dental content

How a Dental Content Strategy Can Give You an Advantage Over the Competition

Ah, the competition. That nagging reality that you must face as a dentist and how you apply a dental content strategy to solve it.

But does the dental-practice-on-every-corner really matter to YOUR production? And what about corporate dentistry practices and their lower overhead due to their buying power?

Those and a number of competitor related questions can keep you awake at night.

Competition is overemphasized and here’s why a dental content strategy matters

Let’s start with marketing strategy. It’s a knee jerk reaction to diss the competition.

  • To point out their flaws.
  • How they’re different than you.
  • How they operate. Etc.

The problem, if that applies, is that your focus is in the wrong place relative to your competitors.

What if you’ve met the competition…and it isn’t them?

Stick with me…

What if you’ve met the competition…and it’s YOU?!

The more you focus on “them” out there…the less you’re focused on your dental patients and your influence on them.

Again, it’s natural to lay awake thinking about the newest dental center opening up a few miles away or blocks away. You’ve seen their mailers, their fancy promotion spotlighting their state-of-the-art new technology, and their new patient promotions.

But think about something for a moment. They aren’t going away and your focus on them isn’t going to change that.

What can change is your decision to embrace the competition and use it to your advantage.

What if the competition could actually help build your dental practice as you improve your dental content strategy?

Start with transparency.

The art of being transparent has huge benefits to your practice growth. Transparency should not be equated with weakness or giving-away-the-farm so to speak.

In fact, when you’re transparent – authentically so – your patients and growing base of site visitors will begin to trust you.

And that’s the first thing that transparency does…

Being transparent builds trust.

Once trust is established you can speak openly, honestly, and even glowingly (is that a word?) about your competition.

Why?

Because you’ve lightened up and stopped being concerned about your competitors impact on you. Instead, you’re recognizing that you can use their position to your advantage.

Transparency enables you to speak the truth about what anyone could find out on their own about your competition.

Remove the mystery and you’ll stop concerning yourself with every ad, promotion, and competitor move.

What does transparency look like?

Good question.

Think of it like being yourself.

  • Know your skills, expertise, and influence.
  • Focus on the unique value you deliver to your patients via your services, your team, your practice brand, your history…and your dental marketing content.
  • Be comfortable in-your-skin. In essence, be so in tune with your grasp of your patient’s and the dental seeking public’s unique questions that you’re doing them a disservice if you don’t answer them with relevant content.

Think like a teacher

“But I’m a dentist,” you say. That fact doesn’t change your role as an influencer.

You must think like a teacher…not only a dental practice owner.

Level up your role as a dental professional. And I’m not talking a CE based, colleague driven dentist.

I’m talking about your ability to influence your patient’s “buying decision” via intuitive, organic content.

By intuitive I mean the kind of dental content that isn’t focused on your latest, greatest, state of the art-ness (like your competition). Rather content that’s focused on their burning questions about a dental procedure, related costs, fears, emotions…basically anything your patients or the dental seeking public is asking about.

You differentiate yourself from your competition (and stop worrying about them) when you focus on content that solves the problems and answers the questions the dental seeking public (including your patients) are seeking and asking.

  • Ramp up your listening strategies. Tune into every available source of questions, problems, and goals that your patients and site visitors provide.
  • Create content that addresses the questions, problems, and desires of your patients and the dental seeking public.
  • Monitor and share your fresh content. This lifts you to a place of influence and expertise rather than merely a promo-of-the-month service provider (something your competition is probably focused on).

Your ability to listen and leverage information on behalf of your patients and potential patients will differentiate you from every other dental practice you fear as competition.

Practice dentistry out of abundance instead of scarcity

Make this your new reality (when you’re not obsessing over your competitors):

There’s more than enough dentistry to go around.

Focus on your influence rather than how to out-promo your competition down the street. Doing this enables you to always be in a position of strength.

Why?

No one else is doing this…and they’re not likely to start. The reasons vary but it’s always easier to follow the crowd.

In this instance the crowd of dental competitors are quite content (successful or not) to throw marketing dollars at patient attraction like everyone has always done it.

The sales mindset is difficult to shake.

And the patient focused content driven strategy is perceived too risky or ineffective for most.

