October 7, 2023
Are you trying to decide on the best software option for your practice? Learn the differences between on-premise and cloud-based dental software, so you can decide what fist your needs the best.
You need convenient, user-friendly dental software that saves time, streamlines operations, and gives you an edge over the competition.
Chances are, you’re already using some type of dental and office management software. Maybe you’ve even tried a cloud-based tool like dental data analytics by Dental Intelligence.
At some point, you might need to compare on-premise and cloud-based software. Which one is the smarter choice for dental practices?
What’s the Difference Between On-Premise and Cloud Software?
On-premise software requires installation and runs on your hardware. In contrast, cloud software runs online, and the provider supplies software hosting solutions. You probably already use ubiquitous cloud-based tools like Gmail, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
On-Premise Software: Pros and Cons
While flexible cloud-based solutions have gained a strong foothold in dental practices, some professionals in the field still choose on-premise software. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of this traditional choice.
The Pros
The main selling points of on-premise software include:
- One-time payment. By purchasing on-premise software, you avoid paying monthly fees. This could be more cost-effective in the long run compared to the ongoing fees of cloud software.
- Full control. You can choose what hardware to use, which software upgrades to install, and how much to invest in maintenance.
- Offline access. Did the internet connection go down? You can still use your on-premise software.
- Security. When the software is on your premises and servers, you may be able to provide a higher degree of cybersecurity.
The Cons
However, on-premise software comes with snags, such as the following:
- Expensive setup. You must provide your own hardware and server space.
- Complex maintenance. You’ll usually require an IT specialist to install your infrastructure and provide tech support.
- Potential hassle. You’ll have to handle upgrades and security and navigate unexpected downtimes.
- Lack of flexibility. Do you need to access data when the office is closed? That’s a problem with on-premises software.
- Scalability issues. An on-premises infrastructure may become obsolete whenever you need a bigger database, expand your practice, or open another clinic.
Cloud-Based Software: Pros and Cons
If you run a dental practice, you want to focus on your patients, not IT and software management. That’s why cloud-based solutions are such a popular choice for dental practitioners.
The Pros
When it comes to choosing between on-premise and cloud software, the latter offers:
- Easy setup. Quick and easy installation; just choose a plan and subscribe.
- Instant, ongoing access. Your cloud-based tools are up and running as soon as you confirm your subscription. You can tap into your data from home or log in while waiting for your connection flight for the ultimate convenience on the go.
- Stability. Once you choose a service package, you don’t need to worry about updates or fixing glitches. The provider takes care of the technical stuff.
- Security. If you choose reputable cloud-based software, you gain a high level of data security.
- Scalability. With cloud solutions, the same software can serve you as your clinic grows or your locations multiply. You may just need a bigger service package.
The Cons
Despite its many perks, you should also consider that cloud-based software involves:
- Monthly fees. Instead of paying a one-time fee, you will pay monthly to receive the latest updates and ongoing support.
- Limited customization. You’ll typically have to choose a standard service package, which may not fit your practice’s needs.
- Offline access. If the internet goes down, so does your access.
Cloud vs. On-Premise Software: Which To Choose?
The choice of on-premise versus cloud software depends on factors like initial setup costs, your clinic’s available infrastructure, and any plans to scale your practice or expand to other locations.
Overall, modern dental practices tend to choose cloud-based solutions for their flexibility and convenience. Cloud software is a smart choice if you:
- Want hassle-free software maintenance with no extra IT support costs
- Need the option of accessing your system anytime, anywhere
- Might someday decide to move your practice or open an additional clinic elsewhere
Dental Intelligence: Smart Solutions for Dental Management and Analytics
Are you debating between on-premise and cloud software for your dental practice? Check out smooth, cost-saving cloud-based solutions by Dental Intelligence. Save time and grow your profits with effective tools like our dental appointment reminder software and streamlined digital forms. Request a demo today.
October 6, 2023
Reviews can help build your credibility as a great dental practice, but you can also use feedback to your advantage in other ways. Read on to learn how you can leverage patient feedback.
If you run a dental clinic, you know the power of patient feedback. Obviously, you need all the positive reviews you can get to attract new patients and establish a professional reputation. On top of that, tuning in to feedback can help take your practice in the right direction.
Even if you already make every effort to provide an outstanding quality of care, you can lean on input and reviews to improve the patient experience. Follow these six steps to leverage patient feedback for growth.
1. Collect Feedback
Sourcing comprehensive feedback should be your first step in improving the patient experience. Take this opportunity to reach out to active and inactive patients with a request for input if they haven’t left a review already.
To get meaningful feedback, you can:
- Encourage patients to complete a quality of care survey after each appointment
- Ask patients to leave online reviews on your website or Google My Business page
- Send follow-up text or email messages to patients and invite them to provide feedback
- Use an easy automated online review tool by Dental Intelligence
Pro tip: Be specific. Instead of simply asking patients to rate your quality of care, include points like the treatment process, comfort levels, and waiting times.
2. Analyze Insights
Now that you have a solid body of patient feedback, it’s time to extract useful insights for your practice. It’s gratifying to know your average rating is 4.9 stars, but you want to dig deeper by exploring what your patients like about your service and what concerns may crop up.
Use the available feedback to answer the following questions:
- What aspects of dental care do your patients consistently praise in their reviews?
- What are some recurring concerns that may harm patient experience?
- How do your leading competitors’ online reviews compare to yours?
3. Capitalize on Your Strengths
If some sides of your practice garner constant positive patient feedback, see if you can use these elements to reinforce your brand and advertise your unique selling points.
For example, suppose reviews applaud you for addressing dental anxiety with empathy and sensitivity. In that case, you might highlight these reviews on your website and capitalize on marketing your clinic as a place that provides dental care with minimum stress.
4. Recognize Pain Points
No dental practice is flawless. Patient feedback can act as a mirror showing you concerns you need to address if you want to grow and gain an edge over your competition.
Be honest and ask yourself:
- What are your patients’ chief complaints? Do they express dissatisfaction with procedures, follow-up protocols, or waiting times?
- How valid are these concerns?
- What could you do to resolve them? What have you done so far to address these pain points?
5. Respond to Concerns
Reputation management should be high on your list of priorities, along with efficient appointment scheduling and dental office communication. Once a patient expresses concern about any aspect of their care, make sure to give this patient your full attention, address their complaint, and invite them to tell you what, in their opinion, you could do to improve their future experience.
Ideally, you want to catch and resolve negative patient feedback before it goes online. This is easier to do when you’re using the online review tool by Dental Intelligence. However, remember that every dental practice will have some negative reviews. The key is responding to them openly, quickly, and professionally to show that you’re committed to improving your quality of care.
6. Build an Action Plan
Use insights from patient feedback to build a business plan for the next quarter, year, or couple of years. You may work with a business consultant to create an actionable plan based on patient input. Additionally, we recommend that you:
- Prioritize resolving any potential liability issues, like patient safety concerns or cybersecurity breaches
- Start with changes you can make quickly and easily or changes you were already preparing to implement
- Commit to improving the patient experience by addressing points that crop up most often in negative reviews
- Brainstorm strategies that could cement patient loyalty (like introducing more innovative procedures, including convenient payment plans, providing more flexible office hours, etc.)
