July 2015
3 Strategies to Stop a Common Mistake You Could Be Making on Your Dental Website
Our grandson is sharp. As a six year old he’s also incredibly random.
He blends his thoughts with the skill of a chef. And it’s most entertaining when his conversations shift-without-a-clutch as he jumps from one topic to another.
Yes, we laugh a lot when he’s around. Good times.
Randomness has me wondering. I don’t often rant in my posts…but today…well…here goes.
These days it appears that many dental professionals (and I suspect other industry pros as well) still don’t get-it when it comes to their dental web page content.
Cliche’ ALERT!
If I’ve heard it once I’ve heard it a thousand times from clients – “We want more substance on our internal web pages….Why bullet points…Where’s the (self-indulgent) information about our state-of-the-art thingamajig…??” Geez!
I’ll stop there. But I won’t stop my bold appeal – there’s a place for information and so-called substance and it’s not necessarily on your standard, internal web pages (Hang tight, I’ll clue you in shortly.)
Do your dental website readers really care?
That’s a good question. And you should give significant strategic thought to it.
As a copywriter and content strategist I certainly do. In fact, that question is where I live when writing.
Put yourself in the shoes of a potential new patient or a client (if you’re a dental business other than a dental practice). They find your website or content as result of a search.
Typically that search is driven by the use of a specific keyword or key phrase. But actually reading your content when they arrive is a completely different issue.
Is there more to online search success than SEO?
It’s not necessarily because you stuffed your internal web pages like the gluttonous rampage of a person on their third trip to the all-you-can-eat buffet line. Today’s search success (leading some to prophesy that “SEO is dead”) has more to do with usefulness and authority than it does keyword strategy.
Say again…?
That last sentence will perhaps get me in trouble with some. But I’m worn-out with crap content that attempts to game the search engines and funnel people into something more than it informs, educates, and provides solid solutions.
Maybe it’s because I’m not an SEO rock star (I’m really somewhat okay with that). But the more I learn and expand my bandwidth, the less inclined I am to be a “gamer” with my new-found knowledge and skill.
Mostly, I want to help people because I believe in the power of words to persuade, coach, help, assist, create breakthroughs, lead, feed, encourage, serve, promote, compel, on and on I could go. I love words.
And you should love the power of words too.
But not random, misplaced, or otherwise overused words. Who reads them?
And frankly…who cares?
1-Deliver value and your value will increase.
Design your internal web page content (Home page, About page, Services/Product pages, etc.) as crisp, to the point, and benefit oriented as possible. Trash the industry-speak, “feature-focus,” “est-syndrome (greatest, latest – you get the picture), and “state-of-the-art-cutting-edge” drivel.
2-Lose the idea that high word count (on internal pages – see above) is the ticket to search success.
Maybe it helps (and I said, “maybe”). But maybe you’re better served by serving your readers with more words on those pages that are capable of delivering the value you want to deliver. Internal web pages (again, see above) are for one purpose – to establish a credible call-to-action. For the dental practice that’s a scheduled appointment. For the dental industry business that’s a client lead, inquiry, or purchase order. Period. Why numb your readers/visitors with the sound of your own voice because you think you must?
3-Build your authority and increase your “word-count” where it has greater valued readability.
Blog, write informative articles, create high-value digital newsletters, podcast, use images, info-graphics, video, and social media channels. Words carry more weight there than they do tucked away on internal pages where people are numbed and disinclined to visit…much less read.
Web visitors and content readers these days are onto you. They know the gig, especially when clicking on a dental practice website.
One pretty, smiling stock photo image says it all. And the response is all too familiar – “We’ve been here before…Tell us something about your dental practice (or even better – your expertise) we haven’t already read a thousand times…”
Want to build credibility and authority?
- Be different than the dental practice or dental business down-the-street in your website content.
- Focus your site visitor’s and reader’s attention on information they can use and that’s packed with solutions.
That’s not random. These days it’s the most strategic thing you can do in your dental marketing via your website.
Try Free-Flying Content Creation and Watch Your Dental Marketing Soar
Sometimes you do it just for the sheer joy. That’s what came to mind as I watched the bird soaring overhead.
Call it your “sweet-spot” or your “wheelhouse.” The expertise you have gives you a certain freedom that you can use to your dental marketing advantage.
The Mississippi Kites nesting high in the branches of our backyard tree “get it.” This species of bird, common to my region, appear to fly because they can but also because it’s such a joy.