Stay the course and you’ll never be lacking for patients. Because every patient or potential patient will reflexively search online for answers and solutions.

When they do…you have the advantage when your website is a solutions platform rather than a digital brochure.

The competition isn’t likely to go away. Why lose sleep over it and try to game your way past them?

Instead, accept them, befriend them…but mostly stop worrying about them. There are more important things to do…like answering your patients questions and solving their problems.

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How to Create a Better Path to Your Services Using Informative Dental Content

Though I can’t remember the source or a few details – the story is still practical. Especially as it relates to establishing your authority and influence via well-timed, informative dental copywriting and dental content.

Here’s the story as I remember it…

A developer built a multi-story office complex on several acres. The general structure was in place. Now came time for sidewalks and landscaping.

His contractor was quick to plot out the location of various greenbelt and water features and sidewalks throughout the pristine acreage. The location of sidewalks would follow the predictable layout leading to all points of entry from an expansive multi-story parking facility.

The developer placed a pause on the sidewalk construction. He asked the contractor to delay for a few weeks.

The perplexed contractor pushed-back asking why, knowing that sidewalks are standard for such a facility. And noted that any delays would create problems for the already beautiful landscaping being placed.

The developer held his ground while offering his somewhat outside-the-box wisdom.

Being practical, it made more sense to him that the people using the facility on a daily basis determine where the sidewalks should be placed.

He noted that people predictably walk where they have the easiest and most convenient access to the facility. In his experience, sidewalks are best placed where the highest percentage of foot traffic travels to and from the facility.

His wisdom: let the people create the path then place the sidewalk where they routinely to walk.

Are you building “sidewalks” with your dental content that no one’s using?

Traffic is everything to your online presence as a dental practice or dental service provider. Patients and/or clients arrive, stay, and then exit your dental website for a variety of reasons.

As important as navigation and trendy eye-candy graphics are to many – they matter less to your target audience than you might think.

Why?

Everyone’s doing it or done it…countless times. What was once trendy is now numbing and a distraction to what site visitors come to your site looking for.

Investing thousands in a flashy, trendy, or otherwise templated website is like placing a sidewalk where no one’s walking – simply because it’s where you think a “sidewalk” should for all practical purposes be placed.

Your dental website visitors are looking for one thing!

Dental services? Yes, but something more.

State-of-the-art technology? A nice feature if you have it…but no!

Amenities like coffee and tea in the waiting area? Again, a nice touch…but again, no!

Contests, give-aways, a chance to be your 1000th “Like” or “Follower” on Facebook or Instagram? Really…?!

I think you get the picture (and if not, you will or your website will continue to be a “sidewalk” that few use).

So, what are your website visitors looking for?

Solutions!

Why?

Because they have a particular problem they believe or at least hope you can solve.

And they’ll find your website and stay on your website to the point of making contact with you if…and only if…you provide solutions to their problems and/or answers to their questions.

Gone are the days when you can throw up a templated, looks-like-every-other-dental-website up on the web, fill it with feature-heavy, industry-speak, technical, self-aggrandizing, flashy content and wait for the phone to ring or the contact forms to pour in.

How to create a path that generates more patient or client leads (without doing what everyone else does)

Know your audience…who’s your avatar?

“A dental patient,” you say.

Right, but who are they?

  • What are their health goals?
  • How do they view dentistry?
  • When was their last examination and cleaning?
  • Why haven’t they scheduled treatment that’s been planned?

Those are all dental related questions. But go a bit deeper.

  • What embarrasses them about their smile?
  • How will they finance treatment they know they need?
  • When is their next big social event (e.g. wedding, reunion, interview, etc) that they want to look and feel confident attending?

The latter questions probe a bit deeper. You’re getting to an emotional core when you ask and seek answers to these questions.

Transform your dental website from an “online brochure” to an information platform

This might “sting” a little.

Without consistent, informative published content (e.g. a blog, articles) your dental website is nothing more than an easily discarded online “brochure.”

To step away from you crowd it’s essential that you share your expertise as it directly relates to the “pains” and “desires” of your “audience.”

Realize, the dental seeking public search for your services for basically two reasons:

  • They’re in pain and want relief.
  • They have an emotional or physical motivation to repair or restore something about their smile.

