1. Develop a Professional and User-Friendly Website 

Your website sets the first impression for potential patients seeking dentists. When building your dental website to attract new patients, focus on:

Comprehensive service information: Explain all your services with details about procedures, benefits, and what patients can expect.

Team bios and photos: Show the human side of your practice with professional images and personal bios highlighting expertise and experience. High-quality office photos help reduce anxiety by showing patients what to expect when they visit.

Patient testimonials: To build trust, share real reviews and success stories from happy patients.

Online scheduling: Add a simple booking system so patients can schedule visits anytime, even outside office hours.

Don't forget mobile optimization. Over 60% of searches happen on mobile devices, so your site must load quickly and work perfectly on smartphones and tablets.

To turn website visitors into actual patients, use clear calls-to-action throughout. Make your contact info easy to find on every page, and consider adding chat features to answer questions immediately. Your website should also capture your practice's personality while maintaining professionalism that builds confidence in your services.

2. Optimize for Search Engines (SEO) 

When potential patients search for dental services near them, you want your practice to show up first. That's why SEO dental marketing tips are necessary to attract new patients.

For dentists, local SEO is the golden ticket, as it helps people in your specific area find you when they need dental care. To make it work:

Optimize your Google Business profile: Think of your Google Business Profile as your digital storefront. It directly impacts whether local patients find you. Make yours stand out by:

• Using your exact business name consistently

• Adding quality photos of your practice

• Keeping your hours current

• Selecting the right service categories

• Responding to every review

NAP consistency: Your Name, Address, and Phone number need to be identical everywhere online: on your website, Google profile, social media, and directories. Any differences confuse both search engines and patients.

Use location-specific keywords: Target phrases like "cosmetic dentist in [your city]" or "[your neighborhood] family dentist" instead of generic terms. This helps you rank for searches with local intent.

Keep in mind that patient reviews also affect your search rankings and the number of people who choose you. That's why you should learn how to leverage patient reviews. You can ask happy patients to leave reviews, make reviewing easy by sending direct links, respond thoughtfully to every review, and address negative feedback professionally.

By following consistent SEO strategies, you'll be more visible to people actively searching for dental services near you, bringing more qualified leads and new patient appointments.

3. Use Social Media Platforms

Social media creates genuine connections with patients and builds your brand. When used correctly, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok can boost visibility, showcase your expertise, reveal your practice's personality, and drive new appointments.

Each social platform offers something different for dental practices:

Facebook: With users across all age groups, Facebook builds a community around your practice. Mix educational posts, patient stories, and practice updates.

Instagram: This visual platform shines for before-and-after photos and office tours. Stories and Reels give quick glimpses into your practice culture.

YouTube: As the second-largest search engine, YouTube works for longer educational videos about procedures, patient testimonials, and content that shows your expertise.

TikTok: This platform is perfect for reaching younger patients with short, entertaining dental content. Quick tips, myth-busting, and behind-the-scenes clips perform well here.

Share the Right Content with Your Audience

The dental practices that win on social media create content that educates, entertains, and engages:

• Educational content: Share dental health information to position yourself as the trusted expert.

• Visual content: Before-and-after photos and videos of dental transformations grab attention.

• Behind-the-scenes content: Show your office environment and introduce team members to build trust. Office tours, staff introductions, and "day in the life" videos help patients feel comfortable.

• Interactive content: Polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions encourage active participation. Try "True or False" dental hygiene quizzes, polls on whitening preferences, or monthly "Ask the Dentist" live sessions.

After you share the content with the audience, track these metrics to see if your social efforts pay off:

• Engagement rate: Monitor likes, comments, and shares to see how your content connects with followers.

• Follower growth: Track how quickly you gain new followers.

• Click-through rates: Measure how many people click links to your website from social posts.

• Appointment bookings: Track new appointments coming from social media.

Consistency wins on social media. Create a content calendar and post 2–5 times weekly across your platforms. By sharing valuable content that addresses patient needs and shows your expertise, you'll boost patient engagement and build a following that turns into new patients.

4. Offer New Patient Promotions

New patient promotions are entry points for patients who might hesitate to book their first appointment. Focus on creating genuine value rather than just slashing prices.

Try these promotion types:

• Seasonal offers: Create promotions tied to specific times, like back-to-school checkups or New Year smile makeovers.

• Service bundles: Combine related services into value packages that showcase your full range of care.

• Limited-time offers: Create urgency with time-limited promotions.

To keep promotions profitable, calculate your customer lifetime value (CLV) before setting prices:

CLV = (Average Visit Value × Average Visits per Year × Average Patient Lifespan) - Customer Acquisition Cost

This helps determine how much you can invest in getting new patients while staying profitable long-term.

Remember, a patient who comes in for a discounted first visit might become loyal, accept comprehensive treatments, and refer friends for years.

5. Engage in Community Outreach

Community outreach boosts your visibility while making a difference locally. These programs show your commitment to oral health and position your practice as a caring community member.

What are the best ways to connect with the community, you wonder?

Free screenings are among the most effective outreach strategies. You can visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters, or domestic violence shelters to provide basic oral exams. You'll identify people who need care while introducing your practice to potential patients.

For example, The "Tooth Truck" mobile dental program by Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Ozarks in Springfield, Missouri, offers free screenings via a mobile unit, reaching underserved people who might later become regular patients.

There are also school-based programs; partner with local schools to teach kids about oral health while connecting with families. You can conduct fun, interactive lessons on proper brushing and flossing, work with school nurses to identify students needing dental care, or create dental health-themed contests or activities.

