Use a Word-of-Mouth Marketing Mindset to Give Your Dental Content an Advantage
A recent conversation with a dental professional gave me a key insight. Here it is…
There’s a big disconnect about the wording of effective dental content.
Our back-and-forth discussion via email prompted my thinking about the clinical vs. conversational tone of dental copy in general. His respectable clinical expertise was somewhat toe-to-toe with my copy and content writing expertise.
I believe there’s a win-win to be achieved. But…the ultimate “win” is for those who consume the practice’s content…or at least it should be.
It’s not about you!
Your top challenge as a dental professional (specifically with your marketing copy and content) is taking the focus off YOU! It’s easy to throw down words touting your latest…greatest…state-of-the-art…cutting edge (shall I continue) innovation or procedure. Add to that the often used technical verbiage that’s more appropriate for clinical journals and colleague conversations.
For this discussion let’s say that dental marketing copy and content has two sole purposes:
- To inform and educate. This is perhaps where my recent conversation ran off the rails. It’s a mistaken notion that informative must equate to industry jargon.
Which leads to the second purpose…
- To compel a specific action – schedule, call, contact, click, reply, etc… This assumes that the dental-services-seeking public are interested in what eliminates their pain, improves their appearance and health, or both.
Dental content is about the reader (patient). It’s their “story” that matters.
So, who are you talking to?
This question must guide every piece of content you publish. It’s where I begin when I’m writing copy and content of any scope.
It’s essential that you create a copy/content “environment” where the reader is the focus. It’s THEIR problem that requires a solution or THEIR question that needs answering.
The result of your sensitivity to them and their problems and questions is where you make connections. And when your copy/content is the vehicle that delivers you could earn a patient or client for life.
Who’s talking?
Apparently tons of people are willing to talk about businesses that make an impression on them. Forester Research confirms that approximately 500 billion word-of-mouth impressions are created daily via social media.
Social interaction is making a difference on the economy. The big question: is it positively impacting yours?
Get this…McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm, reveal that an estimated two-thirds of the US economy is fueled by word-of-mouth. fn
Let that sink in…
- 500 billion conversational impressions
- Two thirds of the US economy influenced by conversations
The “talk-is-cheap” mantra might best be repackaged as talk-has-extreme-value! Today’s “water-cooler” gatherings are vastly different than a decade ago…and enhancing those connections is helped by the tone of your copy and content.
How a conversational mindset can have a longterm…viral impact on your patient or client relationships
- “Talk” (write) about what matters…to your reader. It’s essential that you listen and then leverage what you hear into solution oriented content. Make sure your expertise (and the language you use about it) isn’t the focus as much as how it solves their problems and/or answers their burning question(s) of the moment.
- Use words that resonate and those that compel your reader. Again, avoid fancy, heady, intellectual, jargon-y sounding language. Find and use relevant synonyms that create culturally appropriate images in your reader’s mind.
Word-of-mouth impressions are powerful because they’re everyday and conversationally driven. Writing like you (and your patients and/or clients) talk keeps the conversation going…and that leads to longterm, healthy relationships.
What to Learn from Augmented Reality That Can Improve Your Dental Content Marketing
U2 understands the value of audience engagement. Their use of augmented reality (AR) during the opening segment of their eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE tour provides perspective for how you can use dental content marketing to connect with patients.
I downloaded U2’s recommended app prior to attending the tour’s opening night concert with my wife. The overall concert experience was epic as you would expect from Bono and crew.
I pointed my iPhone’s camera at the enormous screen running the length of the arena floor. The app produced a gigantic (AR based) image of Bono performing the opening song for a few moments.
The use of AR got me to thinking about how vital it is to give your patients a fresh way to engage with your content. It’s essential that you’re a trusted guide on your patient’s encounters with your content – whatever the platform.
Let’s Get Personal
Personalization will set your dental marketing apart from the crowd. Influence is achieved according to how personally you relate to your patients via each content source.
You become a recognized influencer when your content intersects your patient’s life – including how you provide solutions to their problems. Content that sounds formal, out dated, and salesy will keep them at arms length.
