One of our favorite perks to theming offices all over North America is getting to see our offices pop up in local news across the country. Not only is this a great way for a dental office to get extra exposure and free advertising, but it will make you proud knowing your office is newsworthy.

This is a great opportunity for some free dental office marketing. Don’t miss that chance to get your themed office in the news. Local news channels love to show off unique and exciting stories in the community. Whether you get in the newspaper or manage to bring out a whole news camera crew, any free promotion is welcome.

Here are a couple of examples of themed offices that have made the news to give you some ideas on how to pitch your story to your local news provider.

Practice Finds its Niche with Young Patients

“We’re the Walt Disney World of dentistry,” said Trey Anderson with a laugh.

Smile Town Dentistry Profiles of Excellence

“I knew how challenging it was to get my brother into appointments and my parents experienced an equal amount of stress,” explains Dr. Chadha. “I wanted to help other families; that’s why we decided to open offices that are fun for children of all ages and specially designed to accommodate families with special-needs children.” Dr. Kanani adds, “We are here to help, and we are empathetic to their needs.”

Technology, fun approach to dentistry help make Big Smiles in Milford

“We want to make the whole office fun… We don’t want them to be scared,” said Eunice Lee, one of two pediatric dentists at the office.

The Smile Start Interactive Center at the PDAO Bentonville office is used for new patients aged four to eleven to focus on education and training. In this simulation center, kids can practice brushing and flossing on a large replica of a mouth, look at plaque through microscopes and feel and smell giant cavities. Staff observes each patient to coach them on how to correct their technique, and there’s even a test at the end to keep kids paying attention and taking dental hygiene seriously, while having fun!

We hope these offices inspire you. So don’t be shy, you have a cool and unique office, get your office in the news! Here’s a template you can use to invite a news crew to your office. 

Has your office been featured in the news? Share a link with us to see at info@idskids.com

Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

Connect Your Social Media Platforms Together To Save Time

3 Quick Tips on Using Theming as a Social Media Promotional Tool

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

Add a Cool Google Office Tour to Make Your Business Page Stand Out

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn about branding basics, social media tips, ways to improve your online efforts, plus event and promotional ideas.

When creating a digital strategy, marketing teams typically think in terms of online activity and create digital content designed to convert views into clicks. Clicks then convert into appointments, with bonus points whenever it’s a new patient. But here’s the thing – it’s NOT a one-way street.

Your digital strategy is incomplete if it doesn’t consider driving activity in both directions: digital converting into a physical visit, and physical visits converting into patient-driven activity online.

It’s an often-overlooked component, yet it’s highly effective at creating buzz around your brand and recruiting visitors as brand evangelists. It’s something that’s being done more and more by major malls and hospitality brands, and there’s no reason your practices can’t benefit too. You may not be able to buy word-of-mouth advertising, but you can certainly create the conditions that encourage those conversations, shares, and likes!

If your practices are family-friendly or pediatric-focused, there are some proven techniques for converting patient visits into digital traction by tapping into the network of local parents online.

HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ONLINE INTERACTION WITH YOUR CLIENTS:

1. Run Social Media Contests to Increase Social Media Engagement

Budget for prizes and set a goal. Determine whether you’re trying to increase social media followers, generate more leads, or want to increase brand awareness.

The better the prize, the more activity you’ll generate. Find some local products as a prize to support other businesses in your area. Aim your contest prizes at both kids and adults (adults are the ones who will be doing the majority of the posting, so make it worth it for them). Promote this prize while your patients and their families are in the office.

One of the most straightforward ways to run a contest is for each time a parent tags the practice and uses a special hashtag, they get entered in a draw to win a fun family prize.

You can also ask your clients to follow you on social media to be entered, ask followers to share a specific post to promote your dental office on social media, and ask people to like and comment to get entered in a draw to increase engagement on your page. 

When people like, comment, and share your posts, social media algorithms recognize this activity and more people are likely to see you and learn about your business.

Learn more about social media contest ideas in our free marketing guide.

2. Create Shareable Moments for Your Patients and Their Parents to Post Online

Let’s face it – parents are always looking for an opportunity to capture an adorable photo of their kids and then share it with friends and family. Even better is when they get the subtle brag that shows how much fun their little one had during a recent visit to the dentist. (FUN at the dentist – your kids must be amazing!)