Gain Useful Feedback and Boost Patient Experience with Dental Intelligence
Measuring patients’ satisfaction levels and managing patient expectations is easier with smart solutions by Dental Intelligence. Improve patient experience, save time, streamline processes, and get meaningful patient feedback with our analytics and engagement tools. Ready to see how it works? Request a demo today.
October 6, 2023
You might think you have all your bases covered when it comes to your marketing efforts, but have you considered internal marketing? Read on to learn how internal marketing can boost your practice's marketing efforts and excelerate growth.
You’re looking at your practice’s returning patients, new patients, and overall growth...and you’re disappointed. You’ve leveraged every external marketing tactic you can think of to draw in patients, so why isn’t it working?
Are you really doing everything you can to boost the growth of your dental practice?
Some dental practices focus so heavily on flashy marketing strategies that they forget about one of their most important tools: internal resources.
Dental internal marketing might just be the key to boosting the growth of your practice. A vital part of internal marketing is ensuring the quality of dental staff training. Internal marketing is a team effort.
What Is Dental Internal Marketing?
Before diving into internal marketing strategies, it’s important to understand what dental internal marketing is.
When you think of marketing, you might imagine websites, brochures, and big signs. These are all forms of external marketing. Internal marketing uses your existing patients to bring in new ones.
Word-of-mouth advertising, formal referrals, and written patient testimonials are all examples of internal marketing.
Internal marketing is effective because potential patients are more likely to listen to someone they trust, like a family member or friend, than they are an advertisement. Internal marketing is personal and makes more of an impression.
It’s also much less expensive than external marketing. External marketing requires money for promo materials, hosting websites, and ad space. Internal marketing begins with talking to your patients.
But how do you get started?
Six Dental Internal Marketing Tips
To begin internal marketing or to adjust your existing strategy, consider these six dental internal marketing tips.
1. Prioritize Patient Satisfaction
If your existing patients aren’t satisfied, the likelihood that you’ll draw in new ones is low. Make an impression on every patient who walks through your office doors.
Every patient’s experience should begin with excellent customer service at the front desk, and that feeling of welcomeness should remain consistent throughout their visit. Treating patients with compassion and respect will make them more likely to recommend you to their family members and friends.
2. Ask Directly for Referrals
You have to ask for what you want. It might not occur to your patients to give referrals to your practice unless you mention it first. Having your staff members ask patients to refer your practice by word of mouth after their visit can maximize your referrals.
To encourage referrals non-verbally, consider having signs in your waiting room or office that express gratitude for referrals. These may make more of an impression on some patients, keeping your practice in their minds.
3. Use Incentives for Referrals
Patients are more likely to refer others to your practice if there is an incentive to do so. Consider introducing rewards for patients who make frequent referrals. You can easily do this with the Dental Intelligence Patient Loyalty Program which has customizable rewards. For example, if patients make a certain number of referrals, you might reward them with a gift card.
Some practices will begin VIP clubs for patients who continuously make referrals. Not only does this incentivize them to continue referring your practice to other people, but it also builds a sense of community.
4. Get Written Testimonials
Word-of-mouth referrals are a great source of promotion, but written testimonials can make a more lasting impact. Ask for testimonials in the form of letters from your patients, then put them on display in your office.
5. Utilize Technology
You can maximize the impact of your internal promotion by using technology. With the internet at your fingertips, you can display reviews and testimonials on social media. Technology helps your message reach beyond the immediate community, building your reputation.
Technology is another viable tool for encouraging referrals. Some patients may be in a rush on their way out or forget that your staff asked them to make a referral. A reminder in their email, like a quick survey, is a great way to keep your practice on their mind.
Dental Intelligence Online Reviews makes it easy for you to request reviews that post directly to Google, Facebook, and other websites.
6. Use Promotional Materials
The brochures and flyers you created for your external marketing strategy can work well for internal marketing, too.
Keeping such light promotional materials in your office encourages patients to bring them home and share. A visual tool can make a word-of-mouth referral even more effective.
Boost Your Dental Practice’s Growth with Dental Intelligence
Dental internal marketing starts with an effective patient referral program, but it doesn’t end there. It can be difficult to prioritize your practice’s growth when you have so much else to do.
With the help of Dental Intelligence’s software, your office will run smoother, and your patients will leave happier. Schedule a demo today to get started.
October 5, 2023
It's just as important to gain new patients as it is to keep your returning patients. Here are some reasons why patients are changing dentists and how building loyalty can keep them coming back.
On average, dental practices lose between 10% and 40% of their active patients each year. While some patients move to a different practice for objective reasons, like relocating, others switch dentists because they’re unhappy with the quality of care or other aspects of their dental experience.
Let’s break down patients’ top five reasons for changing dentists and list a few strategies you can adopt to encourage patient loyalty.
1. Dissatisfaction with Dental Care Quality
A dentist may be highly competent and experienced. However, patients will still be dissatisfied if the appointment seems rushed, the dentist doesn’t take enough time to explain the procedure, or the dental team doesn’t pay enough attention to their comfort level.
Your patients may also consider changing dentists if your dental practice fails to incorporate advanced tools, equipment, and procedures your leading local competitors are already using.
2. Poor Results of Dental Treatment
Patients may be initially satisfied with their dental treatment but later notice poor outcomes, like a restoration that deteriorates too soon or damage to healthy teeth. They may consult another dentist and discover their previous dental care provider failed to diagnose a serious condition or didn’t specify all their treatment options.
When this happens, any trust in the dental practice usually vanishes, at which point patients are likely to change dentists without warning. While this can be disheartening, it’s best to move forward with preventative strategies.
3. Lack of Rapport with the Dentist
The connection between a dentist and a patient is highly personal. Patients look not just for professionalism and efficiency but also personal qualities like empathy, care, patience, honesty, and good communication.
Sometimes, a patient and a dentist just aren’t a good fit. Patients should feel comfortable with their dentist; when that rapport is absent, they will usually move on to a different provider.
4. Poor Communication
Your patients don’t want to waste time coordinating appointments, waiting to talk to a staff member, or filling out paperwork when they’re in a rush. When fruitless communication gobbles up too much time, patients may eventually choose another practice.
Communication flows much more smoothly in clinics using the Patient Portal by Dental Intelligence, allowing patients to fill out forms easily.
5. Long Waiting Times and Inefficient Processes
Your dental patients have busy schedules. A delay in routine processes — for instance, when you need to sign a release form per a patient’s request — can be frustrating.
Patients may also consider changing dentists if they need to wait six months for a simple procedure, spend too much time in the waiting area, or contact you for an emergency appointment and you can’t fit them in. It pays to keep some flexibility in your schedule so you can accommodate your patients more easily.
