1,197,982,359.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how many websites float in cyberspace, and about\u00a0380 new sites are created every minute\u00a0<\/a><\/span>. In California alone, there are over 20,000 dentists and specialists. Their websites fit into that number, too.<\/p>\n Even if there are only ten offices in your region, you don\u2019t want to end up at the bottom of the pile. In the online world, that\u2019s a burial. But even if we conquer the \u201cdentist near me\u201d search on a new patient\u2019s phone, there\u2019s no guarantee they\u2019ll end up in our chair.<\/p>\n In a competitive world full of clicks and swipes, we\u2019re lucky to command\u00a08 seconds of a web visitor\u2019s attention\u00a0<\/a><\/span>before they\u2019re gone. They might like our Google star rating, but a poor website experience can lead them to the next listing. Worse,\u00a075% of a user\u2019s perception about the credibility of a typical business\u00a0<\/a><\/span>is based on website design. Even if our practices don\u2019t take a complete hit, our online image sets a tone for our brand.<\/p>\n A delicate mix of design, content, and user experience elements impact what a potential patient decides to do once they land on our websites. All websites need intentional design, but consider these five critical tricks for our high-trust profession:<\/p>\n It might not seem like a big deal if last month\u2019s expired new patient special still pops up on the home page, but patients may wonder what else we\u2019ve let slip. Outdated information sends subtle cues that may undermine trust. Review each page of your dental website and send updates to your webmaster at least quarterly. Make sure to:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re hiring a carpet cleaner, you probably don\u2019t spend a lot of time reading the team bio. But patients trust us in their mouths with delicate procedures, and 60% of people report anxiety\u00a0<\/a><\/span>about what we do. The\u00a0\u201cAbout Us\u201d\u00a0<\/a><\/span>or \u201cMeet the Doctor\u201d page is generally the most visited page after the home page. Patients don\u2019t wait to find out if they like, trust, and will make an appointment to see us.<\/p>\n It\u2019s satisfying to attract 300 unique site visitors last month, but it doesn\u2019t mean much if we only saw five new patients. A good practice website gives visitors a simple way to make an appointment. It also hooks interested visitors who may need a little nurturing before they commit to care. The best websites in every industry feature Call To Action prompts to move visitors to the next step.<\/p>\n As dentists, we may think branding belongs to tech companies and retailers. But patients should see our brand whenever they interact with our practice, and our dental website anchors that experience. Brand is your story, and it\u2019s told in a hundred different ways. But on your website, consider:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Online reviews affect consumer decisions at Amazon, Tripadvisor, and Airbnb. But reviews\u2013especially on Google and Facebook\u2013dramatically influence patients\u2019 choices. According to Software Advice\u00a0<\/a><\/span>, over\u00a070% of patients use reviews\u00a0<\/a><\/span>as the first step towards choosing a new doctor, and they often trust them as much as family and friends. But we can extend social proof\u2019s influence by using it on our websites:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behind the scenes, we constantly need integration, analysis, and adjustment. A good strategy includes monitoring what we see while relying on the pros to keep the nuts and bolts together. Some keys they understand include:<\/p>\n1. Keep Content Current<\/h2>\n
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2. Don\u2019t Ignore Your Bio Page<\/h2>\n
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3. Make Conversions Easy<\/h2>\n
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4. Embed Your Brand Everywhere<\/h2>\n
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5. Include Social Proof<\/h2>\n
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Adding The Secret Sauce To Your Dental Websites<\/h2>\n
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