If you want to pull them into your story (practice/brand) you must step into theirs (story). This helps when your content could be perceived as lacking freshness or relevance to them.
That’s not uncommon. Your patients are bombarded with buy-this, read-this, click-here content daily. Make yours standout from the crowd.
A Somewhat Different Sound
U2 combined something visually stimulating with their already captivating music. Necessary? Perhaps not – given their achieved level of influence.
For you, it’s perhaps more necessary. Why? Because patients are already dulled by all-about-us content. The kind that promotes “the latest…state-of-the-art this or that…!”
You get the picture. Sadly, your patients don’t!
Adjust your tone. Create a new sound. And you’re more likely to appeal to a crowd of tone-deaf dental patients others aren’t reaching.
Warm-up Your “Crowd” by Renewing Your Content Voice
It’s about narrowing the distance between your “audience” and your content (as U2 did with AR). Creating a new brand of intimacy with your content cannot happen on a traditional stage.
You must augment the “reality” between their need for dentistry and the services you provide. Again, it’s not about you (your services) as much as its about them and their “story” (dental problems and related questions).
1-Lose the salesperson sound
A scripted, late-night-infomercial, like-you-walked-onto-a-used-car-lot tone doesn’t build trust between their story and your services. Effective copy and content can be full of “punch” while being delivered conversationally.
Be true to yourself by creating content that sounds like a conversation…not a sales presentation! Dial-down the salesy voice and dial-up the personal, conversational voice.
In essence, write like you talk.
2-Be enthusiastic just not overly so
Content energy isn’t about hype. It’s about your genuine excitement to solve relevant problems and answer real questions.
Listen to what you’re patients are asking and what problems they’re experiencing. Tap into those and let your energy flow into how your expertise/services can deliver life and health transforming solutions.
You’ll be 90% engaged with them if you start and end there!
3-Bridge the gap between their emotional desires and your solutions
Again, listening is key here. Know your patients intimately by investing time asking probing questions. The kind of questions you’re genuinely interested in hearing their answers about.
Understand your patient’s point-of-view about how your services will impact their life. Give them control over those outcomes as the influential guide along the way.
This is the goal of your content.
4-Think long-term about your relationship with them
Dentistry is rarely one-and-done care. The quality and lifetime value of what you provide confirms this.
It’s your task to educate and inform them along the journey to good health. Ultimately the choice is theirs but you’re in a better position to influence them if you take a long-term view through your content.
This eliminates the pressure to push too hard. If your dental marketing is held hostage to costly direct mail or broadcast media campaigns you’re more likely to feel the pressure.
Content is evergreen and thus cost-effective. Plus it relies on the one thing that gives your patients a sense of control – their permission.
And that gives you access to virtually unlimited potential for influence.
How Buyer Personas Could Increase Your Dental Marketing Success
Before you crank out your next dental marketing piece push pause. There’s something you’ll want to include, besides something catchy or creative.
Compelling today’s dental patient or dental industry client requires more than a burst of creativity. Their decisions about your services have less to do with an eye-candy mailer or luring them with a cute contest.
What’s the catch?
Truthfully, there is no catch. Get comfortable without one.
Today’s patient has one thing you must know and understand. And it becomes the focus of your dental marketing.
A Problem
It’s at the core of their buyer (patient) persona.
David Meerman Scott takes a bold step saying that a “buyer persona” is better than a focus on benefits. He shares a true story that reveals the power of the buyer persona.
”Nick Woodman wanted to sell cameras with a waterproof housing. A ‘benefits, not features’ approach would have used language like, “protect your camera while it is in the water.” Nick however did much more than reverse-engineer benefits from the features. He interviewed surfers to learn about their problems around shooting photos in the waves. Surfers told him they found it challenging to paddle into a wave with a camera, stand, get into balance and trim, and then only having a second to take a photo. It was too awkward to do with the cameras available on the market at the time. The key learnings from the interview is surfers don’t look for the benefit of “protecting my camera in the water”. Rather, they want to know ‘how can I take photos while surfing.’ And that’s how in 2004, the GoPro was born and have since sold millions of cameras.”