What You Can Do To Retain More Patients
Retaining a stable patient base is easier and more cost effective than constantly working to gain large numbers of new patients. This is what you can do to foster patient loyalty.
Upgrade Your Office and Equipment
If you haven’t updated your reception area and waiting room in years, now is a great time to do so. Invest in attractive decor and comfortable furniture to keep your patients relaxed while they wait for their appointments. You might also consider upgrading to more innovative, efficient technology, and equipment.
Communicate With Your Patients
Take the time to listen to your patients, address their concerns, and explain treatment options. If necessary, adjust your schedule so you can dedicate more time to each patient. If a patient undergoes a complex procedure, have your team follow up with them to ensure they are recovering properly and following all recommendations. Your team can easily do this with ringless Voicemail Drops.
Examine Your Payment Options
Do your patients hesitate to schedule procedures because of financial constraints? Consider offering discounts or flexible payment plans or accepting more types of insurance coverage. Your patients will tend to be more loyal if you accommodate their budget. You can also offer patient financing to offer more options to your patients.
Offer Perks
Reward patients for staying loyal to your practice. You could offer incentives like a free teeth cleaning, a discount on a whitening procedure, a VIP membership option, or a gift card to let your patients know you value them. With Dental Intelligence Patient Loyalty Program, you can create an incentive program with customizable rewards that works for your practice,
Enjoy Higher Patient Loyalty with Dental Intelligence
Efficient engagement tools by Dental Intelligence can help you create a personalized patient experience and keep patients from changing dentists. Our solutions help you save time, boost patient loyalty, and make more money. Request your free demo today.
October 5, 2023
There are a lot of metrics to track and follow as a dental professional. One of the most important ones is active patient count. Read on to learn what is it and why it matters.
Active patient count is one of the most important but least understood terms in dental practice management. Even dentists who know how many active patients their clinic has are often unsure what this number means for their practice.
Knowing your active patient base will help you make better business decisions and manage your dental clinic more efficiently. So, what’s the deal with active patient count, and why does it matter?
What Is Active Patient Count?
First, let’s draw the line between active and inactive patients. The ADA defines active patients as individuals who have received dental care in your clinic within the past year or patients of record treated at your practice within the last 24 months (but not in the past 12 months)1.
Inactive patients are patients of record who haven’t come into your clinic for dental treatment within the last 24 months.
Dental Intelligence defines active patients as those seen in the last 18 months and marked as active in your PMS.
Calculating Active Patient Count
You can determine your active patient count by:
- Performing a full chart audit that involves counting all patients who come into your practice within a defined period
- Using a partial chart audit to estimate the number of active patients
Calculating your active patient count is much easier when you use advanced tools by Dental Intelligence Metrics & Reporting.
What Active Patient Count Should You Aim for?
Your active patient base is easily the most important asset of your dental practice. Building a healthy patient base takes skill, reputation, marketing efforts, and years of providing excellent dental services. But how many active patients should a dental clinic have?
If you’re running a solo practice with one full-time general dentist, a hygienist, and a hygiene assistant, you should aim for an active patient base in the range of 1300 to 1500 patients. These numbers provide a fair balance between profit and quality of care.
Each extra dentist day per week adds around 300 active patients your clinic can handle without compromising care quality or patient experience. For example, if a second dentist comes in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, your practice may aspire to about 1,900-2,100 active patients.
Maintaining and Growing Your Active Patient Base
Some of your patients will eventually move to a different area, pass away, or (even if you make every effort to foster patient loyalty) switch to a different dental practice. On average, a dental clinic loses about 10%-15% of its active patients every year, which is why you must continue marketing your services and acquiring new patients.
Striving to gain about 25 patients every month for every full-time dentist who works in your clinic is a reasonable growth goal. If you run your practice well and provide high-quality care, most new patients will come from referrals through existing active patients.
Patient referral incentives, efficient SEO and a website upgrade, pay-per-click advertising, and traditional print advertising are some methods you may consider to attract patients to your clinic. However, if you see an especially high patient attrition rate, you might want to examine your work processes and focus on retaining existing patients. Dental Intelligence offers a library of ready to use marketing tools to help boost your visibility and marketing efforts.
What If You Have Too Many Patients?
Dental practice owners often put a lot of effort into growing their active patient base and fitting new patients into a busy schedule. However, if you overstretch your clinic’s resources to accommodate too many patients, the quality of care will suffer. You’ll have less time to devote to each patient, and mistakes and oversights may occur more often.
When this occurs, patient satisfaction, patient loyalty, and annual billings per patient will drop. You’ll find yourself working harder but earning less.
This is where active patient count becomes important. This number can let you know you’re taking on more patients than you can reasonably handle, helping you decide whether it’s time to add more staff to your dental practice.
For example, if your analytics show your solo practice has an active patient count of 1800, you may consider adding an associate. Alternatively, you may choose to cut down on your marketing efforts and reduce the number of new patients you take on each month.
Gain Actionable Insights for Your Practice with Dental Intelligence
Our practice performance solution by Dental Intelligence helps you save time, earn more money, and deliver a better patient experience. We offer all you need for efficient practice management, from determining active patient count to dental patient reactivation and people-friendly communication.
Join over 9,000 clinics across the U.S. already using Dental Intelligence for all their practice management needs. Request your demo today.
Resources
1 ADA
October 5, 2023
Are you looking for ways to improve so you can take your practice to the next level? Consider running a SWOT Analysis. Read on to learn what a SWOT Analysis is and how to complete one.
As a dental clinic owner, you always strive for optimal dental practice strategies. You do your best to provide outstanding service and stay competitive.
SWOT analysis is one business method that can help take your practice to the next level. Let’s explain how this approach works for dental clinics.
What Is SWOT Analysis?
A SWOT analysis is a process that should allow you to see what your dental practice excels at, what it could do better, and what it should avoid. You may convert these insights into a practical, actionable plan to promote your clinic’s success.
SWOT stands for:
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Opportunities
- Threats
Breaking Down the Elements of SWOT Analysis for Dental Practices
Running a SWOT analysis requires taking a step back from day-to-day clinic management to gain a macro view of your dental practice as a business. You’ll look into all four elements of SWOT, detailed below.
Strengths
When you look into your clinic’s strengths, consider what you do best and what helps you gain (and keep) patients. Ask yourself:
- What gives you an edge in your area of dental care?
- What advantages do you offer compared to your local competitors?
- Based on feedback and reviews, what do patients love about your dental clinic?
Your strengths may include state-of-the-art dental tech, highly competent staff, accommodations for clients with special needs, flexible office hours, convenient payment and membership plans, and more.
Weaknesses
For a well-rounded SWOT analysis, you’ll need to evaluate your practice’s disadvantages and pitfalls. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at this stage, but remember that your goal is to use your weak points as a springboard to growth.
Be honest and ask yourself:
- Does lack of equipment, staff, or training compromise your quality of care?
- Do you waste time and resources because of inefficient dental practice strategies?
- Do you throw away a lot of money on marketing that doesn’t work?
- What recurring complaints do you notice in patient feedback?