Another way to reach out to your community is to set up booths at local health fairs and community events for visibility. You can offer oral health materials, simple screenings, or hygiene demonstrations, and hand out branded items like toothbrushes, floss, or lip balm to increase recognition.

Become a trusted resource by hosting educational workshops. Try a "Lunch and Learn" series at local businesses, offering short presentations during lunch breaks. These sessions provide value while showcasing your expertise.

Keep in mind that community outreach goes beyond getting new patients. It also shows your values and commitment to improving everyone's oral health. When you genuinely invest in community well-being, practice growth follows naturally.

6. Implement a Patient Referral Program

A thoughtful referral program brings in not just more patients but better patients—the ones who follow through with treatment plans and stay loyal.

For your referral program to be effective, choose meaningful incentives that motivate existing patients:

• Single-sided incentives: Reward existing patients with credits toward future treatment. 

• Dual-sided incentives: Reward both the referrer and the new patient. Try $50 in dental credit for the referrer and $50 off the first visit for the new patient. This motivates both sides.

• Tiered rewards: Increase rewards for multiple referrals. Offer $50 for the first referral, $75 for the second, and $100 for the third and beyond. This turns enthusiastic patients into ongoing advocates.

To maximize your program's success, calculate patient lifetime value to set appropriate incentive amounts, create simple tracking methods, train your entire team to promote the program, mention it during checkout and in follow-up communications, and add details to your website, social media, and office signage.

Regularly evaluate your program's performance and adjust based on patient feedback and results.

7. Provide Flexible Payment Options

Money concerns often stop potential patients from seeking dental care. Offering flexible payment options makes your services more accessible and boosts case acceptance.

Consider these payment solutions for different financial situations:

• Monthly payment plans for extensive treatments like implants or orthodontics.

• In-house membership plans, such as creating a dental membership club, are alternatives to traditional insurance.

• Third-party financing through providers like CareCredit or LendingClub.

• Sliding scale fees based on income for practices serving diverse communities.

• Seasonal promotions on preventive care.

Make sure that you have a clear dental practice financial policy. Train your front office team to explain costs and payment options before treatment starts. This transparency helps patients make informed decisions.

In competitive markets, your payment options can set you apart. Highlight your financial solutions on your website and social media, emphasizing your commitment to making quality dental care accessible.

8. Deliver Exceptional Patient Experiences

While many practices focus heavily on advertising to get new patients, the patient experience is your most powerful marketing tool.

New patient acquisition begins with that first point of contact: a phone call, website visit, or walking through your door. Every interaction shapes how patients see your practice and influences whether they'll return and refer others.

Create a welcoming physical space. Is your waiting area comfortable, clean, and calming? Small touches like updated magazines, comfortable seating, and offering water or coffee make a big difference in how patients feel before treatment starts.

Keep in mind that your team members are the face of your practice. Invest in staff training focused on patient interactions and patient relationship management, from answering phones to explaining treatment plans and handling difficult financial conversations.

To know for sure how your patients feel, collect and respond to patient feedback through:

• Post-appointment satisfaction surveys

• Regular review monitoring

• Follow-up calls after significant procedures

• Suggestion boxes in your waiting area

This feedback creates a roadmap for improvement and shows patients you value their opinions. Great patient experiences directly build your online reputation. When patients consistently have positive interactions, they leave favorable reviews and refer friends and family. This organic word-of-mouth growth outperforms any paid advertising.

9. Use Online Appointment Scheduling 

Patients expect convenience, and a simple booking process often determines which dental practice they choose.

Consider incorporating dental scheduling software for online booking to let patients schedule appointments anytime, not just during office hours. This 24/7 availability especially helps busy professionals who can't call during your regular hours. When patients can book at times convenient for them, they're more likely to follow through.

Online scheduling also frees up your front desk staff. Instead of spending hours on the phone making appointments, your team can focus on creating exceptional in-office experiences.

Another benefit is the ability to automate appointment reminders to reduce no-show appointments. These systems send text messages, emails, or phone reminders before appointments.

The easier you make booking, the more likely patients are to choose you over competitors. Your website should prominently feature online booking, ideally on every page with a clear "Book Now" button.

10. Network with Other Healthcare Professionals

When you build relationships with other healthcare providers, you can bring valuable referrals to your practice. When other professionals trust your expertise, they send patients your way.

Start by identifying potential referral partners in your community. These can be primary care physicians, pediatricians, ENT specialists, and others who regularly see patients who might need dental care.

Many medical conditions are connected to oral health, making these relationships mutually beneficial.

Try these networking approaches:

• Schedule brief meetings with local physicians to introduce yourself and your specialties.

• Provide business cards and brochures for their offices.

• Offer lunch-and-learn sessions about oral health topics relevant to their patients.

• Send thank you notes when you receive referrals.

Other dental specialists make excellent referral sources too. Partner with local orthodontists, offering mutual referral incentives for patients needing specialized treatments.

This creates a win-win where both practices benefit from sharing patients who need services outside their specialty.

You can also join local business groups and dental associations for networking. The best ways to do that are to attend chamber of commerce meetings, get active in your state dental association, join healthcare-focused networking groups, and volunteer for community health initiatives alongside other providers.

Reinforce Your Growing Practice with the Right Team

Growing your dental practice doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Strategies like building a strong online presence, connecting with your local community, and offering flexible options can help attract new patients and keep them coming back. It boils down to creating a great first impression and following through with an exceptional experience.

And once those new patients start walking through your doors, it’s important to have the right team to keep up with the demand.

This is where Teero can help. Whether you need temporary coverage or you're looking to expand your team, Teero helps you find qualified dental hygienists quickly and easily so you can focus on providing great care and growing your practice. Give us a call to see how we can help.