Top 6 Reasons Why It’s Time to Update Your Dental Website

Getting a new website can be a tough decision. There is the initial cost associated with creating a new design, plus the time and effort working with your web company to get things right. Of course you want to be sure that it’s the right time for you and your dental practice.

The truth is it’s easy to delay making the decision … but it’s never a good idea. You’re missing opportunities if you cling to an old design and convince yourself that you don’t need a website. Your website is how you present your practice to the world – it needs as much care and attention as staff training and setting up a comfortable reception area.

Top 6 reasons to get a new dental website

1. You want to invest in marketing to grow your practice. You’ve reached a point in your career where you have a solid patient base but still have a few gaps in the schedule or you've recently decided to offer more complex cases like sedation dentistry, dental implants or cosmetic dentistry. So, you’ve decided that marketing is the key to the successful growth of your business. Great!
   
   Online marketing and advertising send people to your website as the first point of contact. If your outdated website doesn’t make a good first impression with potential patients, you’ll be wasting your marketing dollars.
   
   Your website should be well-integrated into your marketing, with specific landing pages for the services you’re trying to sell. Potential patients are more likely to become actual patients if your marketing message is consistent with your website. Ideally, your website will work with your initiatives by explaining procedures, providing extra information, and highlighting specific actions you want patients to take – like booking their next dental checkup!
2. You need new patients. If you’re just starting your practice or have hired a new associate, there can be a big gap between operating costs and accounts receivable. You might not think it’s a good time to invest in a new website, but you will be hard pressed to attract new patients if your website is sub-par. Dentistry IQ recently published a study that shows you risk losing up to 44% of Internet users with a poor website.
   
   New patients are looking for you online. What they find when they get to your website plays a big part in their decision to choose your dental practice. If your website is dated, your potential patient might think your practice or dental techniques are dated, as well. Don’t miss the opportunity to attract new patients when you need them the most.
3. You want your current patients to get the information they need. It’s not just potential patients looking for you online; current patients also need to connect with you online. Current patients aren’t just looking for your phone number and address – they might also need to understand more about a treatment option you discussed during their last visit. Having an up-to-date website lets you speak directly to current patients and provide them with solid treatment information. Help your patients get the most out of their dental visit and their relationship with you and your staff.

4. You can’t remember the last time your website was updated. Website design and best practices change rapidly. Strategies that were considered advanced a couple of years ago might not help your practice today. For example, in 2011, only 22% of people owned a smartphone. Now, everyone has a does– and they want to use it to research businesses, set appointments and connect with your office. If your website is older, it might not have been designed to show up on a smartphone … which can lead to a poor first impression. Check out Google’s Mobile tool to know for sure or look at your site on your own phone – and see what you think about how it comes up.
5. You want to sell your practice in the next five years. Make your practice marketable showing consistent growth of new patients by adding a website and a clear marketing plan. That way, your buyer can be confident they are buying a practice with the potential to meet their needs. When you sell your practice, some of your patients will probably go somewhere new and not to the new owner. Having a marketing plan in place mitigates the risk for the buyer – so that new patients come in to replace the patients who leave when you do.
6. You’re not happy with what you’ve got. If you don’t feel like your website represents your practice or you’re not satisfied with the relationship with your current website company, there’s every reason to make a change. You should be proud of your website – and savvy patients will find that attractive. Cut your losses and move on with a new company that understands your vision and can put it into action.

Need more information about how to find the perfect Internet marketing company for you? Download our free guide to choosing your agency or check out Design Rush's List of Top Dental Marketing Companies

Ask us to review your website… or learn more about our website services here.