Problems lead to solutions. And solutions are what you provide as a dental professional.
But first, what’s the problem?
It’s easy to think about every dental patient as one in the same. Generally speaking that’s true.
And yet each patient has a unique “story” that highlights their specific problem-solution persona.
It’s time for you to become the “mentor-guide” that’s pointing the way. That’s the role of your dental services content.
According to Copyblogger’s Bryan Clark,
”……by accepting the role of mentor with your content, your business accomplishes its goals while helping the prospect do the same. Which is how business is supposed to work, right?”
Stop Marketing to Your Patients…
Instead get to know their problems. How?
Listen
Be attentive to every story they tell…problem they reveal…pain they mention…etc. As vital as your clinical expertise is to them so is your empathy.
If you want them to become part of your “story” you must join them in theirs with a sincere level of empathetic listening.
Use aggressive listening
Have a predetermined set of strategic questions. Make sure they’re designed to probe beneath the surface of why they (really) called and scheduled.
It’s often more than a commitment to routine dental care (though you want them to value that). It could have more to do with their calendar, relationships, or life goals.
For example, create and have on-hand questions designed to gain insight into their social calendar, trips they’re planning, relationships they value, and goals they want to achieve. This helps you apply specific services to a particular chapter in their story instead of a random attempt.
Use anticipatory listening
This is where your expertise (authority) meets their problems. You know, intuitively, what they need by looking in their mouth, at their x-rays, or their treatment history.
How you use that information can help them “write” new chapters in their story. Questions that include:
- “Have you thought about…?”
- “Why would you…?”
- “How are you dealing with…?”
Next…
Leverage
Apply what you hear to your marketing content. You’re perhaps most accustomed to following a templated, standard approach to promoting your practice and services.
Leverage your content into a-ha solutions to real patient problems. This positions you as a “mentor-guide” in their health care.
Again, Bryan Clark confirms,
”When you think in terms of empowering people to solve their problem by playing the role of mentor, you’re naturally performing better than competitors who take an egocentric approach.”
Join them in their journey. Without an empathetic appeal you could miss substantial opportunities to stay engaged via ongoing mentor-status.
Your best leverage is being intuitive about about who your patient or client is (their persona). Intuition becomes accurate by listening beneath the surface of their problem.
Then you’re prepared to share the best solution to solve it!
Solving problems is what you do. It’s better (and more patient-centric) than merely touting your benefits – those that may or may not be relevant to them. The more you know (them) the better your solution-to-problem accuracy.
There’s more to be said about buyer personas. Let this ruminate for a bit…and stay tuned for more on this topic.
Is it a Good Idea to Write Your Own Dental Content?
What’s my gut reaction when a client or someone kicking-the-tires of my services leans toward writing their own dental content?
“Slow your roll…!”
I’m all about going-for-it. Yet, can you really afford a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) approach to dental copywriting or dental content creation (considering available time for starters)?
There’s more to copywriting than throwing some words on a page or screen…hitting publish…clicking send…and waiting for your phone to ring or a contact form to be received.
Sure, I’m biased as a trained, experienced, pro copywriter. I apply my skills in the art of copywriting and content creation with a strategic focus in the dental industry.
This is everything when writing dental content
The reader, more than your knowledge or expertise, is the focus! Think through these questions about copy and content writing…and pause before you answer….
- Can you ditch the technical, industry-speak jargon and still make your point?
- Are you able to write conversationally?
Here’s the essence of what I’m talking about…
Would you say it sitting on a barstool?
When writing imagine sitting on a barstool. Picture yourself in a conversation with a friend, colleague, family member, or someone you just met.
Imagine sitting there…it’s casual…you’re comfortable…they’re at ease…you’re having a simple chat!
The conversation can quickly go one of two ways:
One, boredom sets in. They wonder when the conversation will end. They turn the page or they “click” away from your message.
