New research compiled from multiple sources by SmartBox Web Marketing suggests many dentists have fallen prey to a misconception. They assume that the economy has been the major cause for dampened revenues. Because the economy has fallen, and in some locations the number of lay-offs have been larger than average, many dentists just naturally assume this has lead to a diminished market for their services. Research suggests, however, that one has not necessarily led to the other.
Most dentists have relied for decades on things like Yellow Pages advertising to find new patients. In the past this was always seen as the method of choice because it worked so well. Due to past experience and old school mentoring, most dentists have failed to look at other avenues. In fact, times have changed. In scenarios where dentists relied on Yellow Pages advertising, a trackable phone number was inserted in the ads. Year after year, even before the downturn in the economy, results were dismal and kept getting worse.
At the same time, Google & Bing have repeatedly reported that the vast majority of consumers go online in rapidly increasing numbers to find what they are looking for, even in their own local cities and towns. Google reports that over 97% of people look online for local services, including dentists, rather than going to the Yellow Pages. In addition, 87% of online searchers end up making a phone call.
Now, couple these statistics with the fact that less than 20 percent of dentists have an active website, and it isnt hard to see the disconnect. With 97% of the population turning to the internet as the first choice in finding local services, and with fewer than 20% of dentists using the internet actively for advertising, it is no wonder that those without active web pages are falling behind. Those dentists who aggressively market their dental practice online report that they are growing their practices year after year, bad economy or not.
SmartBox Web Marketing has found through extensive research that dentists marketing online can not only attract new qualified patients consistently, they can also target the type of patients they want: those needing implants, sedation, periodontics, orthodontics, cosmetics, etc.
Unfortunately the problem for many dentists is found in the antiquated notion that old ways are always the only way. If Yellow Page advertising worked in the past it must always be working, therefore the economy is what is really affecting their revenues. Research suggests otherwise.
SmartBox Web Marketing has posted several dental marketing case studies of dentists in large, competitive markets who are finding and pre-qualifying new patients in the dental niche's they specialize in via the internet and local online searches. These particular dentists have since enjoyed steady growth in their practices while doing away with all other types of advertising.
Dentists interested in learning more should request a free copy of SmartBox Web Marketing's new special report, "The New Yellowpages." It is available at no charge on their website: http://www.smartboxwebmarketing.com/the-new-yellowpages.htm
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