In the dental industry, a good reputation is not a “nice to have” – it’s a must-have.
Today, people won’t visit just any dental office. They want to get services from someone who has already proven to be an expert in the field. Customers will refer to Google to find potential dentists online to browse their websites and to see what other people are saying about them.
It takes time to build a positive reputation for a business, but a single incident is enough to ruin it. A good reputation is a priceless asset because it solidifies a loyal base of customers and attracts new clients day after day. If you have a sound reputation, you can’t afford to lose it. Here are several tips to try for your dental business to help build your reputation today.
#1 Get a Page on GMB
Dental businesses primarily serve customers in their immediate location. Google My Business is a tool that will help your business appear at the top of SERP when searchers are looking for dental offices near their location.
Aside from essential information such as “NAP” and links to a map with your location, a GMB page shows users: online reviews left by previous customers, your business’ profile pictures, descriptions of the services you offer, a link to your website and relevant contact information.
#2 Show Your Expertise
In the previous article we emphasized the importance of gaining your customer’s trust. When it comes to dental procedures and services, clients want to be sure they are dealing with highly-skilled professionals. Showcasing relevant medical certificates and diplomas on your website can help your clients feel comfortable choosing your practice for their needs.
#3 Before and After Pictures
While some people prefer not to show how their teeth looked like before dental procedures, they do enjoy seeing pictures of what their teeth will look like after a treatment.
Before-and-after pictures are a very compelling argument for potential clients to trust your professionalism. They can check pictures of your work on your website so they know what to expect if they visit your dental office.
#4 Be Active on Your Social Media Channels
The needs of today’s customers are constantly evolving. Customers spend a good amount of time on social media, so remember to utilize social networks to boost your brand’s reputation. Networks like Facebook and Instagram are a great place to show your followers that you are not just another faceless brand, but a dental office that cares about its clients.
Post and share meaningful and engaging content that addresses common dental problems and pain points of your target audience. Answer questions and share comments to acknowledge your customers so they feel they are getting all of your attention.
Social networks are where you can also ask people to leave reviews. Don’t get frustrated if you receive negative feedback though. Understand that you won’t be able to please everyone. Respond to your unhappy clients publically and apologize for concerns they may harbor. This way you can show that you sincerely care about their opinion and are working to resolve their problem.
#5 Submit Your Dental Website to Local Listings
Local listings and review sites are important for reputation management. Register your dental website on Yelp, Yellow Pages, Angie’s List and other local resources to increase visibility and strengthen your reputation.
Today not having an account on Yelp looks suspicious. Yelp is the largest social-local platform (with 142 million users every month) and is often the first place where users go to review a business.
If it’s hard to get initial reviews, try encouraging your happy clients to leave their feedback on websites like Yelp in exchange for some coupons or discounts on their next visit. This should be more than enough to get the ball rolling on reviews.
Conclusions
Reputation has always been important for any business. This is a determining factor that defines whether your business will be shutdown over the night or will be up and running for a long time. Once your dental business has a solid reputation, ensure you take a good care of it and you will benefit from it in the long run.
We know everything about reputation building. Just contact us!