Or…
Two, they stay engaged. They sit up and lean forward…”Tell me more…I hear you…I’d like some more information…Let’s talk soon…!”
Copywriting and content creation requires proper voice. Otherwise it’s just words (blah, blah, blah…yada, yada, yada).
Keep it conversational.
Now back to the barstool…
Implement these “Barstool” Copywriting Strategies in Your Dental Copy and Content
Write like you talk
Keep it casual and to the point. If you were sitting on a barstool, enjoying a beverage, how would you describe the service, procedure, treatment, or product?
Conversational copywriting:
- Dials-down the tech-speak
- Avoids the use of complicated, industry-insider words and terms
- Isn’t hype-driven or salesy
Make an impression without trying to impress
Will your reader leave the “conversation” remembering the easy-going, comfortable, engaging way you communicated with them?
Good conversational copywriting promotes a tell-me-more feeling. The impression you make can repel people or bring them back for more.
Let the communication process work for you
Content marketing is about building trust…ahead of the “sale” or “buying decision.” If you rely too much on your ability to “Wow” with hyper or confusing creativity you’ll send a less than engaging message.
Trust translates via your conversational tone.
Dress your language less formal and more casual
Good copy and content are comfortable like your favorite jeans, shorts, and t-shirt. If you feel relaxed you’ll communicate that way and your reader will relax too. (Remember the trust factor?)
And get the image of your English teacher out of your mind. Gotta love ‘em. But now’s not the time to stress over “crossing your t’s…dotting your i’s,” losing your mind over sentence structure, or worrying about being ticketed by the “grammar police.”
Sure, the basic rules of grammar apply. Sloppy isn’t the answer.
Instead…
Use good judgement. Be easy to read – remember it’s like a good conversation on a barstool.
What’s easy to read is easy to understand. And what’s understood compels a scheduled appointment, a product purchased, or an idea applied.
Communicate effortlessly
Envision effortless like Tiger Woods driving a golf ball or Steph Curry nailing a three-pointer. A professional’s skill appears second nature, fluid, “invisible.”
Make your writing “invisible!”
Be aware of how your words promote your services or products. Write to showcase benefits and results.
Features entice. Benefits sell!
Pause before you go all DIY on your next dental marketing promotion. Evaluate your dental copywriting and dental content using the “barstool test.” Your results could depend on it!
Support Your Dental Reviews with Case Studies
Your patient or client reviews speak for themselves. And their message can have a positive or a negative effect.
I’m not talking about a “troll” who makes life difficult for you. Instead, it’s those legitimate opinions that have a make or break impact on your dental practice or your dental industry business.
No mistake, reviews are good and useful. Yet, there has to be another (and perhaps better) way!
A case-in-point
Case studies pull back the curtain. These strategically crafted stories are a timeless tool to have on hand for those good and bad review days.
Michael Saba confirms the value of an exceptional case study (content edited):
A good case study creates serious value for your brand by showing your (patient’s) real-world examples of the benefits your (practice) can bring them. That translates to more (new patients), more (appointments), and more (scheduled production).
The basic anatomy of a case study
A newsy headline
The first and most compelling piece of your case study is the headline. It must grab your reader’s attention and communicate a direct and relevant benefit.
“Newsy” implies that your headline must be clear. Cut to the chase and avoid being overly creative, “cute,” or cryptic to arouse curiosity.
A headline requires a journalistic persona. Think like a journalist who’s on a breaking story. Deliver straightforward, no-nonsense, non-salesy information.
Like this…
Dental Implants Gave Her the Confidence to Make a Career Change
New In-Office, Professional Teeth Whitening Increases Results by X%
Each are clear, straightforward, and reveal a direct benefit. The use of tangible percentages and related, real-life benefits helps boost the headline’s credibility.
And there’s only one big idea in each. This is vital to keeping your case study focused and free from the clutter of unnecessary “rabbit-trails.”
A well-defined “Who”
The patient or client is your “Who.” This is where you describe the main character of your “story.”