I’ll sit on my patio watching them. They freely ride the thermals in the summer sky – dipping, gliding, soaring.
Freedom with no agenda
Marketing is a strategic endeavor. Seldom do you share content, a tweet, a Facebook post, or an email without an “agenda.”
What would happen if you took a “just-because” approach? And what would that look like?
The kite (bird) soaring above my neighborhood experiences a kind of “just-because” freedom you should pursue in your dental marketing.
Picture this…
When you have something to say or share, why not send an email, publish a blog post, post on social media for the sheer joy of doing so.
Share your knowledge and expertise without expecting anything in return.
That might initially seem like a waste. After all, you earned your position, built your practice or business with your bare hands and buckets of sweat. Right?
I don’t blame you for wanting some credit. And certainly the best credit comes in the form of compensated services.
These days, people flock (speaking of birds) to authority. This is vitally true in the online, digital space via your web content.
Let the R.O.I. (Return On Investment) take care of itself.
The R.O.I. of your online, digital content extends way beyond your intentions. You can SEO-it, measure it, analyze it – and I recommend doing that within reason.
But the ultimate test of your investment is how useful you are to your reader or page visitor. Once they give you their time and then their trust by returning for more of your content you are on the way to a new kind of marketing freedom.
I’ve said it before, the days of building a dental website, setting-it-and-forgetting-it are gone! You must return again and again with consistent, useful stream of content to see a return.
Why?
Web visitors are easily bored, overloaded with information, saturated with industry-speak, and hungry for useful, authoritative expertise.
It’s your “wheelhouse.” Grind it out!
I’m not suggesting that you make content creation a daily, heavy “grind.” Quite the contrary.
Rather, approach it like the Mississippi Kite soaring above my backyard. “Fly” free, my friend…!
Free up time and resources to freely create free content. These days nothing builds authority and showcases your expertise more than marketing via relevant, useful content.
- Launch, re-launch, or replenish your current blog or article page. Give more attention to your ongoing content feed than you do the eye-candy design temptations or word-count concerns common to dental website design. Consistent, useful content holds your readers attention and delivers value. If they trust your expertise they’ll more likely give you their time and business loyalty.
- Provide multiple channels of content access. It’s safe to assume that some are readers (blog posts, enewsletters, email, ebooks, Twitter, Facebook posts, etc.). Others are listeners (audio content, podcasts, audio chats, etc.). And some are viewers who prefer visual content (YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, webinars, etc.). Know your “tribe.” Patients and clients come in all flavors and so should your content (and how it’s delivered).
- Expect and ask for feedback. What you ask for can be measured. Reviews, shares, mentions, retweets (on Twitter) – these are votes for (or sometimes against) your services and the content you use to promote them. Ask, survey, and turn those nuggets of vital feedback into more useful content that serves your growing “tribe” of patients and clients.
Freedom isn’t necessarily “free.” But it is freeing to soar above the noise of today’s marketing landscape.
Freely create content or hire someone to do it for you. Whatever you do, give some “wings” to your expertise. The sky’s-the-limit!
Why “Tasty” Associations are Way Better than “Deadly” Assumptions in Your Dental Website Content
It was a random, out of season, statement. Especially during the heat of July.
There’s a gap between making an association and making an assumption. One can benefit your dental website content. The other can hinder it’s impact.
The key is playing to your strengths. Especially on the benefit side.
Our grandson was thoroughly enjoying some chive and onion cream cheese spread during a family gathering. Scooping a glob of deliciousness onto his cracker he commented, “This dip tastes like Christmas…”
We laughed at his seasonal leap from the summer, mid-year heat to thoughts of cooler temps and holiday gatherings. I found it interesting that, at his young age, he could make such a brilliant taste association.
A matter of taste
You have the benefit of associating certain tastes, smells, sights, and sounds with experiences. Some good and pleasant. Others bad and unpleasant.
You hear a song on the radio and you’re immediately transported to another time and place. The smell of a certain food overtakes you and you’re immediately back at grandma’s dinner table.
Your dental website also comes with a certain set of associations. I’ll deal with some “deadly” assumptions in a moment.
The moment a search lands someone on your site you have an extremely limited amount of time (as in seconds) to form an association for the reader. In fact, you have somewhere between two and five seconds to be exact.
“Guilt” by association or “death” by assumption
If you have a choice, in my professional opinion it’s better to be “guilty” on the association side of your web content than it is die a slow “death” by assumption.
Here’s an example of making an assumption: The more you say about what makes you different or better than another dental practice down the street will lead to more scheduled treatment.
