Ai Healthcare Marketing

Category: Services

Mastering PPC Budgets: The Strategic Advantage of Partnering with a Marketing Agency
In the digital marketing realm, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is akin to an art form—a blend of creativity, data analysis, and strategic bidding. It’s a powerful way to place your brand in front of the right audience at the right time. However, the success of PPC campaigns hinges on one crucial factor: the budget. Planning and securing an ideal budget for your PPC endeavors can be daunting, but this is where a specialized marketing agency steps in, transforming complexities into strategic advantages.

Understanding the Budgeting Landscape

A PPC budget is not just about setting aside funds for advertising; it’s about optimizing your investment to achieve maximum return on investment (ROI). To do this effectively, you need to consider several variables, including target audience, keyword competition, seasonality, and conversion rates. It’s a delicate balance between spending enough to make an impact and not so much that you diminish your ROI.

Why Use a Marketing Agency for PPC Budgeting?

Expertise and Experience

Marketing agencies bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. They’ve managed budgets across industries and understand the nuances of different platforms like Google Ads and Bing Ads. Their experience allows them to forecast performance and set realistic budgets that align with your business goals.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Agencies rely on advanced tools and analytics to inform their strategies. They can dissect past campaign data to identify what works and what doesn’t, ensuring that every dollar of your budget is allocated effectively.

Time Efficiency

PPC management is time-consuming. By outsourcing to an agency, you free up internal resources that can be better spent on other areas of your business. Agencies have dedicated teams that monitor and adjust campaigns in real-time, ensuring that performance is always optimized.

Access to Advanced Tools

Agencies typically have access to premium tools for keyword research, bid management, and competitor analysis. These tools provide insights that are not always available through free or basic software, giving you an edge over competitors.

Dynamic Budget Allocation

The digital market is ever-changing, and flexibility in budget allocation is key. Agencies can dynamically shift funds between campaigns, keywords, or ad groups based on performance data, ensuring that your budget is always working as hard as possible.

The Benefits of an AI-Enhanced Agency

Some marketing agencies go a step further by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their services. AI can analyze large data sets faster and more accurately than humans, providing insights that can dramatically improve the efficiency of your PPC campaigns.

AI algorithms can predict market trends, adjust bids automatically, and even personalize ads to individual users in real time. This level of optimization is difficult to achieve without AI technology.

Planning Your Ideal PPC Budget

Now that we’ve established the ‘why,’ let’s delve into the ‘how’ of planning your PPC budget with an agency:
1. Define Your Objectives: What do you want to achieve with your PPC campaigns? Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or driving sales, your goals should dictate your budgeting strategy.
2. Understand Your Audience: Who are you trying to reach? An agency can help you analyze your target demographic and set a budget that ensures visibility where it counts.
3. Consider Seasonality: Consumer behavior changes throughout the year. An agency can help you plan for these fluctuations, increasing your budget during peak seasons and saving during slower periods.
4. Competitive Analysis: What are your competitors doing? An agency can provide insights into competitor strategies and help you allocate your budget to compete effectively.
5. Continuous Optimization: Your initial budget isn’t set in stone. An agency will continuously refine your spending based on campaign performance data.
Securing Your Budget

Once you have a plan in place, securing your budget involves making a case for PPC within your overall marketing strategy. Highlight the measurable nature of PPC—every dollar spent is trackable to a specific outcome, be it clicks, impressions, or conversions.

Showcase projected outcomes based on historical data and industry benchmarks. Agencies can provide case studies or forecasts that demonstrate the potential success of well-managed PPC campaigns.

In conclusion, while planning and securing the ideal budget for PPC may seem challenging, partnering with a marketing agency like us, AI Marketing Agency, can streamline the process. Agencies offer expertise, efficiency, advanced tools, and dynamic strategies that can make your PPC investment more productive. With their help, you can navigate the complexities of digital advertising and emerge with a budget that brings tangible results.

Give us a call today for a free consultation to help you with your marketing goals in 2024.
January 9, 2024
Crafting a Future-Ready Marketing Plan for Dental and Healthcare Practices in 2024
As the calendar turns to 2024, dental and healthcare practices find themselves at the intersection of traditional patient care and the digital revolution. With patient expectations evolving and competition intensifying, having a robust, multi-faceted marketing plan is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. This blog post will guide you through creating a comprehensive marketing plan tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities that 2024 presents to dental and healthcare practitioners.