- What, in your opinion, do your competitors do better?
Opportunities
In a SWOT analysis, opportunities tie into your strengths. Look at what you already do well, then build upon that to explore exciting possibilities.
Consider:
- Is your patient base interested in a procedure you don’t offer but could add to your list of services?
- How can you enhance your dental brand and make your practice more memorable?
- What types of new technology could you introduce into your practice?
- Is it time to add more staff and expand your dental office?
- Should you adopt your competitors’ most successful strategies?
Threats
In the context of a SWOT analysis, threats are any challenges, risks, or difficulties that could interfere with your dental clinic’s viability. Often, threats are what might happen unless you address your weaknesses.
Possible threats may include:
- A new, advanced dental clinic across the street that provides services similar to yours
- Severely outdated procedures that no longer align with patient expectations
- Undetected breaches of regulatory compliance, like HIPAA violations
- Inadequate safety protocols that could expose your clinic to liability lawsuits
- A growing body of prominent, unaddressed negative reviews
Who Should Be Involved in a SWOT Analysis?
All the key members of your dental team can contribute to the SWOT analysis. You can use available templates and tools to run this type of survey or invest in working with a professional marketing consultant. Ideally, you’ll run a fresh SWOT analysis every couple of years and update your dental practice strategies accordingly.
Applying the Insights of a SWOT Analysis
Once you have your insights, it’s time to turn them into an actionable, practical business plan that capitalizes on your strengths, helps you overcome obstacles, and seizes opportunities. For example, based on your SWOT analysis results, you may:
- Invest in equipment or technology that creates a better experience for dental patients
- Address direct threats by enhancing safety procedures or improving cybersecurity
- Decide to change or expand your marketing strategies
- Improve your online reputation by responding to negative patient reviews
- Start an SEO campaign to rank higher in search engines
- Engage more with patients on social media platforms
Run an Efficient SWOT Analysis With Powerful Tools by Dental Intelligence
Are you preparing to run a SWOT analysis for smarter dental practice strategies? Do you need help interpreting and acting on the results? Powerful tools by Dental Intelligence can provide actionable insights, improve patient experience, and help you achieve better dental risk management.
October 5, 2023
In order to be successful, you must stand out from your competition. Here are 6 tips to help make your practice unique.
Sometimes, the day-to-day upkeep of a dental practice prevents you from thinking of the bigger picture. You might notice your patient numbers and referrals dwindling.
Maybe you’re losing patients to other dental practices, or patients simply forget to come back for routine appointments. Don’t worry, there’s a solution: stand out.
But what makes a dental office unique? Dental care is more than just teeth cleaning and cavity filling. Dental care relies on a holistic patient approach. Start by using Dental Intelligence Patient Loyalty Program to incentivize patients to return.
6 Ways to Make Your Dental Office Unique
Ensure your patients leave your dental office smiling. Your practice’s impressions on patients should keep them returning and referring friends and family.
To guarantee your patients have the best experience, you should know what makes a dental office unique.
Cultivate a Good Office Culture
Excellent customer service is a must. This requires consistent communication, a friendly atmosphere, and accommodation when needed.
Many patients may associate dental care with fear or anxiety. A warm, welcoming atmosphere can do wonders to ease their discomfort and make their visit a positive experience.
Remember that this doesn’t begin when the patient arrives. When a customer calls to make an appointment, ensure the exchange is positive and sets their visit up for success.
Hire Staff You Can Trust
No individual can guarantee a positive office culture, but they can be enough to ruin it. Every person your patients interact with must treat them with respect and care. The only way to ensure this is through a diligent hiring process and staff training.
Many people in dentistry have similar personality traits. Use this as a way to encourage a consistently productive and welcoming environment. If your staff is happy, your patients are more likely to follow suit.
Your staff should understand the high expectations for customer service. The front desk employees should greet them with warmth, which should be consistent throughout the customer’s visit.
Offer Extra Services
Patients will appreciate the basic services like filling cavities, cleaning teeth, and remedying oral issues. However, offering additional services like cosmetic dentistry, veneer application, and other treatments could increase your clientele.
If you offer these services, ensure patients know about them. Advertise them on your social media and promotional materials and inform existing patients of all your services when they step into your office.
Be Transparent
Another way to stand out is by being as transparent as possible with your patients. Patients want to know about the practice they’re trusting with their dental health.
Start with an office tour. Every time a new patient comes in, set aside time for a short tour. Tours let the patient better understand the space they’re entering while meeting more members of your staff.
If you’re not feeling ready to show your space off, it might need a makeover. Remember that the appearance of your practice is the first impression your patients get.
After the tour, being open with your patients about your philosophy and goals is essential. This conversation helps patients feel like their dental work is something you’re doing with them, not to them.
Consider the Patient’s Perspective
As a dental practice owner, you have a different perspective than your patients. Once in a while, it’s a good idea to step into their shoes and consider what their experience is like. The following are a few helpful questions to ask yourself:
- How does the office exterior look? Does it appear clean?
- How does the interior look? Is it welcoming? Easy to navigate?
- How long do patients have to wait? Are there enough amenities in the waiting room to keep them entertained?
Host Events
You don’t want your patients to only associate your office with the chore of going to their dentist appointment.
Hosting events for existing and potential patients is a great way to stand out. Open house events, for example, allow patients to ask questions and experience your practice differently than at a normal appointment.
Take Your Dental Practice to the Next Level
Focusing on the patient experience can elevate your dental practice. Now that you know what makes a dental office unique, you can move forward and stand out from your competition.
To keep new and returning patients happy, continue to consider office culture, dental office patient flow, and quality of service.
Let us take some of the work off your plate. Dental Intelligence works to help dental practices improve productivity with the latest tools and technology. Schedule a demo today to get started.
October 5, 2023
What does a “good dentist” look like? Most people will immediately assume a good dentist is knowledgeable and experienced. While this is true, it takes more to live up to this title. Read on for 6 qualities that make a good dentist.
When your patients need to schedule their appointment, you don’t want them to dread it. They should associate your dental practice with good experiences. Every dentist wants to be a good one, but “good” is too vague a term.
What are the qualities of a good dentist? What do patients look for?
Take your practice to the next level with a patient loyalty program with Dental Intelligence.
Six Qualities of a Good Dentist
Having the following qualities helps an otherwise average dentist be a good dentist. Being a good dentist means making a difference in your patients’ dental care, which will keep them returning and referring you to other potential patients.
1. Be Considerate About Your Location
Being thoughtful about your location is essential to being a good dentist. When you choose an office location, you must consider more than the space itself. Think about the community around it.
Is your office in a convenient location for people traveling from work or school? Does it have enough parking for staff and patients? Is it accessible for those with disabilities?
Patients won’t be able to experience the remaining qualities below if they can’t reach you. Neglecting to consider these factors when choosing a location almost guarantees patients will arrive feeling frustrated.
Another way to ensure patients have easy access to your office is by offering extended hours during the week or weekend hours for those who cannot take time off of work for their appointments.
