-- Get the word out to the right people before you even open your doors. While you are obtaining loans, interviewing staff, and buying equipment and office furniture, don't forget to get a head start on bringing in patients. One of the most effective ways to do this is with direct mailers.
If you are a pediatric dentist, for example, you'll want to announce your arrival to every family within a 5 mile radius. A marketing firm can help you with the design of the mailer so that you'll give the most professional first impression possible.
-- Have a party! Holding a two-day grand opening celebration will let the neighborhood know that your doors are now open for business. If you've already been sending mailers out, local residents will already be familiar with your name and will be more likely to drop in for a visit. Make sure to hold your open house on a Friday and Saturday to maximize attendance, and give out plenty of personalized toothbrushes and pens!
-- How's your website? People are much more likely to find you on the internet than they are in the regular yellow pages. You'll want to do everything you can to maximize the chances that if someone is searching for a pediatric dentist in your area, they'll land on your web page!
It is well worth it to hire a marketing company to design a web-based strategy that will not only maximize your search engine optimization, but will also make your web site attractive and easy to use and navigate once potential patients go there. It's all about obtaining credibility through professionalism, so image is everything.
-- Once you're up and going, you'll want your patients to recommend your services to everyone they know. Train your staff to ask for referrals, and reward patients who bring you new business. Nothing is more effective than positive word of mouth (no pun intended).
Make sure that your new patients know that they are important to you, and that you value their patronage and that of any friends they may refer to you. Having professionally-produced brochures in the office will make it easy for patients to take them with them to distribute to others who may be interested. You may also want to place business cards in local businesses and do the same for them.
Building goodwill in the neighborhood and fostering a sense of professionalism are the keys to starting off on a good foot.
For the very best in dental marketing services for your new or existing dental practice, contact the expert professionals at DDS Marketing (http://www.ddsmonline.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.