Understanding the 2024 Healthcare Consumer

Before you can market effectively, you need to understand your audience. Today’s healthcare consumers are more informed, tech-savvy, and health-conscious. They expect convenience, transparency, and personalization. Your marketing plan must address these expectations head-on, offering clear, accessible solutions that resonate with a digitally engaged audience.

Key Components of a 2024 Marketing Plan
1. Digital Presence and Optimization: Your practice’s online presence is often the first point of contact with potential patients. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and optimized for search engines with relevant keywords. Incorporate online scheduling and chatbots for instant engagement.
2. Content Marketing: Develop a content strategy that establishes your practice as a thought leader. Create informative blog posts, videos, and infographics that answer common patient questions. Use patient testimonials and case studies to build trust and credibility.
3. Social Media Engagement: Utilize social media platforms to connect with patients and create community. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your practice, patient success stories, and educational content that encourages interaction.
4. Telehealth Integration: As telehealth becomes more mainstream, incorporate it into your service offerings and market it as a convenient option for consultations, follow-ups, and patient education.
5. Local SEO and Community Involvement: Optimize for local search by claiming your Google My Business listing and encouraging reviews. Get involved in community events and sponsor local sports teams or health fairs to increase visibility.
6. Email Marketing: Use email newsletters to keep in touch with patients, and share health tips, office updates, and special promotions. Segment your email list for targeted campaigns that speak directly to specific patient needs.
7. Patient Experience Focus: Market the quality of the patient experiences your practice offers. Highlight any unique amenities or services that set you apart from competitors, like minimal wait times or cutting-edge treatment options.
8. Reputation Management: Actively manage online reviews and feedback. Respond professionally to both positive and negative comments to show that you value patient input and are committed to continuous improvement.
9. Referral Programs: Encourage word-of-mouth marketing by creating a referral program with incentives for patients who bring in new clients.
10. Data-Driven Decision Making: Use analytics tools to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Adjust strategies based on data regarding patient demographics, website traffic patterns, and campaign performance.
Steps to Create Your 2024 Marketing Plan
1. Market Analysis: Begin with a thorough analysis of the current market conditions, including competitor analysis and patient demographic trends.
2. Set Clear Objectives: Define what you want to achieve with your marketing efforts—whether it’s increasing patient numbers, enhancing brand awareness, or promoting specific services.
3. Budget Allocation: Determine how much you can invest in your marketing efforts and allocate your budget across different channels for maximum impact.
4. Tactical Planning: Decide on the tactics you’ll use to meet your objectives. This may include content creation schedules, social media plans, SEO improvements, or community outreach programs.
5. Implementation: Roll out your marketing initiatives according to your tactical plan, ensuring that all team members understand their roles in the execution.
6. Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly review the performance of your marketing activities. Be prepared to make adjustments as needed based on what the data is telling you.
Your 2024 marketing plan should be agile, data-informed, and patient-centric, reflecting the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry.

By embracing digital trends and maintaining a strong community presence, you can create a marketing strategy that not only attracts new patients but also nurtures long-lasting relationships with existing ones. Remember that an effective marketing plan is not set in stone; it evolves as new technologies emerge and patients need change. Stay adaptable, be creative, and keep your patient’s well-being at the heart of all your marketing efforts for a thriving practice in 2024 and beyond.

If you have any questions or concerns about your marketing for a thriving practice, please contact one of our specialists here at AI Healthcare Marketing Agency and we will be glad to help you.
January 2, 2024
The Critical Importance of SEO for Dental Practices: A Deep Dive into Patient Acquisition and Retention
In the digital age, where the majority of people turn to search engines for health-related queries, having a robust online presence is crucial for dental practices. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the linchpin of a dental office’s online visibility, determining how easily potential patients can find their services. Without SEO, a dental practice may as well be invisible in the vast expanse of the internet. Here’s why SEO is essential for dental offices and what could happen if they neglect this vital aspect of digital marketing.