- Where they’re from (their condition as well as any other important, identifying information)
- What they experienced (their pain, problem, challenge, etc)
- What they wanted, needed, desired
- The number of solutions they’ve tried
- What their ideal outcome looked like
- What your service or product helped them accomplish (how it solved their problem)
- Where they are now, how the solution is continuing to work for them, etc.
These various “where,” “what,” and “how” perspectives will help define your case study character and create a connection with your reader.
A clear and compelling “plot”
Story line is everything. And how compelling it is depends on doing your homework.
Interview prep is the foundation of your homework. Relevant questions that probe the experience you’re highlighting are essential.
- Provide questions to your interviewee ahead of time. This gives them emotional “air” to relax during the interview and provide better answers.
- Be prepared to listen more than you speak during the interview. Keep the interview as much like a conversation as possible. This allows the process to feel less scripted and leading.
- Keep your questions open-ended. Yes-or-no questions will shut down your conversation and produce a weak storyline. The goal is to get to the solution-based benefits of their experience.
And remember, the purpose of your case study is to set context and reveal the journey to the desired solution. Advanced preparation is the key to a clear and compelling plot.
A case study puts-skin-on your services. It’s to your advantage to show as much real-life, real-people results as possible.
What Makes a Great Dental Blog Post?
“A blog post…, you say? First, let’s be realistic!”
Writing takes time. And most days as a dental professional that may be in short supply. You have patients to treat and a practice to run and promote.
Perhaps you already know the value of blog content to your dental website platform. But keeping the flow steady and the quality high…that’s another challenge.
A process will help
Dentistry is subject matter you know something about. Dental content might not be all that “sexy.” But creating a steady flow of it can be easier with a system in place.
The first step in the process is committing to content creation. Your search results and online influence will rise the more useful content you publish.
Next, is quality. Too technical or wordy and you’ll lose your reader. Too brief or unprofessional and you’ll also discredit yourself.
Make a commitment that you’ll provide ongoing, quality content. Here are some field-tested insights into the making of a “great” post.
1-A benefit-focused headline
The headline will, in essence, tip your reader in the direction of the blog’s topic. A great blog post is laser-locked on one big idea, about solving one problem, by telling one compelling story.
One and done! A great blog post engages the reader from the start.
A benefit-focused headline peaks their interest and lures them into the content. The more specific the better.
Too often headlines provide an easy off-ramp for your reader. A headline can be the first (and last) thing they see before clicking away from your content or…your site.
Experiment with a variety of headlines options. Do they compel you to read further? Is it obvious that “help” is on-the-way if they read the post?
Headlines require a high level of attention before you publish.
2-A compelling opening (lead) paragraph
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You never get a second chance to…make a first impression.” That applies here.
Remember your headline raises the curtain on the “story” you’re about to tell. And it’s a story that you have little time to set up.
Dive in!
Wait…why so fast?
Attention spans are short. And online readers have notoriously short spans of attention.
Journalists get it. They’re trained to not “bury the lede.”
If you snooze-them-you-lose-them!
A bold question. A quote. An attention-getting statement.
These will help engage your reader.
3-“Meat”
You know, as in give them something substantial to “chew” on.
The goal is helping them make an informed decision about a particular dental service or treatment. Paint the picture starting with the problem then lead them to a solution.
Again, keep this to one big idea. If you wander all over the map they will too…right off your page.
- Use benefit-charged bullet points. Online readers like to scan. Make sure when they do that they’re getting the substance of your content in small “bites.”
- Break up the post with subheads. Keep them benefit oriented and compelling.
- Avoid “cute,” cliched statements. Be creative but not to the extent that you lose your reader by trying too hard to impress them.
The best impression is how your content answers their burning question or solves their problem.
4-It compels them to do something
This is where you wrap it up. Avoid being vague or too general.
The more specific your closing the better. What do you want them to do? What’s your call-to-action?
- Call us now…
- Schedule your next…
- Contact us for more information…
- Refer family or friends to…
- Leave a comment…
- Ask us about…
Be specific. And fearlessly “tell” them what to do.
