Many dentists and orthodontists are closely involved in their local communities. They do this to support community initiatives, and also to help market their practice to local families. Common activities might be sponsoring local sports teams, donating to school auctions, holding a free educational seminar, or setting up a booth at a local fair. Because most dental and orthodontic offices draw new patients primarily from their local community, this is a great way to create awareness about their practice.
One critical piece that is nearly always missing from these community sponsorships is effectively communicating these activities through online marketing. When a dentist participates in a local event, the people who attend know who they are and what their practice offers. However, what about the pool of potential new patients who may be seeking a community-involved dentist online?
It’s a huge missed opportunity for dentists and orthodontists who sponsor community events and fail to promote their involvement online. One of the best ways to reflect your dental practice brand online is to highlight your community involvement activities.
Marketing Your Community Involvement Online
What are the best ways to market your community involvement online?
Remember that typically the organization you’re sponsoring also has an online presence. Linking your marketing with their marketing can help both your dental practice and their organization. Make sure to tag them and cross promote with them.
Write a blog about your involvement with the organization you’re sponsoring - what they do, why you support them, and what they do for your community. Potential patients will enjoy hearing about how you connect with your local community.
Promote your event or sponsorship on your social media platforms before the event, during the event, and after the event. This lets current and prospective patients know about your involvement – whereas they may never know otherwise!
This is also a perfect opportunity to generate high quality, customized content to market your practice online. Take pictures of the event, consider doing a Facebook live stream, or take a video that you can post later. This type of personalized content creates a high level of engagement for your followers.
Maximizing Community Events for Your Dental Practice
In addition to marketing your community involvement online, make sure to maximize your presence at the actual event. Have fliers, postcards, business cards or other printed collateral with your contact information, logo and information about your services. Consider a promotion or giveaway if patients come to your practice from the event. Be friendly and personable with people who are attending the event. Talk to people, answer their questions, let them know you’d love to treat them in your practice. Encourage people to follow you on social media and connect with your blog.
Also, get involved with other vendors and sponsors, as well as the organization itself. Other businesses that are also marketing themselves make great connections for co-promotions, and even sending their employees, friends and family to your dental practice.
Marketing Your Dental Practice Through Community Activities
Many dental and orthodontic practices invest heavily in their communities. It’s a critical and too often missed opportunity to use this to it’s fullest potential to market your practice. Let both current patients, and prospective new patients know about these great activities that you sponsor. Market your activities online, and also maximize your presence at events.
Contact ClearEdge today to learn more about marketing your practice effectively in your community! We can help with a comprehensive customized online marketing strategy for your dental practice.
