When it comes to putting together a dental clinic that is viable and able to expand, some core things need to be considered. Oddly, one of the best options to ensure that your dental clinic grows as you need it to for your clinic to survive you need to focus online on your website and your SEO and marketing plan.
Most people are aware of how important it is to have a website for a business that is functional, attractive and, more importantly, quick. However, when it comes to dental websites, the visitors are likely looking for something other than next-day delivery; after all, you can’t have a filling delivered to your home!
Also, as the SEO and marketing needs change all the time, it can be hard to know what a dental website will need to grow as you want it to. So, this article sets down 5 key things you need to look at for your dental website to help you turn website visitors into patients.
Table of Contents
Streamlined user experience
The first step in improving a dental website is to prioritise a streamlined user experience (UX). You need to make sure that your dental website’s layout is clean and intuitive, with easy navigation and clear calls to action. Aim to optimise page loading speeds, as slow websites often lead to user frustration and increased bounce rates. Ideally, you will want your home page to load in around 3 seconds or less.
Try to also implement a responsive design to make the site mobile friendly to accommodate the growing number of users accessing the internet via smartphones and tablets. Again, if your dental website does not load quickly or correctly for a mobile device, the bounce rate will go up, and your SEO will suffer.
Comprehensive and engaging content
To engage website visitors and establish credibility, dental websites must provide comprehensive and high-quality content. Offer information about various dental treatments, preventive care, oral health tips, and frequently asked questions. Include patient testimonials and success stories to build trust. Regularly update a blog section to share educational articles, news, and announcements. Integrate multimedia elements like videos and infographics to make the content more engaging and shareable on social media platforms.
Also, when it comes to SEO and writing, you need to make sure that your blog posts and landing pages are plagiarism-free. Google and other search engines don’t like duplicated content and will rank all websites that have it lower. So, it can be worth contacting a marketing team that specialises in writing SEO blogs for dental websites if you want unique and engaging content.
Online appointment scheduling and patient portals
Very few people have the time to wait on hold to make an appointment any more!
So, in 2023, dental clinics should leverage technology to improve patient convenience and accessibility. An online appointment scheduling system, for example, will allow patients to book appointments at their convenience.
Develop secure patient portals where patients can access their medical records, view treatment plans, make payments, and communicate with the dental team. These features enhance efficiency and empower patients to take a more active role in their dental care. It can also be worth investing in a chatbot for your dental website; this function will make it easier for site users to navigate the page, free up your clinic’s phone lines and help your patients to cancel and schedule appointments online.
Search engine optimisation
This has been mentioned a lot in this article, but optimising a dental website for search engines like Google and Bing is crucial for increasing visibility and attracting organic traffic. Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant search terms in the dental industry. Incorporate these keywords strategically in website content, meta tags, headers, and URLs. Focus on local SEO to target patients in the surrounding area. Encourage satisfied patients to leave positive reviews on popular review platforms, further enhancing the practice’s online reputation.
Integration of telehealth services
Going back to an earlier point, while dental patients are not going to be able to order a filling via a website, they will be able to order a consultation! With the rise of telehealth services, dental clinics should consider integrating virtual consultations and follow-ups into their websites. Provide a secure platform for patients to communicate with dentists via video calls, submit photos of their oral health concerns, and receive professional guidance remotely. Telehealth services can expand the practice’s reach, accommodate patients with mobility constraints or time limitations, and improve overall patient satisfaction.