The trick here is to create a setting that helps ensure photos are share-worthy. A charming sculpted character with whom to pose, a colorful wall mural or some ‘photo booth’ props are all methods that help curate the perfect photo inside your office. Make sure your brand is carefully yet subtly included and you’re well on your way to supercharging your social media presence.

Curating share-worthy moments is even more effective when you combine a photo op with a contest, like the one mentioned above – share your photo with our character, tag the practice, and you’re entered to win!

3. Ask Your Clients for an Online Review

If you are committed to offering an above-expectation experience for your patients, there’s nothing wrong with asking for a Google or Facebook review at the end of a visit. This can be done via an on-site tablet, a text message follow-up, or even a polite reminder on the back of your appointment cards.

If you’re worried about negative reviews (it can happen to the best of us), you can filter clients at the very beginning of the process into two streams:

1. Not happy? Please let us know so we can make it right (i.e. they are not asked to leave a Google review, instead a feedback form that goes directly to management).

2. Happy? Great – please tell the world by posting a Google review!

By using these three simple techniques, you will see a big boost to the online activity around your brand. Because it’s buzz coming from your clients, it will be regarded as more genuine and will do more for referrals than your own content or paid ads ever could.

Check out these related resources for how to attract more dental patients:

The Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office (and Respond to Negative Ones)

Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing with These Key Strategies

The 3 Social Media Sites You Should Be Promoting Your Business On and Why

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn more tips to help you get more patients in your dental office.

In the age of technology and digital communications, it is becoming increasingly important to market your dental practice through social media. Traditionally, mailed leaflets, phone calls, and word-of-mouth were the main sources of new clients. There are approximately 247 million U.S. social media users as of 2019. That is a massive market waiting to be tapped by your practice. By using social media, you are able to put a face to your business and quickly and effectively reach out to previous and potential clients.

There are three main social networking sites that are best for reaching and interacting with your client base: Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. Each serves a specific purpose and can be utilized in different ways.

THERE ARE 3 SOCIAL MEDIA SITES YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS ON AND HERE IS WHY

1. Facebook

Facebook is the most commonly-used platform, so having a Facebook account is a must.

Facebook is best used when looking to connect with audiences and to share information with those who are interested in your practice. You post content like:

• Photos of your patients who are cavity-free
• Celebrate your staff during special events like birthdays
• Promote events, like if you’re setting up a booth at a local fair or doing a talk at a school
• Informative content, like articles on the latest dental technology
• Information relating to your practice such as contact information, hours, and a map of your office 
• Updates that are relevant to your clients, like closures due to Covid-19

Post consistently; several times a week is best for reaching those who follow you.

Facebook can also help you to gather feedback and comments from your existing patients. Be sure to monitor patient comments and respond promptly to both positive and negative comments.

Be warned, Facebook is a money-making business and will want to charge you to share your content with a wider audience to get more reach and engagement with your posts. The key is to create content that users actually want to see and your content will spread organically.

Use Facebook for:

• Audience Reach: With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a platform that caters to a broad audience, making it an excellent choice for reaching a diverse range of potential patients.
• Engagement Features: Facebook offers various engagement features, including posts, photos, videos, events, and reviews. You can create a business page, share educational content, promote special offers, and interact with your community through comments and messages.
• Content Opportunities: You can share a variety of content on Facebook, such as dental tips, educational videos, patient testimonials, and updates about your dental practice.
• Community Building: Facebook allows you to create a community around your dental practice. You can engage with patients through comments, private messages, and events.

2. Linkedin

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for promoting your dental office, especially when you want to engage with a professional audience, build relationships within the healthcare industry, and establish your practice as an authority.

Remember to maintain a professional tone and image on LinkedIn. While other social media platforms may focus more on casual interactions, LinkedIn is a platform where professionalism and credibility are highly valued.

