We all know the story; a doctor develops a cure for cancer, but a deadly side effect of the treatment causes the brain to function at its more primitive level, the heart stops, and the patient develops a taste for humans. Next thing you know, the protagonist is flash-mobbing in a graveyard alongside zombies!
Like the doctor attempting to make the world a better place by eliminating cancer, you may find yourself wanting to improve your marketing by bringing back some classic marketing methods. However, you may find those strategies are only a husk of their former selves.
Avoid having your marketing strategy eaten alive by these scary tactics:
- Advertising in YellowPages – Ask anyone born before 1995 what YellowPages are and they’ll probably point you to Google. Truth is, YellowPages aren’t being seen my many. Instead, maximize visibility among potential patients with search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. SEO helps your website get found higher on search results when potential patients search for the services that you offer. The higher you rank, the more likely a visitor will find your website and click your name to see what your practice is about.
- TV Advertising – While traditional marketing still has its perks, TV advertising is expensive, difficult to measure, and likely won’t be seen by your target audience. Instead of wasting precious advertising dollars on ad space that potential patients likely will not see (or simply tune out), consider pay-per-click advertising; a digital marketing method that allows you to target specific audiences in various locations, set your own budget, and only pay when someone clicks your ad. Make sure your PPC campaigns direct visitors to a special landing page about your practice and its services for optimal performance and ROI.
- Newspaper Ads – The world is long past the point where people pick up a physical newspaper to get information. Instead of searching through ads, prospective patients rely on their social networks for recommendations because they know they’ll be able to pull from a broad audience they trust. That’s why it’s crucial for you to create and maintain an online social media presence by updating your profiles and collecting reviews that give prospective patients an inside look at your practice. Additionally, you can incentivize your existing patients with a referral program so they’re more likely to recommend you the next time their Facebook friend reaches out.
Don’t make a bad first impression or waste your marketing dollars with scary and ineffective marketing strategies. If you need help bringing your marketing strategy back to life, download the free whitepaper, The Definitive Guide to Online Marketing for Dentists by filling out the form below or call (888) 932-3644 for a free demo.