Sure, there are more reasons but those are fundamentally what compels your “audience” or “avatar” to seek your services.

It’s essential that you position yourself as the “expert.”

How?

Through publishing (weekly is best, bi-weekly at a minimum) informative content that compels a person seeking dentistry (for whatever reason) to schedule.

So, you must “pour your sidewalk” where they’re walking…

  • Probe for questions and problems during every opportunity you have with a patient. Your current patients will provide clues to what the dental seeking public desire.
  • Keep a running list (spreadsheet, etc) of every seed thought, seed question, or verbatim question or problem you encounter from patients. This is a goldmine for content and copy themes.
  • Write conversational content that answers questions and solves problems. Few (really) are doing this. And you’ll grow your influence (and production) when you position yourself as a problem-solver.

Remember, sidewalks provide convenient access to a facility or they’re simply a place to go for a stroll. The easier the access the better.

The same applies to your dental website. Create an informative platform and you’ll make accessing your services easier.

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How to Fearlessly Handle Problems Using Your Dental Content

The antidote to a problem is a useful solution. Might seem obvious but how you use dental content to solve problems is a key to earning trust.

You’re kidding yourself if you ignore consumer’s top worries as relates to your products or services. It’s the dilemma every business faces…dental practices and dental industry businesses too.

If anything CAN go wrong…

But why not focus on what’s right?

It’s common that weaknesses are feared more than strengths. Negative is more popular than positive. Wrong is more controversial than right.

For example, it’s why promoting dental implants as a tooth replacement over a partial denture will occasionally prompt a list of negatives.

In this instance, online searches typically lean toward “negative reviews for dental implants.”

The public wants to know what “…can go wrong…” This reality holds given perceived investment value.

This drift to the “negative” can apply to one dental supplier relationship over another, to a particular technology, to traditional braces or Invisalign®. It’s what the public is wired to do.

”Hug” the “elephant-in-the-room”

Problems are a gold-mine of opportunity for creating dental content. The less afraid of them you are, the better your content will be received (and discovered).

Remember, what the dental-seeking-public searches for online relative to your services or products. They often search for “…problems with ?”

Fearlessly standing next to the “elephant-in-the-room” will instill trust in your expertise.

Sure, it’s more popular to highlight the features and be careful not to open pandora’s box of doubt regarding what “can go wrong.”

But when you’re unafraid to boldly list and then answer negative issues…you gain credibility through your dental marketing content.

How a problem-bias leverages your dental content as the solution

Invite problem-solution conversations

Build a natural assumption into your dental marketing narratives. In essence, avoid being “offended” that a patient or client might find something wrong.

Instead, welcome the conversation that their questions and problem-perceptions create. These dialogues can lead to a variety of beneficial outcomes.

  • Problem-based questions lead to solution-based answers. Share content about how your particular product/service solves their issue or alleviates their concern.
  • Problem-based questions put you in expert-mode. Leverage every opportunity to confirm your ability to understand your audience and educate them via your content.

Be aware of how your patients or clients think

Dental marketing can easily numb your audience. The amount of well-intentioned direct mail flyers and online ads becomes “white-noise” especially if it’s perceived you’re not listening.

  • Confirm you’re all-ears by answering their questions and concerns with honesty. Inform more than sell.
  • Compel their trust by being unafraid to talk about your competitors. Be transparent.

Theme your dental content as a go-to solution source

It bears repeating. A problem-solution, ask-and-answer content strategy gives you an advantage.

Today’s consumers are search oriented. They ask Siri, Alexa, and Google what they want to know.

You’ll be among the, “Here’s-what-I’ve-found-on-the-web-about…” answers if your content is themed around answering relevant questions and solving common problems.

  • Listen to your audience’s questions, comments, and reviews. Read between the lines to get to the root of how your product/service can meet their need.
  • Leverage your content into their space. Use a variety of content delivery channels – blog/article page, social media, email.

Content gives you confidence. Use it to highlight the positive and clarify the occasionally negative.

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The Real Value of Dental Content (And Why It Matters That You Be Willing to Pay For It)

The ability to cut-to-the-chase. However you picture that phrase – apply that thought to how you create and share your dental copy and content and you’ll compel more readers.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty…I must say that economy of words (as in less words to make your point) should not be equated with lower fees.