Use Linkedin for:

• Professional Networking: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows you to connect with other professionals in the healthcare industry. It’s a great platform for sharing educational content, industry news, and professional achievements.
• Build Credibility: By sharing informative articles, participating in discussions, and showcasing the expertise of your team, you can build credibility and trust among potential patients and other professionals in the field.
• Educational Content: Share informative content about dental health, advancements in dentistry, and your team’s expertise. This can help build trust among potential patients.
• B2B Opportunities: If your dental office provides services to businesses or professionals, LinkedIn can be a valuable platform for B2B networking.

3. Instagram

Instagram is a platform that allows your practice to post and tag a single photo or a small scrollable gallery. This social media platform relies on hashtags and photo filters to create an image for your practice and name.

Instagram can be used as a tool for your staff to share office life, post photos of kids who are in the daily ‘no cavity club,’ and celebrate office events. It is less formal than Facebook and a great tool for connecting to your younger patient base.

Instagram is the best platform for reaching millennials (your family-aged audience) and other users who appreciate a good picture or video. If you have a themed office that means you’ll have an endless supply of visually interesting content to grab the attention of the cool, millennial moms in your area.

The Instagram app.

On top of attracting new patients, Instagram is a great place to attract good staff. Job hunters will often head to Instagram to find out the culture of a company they are looking to work for to see if they will be a good fit.

Use Instagram for:

• Visual Appeal: Instagram is a highly visual platform, making it ideal for showcasing your dental practice through high-quality images and videos. This is particularly useful for highlighting before-and-after dental work, office aesthetics, and the team.
• Engagement with Visual Storytelling: Use Instagram Stories and Reels to share behind-the-scenes glimpses, patient testimonials, and quick oral health tips. Visual storytelling can be powerful in creating a connection with your audience.
• Hashtags for Visibility: Utilize relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts and reach a broader audience interested in dental health.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS WORTH THE EFFORT FOR YOUR DENTAL OR MEDICAL BUSINESS

It may sound time-consuming to utilize social media, but it often only takes a few minutes a day.

By cross-posting your content to all three of these sites, you can consistently and efficiently reach out to patients who are interested in your practice with considerably less time. There are even programs that help you manage all of your accounts from one place, such as Hootsuite.

Placing advertisements on these platforms allows you to reach new clients without spending a fortune. Each of these sites also offers analytics so that you can immediately see who is following your practice, which types of posts generate the most interest, and track current dental trends.

Social Media is about more than simply posting content. The content you create is also pivotal to your success. Featuring events in the community, educating patients on the importance of dental health and lifestyle changes, and highlighting opportunities for clients to interact with your practice are all key.

In order to create a ‘buzz’ around your practice, you can enter your office into dental design and local business competitions. This recognition not only increases the prestige of your office, it is the perfect promotional opportunity to share with your followers on social media.

The great thing about social media is that you can let your patients market your practice for you!

A themed office gives patients plenty of photo opportunities that they want to share to their social media profiles. Choose a hashtag that relates to your office and encourage patients to tag your practice in the photos they take. Not only does this increase word-of-mouth recommendations, it also makes patients feel connected and excited about your office. A happy practice is a social practice and your patients will be happy to promote your dental office on social media!

When using these platforms, keep in mind:

• Consistent Branding: Maintain consistent branding across all platforms, including your logo, business information, and visual style.
• Educational Content: Share informative and educational content about oral health. This not only positions your practice as an authority but also provides value to your audience.
• Engagement: Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and reviews. Encourage patients to share their positive experiences.
• Promotions and Specials: Use social media to promote any special offers, discounts, or events happening at your dental office.

Remember to review and adhere to the specific guidelines and policies of each platform. Regularly analyze the performance of your content to understand what resonates best with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Check out these related resources for improving your social media efforts:

Connect Your Social Media Platforms Together To Save Time

3 Quick Tips on Using Theming as a Social Media Promotional Tool

The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing with These Key Strategies

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more social media tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide!

From our artists to our engineers, we pride ourselves on the level of expertise each team member brings to the projects we create. Our experts want to offer some insight into their work and offer professional advice to help your dental office reach its full potential.

Micaela

Social Media Marketing Coordinator
Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications
Joined IDS in 2007

Reviews matter for small businesses, especially if you cater to the public. Online reviews bring the benefit of social proof, something we have talked about before. Social proof is the influence that the actions and attitudes of other people have on your own behavior and decisions. 91 percent of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews. 84 percent of people trust online reviews as much as the recommendation of a friend.