2. Be Open About Your Credentials
Putting your credentials on display or discussing them openly with patients creates a feeling of transparency and trust. Putting your Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree on display is a great way to establish immediate credibility.
If you have any certifications for specialties like orthodontics, mentioning that can also put patients at ease. Having these credentials is important, but a quality of a great dentist is being able to share them with patients.
3. Establish Your Reputation
Having a positive reputation as a dentist does a lot for your career. A good reputation will bring in new patients while keeping existing ones returning. To gauge your reputation, keep up to date with online reviews and your social media presence.
Your reputation will stick with you throughout your career, so you want to ensure it’s solid.
4. Practice Quality Communication
Sometimes, it can feel tempting to prioritize efficiency over quality communication. You might rush through answering patients’ questions or an explanation of treatment. While being respectful of the patient’s time is always a good practice, ensure you’re also communicating clearly.
This means taking your time to thoroughly explain their dental care, carefully answering questions, and being honest about their oral health. Patients will appreciate the extra effort it takes to guarantee their comfort.
5. Always Be Professional
Being professional in appearance and practice is vital. The first impression your patients will have of you is your appearance. Ensure that you and your workspaces appear organized. Taking the time to clean up between appointments helps accomplish this.
Always act professionally when working with a patient or staff member. This all goes back to establishing and maintaining a positive reputation. Patients will appreciate your efforts in respecting their time, working efficiently, and communicating effectively.
6. Remain Empathetic
Many patients enter dentist offices worrying they’ll face judgment for the state of their oral health. Some may come with an abundance of questions; others may prefer to remain quiet. Empathy on a personal level will look different for each patient.
Be honest with your patients, but avoid displaying judgment. Explain to the patient that you’re there to help them meet their oral health goals. Above all, be kind.
From Good to Great: Dentist-Patient Relationships
Patients value a dentist who sees them not just as patients but as people. Caring about their overall health is one of the qualities of a good dentist. Securing a strong dentist-patient relationship can build a community within your dental practice.
If you have the qualities of a good dentist and want to take the next step, Dental Intelligence can help you get there. We have a variety of tools and technology to make your dental practice more efficient and effective. To get started, schedule a demo today.
October 4, 2023
You might seem to have a great dental marketing strategy, but how do you actually know how effective it is? Here are seven strategies on how to track the impact of your marketing efforts.
Dental marketing can feel like taking a million shots in the dark. Even with the best marketing plan, you can’t have an effective strategy until you know what’s working.
If you’re unsure about your marketing strategy, explore Dental Intelligence’s dental marketing tools to help maximize your efforts.
Tracking the results of your dental marketing strategy may feel complex at first. How do you measure its effectiveness? Where should you expect to see growth? Here are seven strategies to help you track the impact of your marketing efforts.
Seven Strategies To Track the Impact of Your Dental Marketing
There are various ways to track the impact of your dental marketing strategy. Using multiple avenues to track the progress of your dental practice is essential. Knowing what needs improvement is the only way to solidify an effective marketing plan.
1. Why Are Your New Patients There?
Most practices will track how many new patients they have. However, some forget to track why they’re getting new patients.
You and your staff should ask new patients what drew them to your practice. Did you come up in their Google search? Did they see a local ad? Did they find you through social media?
Collecting and evaluating these answers is the best way to determine what marketing strategies draw in the most new patients.
2. Why Are Your Patients Calling?
Most new patients will have their first interaction with your practice on the phone. This initial phone call is crucial and will often be a determining factor in their decision to return. You can also use tracking tools to determine which keywords or Google ads triggered their phone call.
Similarly, some patients may choose to contact your practice through email. Track the same information for emails if you receive questions or requests via email. Email marketing can be an extremely effective tool.
If most of your patients use email as a mode of communication, consider leaning into your email marketing strategies.
3. How Is Your Website Performing?
When assessing your website’s metrics, pay attention to:
- Website visits
- Page views
- Load time
- Calls to action
These metrics are the foundation of your digital marketing strategy. Knowing how many website visits and page views your site gets will tell you if your content is drawing people in.
The load time refers to how long it takes for your website to load. This should be 2.4 seconds or less; otherwise, potential patients may switch to another site.
Calls to action like “schedule an appointment” and “call now” increase patient conversion by a significant percentage. Ensure your calls to action are easy to read and follow.
4. Is Your SEO Working?
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a strategy to elevate your online presence. Using certain keywords in your content can increase your website’s visibility in search results. For example, if a potential patient searches “teeth whitening near me,” SEO will boost your website to be one of the first results.
To see whether your SEO is effective, evaluate your:
- Organic traffic
- Visibility on search engine pages
- Conversion rates
5. Are You Using GMB?
Google My Business, or GMB, is another tool to track your website’s performance, specifically through Google search. This tool provides insights into how often patients view your pages and click links. With GMB, you can evaluate:
- Average costs per click
- Quality scores
- Click-through rate (CTR)
You can also track their performance through Google My Business when you use Google Ads.
6. What Is Your Monthly Revenue?
Your monthly revenue indicates your practice’s growth or lack thereof. Looking for steady increases in revenue month over month is a great way to determine whether your marketing strategy is working.
Keeping careful monthly revenue records will also come in handy for other purposes, like filing taxes or selling your practice.
7. What Does Your Appointment Book Look Like?
Another simple way to evaluate your practice’s growth is by looking at your appointment book.
Is there a clear shift in the number of appointments booked after you implemented a marketing strategy? Do you have appointments booked weeks in advance? These are indicators that your marketing strategy is successful.
On the other hand, if you have a lot of open appointment slots, you may want to rethink your dental marketing ideas.
Transform Your Digital Marketing With Dental Intelligence
If you evaluate your dental marketing strategy and find that it’s not quite working, Dental Intelligence can help. With analytical and engagement software, Dental Intelligence will help you find and track strategies to grow your practice through email campaigns, Instagram marketing for dentists, and more.
October 4, 2023
Dealing with insurance can be a hassle — especially when claims are denied. Here are 6 common reasons why dental claims are denied and how to avoid them.
Dental practices send claims to dental insurance companies every day. However, there are often instances when an insurance company denies a claim. So, why was a dental claim denied, and can you prevent denials from happening as often in your office?
When your office needs to process insurance claims, Dental Intelligence Insurance has you covered from eligibility verification to sending in the claim to the ERA. Dental Intelligence Payments also offers easy processing for patient co-payments. Learn more about insurance claims and how patients may face denials because of clerical or procedural errors in your office.
Reasons Dental Insurance Companies May Deny a Claim
Insurance claims make up a large portion of administrative procedures at dental practices nationwide. However, dental insurance companies often deny insurance claims for minor missteps in their individual claims processes. But what are the most common reasons for a dental claim denial?
Outdated or Incorrect Insurance Claim Forms
Insurance companies occasionally update their forms and the required information to submit claims. If you send the claim form you have on file without the updated documentation, the dental insurance company will likely deny it.