The “Get-What-You-Pay-For” dilemma

Inquiries about copywriting or content services (aka what I do) often mistake less writing with lower fees. For example, its common for a potential client to be under the notion that because a direct mail postcard is small and has less copy that it shouldn’t cost as much.

I’ll let you in on something….

Creating your message with less words is much more strategic and requires more copywriting skill than throwing a lot of cute, creative jargon on a 4 x 6 piece of colorful card stock!

Here’s why. It’s the equivalent of someone going down a long rabbit trail of explanation to give you what could be a few simple (but compelling) words. Or someone who gives you way more backstory than necessary to give you the gist of their experience.

Copywriters and content creators are a dime-a-dozen who can throw words on a screen (page) and bill you for pennies on the dollar. No offense to those clawing their way to earn a living.

But…a core skill is required to step away from the crowded room of freelancers eager to do your copy/content bidding!

K.I.S.S

Not the 70’s rock band (though I loved those guys).

K-eep I-t S-imple S-tup… (I mean) S-illy!

You gotta K.I.S.S. your copy and content. And knowing how to do that strategically with every piece of it you create is a pro-level skill!

I’m biased because I’ve invested years in the use of words to create compelling copy and content. More specifically, within the dental industry.

Sure, I’ve written hundreds of pages for other niches too but here is where I focus a large percentage of my time.

Dentists and dental industry pros don’t make it easier, either.

How so?

As I’ve shared before, industry jargon and CE course-like copy and content seem to be the preferred choice of some.

I have good news though!

That’s changing.

Here’s how…

I get more requests for conversational copy/content these days.

Why?

Because more content seekers are beginning to understand that content that sounds like a conversation between two individuals compels better than numbing, stodgy, institutional, salesy language.

The VOICE

Again, not a pop-culture reference (as in the TV show). “Voice is about relationship, benefits, and response.

Master copywriter and direct-response professional, Paul Hollingshead explains it this way:

”Imagine the person you’re writing to. Picture him or her as a friend. Believe that the product you’re selling will improve your friend’s life. Figure out what it would take to convince you to buy the product.” fn

The essence of his perspective has to do with a one-on-one, conversational tone. It’s creating copy and content that sounds like a dialogue between two friends not an interchange with a commission-driven salesperson.

Big difference!

Three practical steps to improving the value of your dental content and copy

1-Write to one person

Before your begin writing, “picture” a person.

  • Who are they?
  • Why would they be interested in your services?
  • What would compel them to make an informed decision about your services?
  • What are their questions about your services?
  • How do they prefer to receive the information you provide about your services?

Words are not the only important part of your website, promotion, mailing, blog post, article, newsletter, email, etc.

The “person” who engages with your content is too!

2-Connect with benefits

All “selling” begins with benefits. If that’s true (and it is) why drown your audience in features?

Always talking about your latest, greatest, best, state-of-the-art-est (follow?) this or that misses the reason someone would ultimately use your services.

Benefit focused content and copy delivers value because it resonates with a person’s emotions. They get the sense that a particular service or product will improve…or potentially…change their life!

  • Inventory every service you have for the hidden or front-and-center benefit it delivers
  • List every benefit you can think of for your services beyond the tagline level (e.g Instead of “whiter teeth and fresh breath…” think job interview or date-night confidence…)
  • Include benefits as the plot-line throughout each piece of content you create

3-Compel action

What good is a one-person focused, benefit-rich piece of content or copy if it doesn’t compel a specific response. Fearlessly ask the person you’re communicating with to take action.

Once again, this is where your grasp of specific benefits counts. More so, how they directly apply to the person.

To create action in your copy/content:

  • Refer to your list of benefits
  • Recall the emotion(s) your audience is feeling related to your service(s)
  • Refine the “close” of your copy/content with a specific call-to-action

Instead of a mere “Call us…or Contact us…” add:

“Contact us now to (add specific benefit phrase)…”

Be response-able with your copy and content. Keep in mind that it’s okay to tell your audience what to do. In fact, they sort of expect it.

And remember…

Your services will be valued even more when you place a higher value on the creation of copy and content that’s required to reach them.

