investing in professional website design and regularly updating it with relevant content, you can expand your dental practice and reach more patients with relative ease. Furthermore, a well-designed website serves as a 24/7 digital showcase, allowing customers to browse and learn more about your dental practice, the services you offer, what you specialize in, what sets you apart, and your staff - all at their convenience.

A good dental website also provides a platform for customers to leave reviews and provide feedback, a valuable tool that enhances your online presence and reputation.

"Google It"

Most potential customers get their first impression of your business from your website, and that's more than likely done with a Google search.

According to a Google study, 49% of users discover new items or products through Google searches. In addition, SEO Tribunal states that online research is one of the most popular (and practical) methods for learning about a local company.

Your website and development are best designed by professionals who understand the importance of the following:

  • Having a fast-loading site.
  • Clutter-free design.
  • Descriptive pages for different topics, such as services, professional bios, financial/billing, and patient testimonials.
  • Easy to find a call to action to convert prospective patients into new patients.
  • Technology to message, communicate, and even schedule appointments online.

These things help improve your website's popularity on search engines, such as Google, also called website optimization. And that's done by using proven strategies, tools, and analytical data to improve the performance of your website. Optimization drives more traffic to your site and converts prospects into patients, which drives growth and increased revenue.

Website Must-haves

  1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO provides your prospective patients with the information they want through informative, unique, and original content. Good content makes it easier for potential patients to find your website, gain more traffic, and, ultimately, more patients. Therefore, SEO is an essential part of any successful dental website.

  1. Call to Action (CTA)

When it comes to your dental website, creating content that acts as signposts to lead patients toward action, such as making an appointment, contacting your office, or signing up for emails, newsletters, or memberships, is essential. To do this, you can make a statement after a blog post, at the bottom of the page, or create a CTA button on your various website pages.

  1. Certifications and Credentials

As a licensed dentist with a practice that includes licensed hygienists, your website is an ideal place to showcase your professional credentials, including certifications (such as sedation) and professional affiliations, and memberships. In addition, by placing linkable credentials on your website, you ensure new patients feel confident in choosing you for their dental care.

  1. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

A patient resource page can answer patients' most common questions, such as insurance acceptance, billing information, new patient forms, contact information, services offered, hours, and location. In today's digital age, this also includes a link to book appointments through an online scheduler, giving patients a straightforward way to book an appointment immediately.

  1. Links to Social Media

It's all about increasing traffic to your website, and social media is by far the most prolific way to do so. Using links to your social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snap Chat) effectively increases website traffic and improves brand awareness.

Social media is also another opportunity to stay connected with patients, engage with current oral health topics and trends, and encourage patients to share their good experiences that can, thereby, encourage new patients to seek your dental services.

In Conclusion

Give your dental website a checkup regularly, just as you encourage your patients to maintain good oral health. Ensure the information is current, the links work, and the design is attractive and user-friendly.

Also, regularly review the content to ensure it provides accurate and helpful information to patients. Finally, periodically monitor your website traffic and analytics to evaluate its effectiveness. Monitoring and reviewing your dental website can ensure that it provides patients with the most up-to-date and accurate information and an engaging, user-friendly experience.

After all, a website that looks good and works well is like a good smile -it can go a long way!

 

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Author: With over 13 years as a published journalist, editor, and writer Genni Burkhart's career has spanned politics, healthcare, law, business finance, technology, and news. She resides on the western shores of the idyllic Puget Sound, where she works as the Editor in Chief for the Incisor at DOCS Education out of Seattle, WA.

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