If the insurance company denies a claim for lacking the proper forms, it will take longer to receive the denial and resubmit the claim with the correct forms than to contact the insurance company and verify you’re using the correct forms before submitting the claim. You can also verify insurance coverage while inquiring about the forms.
Failure To Verify Insurance Coverage
One of the top reasons for denial is failure to verify insurance coverage. You must ensure that a patient carries a certain policy and that their policy covers the scheduled procedures. To verify insurance coverage, confirm that your office’s information for the patient matches the information the insurance company has on file for their policyholder.
This includes not only that your patient has a certain coverage plan but also that your office has the correct patient address, contact information, date of birth, and spelling of their name. Even one error in this regard could lead to delays or a denial of the claim.
Failing To Get Pre-Authorization
Pre-authorization is essential for all dental procedures, even if a patient’s dental plan explicitly covers them. Without pre-authorization, dental insurance companies may deny a claim as an “unauthorized procedure.”
Seeking reimbursement for unauthorized procedures can easily become a hassle for your billing department. Ensure your office administration is securing pre-authorization for every procedure. Filing an appeal for a denial without it could lead to a lengthy claim process.
Missing Claim Filing Deadlines
Most dental insurance companies have different deadlines for submitting claims with the appropriate forms and documentation. Busy offices can easily miss a deadline if they manage claim filing in-house. Using a third-party billing system to manage claim deadlines and forms can help even the busiest dental practice file all their claim forms on time and with the appropriate supporting documents.
Certain Procedures Not Covered by Dental Insurance Policy
While verifying insurance coverage for your patient, you should also confirm that their policy covers all necessary restorative dental work. For example, many policies have a “missing tooth clause” where, if a patient arrives at your office with a missing tooth, the insurer can deny a claim for replacement because the tooth may have been missing before their coverage became effective.
Many dental policies also do not cover cosmetic dentistry, such as teeth whitening, veneers, or fixing teeth gaps for reasons other than injury or illness. However, many dental practices offer dental financing plans to help patients achieve their best smiles without insurance approval.
Other Limitations of Dental Insurance Companies and Policies
Some dental insurance companies may try to define an essential restorative dental procedure as cosmetic to keep from having to offer coverage for the procedure. Patients who lose teeth in an accident or because of weakened bone structure in their jaw from cancer treatment should qualify for restorative dentistry procedures, including implants, crowns, veneers, and orthodontics.
Most policies don’t cover cosmetic procedures for aesthetic purposes. Dental insurance likely won't cover these procedures even if a patient could benefit from a more confident smile for their mental or emotional well-being.
Insurance Claims Solutions for Dental Practices
Is one of your patients dealing with an insurance claim denial? Consider whether one of the reasons above contributed to the insurance company denying their claim. Dental Intelligence Insurance can help you with your claims processing needs. Contact us today to schedule a demo for your dental practice.
October 4, 2023
Trust is essential to building credibility as a dental professional. Here are six tips on how you can build your credibility no matter where you are currently at in your career.
Your success as a dentist depends on building trusting relationships with patients. People will only opt for your services, keep coming to your clinic, and recommend you to others if they see you as a capable, trustworthy dental care provider.
Building credibility for dental professionals takes time and effort, especially if your practice is new and faces stiff competition. The following tips will help you establish a solid reputation as a dentist.
1. Be Transparent
To gain credibility, you must be credible. Build your practice upon the flagship values of honesty, integrity, and open communication. Give patients a full, clear picture of their dental care options and avoid unsubstantiated statements.
Your credentials, expertise, fee system, referral system, available services, expected outcomes, and any other relevant aspect of your work as a dentist should be open to patient inquiries. Always be ready to answer patients’ questions and help them establish realistic expectations about dental procedures.
Also, ensure your practice complies with all regulatory guidelines, including HIPAA, patient safety, biohazard management, cybersecurity, and staff training. Few things can destroy a reputation quicker than a liability lawsuit.
2. Invest in the Setting
When patients walk into your clinic for the first time, you only have a few seconds to make a positive first impression. Invest in making your waiting room pleasant and inviting with a flattering color scheme, good lighting, and comfortable furniture. You might choose to work with a professional interior decorator for a harmonious, flattering look. Of course, your reception area should always be clean and tidy.
Above all, ensure you have friendly staff members who welcome each patient with a smile and do all they can to create a relaxing atmosphere while the patient waits for their appointment.
3. Educate, Don’t Sell
Building credibility comes naturally when the patient is your focal point. Instead of starting with offering the solution you believe to be the best, concentrate on the patient’s condition, goals, limitations, priorities, and budget.
Communicate with your patients on an eye-to-eye level and empower them by giving them information and choices. “This is your condition, these are your treatment options, and these are the potential outcomes. This is what I would recommend, but you get to decide how we proceed.” Patients will trust you more when they see you as a consultant rather than a salesman.
4. Create the Best Possible Patient Experience
Many people who come into your dental office will be apprehensive and possibly anxious, often because of past bad experiences. Empathy, sensitivity, and extra attention to patients’ well-being will help you build a positive reputation.
Creating the best possible experience for dental patients includes efficient scheduling, explaining all procedures to reduce anxiety, keeping the patient comfortable throughout the treatment, and, if necessary, touching base with them after the appointment. You want each patient to be able to say, “Wow, this dental team did everything to make my experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible.”
5. Let Some Patients Go
This advice may seem counterintuitive, especially when you’re working hard to establish a patient base. However, not every patient will be a good fit for your dental practice.
Some patients will be interested in procedures you don’t provide, in which case your best bet would be to recommend another dental practice you trust. Others will keep breaking appointments, make unreasonable demands, and drain your time and energy. It’s better to focus on patients who are committed and easygoing.
6. Keep Track of Your Reviews
You need a solid body of authentic, positive reviews to establish credibility with local patients. Word-of-mouth referrals may account for a large share of your new patients, but people will also read the reviews on your website and Google My Business page, especially when they’re about to visit your clinic for the first time.
Gaining and keeping track of your online reviews is easier with Dental Intelligence. Moreover, our convenient review management system makes negative reviews less likely. If negative feedback does crop up, be sure to address any valid concerns quickly and openly. You may try contacting the reviewer in private to see whether you can do anything to rectify their impression and prompt them to adjust their rating of your clinic.
Build Trust and Foster Your Reputation With Dental Intelligence
Efficient tools by Dental Intelligence can help you manage customer review responses, earn trust, and build credibility as a dentist. Join the 9000+ dental practices already using Dental Intelligence to create a better patient experience and foster a stellar local reputation. Request a free demo today.
October 4, 2023
Managing your finances porobably isn't on the forefront of your mind, but it is an important aspect of running your practice. Here are 7 common financial mistakes you will want to avoid.
Being a dentist practice owner means you’re constantly juggling a lot financially. Between your business’ finances and your personal bank accounts, how do you know you’re making the right decisions?
Mistakes are part of life, even financial mistakes. The best way to avoid making them in the future is by becoming aware of them.