Why Dental Offices Need SEO
1. Visibility in Local Searches: Most dental services are localized. When people search for a dentist, they often include terms like “near me” or the specific location where they seek care. SEO helps ensure that your practice appears in these local searches, guiding potential patients directly to your door.
2. Building Trust through Online Presence: Before making an appointment, patients want to know they are entrusting their oral health to reputable professionals. A strong online presence, bolstered by effective SEO, helps build this trust. High rankings on search engines are often subconsciously viewed as endorsements of reliability and quality.
3. Educating Potential Patients: An SEO-optimized website can be a platform for educating visitors about dental health and services. This positions the practice as an authority in the field, increasing the likelihood that visitors will choose it for their dental needs.
4. Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to traditional advertising methods, SEO is a cost-effective strategy that offers a higher return on investment (ROI). It targets users who are actively searching for your services, leading to higher conversion rates.
The Research and Decision-Making Process of Potential Patients

Potential patients typically follow a journey that involves multiple stages before picking up the phone to schedule an appointment:
1. Search: It begins with a search query. Users might type in “best dentist in [City]” or “teeth whitening services near me.” If your practice doesn’t appear on the first page of search results, the chance of these users finding you drops significantly.
2. Research: After finding a list of potential dentists, users will visit websites to learn more about the services offered, the team’s expertise, and the overall feel of the practice. This is where quality content and a user-friendly website (both products of good SEO) make a difference.
3. Reviews: Before making a decision, most users will read reviews about the practice. Positive reviews can significantly boost your reputation, while negative ones can be damaging. SEO can help manage online reputation by highlighting positive reviews and testimonials.
4. Decision: Only after thorough research and consideration will a potential patient make the decision to contact the practice. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days, depending on the individual’s urgency and decision-making style.
The Consequences of Stopping SEO

If a dental practice stops its SEO efforts, it won’t disappear overnight; however, over time, its online visibility will diminish due to several factors:
1. Search Engine Algorithm Updates: Search engines frequently update their algorithms to provide better user experiences. Without ongoing SEO efforts, a website may fall behind and lose its rankings to competitors who continuously optimize their sites.
2. Competitor Advancements: Other dental practices are likely investing in their SEO. If you halt your efforts, competitors will eventually outrank you, capturing the attention and business of potential patients.
3. Outdated Content: SEO involves regularly updating the website with fresh, relevant content. Stopping this means content becomes outdated, which can negatively impact user experience and search engine rankings.
4. Loss of Local Relevance: For local searches, which are vital for dental practices, consistent SEO ensures that your practice appears in local directories and maps. Without it, your relevance in local search results could diminish.
SEO is not just a one-time setup but an ongoing strategy that requires attention and adaptation to the ever-changing digital landscape.

For dental offices seeking to maintain and grow their patient base in a competitive market, investing in SEO is not just beneficial; it’s imperative. By ensuring that potential patients can find you easily online, trust your expertise, and read positive reviews about your services, SEO helps convert online searches into real-world appointments. Neglecting it means risking invisibility in an increasingly digital-first world where visibility is synonymous with viability.

Sealing the Deal: Your Partner in Navigating the Digital Dental Landscape

Now that you understand the undeniable importance of SEO for your dental practice and the potential risks of neglecting it, it’s time to take action. Remember, while you focus on creating beautiful smiles, your online presence should be working just as hard to bring those smiles through your door.

This is where AI Healthcare Marketing comes into play. We specialize in crafting bespoke SEO strategies for dental practices like yours. Our expertise ensures that your website is not just a digital brochure but a dynamic tool that attracts and converts potential patients. With our finger on the pulse of the latest SEO trends and a deep understanding of the healthcare industry, we are equipped to elevate your online presence to the top of search engine results.

Don’t let your dental practice fade into the background of the digital world. Let AI Healthcare Marketing be your guide and ally in this journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you optimize your website, engage with potential patients effectively, and keep your appointment books full. Your practice deserves to be seen, and together, we can make sure it shines brightly in the crowded online marketplace.

Take the first step towards a thriving dental practice with AI Healthcare Marketing by your side. Reach out now, and let’s create a success story that even the search engines will love to tell.
December 16, 2023
Preparing for the New Year: Essential Marketing Strategies for Dental, Medical, and Veterinary Practices

As we approach the cusp of a new year, it’s time for dental, medical, and veterinary practices to refine their marketing strategies to ensure they remain competitive and visible in the ever-evolving digital landscape. The importance of maintaining a robust online presence cannot be overstated—your potential clients are online, and that’s where you need to meet them. In this blog, we will explore the critical components of a successful digital marketing strategy, including SEO, blogging, brand strength, online advertising, budgeting, and the commitment required to keep your marketing efforts consistent and effective.

