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.