One way to make your dental practice's finances simpler is transforming your dental payments through Dental Intelligence Payments. This system makes payments easier for you and your patients.
If you’re dissatisfied with your financial position, it might be time to look at how you’re managing your finances. Below are the seven most common financial mistakes among dentists.
1) Not Evaluating Your Finances Regularly
It’s easy to put off managing your finances when your day-to-day tasks are so time-consuming. However, this is a common financial mistake. Keep an eye on your books at all times — forgetting or failing to assess your dental practice’s finances leads to confusion, disorganization, and even theft.
Even if you put an employee in charge of your practice’s finances, you should check in frequently to ensure that everything is going smoothly.
By evaluating your finances regularly, you will catch any issues early on.
2) Misunderstanding Your Loans
Many dentists have debt, such as student loans or business loans. While the practical thing to do might seem like refinancing them to avoid paying interest rates, this isn't always the best tactic.
Income-driven repayment plans are often the better option. You will have a lower payment every month, and you’re likely to have more of your loans forgiven. This option is sometimes better for your credit score, too.
Everyone’s financial situation is unique. To determine if you are better off refinancing your loans or using a repayment plan, consult a financial advisor.
3) Pushing Off Estate Planning
Estate planning can feel morbid at first. No one wants to think about dying, but you will someday. What will happen to your assets, including your dental practice, when you're gone?
You have the power to leave your loved ones financially secure if you take the right estate planning measures. If you avoid estate planning, your family and loved ones may never know your wishes. Take control of your legacy by creating an estate plan.
4) Keeping All Assets Liquid
Not all of your assets should be liquid. Having some funds put away for emergency savings is smart. However, if all your money sits in a savings account, you miss out on opportunities.
To build your wealth, take a portion of your assets and invest in the stock market, real estate, or another illiquid investment vehicle. Your money will grow faster that way.
Investing in the stock market means you’re investing in yourself, too. You can use the money you make back to renovate or improve your practice.
5) Failing to Take Out Insurance Policies and Fraud Prevention Measures
Practicing dentistry isn’t without risks. Insuring yourself and your practice can save you a lot of money and time in the future. Remember to be thorough when you’re going over your insurance policies or making a claim. Insurance fraud is common, whether intentional or accidental, especially for dentists who own their own practice or have business partners.
For example, a lot of dentists wait to purchase disability insurance. You never know when you could fall sick or injured. Having disability insurance, regardless of the stage of your career, is an important preventative measure.
6) Not Taking Advantage of Tax Credits
When you file your tax return, your goal may be to get it over with as soon as possible. No one enjoys filing taxes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from it. Don’t forget about the following tax credits:
- The Federal Research and Development Credit (R&D) for advancing products or practicing innovation
- Depreciation claims on new equipment your dental practice purchased
- Deductions for charitable expenses, including volunteer work like lodging and sponsoring
7) Not Planning for the Future
The day-to-day operations of your dental practice may prevent you from looking forward. However, it’s vital for you and your employees that you consider your future. Having retirement accounts for you and your staff should be a priority.
Avoid Financial Mistakes with Dental Intelligence
If you’re dissatisfied with your dental practice’s financial state, you have options. Offering flexible payment options, avoiding common financial mistakes, and using tools from Dental Intelligence can alleviate that headache you get when you look at your books.
Dental Intelligence offers software to improve efficiency and quality in dental practices. To learn more, schedule a demo today.
October 3, 2023
There's a variety of things that can make running a dental practice difficult. Here are five of the toughest challenges and how you can overcome them.
Dentists face many challenges, and with each passing year, they don’t get any easier. Escalating supply prices, staffing woes, and non-compliant patients can make running a dental practice seem like a juggling act. How can you balance these challenges to make sure your practice runs smoothly and turns a profit?
Let's explore the five toughest challenges in dentistry today and how to combat them at your practice. You’ll also learn how software solutions from Dental Intelligence can make it easier to meet your dental office goals.
Soaring Costs for Your Practice
One of the challenges dentists face is a challenge every business faces: Operational costs. If your rent and supply costs have gone up this year, you’re far from alone. Inflation can send prices skyrocketing for nearly every good and service imaginable, and that includes dental equipment and technology too.
You can’t directly control these costs, and that can feel frustrating. Here’s how to manage:
- Shop around for new suppliers to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
- Talk to your landlord and try to negotiate your rent. You might be able to lower your rent costs in exchange for signing a longer lease.
- Consider practice management software, such as Dental Intelligence, which can help you automate tasks and cut down on employee expenses.
Staying Up-to-Date With New Technology
Today’s technology isn’t the same as it was when you were in dental school. If you’ve been in business for a while, it can be tempting to ignore new tech and keep on doing things the way you always have. Burying your head in the sand can be a big mistake, though.
A savvy dentist learns how to make technology work for them. If you’re out of the loop, you can catch up by attending conventions and watching tech-focused webinars (many of which are free).
Competing With Corporate Dental Chains
If you run a small practice, going up against corporate dental chains can feel impossible. These giants have deep pockets that allow them to invest in marketing channels that smaller practices can’t afford.
One way to circumvent this is to lean into the small practice vibe. Bill yourself as the friendly neighborhood dentist who truly cares about and gets to know patients. You’ll stand out over the corporate chains.
You could also consider joining or forming a network with other small practices to share resources and reach new audiences.
Staffing Challenges
Good help is hard to find, and that’s definitely true for dental practices. If you’re losing staff or getting complaints about your employees, patients are likely to bail for the competition no matter how good your services are.
Tackling staffing issues needs a multi-pronged approach. Happy dental staff are likely to stay with your practice, so make sure that they have a good work-life balance. Offer incentives to attract new employees, such as paid time off, a stipend for continuing education, health benefits, and a 401(k) plan.
To nip complaints in the bud, you’ll need to invest in training. Set aside some time to train staff on good communication, such as what to say when customers call or walk through the door.
Grappling With Patients’ Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety is one of the biggest challenges in dentistry. It’s far more common than you might think and can be a major problem for your practice. According to a study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene, about 10% to 20% of people worldwide struggle with dental anxiety to some degree1.
Anxious patients may be too fearful to visit your practice even as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down. And even if they do come in, they might delay their next appointment once they find out they need potentially painful dental work.
To ease fears, make sure your website uses supportive and friendly language. Explain that your staff will make patients’ visits as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
You may want to suggest sedation for fearful patients. Some practices also let patients watch TV in the chair or give them virtual reality headsets with soothing imagery to wear while the dentist works.
Streamline Practice Management With Dental Intelligence
Some challenges in dentistry can seem insurmountable, but Dental Intelligence’s software solutions can make those challenges a little easier to bear. Our software offers online appointment scheduling, patient financing, and communication tools that can streamline the way your practice works.
Schedule a demo of Dental Intelligence today to learn more about our digital solutions for dental practices today.
Resources
October 3, 2023
Building a strong team culture is key to creating a place where people want to work. Here are 8 ways on how to boost your dental team's morale.