SEO: The Foundation of Your Online Presence

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the bedrock of your digital presence. It’s what helps potential patients find you when they’re searching for services you offer. As we step into the new year, it’s crucial to assess and update your SEO strategy. This includes optimizing your website with relevant keywords, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly, and improving page load speeds. Local SEO is particularly important for practices like yours; make sure your business is listed accurately on Google My Business and other online directories. This helps in appearing in local search results and maps, making it easier for patients in your area to find you.

Content Is King: Blogging for Engagement

Content marketing is a powerful tool in engaging with both current and potential patients. A well-maintained blog can serve as a platform to share valuable information, showcase your expertise, and address common concerns or questions that your patients might have. In the new year, plan a content calendar that includes regular blog posts on topics relevant to your practice and the interests of your patients. High-quality, informative content not only positions you as an authority in your field but also contributes to your SEO efforts by incorporating keywords and generating fresh content for search engines to index.

Building Brand Strength

Your brand is more than just a logo or a tagline; it encompasses the patient experience, your practice’s values, and how you communicate with the world. Strengthening your brand requires consistency across all platforms—your website, social media, and even the decor in your office should all tell a cohesive story about who you are as a practice. As you prepare for the new year, consider if your brand accurately reflects the level of care and professionalism patients can expect from you. If not, it may be time for a refresh. A strong brand builds trust and recognition, which are vital in attracting and retaining patients.

The Power of Online Advertising

Online advertising can be an effective way to reach potential patients quickly. Platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and even behaviors. As part of your new year preparations, evaluate what has worked in the past and where there’s room for improvement. Perhaps there’s an opportunity to test new ad formats or platforms. Remember that online advertising isn’t just about clicks; it’s about converting those clicks into appointments. Ensure that your ads lead to well-designed landing pages that encourage potential patients to take action.

Budgeting for Success

One of the most critical aspects of planning your marketing strategy for the new year is establishing a budget. Marketing should be viewed as an investment rather than an expense; without it, even the best practices can struggle to attract new patients. Allocate funds not just for advertising but also for SEO, content creation, social media management, and other marketing activities. Be realistic about what you can afford but also understand that skimping on marketing can cost you more in lost opportunities.

Commitment: The Key to Continuous Marketing Momentum

Lastly, commitment to your marketing strategy is what will set you apart from competitors. Marketing isn’t a one-time setup; it requires ongoing effort and adaptation. The digital world moves fast, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Stay informed about the latest trends in digital marketing and be prepared to pivot your strategies as necessary. Regularly review analytics to understand what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.

In conclusion, as we enter the new year, it’s crucial for dental, medical, and veterinary practices to have a solid marketing plan in place. By focusing on SEO, creating engaging blog content, building a strong brand identity, utilizing online advertising effectively, setting a realistic budget, and committing to ongoing marketing efforts, practices can ensure they remain visible and attractive to potential patients in the digital world. Remember that marketing is not a static process; it requires flexibility and responsiveness to change. With these strategies in mind, you’re well on your way to making the new year a resounding success for your practice.

Let AI Healthcare Marketing be your partner in navigating the digital marketing landscape. Together, we can make 2024 a year of growth and prosperity for your practice.

December 15, 2023
Unlocking the Potential of Google Ads for Dental Practices

In the digital era, online advertising has become an essential component of successful marketing strategies for businesses across various industries, including dental practices. Among the many digital advertising platforms available, Google Ads stands out as one of the most powerful tools to reach a targeted audience and attract potential patients. In this blog, we will explore how dental practices can unlock the full potential of Google Ads and leverage its features to drive quality leads, increase brand visibility, and achieve significant business growth.

1. Understanding Google Ads for Dental Practices

Google Ads, formerly known as Google AdWords, is an online advertising platform that allows businesses to create and display ads on Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs) and its extensive network of partner websites. As a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising model, dental practices only pay when someone clicks on their ad, making it a cost-effective way to reach potential patients actively searching for dental services.

By conducting thorough keyword research and understanding the target audience’s search behavior, dental practices can craft highly relevant and compelling ads that appear when potential patients search for dental-related queries.

2. Utilizing Local Targeting

For dental practices, success lies in attracting local patients. Google Ads allows precise targeting based on location, ensuring that ads are shown to users within the practice’s geographical service area. This local targeting feature is especially crucial for dental practices as it helps them reach the right audience, maximizing ad spend and boosting the chances of converting potential patients into actual clients.