It’s better to lead your website visitors to make an association. For example, your dental website should remind visitors of what they will receive by scheduling or doing business with you. Create website copy/content that answers the question, “So what…?”
“So what…,” you have a new state of the art digital x-ray device – how does it benefit the patient?
“So what…,” your dental practice features a lobby coffee bar, satellite TV on three, 60 inch, HD tv’s, and warm towels in the patient exam rooms – list a deeper benefit for each of those.
Those and many more are excellent (and overly promoted) features associated with many dental practices these days. The key: connect them with stated benefits.
Another assumption: The more words I have on my web pages, the better my search results will be.
It’s common to assume that more is better. That more words makes you more legitimate or search engine friendly.
Not. So. Much.
In fact much or more is not always better.
Try this association: Your readers will better associate with your dental website copy when it’s simply and usefully worded. Remember “fluff” and “bloated” page content bores and prompts a click away from the page.
Create website copy that’s readable, “You”-focused, easy to navigate with benefit oriented bullet points, and plenty of eye-appealing white space.
And yet another assumption: Your website will create all the response you need if it’s full of eye-candy graphics, images of smiling, “beautiful” people, and a trendy looking design.
Compare dental websites in your area or community. Make note of the stock images you find that are used on your site and/or a number of others.
This creates a deja-vu feeling – “I’ve been here before…next!”
And with a click they’re gone. Translation: new patient, next treatment, production…lost!
Association: Your site visitors will respond when you compel them to. Website visitors respond when they’re told what to do next.
And that next step is easier because you have a clear call-to-action. Create compelling, call-to-action copy and links on every web page.
Answer the question clearly: “Where do I go/click next…?” Use action words like, “schedule,” “call us…,” “contact…”
On your dental website one paragraph of copy/content should naturally and compellingly lead to another. Design useful, informative, benefit-focused, action-friendly web pages throughout your site.
Make no “deadly” assumptions. Instead, create new, fresh associations.
You’ll create site visitors who say, “This reads (”tastes”) like a dental provider I could schedule with.”
And isn’t that why you have a website in the first place?
How to Add Some “Suspense” to Your Dental Marketing Content and Increase Your Influence
Out of the corner of my eye, all I saw was a dark flash outside my studio window. And then a few tufts of feathers floating upward in the breeze.
The suspense hung in the air as I searched for the cause of all the commotion.
It’s easy to miss the point of why you create content for your dental marketing. And the bigger issue might be what’s really missing.
As far as I could tell the bird never saw it coming. The “it,” was apparently the small white cat with said bird in its mouth (Poor, lil’ thing…the bird that is).
The plot unfolding outside my studio window was thick. Suspense works that way.
What’s the point of your dental marketing content? Even more revealing – what’s the plot?
A random flash of dental speak here and there isn’t a plot.
Why?
People expect that. So, let’s talk expectations for a moment.
Web searches turn up hundreds, even thousands, of results for dental services. Depending on the size of your locale those search results can be even higher.
I write a lot of dental website content for clients. And my curiosity remains high about how effective it really is when all’s-said-and-done.
Potential dental patients, new patients, or those seeking your dental services, etc., arrive at on your website for one reason.
Something worked in their search query.
Keyword rich copy is essential. But…
I’m realizing there must be more to keep them ON your website. And more important – returning again and again.
Don’t cop out saying – “Well, they scheduled…or hired us…so my website must have done it’s job.”
Sure, a scheduled appointment adds to your dental digital marketing win-column. I’ll give you that.
What is of equal importance is the relationship you’ve only begun to develop with that new patient or client.
Is the suspense (or lack of it) “killing” you?
Who is helped by typical, outdated, status-quo, overly technical, feature-heavy, dental web content? And why is that a necessary question?
Imagine someone arriving on you dental website and experiencing something entirely fresh, out-of-the-box. What would that look like?
Glad you asked!
The new brand of dental web copy that adds a little suspense, keeps them returning for more, and sharing what they found so your dental practice or dental industry business achieves greater influence.
That’s a lot to comprehend. Allow me to break it down.
Your new brand of dental website copy or digital marketing content isn’t about your services.
“But I’m in the business of providing dental services,” you say. Correct! You are.
Yet, that’s not the only reason why people do business with YOU!
Remember those thousands of web search results?
You are hopefully among them. And the only reason you or another local practice or business showed up where you did in the rankings has everything to do with this.
One, you paid for your ranking with ads or any of the common, trendy approaches that work but also devour time and cash flow.