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4 Ways to Create and Share Dental Content That’s Fresh (and Unpredictable)

We purchase our fruits, vegetables, and other healthy-choices from a particular, popular grocer. The same “tastes” apply, in principle, to a best-practice for how you create and share your dental content.

Here’s the point…

“Freshness” is this national grocery chain’s core value. Walk among the produce selections, browse their extensive bulk-foods department, or shop their meat department and you’ll encounter their focus on “fresh.”

My wife and I like that. And the same concept applies to the content your patients and/or clients consume.

Who likes stale, predictability?

There’s a misguided notion (among some) that dental website content, specifically, should be all-inclusive. For example, it’s thinking that your Services pages on your website should thoroughly explain each procedure down to the detail.

Its as if some clinicians and dental professionals fear their intellectual or academic integrity is at risk if a site visitor can’t leave the webpage without CE credits.

Get a whiff of staleness…yet?

Site visitors are looking for something you might not be providing

I must admit that though I write tons of dental content – web copy, blog posts, direct mail copy, email copy, newsletter copy, etc, the general public isn’t feverishly awaiting what you’ll publish next. Frankly, it’s probably not even on their “radar” unless they’re searching for an answer or solution to what your content provides.

That being the case, why would you want to dull-down your content with same-ole-same-ole dental speak?

Face it…dental content might not be the “sexiest” but it CAN be something other than stale and predictable.

Create and share dental content that resonates and doesn’t bore!

People love a good story! And the way an effective story works is by “hooking” the reader in an uncharacteristic or unpredictable way.

Sure, most storylines follow the same general path. It all begins with a premise.

Brian Clark explains:

”The premise is the embodiment of a concept that weaves itself from headline to conclusion, tying everything together into a compelling, cohesive, and persuasive narrative with one simple and inevitable conclusion – your desired action.”

This is what you’re doing along the patient-to-appointment or client-to-buyer journey. Your premise will succeed when you create content for a specific person who brings a particular set of questions, problems, or assumptions to your services.

How to create “fresh” (never stale) dental content

The following four elements are a vital part of your dental content marketing strategy.

1-Take the “road-less-traveled”

Be unpredictable. You’ll gain more lasting, viral attention if you avoid predictability.

Attention gets lost on your reader when they know where you’re going. Keep them curious and your content will be irresistible.

The key to unpredictability?

Know WHO you’re talking to. And be unafraid to talk to them at a more intimate (emotional) level than is typical of marketing conversations.

Your competitors will succeed or fail at this level. Most are looking for the quick-hit, force-them-into-and-out-of-the-funnel approach.

You’ll begin to stand out when you step away from the crowd.

”Taking an approach that differs from the crowd can help you stand out, and that’s why unpredictability is crucial…” 1

Keep it fresh and your perceived value will rise.

2-Champion simplicity

Clarity rules. Your ability to distill complex subjects into readable, compelling content is essential.

This doesn’t mean you “dumb-it-down” (contrary to what some dental professionals feel more conversational copy will do). Remember you’re purpose with dental content is to answer questions, provide solutions, and compel a response…not impress with knowledge.

Relax! Your patients/clients “get” that you’re a skilled, educated professional.

Guide. Deliver substance without complicating it.

3-Keep it real

This is the human-touch your reader experiences with your content. Remember you’re speaking to a person…another human being.

Be yourself!

People are accustomed to the new realities of a social media world. Content that’s crisp and reads like you’re in a conversation is perceived as authentic.

”Your messages must communicate meaningful benefits that are also tangible.” 2

The use and communication of tangible benefits connects with your reader at an emotional level. Emotional connections keep you grounded in reality instead of talking over-the-heads of your patients and clients.

4-Stay credible

Believability is closely associated with credibility. Your content must be believable.

This is where innovative or overly creative content can miss the mark. Proof is required even more when your ideas or offers are innovative.

Avoid hype. Your content loses valuable and necessary credibility when you over-hype your idea.

Again, remember to keep it real. Your authenticity will guide the voice and tone of your content.

Do this and you’ll maintain a consistent level of trust and credibility. That translates to your readers engaging with and sharing your content…plus being more compelled to take action as a result.

A content refresh will help you eliminate predictability. Fresh is the way to go these days. Your audience will “eat-it-up.”

  1. https://www.copyblogger.com/how/
  2. https://www.copyblogger.com/how/
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