By setting up location-specific campaigns and using relevant keywords related to the local area, dental practices can establish a strong online presence among their local community and increase foot traffic to their clinics.

3. Implementing Ad Extensions

Google Ads provides various ad extensions that can enhance the visibility and effectiveness of dental practice ads. Ad extensions offer additional information and links, encouraging users to engage further with the ad and take action.

For dental practices, ad extensions like call extensions enable potential patients to contact the clinic directly from the search results page, streamlining the appointment booking process. Sitelink extensions can direct users to specific pages on the practice’s website, such as services offered, patient testimonials, or special offers.

4. Crafting Compelling Ad Copy

To stand out in a competitive landscape, dental practices need to create compelling ad copy that captures the attention of potential patients and encourages them to click on the ad. Emphasize the unique selling points of the dental practice, such as specialized treatments, experienced dentists, or exceptional patient care.

Including strong calls-to-action (CTAs) is vital to driving conversions. Phrases like “Book Your Appointment Today” or “Schedule a Free Consultation” prompt users to take immediate action, increasing the chances of converting them into new patients.

5. Tracking and Optimizing Performance

The success of a Google Ads campaign for a dental practice relies on continuous monitoring and optimization. Google Ads offers robust tracking and analytics tools that allow dental practices to assess the performance of their campaigns.

By analyzing key metrics like click-through rates (CTRs), conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI), dental practices can identify high-performing ads and allocate budget accordingly. Regularly optimizing the ad copy, keywords, and targeting based on performance data ensures that the campaign remains relevant and effective over time.

Conclusion

Unlocking the full potential of Google Ads is a game-changer for dental practices looking to expand their patient base and grow their business. With its precise targeting options, cost-effective PPC model, and powerful ad extensions, Google Ads presents an incredible opportunity for dental practices to reach potential patients actively seeking their services.

By understanding the platform, utilizing local targeting, implementing ad extensions, crafting compelling ad copy, and continuously tracking and optimizing performance, dental practices can harness the power of Google Ads to attract a steady stream of quality leads, increase brand visibility, and achieve long-term success in the digital landscape. With the support of Ai Marketing Agency, dental practices can maximize their Google Ads strategy, stay ahead of the competition, and thrive in the highly competitive dental market.

August 21, 2023
Navigating the Digital Jungle: A Comprehensive Guide to Combat Scammers
In the digital era, the convenience, and opportunities the internet offers have become integral to our lives. However, with this advancement, we face the challenge of dealing with online scams. These scams can present themselves in various forms, from phishing emails to deceptive social media posts and even fraudulent phone calls. As your trusted AI Marketing Agency, we’ve got your back. We’re here to guide you on effectively combatting such scammers, ensuring your digital safety.

Recognizing Scams:
1. Suspicious Emails: Be wary of emails that seem to come from reputable companies demanding personal information or urging you to click on a link. Often, these emails have poor grammar, generic greetings, and a sense of urgency. Constantly scrutinize the sender’s email address before responding.
2. Social Media Scams: Scammers may create counterfeit profiles, post fraudulent offers, or send direct messages to trick you into revealing personal information or making payments. Remember, platforms like Facebook will never prompt you to leave their platform for transactions. Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and verify the authenticity of profiles before interacting.
3. Phone Scams: Your phone isn’t immune to scams either. Fraudsters may call, pretending to be from a legitimate company, asking for personal details or payment. Never validate their requests by providing information. Instead, thank them for the call, tell them you’ll address the issue when you have time, and hang up.
Strategies to Combat Scammers:
1. Be Skeptical: Always approach unsolicited communications with skepticism. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Verify Before You Trust: Never trust the sender’s identity based solely on the email, message, or call. Independently verify by visiting the official website or contacting customer service directly.
3. Secure Your Personal Information: Never share your personal or financial information via email, social media, or phone. Legitimate organizations will never ask for sensitive data through these channels.
4. Use Security Software: Keep your devices protected with up-to-date security software. This software can often detect and block scam emails and malicious links.
5. Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter a potential scam, report it to the platform’s support team and your local law enforcement agency. This reporting helps protect others and contributes to combating scammers.
Remember, at AI Marketing Agency, we’re always here to help you navigate the digital landscape safely. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our customer service representatives.