Or…
Two, you’re nowhere near the top of the search pile because you didn’t invest in the latest, trendy SEO technique.
Or…
Three (and here’s something to think about and repeat lavishly), you achieved a higher ranking than most because you know the value of a content-rich website that consistently provides useful, relevant content for those searching for your services.
It’s not only what you do or provide. It’s also about showing up consistently with information that showcases your authority or expertise.
- Launch or re-launch your dental blog or dental articles page. It’s the most cost-effective and long-term beneficial strategy to maximize all that dental-speak that you think can only be posted on your services pages.
- Use your blog to communicate the information potential patients or clients are searching for about solutions for their dental health or dental business.
Your new brand of dental website copy isn’t really about YOU.
“But I’m the founder, the dentist.” Right. You are!
And everyone expects you to talk about you.
How about your About Us page? You know, that page where you talk about qualifications, educational achievements, CE credits, and on and on.
There has to be more.
- Tell readers less about your qualifications and more about what it’s like to do “business” with you. For example, what does an appointment look like from start to finish? What’s your personal treatment philosophy? How does a consultation move step by step? And what are the outcomes people can expect?
- Invest your dental marketing copy in those descriptive processes that build the “suspense” about what it’s like to work with you and your team. The return on that investment has the potential to be greater than a quick glance and…”Oh, sounds like every other dentist or dental service provider in my search results.”
Suspense can transform your dental marketing efforts. Use a bit of it to increase your value in the eyes of those searching for precisely what you provide.
13 Clues Your Dental Website is Leaking (And a Few Strategies to Fix It)
Words I don’t like to hear – “Honey, the carpet in the extra bedroom is damp.” My first thought: “We’ve had a ton of rain in recent days….,”
But that wasn’t it.
Perhaps you can relate on an entirely different level. Like, “Hey, our dental website doesn’t seem to be generating many leads lately.”
It’s a common issue. And it’s especially true if your site is one of those business “necessities” that you had designed and have not given much thought to since.
My household disaster culprit was much the same. The out-of-sight-out-of-mind hot water heater had begun to fail and slowly leak.
The end of its usefulness
Websites, like household appliances, wear out. In our case, we got a ton more years out of this faithful water heater than should be expected.
It’s a good thing when your resources last longer than expected. And it’s better when you get a heads-up that a change needs to be made before more damage is done.
Is your website leaking?
A strange question, right? But a solid, up to date, useful website platform is essential to your digital marketing success today.
Let’s diagnose it for a moment.
Your website is “leaking” if:
1-The copy/content on your pages hasn’t been updated in, like, 2 or more years!
2-You rely on flashy, moving, revolving, explosive, eye-candy (shall I continue…?) banners to call attention to your pages.
3-Your page copy is a technical, wordy, encyclopedia-like collection of “dental industry speak” that only you and anyone with enough CE credits would understand.
4-You use fine-print to tell site visitors/readers the real “deal” about your services and promotional offers.
Your website is “leaking” if…
5-The word count on your main pages and sub-pages is bloated with more than 500 words each.
6-It’s so keyword dense that the copy doesn’t flow.
7-You use the words, “state-of-the-art,” “cutting-edge,” “Welcome…” and other basically irrelevant, feature-heavy words to describe your services.
8-The word “you” is rarely if ever used because your copy isn’t reader focused.
9-Your copy doesn’t offer compelling benefits focused on why your readers should choose your services.
10-There are few if any calls-to-action that guide the reader where to “click” or navigate to next.
11-The bottom-line of your site doesn’t compel readers to schedule, request more information, hire you, read more, or take some relevant action.
12-You say, “Blog?…What blog…?…I don’t have time to blog…?”
13-Or…”Social media buttons…what are those?…and what would I do with them if I had them?”
Any of the above mentioned true? If so, your website could be leaking as we speak.
Let’s fix this, shall we?
For starters…
- Make your dental website a platform instead of a digital brochure.
- Use your website as a content delivery machine. Update your content consistently via your blog or article page.
- Showcase your authority and professional expertise by having an educational mindset.
- These days information creates opportunity. Create an informational stream relevant to your specialty or services.
- Think blog posts, webinars, podcasts, downloadable simple, short ebooks. Answer your patient’s and client’s questions through these content sources.
Begin to plug the leaks in your website with these strategies. And ask for help if you prefer to stay in your wheelhouse of daily expertise.
Leave website copy and content creation to…well…those who do this all-day, everyday.