HOW TO GET ONLINE REVIEWS FOR YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

So we all know reviews are important, but how do you get them? Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to get ahead of the competition.

Claim Your Online Business Profiles

If you want to have control over your reviews, be sure to claim your online profiles. This means either setting up a profile or claiming the default listing created by review sites. Make sure you have a presence on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and any industry-specific sites where your business can get reviewed.

If you must begin small, begin with taking control of your Google Business Page. Google reviews are the most important type of review for a dentist. Unless being referred, the first place a parent is going to go to find a pediatric dentist or doctor is Google to search for dentists in their neighborhood. If there are a number of options in an area, they will begin looking at reviews. For a small business competing against similar establishments in the same area, Google reviews can often be an important tiebreaker.

Make it Easy for Your Customers to Review You

Add links to your review pages on your website. Include links with your email correspondence and any e-newsletters. Make it easy by making it accessible.

Offer Incentives to Get More Reviews

Now that you are ready to receive and respond to reviews, how do you get them? Begin by offering incentives. This is helpful especially when you are a new business and do not have a lot of reviews. Offer a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop if they leave a review. Or create a contest where every good review is an entry into a prize draw – make sure you announce the winner on a social media to create excitement.

Ask the Right People to Give You Online Review

When looking for reviews, ask the right people. If you have a referral program set up and are able to track referrers you have a great resource at your disposal. If someone refers a friend to your office they are obviously happy with your services. Send them a thank you for the referral, a referral gift, and of course, a link to leave a review.

Once you encourage your customers to leave reviews, make sure their efforts are rewarded with a reply from your business. Reply to every good review with a thank you. And be ready to reply to every negative review as well.

Earn Your Reviews

If you want good reviews, then you’ll have to earn them. Have great services, a friendly staff, and an amazing themed office that makes their kids calm and happy! Our clients often have excellent reviews talking about the fun environment created by adding games and themed decor.

“The kids loved playing on the iPads on the wall and in the hot air balloon while we waited. Great experience!”
 
“We also love the play area-lots of things to do while the kids are waiting.”
 
“Super clean and decorated beautifully – it made the kids more excited to be there. Would recommend without hesitation.”
 
“Had a TON of eye candy for the kids (awesome decor and video game screens all over the place!)”

If your clients genuinely like your business, you’ll get the reviews you want. Get more marketing tips like these in our free guide.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU GET A BAD REVIEW?

The majority of review sites will not allow you to delete a bad review, so be prepared to deal with them and use them to your benefit. Handling a bad review in a professional manner can actually be just as helpful as a good review as it can show how you handle negative situations.

Also, consumers trust a 4.5 star review more than 5 stars as they feel an imperfect score to be more truthful and reflective of the business. 5 stars are just too good to be true.

But back to how to handle those reviews. Here’s a quick rundown of points you should remember when you get a bad review:

1. You want to respond as quickly as possible so that other people are not able to read this angry review without your side of the story. But be cautious. Don’t respond in the heat of the moment or you may say something you don’t want out in public.
2. Do your homework. Make sure you know your employee’s side of the situation before you craft a response.
3. Take responsibility for your part in the problem and offer a sincere apology. Even if the review is unjustified, be empathetic to the reviewer’s complaint. Let them know you understand their frustration and will help them with their issue. This shows others that you care about your customers’ opinions and feelings and will hopefully calm the anger of this particular reviewer.
4. Thank the reviewer for taking the time to bring this issue to your attention. Let them know you pride yourself on excellent customer service and appreciate the opportunity to make things right.
5. Don’t go into too much detail in your reply. Offer to take the conversation offline. You don’t want to start a debate with an irate customer on your wall of reviews, so offer to have to call or email to further discuss the issue. If you’re dealing with an online troll, just walk away. That’s a fight you’ll never win. Anyone reading the review of a troll will know when someone is just being a bully compared to leaving a legitimate review

With these tips and tricks, you have the know-how to get you on the right path to gain more reviews.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn about branding basics, social media tips, ways to improve your online efforts, plus event and promotional ideas. Or check out these strategies to help market your dental business.

Check out these other marketing and patient experience related resources:

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?