In conclusion, combating scammers requires vigilance, skepticism, and proactive security measures. Stay informed about the latest scamming tactics and take necessary precautions to protect your personal and financial information. The key isn’t avoiding the internet but navigating it wisely and safely. Let’s stay safe in the digital world together.
August 14, 2023
Marketing for Start-up Success
Starting a dental practice can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to marketing. However, with the right elements in place and a well-planned timeline, it can be a smooth process that results in a successful practice. Here are some key elements to consider when starting a dental practice with marketing, as well as a timeline and expected costs for each.
1. Define your target audience. The first step in creating a successful marketing plan for your dental practice is to define your target audience. Whom do you want to attract to your practice? Are you looking to serve families, children, or adults? Are you targeting a specific demographic or geographic area? Once you have a clear idea of your target audience, you can tailor your marketing efforts to reach them effectively.
2. Create a brand identity. Your brand identity is the image you want to project to your target audience. This includes your logo, color scheme, and overall tone of your marketing materials. Creating a strong brand identity helps you stand out from your competitors and build trust with potential patients.
3. Build a website. A website is essential for any modern business, including a dental practice. Your website should be informative, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. It should also be optimized for search engines so that potential patients can find you online.
4. Develop a content marketing strategy. Content marketing involves creating valuable, informative content that educates your target audience about dental health and your practice. This can include blog posts, infographics, videos, and social media posts. A content marketing strategy can help establish you as an expert in your field and attract potential patients to your practice.
5. Use social media. social media is a powerful tool for promoting your dental practice. It allows you to engage with your target audience, build relationships, and showcase your expertise. You can use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share informative content, promote your services, and connect with potential patients.
In conclusion, starting a dental practice with marketing can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a success. By defining your target audience, creating a strong brand identity, building a website, developing a content marketing strategy, and using social media, you can attract new patients and build a thriving practice. Remember that it takes time, effort, and investment to build a strong online presence, but the results can be well worth it. If you need help with dental marketing, Ai Healthcare Marketing has been in the business for over 27 years and has successfully marketed thousands of dental practices. They can help you create a custom marketing plan that fits your needs and budget.
April 20, 2023
Is Your Website ADA Compliant?
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was developed in 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else. Since your dental practice serves the public, your building must accommodate people with all types of disabilities. But did you know that ADA compliance also applies to websites and even mobile apps?

What happens if your website isn’t ADA compliant?

Being ADA compliant is the law! A website that isn’t ADA accessible will leave your practice at risk of facing a lawsuit! If a person with a disability claims that your website is inaccessible, you may have to contend with legal fees, a public relations nightmare, a potential settlement, and the hassle of rebuilding an ADA-compliant website.

How do you know if your website is ADA compliant?

Let’s start by looking at the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Here are the core principles that guide WCAG:
- Perceivable: You must present information and user interface components to users in ways they can perceive. So if a user can’t read text or listen to videos on your website due to a disability, you must provide the same information through alternative means.
- Operable: All functionality must be available from a keyboard. That means that any user visiting your website should be able to navigate it and use all its features. For example, if scheduling an appointment online is an option, you need to provide the means for all your users regardless of any disability.
- Understandable: You must make the text content on your website readable and understandable. That means that your users should be able to understand your text, images, videos, and tools. So if you have a contact form, you may want to include instructions on filling it out.
- Robust: Your content must be robust enough to allow all your users to receive the same experience, even if using assistive technologies. For example, a person reading content on your website and another utilizing a voice reader should both get the same content, even though they use different means.
There are three ADA compliance levels. “A” means that your website is accessible to some users, which helps avoid most serious violations of accessibility principles. An “AA,” on the other hand, means that your website is accessible to almost all users. “AAA” is the highest level, indicating that your website is accessible to the most users possible. Currently, courts are interpreting “AA” as the benchmark level.

Having an ADA-compliant website is more than avoiding lawsuits

Did you know that having an ADA-compliant website increases your target audience? There are about 50 million people in the US with one or more disabilities. Many of them may be potential clients, but if they find that your website isn’t accessible, they may just move on and find a competitor’s website that is. For example, a potential patient who is deaf or hard of hearing may find a video without a caption a total turn-off and may decide against using your services.

A bonus of having an ADA-compliant website is that you’ll see significant enhancements to your SEO efforts. That’s because if users can easily read your site, so can crawlers such as Google. An accessible website will appeal to potential clients and will also improve your SEO rankings!

How do you make sure your website is ADA compliant and stays that way?

