{"id":8313,"date":"2022-04-06T16:44:19","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T22:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/blog\/3-ways-dental-marketing-software-can-automate-your-practice\/"},"modified":"2022-04-06T16:44:19","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T22:44:19","slug":"3-ways-dental-marketing-software-can-automate-your-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/blog\/3-ways-dental-marketing-software-can-automate-your-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways Dental Marketing Software Can Automate Your Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Greg Grillo<\/h4>\n

As we move into the spring of another year, we\u2019ve proven our resilience in a changing world. Our patients continue returning for care, while we\u2019re focusing on growth and new opportunities.\u00a0But we\u2019re not without challenges. Many of us toss and turn with staffing concerns; either we\u2019re looking for a new team member, or we\u2019re concerned about losing one. At a minimum, our team members have had to take on more tasks in their busy days. Patient volumes rely on adequate support from the first call to follow-up, so we need everyone at their best.\u00a0Automation continues to shape many industries, and experts estimate that\u00a042%\u00a0<\/a><\/span>of task hours will be automated by the end of this year. Additionally, more than one-third of people are concerned about automation replacing their jobs.\u00a0Dental staff members don\u2019t have to worry about machines or software replacing them. We\u2019re in the high-trust profession of hands-on healthcare, and the human element remains a constant. Automated functions can help our teams function more efficiently with higher production and less stress. They also deliver our brand story to increase our local reputation and drive our practice narrative. That\u2019s a combination we\u2019re all looking for today.<\/p>\n

What Is Dental Marketing Software?<\/h3>\n

Dental marketing software helps us automate many tasks before, after, and during a patient\u2019s appointment. Some features attract patients, and others nurture decisions. Convenience tools like online scheduling, comfort surveys, and patient portals support first-class service. They also speak about our brand and the innovation patients can expect.\u00a0\u00a0Everything we do, say, and offer becomes part of our story in the marketplace. Here are some key areas where automation can take the load off our busy teams and elevate our brand story:<\/p>\n

1. Employ A Marketing Department Without Adding Staff<\/h4>\n

When someone needs a dentist in your region, who comes to mind? We build a reputation by serving our patients, but it takes more to tell our story. Patients see up to\u00a010,000\u00a0<\/a><\/span>ads daily, and 200,000 U.S. dentists run campaigns that could reach our patients, as well.\u00a0Marketing has simultaneously become more complex and essential. We\u2019ve all had reasons to question ROI when considering our marketing expenditures, but it\u2019s not easy to determine what campaign is responsible for a patient\u2019s decision to schedule an appointment. Is it the awareness posts they\u2019ve seen on Facebook or the blog article they read on your site after they clicked on a social ad? Maybe the assessment they filled out on your website after watching a social video you posted deserves credit.\u00a0In reality, advertising works together to move patients along a decision pathway. Attributing action to one ad proves questionable, since awareness may build across multiple exposures to our brand. It\u2019s one reason why the experts at Legwork recommend allocating 30% of our marketing budget to awareness campaigns and 70% to intent-based ads. However, that overlaps with other exposures to our brands that may spur the final action.\u00a0Automated marketing takes a huge load off our minds and syncs vital components that drive attraction to our practices. A DIY approach works on home projects, but dental marketing requires expertise.<\/p>\n

SOLUTION:\u00a0Legwork Advertising\u00a0<\/a><\/span>brings new patients through social media ads that create awareness, Google ads that target intent-based searches, and Google Maps listings that capture \u201cnear me\u201d searches. With dental-focused experts pulling the levers, our marketing strategy looks like it\u2019s on auto-pilot.<\/h5>\n

\u00a02. Reflect Innovation With Online Convenience<\/h4>\n

How often do patients arrive at their appointment time and spend 15 minutes filling out paperwork while the team waits? This bottleneck adds stress to paper-dependent teams, but there\u2019s a better way.\u00a0Online intake forms offer the ultimate convenience. Patients can sit on their couch the night before their visit and fill out their health history, patient information, and HIPAA acknowledgment forms. When they step through the door, they\u2019re immediately ready for the operatory.\u00a0\u00a0When they get to the operatory, consent forms on mobile devices ensure nothing gets lost. Misplaced records take an average of\u00a018 minutes\u00a0<\/a><\/span>to locate and can leave us liable on many levels.\u00a0Nothing frustrates patients more than being forwarded to voicemail or getting placed on hold. About\u00a060%\u00a0<\/span>of people put on hold hang up, and\u00a030%\u00a0<\/span>of them never call back. We can\u2019t afford to attract patients to call, only to lose them this way.<\/p>\n

Online scheduling drives this risk to zero and gives people access to appointments 24\/7.\u00a0In marketing, meeting and exceeding customer expectations is essential for delivering our brand story. Online forms and scheduling send a message about our practices and the level of service we provide.<\/p>\n

SOLUTION:\u00a0Legwork Paperless\u00a0<\/a><\/span>cuts our dependence on paper with a single integrated tool. Fully customizable templates allow us to create our own documents to fit every part of the practice. Plus, they capture digital signatures and securely deliver everything right into our PMS.\u00a0Legwork Online Booking\u00a0<\/a><\/span>opens the appointment book to patients so they can schedule their next visit any time of the day or night.<\/h5>\n

3. Stay In Touch With More Dental Office Automation<\/h4>\n

Our awareness and intent-based advertising strategies can hum along, but attraction is only the first step. Some patients need nurturing before making the next move and choosing us for their care. We\u2019d have a full-service marketing team calling, emailing, and texting to encourage action in an ideal world.\u00a0Existing relationships need constant attention to stay healthy, too. That\u2019s not easy when we manage dozens of patients every day. Our patients don\u2019t want to forget about us in-between visits, but it can happen.\u00a0Dental office automation helps support new and old relationships with various tools designed for the modern age. A basic workflow might look like this:<\/p>\n