Your staff are the heart and soul of your dental office. They greet patients, remind them about upcoming appointments, answer questions, and so much more.
You value your dental team, but how can you make sure they know it? Learn how to improve dental staff morale and meet your dental office goals with tips from Dental Intelligence.
Hire a Team That Works Well Together
Have you ever hired an employee that just didn’t gel with the rest of the team? One bad hire is all it takes to poison the well, and it’s hard to recover from the aftermath. Gossip, petty fights, and backstabbing should have no place in a professional dental office.
To avoid this situation, it’s important to hire people who work seamlessly as a unit. Your employees don’t all have to be friends, but they do need to work together and support each other when the going gets tough.
Don’t simply hire the first person who walks through your doors. When a candidate comes for an interview, take note of their energy and personality. Do they smile and seem friendly? Do they seem interested in what you have to say?
A working interview is a great way to evaluate candidates and see how they interact with the rest of your team. Just be sure to pay candidates for this (the law requires this in some places).
Train Employees the Right Way
Without proper training, you’re setting employees up to fail, which can sink dental team morale. When mistakes pile up because employees don’t know how to handle them, they may begin to think that they can’t do anything right and develop a negative attitude.
Avoid this by setting aside time for a formal training period. Make sure all employees know what to say when patients call, and explain who employees should go to if they have questions or problems.
Stay Accessible With an Open-Door Policy
Many dentists wall themselves off from their staff, often because they think they’re just too busy to engage with employees. But ignoring your dental care staff can put a big damper on morale, so ensure that your employees know they can always come to you with any questions or concerns.
It’s also smart to schedule brief periodic meetings with each employee to ask them how they’re doing. These meetings can reveal problems and grievances that you otherwise would have missed.
Promote a Good Work-Life Balance
Your staff have lives outside of work, and it’s important to support that. Try to be flexible with scheduling and accommodate requests for time off, within reason. If an employee needs time off for school, a wedding, or a dental appointment to take care of their own oral health, say “yes” as often as you can.
Remember Important Events
Do you know the birthdays of your dental team? If not, find out! Telling employees “Happy birthday” and giving them a card or small gift is one of the best ways to show that you care.
It’s also a good idea to keep track of workplace anniversaries. You could say something like, “Thanks for sticking with us for another year. I really appreciate all you do for our practice.”
Offer Rewards for Exceptional Work
When an employee goes above and beyond, reward them with a bonus, gift card, or extra paid time off. Recognizing great work helps your employees feel valued. It encourages the rest of your team to do their best, too.
Delegate Responsibilities
Doing the same thing at work every day can be boring, and that can make morale drop like a rock. Consider giving employees new and important responsibilities to spice things up. Your staff will feel like you trust them and be more motivated as well. Just be sure not to hand out extra responsibilities to employees who already have too much on their plates.
Host Team-Building Events
Team-building events are a fun way to boost morale and help employees get to know each other better. Just order a few pizzas, play some games, and watch staff morale skyrocket.
You could also encourage your team to participate in volunteer work. Corporate volunteering has been shown to boost morale and help bring team members closer together.
Support Your Practice With Dental Intelligence
If you’re looking for ways to make your staff feel valued, check out our practice management software solutions. Features like online scheduling and staff communication tools can increase the efficiency of your practice and make life easier for your dental team.
To learn more, schedule a Dental Intelligence demo today.
October 3, 2023
Are you looking for some new ideas on how to improve your marketing efforts? Here are some unique strategies to remember when marketing your dental practice.
Growth is a goal that all dental practices share. But if every office tries to grow, how do you stand out?
If you’re dissatisfied with your practice’s growth in recent years or struggling to keep up with competitors, it’s worth rethinking your marketing strategy. If you want to stand out, you have to practice unique marketing strategies.
Exploring Dental Intelligence’s dental marketing tools is one way to step up your game.
Unique Strategies To Use When Marketing a Dental Office
While there is a wide range of strategies for marketing a dental office, most practices use the same few approaches. Dental practices forget marketing strategies, and their growth suffers for it. Some unique strategies to use when marketing a dental office include:
- Winning awards
- Marketing with awards
- Content marketing
Winning Dental Awards
Dental patients seek out dental practices they know they can trust. Traditional marketing materials like brochures and flyers help spread the word about your practice but don’t guarantee quality.
Awards offer an objective point of view that will build patients’ confidence in your practice. You can apply for awards by searching online for those available in your city or country. You can then nominate yourself, providing evidence of why your practice should win.
Applying to awards frequently increases your chance of winning. Pay close attention to all contest details and submission requirements.
Marketing With Awards
If you do win an award, congratulations! You have new material for your marketing strategy. Winning any award is affirming and makes your staff feel good, but its real value is its role in your marketing.
Awards have a significant impact on your dental practice’s reputation. They can only do this if you use them to their fullest extent.
Advertise Your Win in the Local News
When you win an award, the first thing to do is get the news out there. News outlets only publish very recent information, so submit your press release as soon as possible.
This press release can be more effective than a traditional newspaper ad. It presents celebratory news and confirms your practice’s excellence from an objective standard.
Announce Your Win on Digitally
Not everyone will read the local paper. You want to cover all your bases, including sharing your win on social media. Crafting unique posts for each platform to announce your win will increase engagement.
You might consider adding a picture of your staff celebrating to provide a personal touch. You can also add a digital banner to your profile pictures to remind social media users of your practice’s accomplishments.
Your award should be visible on your website’s homepage. Anyone who visits your website will feel encouraged to schedule an appointment with your practice if they see you’ve recently won an award.
Build Off Your Existing Marketing Plan
Making new marketing efforts doesn’t mean you must erase your existing strategies. If you have promotional materials like brochures, posters, and postcards, update them with your new award.
Content Marketing
Content marketing uses website and email marketing to promote your office. In this digital age, it’s essential to have a significant online presence to appeal to search engines.
Make it Mobile
Many people will view your website through search results on their phones. You don’t want to lose a potential patient because your mobile site is difficult to navigate.
Even if your website looks sleek and professional on a computer screen, it may appear disorganized on a phone. Make sure your website is mobile friendly.
Use Real Photos
While hiring a photographer to take pictures for your website and email marketing is more costly, the personal touch is worth it. Many dental practices use stock images for their website, which come off as generic and ineffective.
You can then use the photos for purposes beyond the site. They may come in handy if you need physical marketing materials or ever decide to sell your practice.
Utilize Patient Reviews
Patient reviews can make or break a potential patient’s decision to take their business to your practice. Displaying positive reviews or testimonials from existing patients can strengthen the public’s confidence in your practice enough to boost growth. With Dental Intelligence Online Reviews you can easily ask patients to write a review.
Market Your Dental Practice With Dental Intelligence
When marketing a dental office, it can be difficult to gauge the effectiveness of certain strategies. Content marketing for dentists is important, but how do you know your methods are working?
With Dental Intelligence’s analytics and engagement tools, you can track results accurately. To learn more about the opportunities for your dental practice with Dental Intelligence, schedule a demo today.