WCAG 2.0 AA provides a roadmap for ensuring your website is ADA compliant. However, if your team lacks the resources or expertise to test for, repair, and monitor accessibility issues, Ai Healthcare Marketing is here to help! We are proud to offer an “AI-Powered Accessibility Widget” that ensures ADA and WCAG compliance with the world’s most comprehensive accessibility solution.

Contact Ingrid Snow, our Vice President of Practice Marketing, at (949) 769-9909 or ingrid@affordableimage.com for immediate, compliance with no advance “prep” time. We look forward to helping you meet your ADA compliance needs!
July 12, 2021
How to “Future Proof” your New Patient Opportunities (NPOs)

We are all familiar with the age-old adage of “don’t place all your eggs in one basket”, and while this is solid advice and something you should always consider, it’s never been as important as it is now. Over the last 6 months, you will likely have received emails, texts, and more than all focus on the now. “In these trying times” or “during these unprecedented times” are the most common introductions in any outreach campaign. However, it’s time to put on the business owner hat and think about the future!

In order to succeed as a dental practice, you must learn how to run a successful business. Marketing and customer service are the 2 things that will make or break your business.

If you have great customer service, but you do not do any marketing, your future patients will never hear of you. On the flip side, you can have a dialed-in marketing campaign that generates a lot of traffic to your website and social media profiles, but if your customer service falls short you will struggle, and ultimately the business could fail. This is one of the reasons that you should always diversify how you get new patients. Digital Marketing is a powerful strategy, but if you are not active in your community, and building your brand it will be tough to get off the ground.

In marketing, the main goal is to get your product or service in front of the right people. As a dentist, you are a leader in your community, and need to be able to effectively get in front of your patients and future patients. Understanding the demographic of your area and sitting down and thinking of your goals will help you determine where you need to be in order to help your business grow and thrive.

Once you find out the demographic of your area, and start building your game plan, plan to diversify your marketing avenues to not only find out what works, but to also have multiple different ways of generating New Patient Opportunities (NPOs). Most marketing strategies right now rely heavily on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Marketing which for most businesses is great. However, you want to also try Direct Mail, Google Ads, and other marketing strategies to find out what works.

SEO and Social Media Marketing take time to start working. The plus side is that when your campaign kicks off you have a solid, reliable avenue for generating New Patient Opportunities for your business. On the other end of the spectrum, Direct Mail and Google Ads are a more immediate solution for generating NPOs and when properly executed is an effective way to quickly generate NPOs for your practice. However, it is important to understand that while this is an effective, immediate solution, once you stop paying for the ads your leads also stop.

The most effective marketing solutions incorporate a combination of long term and short-term New Patient Opportunity generating sources.

A mixture of Social Media, SEO, and Ad marketing is an effective way to “future proof” your lead sources as much as possible to ensure that your practice will always have a way to find new patients. SEO is the long-term strategy that relies on building your website’s trust with Google and providing a good user experience. Having good content, a fast website, and a blog to answer questions that your patients are looking for is an easy way to get in front of your patients, and make sure that you have a way to generate New Patient Opportunities during hard times. Social Media Marketing may not take as long as SEO does, but you still need to generate a following and provide some form of value to your patients to keep them engaged. You can boost your posts which gets them in front of more people, but ultimately, it’s a tool for engaging your patients and a way to provide value before getting NPOs from it. Google Ads and Facebook Ads are an immediate way to generate NPOs and can be effective. You can get someone who is in need of your services right now, and get a “HOT” New Patient Opportunity, but it also costs you money to get the chance to serve that patient. A fine-tuned Ad campaign can generate a lot of NPOs for your team, but your team has to reach out and schedule appointments as soon as possible to make sure you get as many patients as you can. If you stop running ads, your lead source is immediately turned off and you need to rely on other avenues in the meantime until you can start running ads again.

Each of the above marketing strategies has their pros and cons, and it’s important to consider them all when making your marketing game plan and setting a marketing budget for your business. The most important thing is measuring the effectiveness of each campaign to see what your ROI is. Some marketing campaigns won’t perform as well as others, however, you have to be willing to try multiple strategies if you want to succeed. If you want to “future proof” your ability to operate a successful practice, you need to make sure that you and your marketing team have a plan in place to find new patients in the future. From Acts of God, to recessions and pandemics, it’s important to plan for the future and diversify your marketing efforts to have a solid foundation to fall back on for the future.

– Mike Shoun, President and CEO

Originally published at www.thedentistsnetwork.net/dmktg21.html

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