These four tips will help you frame a great blog post and evaluate your content.
Remember that the beauty of digital (online/web) content is that it can be repurposed and republished when necessary. And if your time is lacking…why not ask for assistance?
How to Use Your Dental Blog as a “Home Base” to Engage Your Patients or Clients
Say what you will about having a dental blog. But your dental practice or dental business has an opportunity to capitalize.
According to Heidi Cohen you’re in a “renaissance” era for blogging.
“Blogging pioneers, Copyblogger’s Brian Clark and Problogger’s Darren Rowse, are leading the blogging renaissance. It’s documented in their discussion ‘Blogging is Back.’
They want to recapture the power and human essence of blogging, especially as an owned home base.”
Speaking of “home base.”
A high percentage of my work as a dental copywriter is invested in writing and/or rewriting webpage copy for dental practices or dental industry businesses. Another increasing percentage of my work is on the dental content strategy side of things – writing blog content for those who understand (by default or instinct) this “blogging renaissance” idea.
Yes, you need an engaging, conversationally written dental website. No doubt about that, my friends.
But building that “house” (so to speak) and not inhabiting it with ongoing, credible, and useful content (via a blog) can disconnect you from your audience.
Who’s your audience?
It’s those who search for information relative to their dental needs and/or questions. As I say to clients, “People aren’t looking to bookmark dental website copy or clamoring to read it…”
That said, they ARE searching online for answers to their questions about dental treatment, dental procedures, building their dental business, growing their dental group, etc.
Your “static content” (i.e. Your standard Home, About Us, Services pages) needs the support (now more than ever) of an active, consistently fresh blog and/or article page. Thus “home base” content that YOU own and that’s posted on YOUR online property (your website).
What’s wrong with social media?
Nothing, fundamentally. The exception is that it’s becoming more difficult for your business (including dental practices) to have, for example, a Facebook page you can effectively and profitably use without having to invest your valuable marketing dollars to maximize your reach.
What this means for you…is that you need an accessible, information-rich source of content your audience can consume consistently.
How to Use Your Dental Blog as an Engaging Home Base
1-Create and publish blog content that answers the core questions your “audience” is asking.
Start with needs. Your patient or client questions are a bread-crumb path to what’s front-of-mind related to your services.
They search…but are you answering?
“I have info on my Services pages…,” you say. Good, but remember that’s static content (meaning it rarely, if ever, changes or evolves).
Cohen highlights the 5 types of information your audience seeks,
- Product information
- Customer FAQ’s
- How to’s
- Product (or Service) styling or best-in-class practices
- Ratings and reviews
Answer questions via your blog posts that tap into those areas of interest. Use their language and speak to their emotional desires.
2-Publish dental blog posts consistently to establish presence and availability.
Consistency isn’t about being obsessive. It’s more about being present as a go-to source of useful information (content).
Know your audience and their needs. Again, this relies on your listening strategies.
Use social media listening by scanning your page feeds, comment history, etc. Open channels in your clinical and/or consultant and sales force zones – what are your assistants, consultants, etc., hearing or being asked?
Publish on theme.
For example, April is Oral Cancer Awareness month, Spring and Summer is wedding and reunion season. What are your patients thinking about during those seasons – prevention, improving their appearance, etc?
Post about the value of oral cancer screenings, preventive dentistry that decreases oral cancer risk. Publish content about teeth whitening, “professional whitening vs. DIY whitening,” porcelain veneers, dental bonding, etc.
3-Spotlight and re-purpose your dental blog content via accessible channels.
Post the content primarily on your “home base” (your dental website).
Use your email list to broadcast new and available posts. Do this when new content is published and to repurpose content that informs your patients or clients about relevant questions they’re asking (those theme seasons, etc.). Provide a blog post snippet with a clickable link to the actual, full post.
Publish an e-newsletter to your list using the full blog post as the content. Include links back to your website and use the newsletter format as another opportunity to share current promotions (do this without being salesy).
Start with these. Soon you’ll be capitalizing on the current blogging renaissance.