Branding

How to Create a Great Slogan for Your Dental Practice

December 17, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

With a plethora of dentists competing for a patients attention through various forms of dental marketing (TV, radio, websites, social media, magazines, coupons, workplace referrals and more), you must up your game to become successful. Most patients think that all dentists are the same since only a few dental practices are able to establish their brand and make themselves stand out. Having a catchy, memorable slogan will help your dental office distinguish itself from others to dominate your local market. But how do you create a great tagline? This is exactly what we attempt to answer in this post.

Keep it Short

Keep your dental office slogan under 10 words. Anything too long will make it impossible to use anywhere with your logo. While you must keep your tagline short, you must also ensure that it is complete and anyone reading it should be able to tell that you provide dentistry service without any additional information.

Brand Consistency is Key

If you have a paediatric dentistry then your slogan must be related to kids and speak to their parents. If you want to attract high end clients, then your tagline should speak to the wealthy. The point being that brand consistency should be maintained when creating a slogan to attract the right patients. For example, Invisalign’s tagline positions it as a transparent alternative to metallic braces.

Focus on Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

At the end of the day, a tag-line is simply another opportunity to tell people what makes your dental practice different from the rest. For example, Crossoak Family Dentistry uses the slogan “We cater to cowards” with a big chicken on its website. Try to incorporate your primary unique selling point in your slogan.

Get Input from Patients

Short-list 5-6 slogan ideas and create a poll on your Facebook page to see what your fans think. Ask for some suggestions from your patients and announce a prize for the one who comes up with the best tag-line for your dental office. You could also personally approach a few loyal patients for their suggestions. Those are some ways to get feedback and advice from the target audience itself i.e. dental patients.

Say It Out Loud

Once you have a few ideas, say them out loud to hear how they sound. Try putting emphasis on different words and inserting punctuation to see how it changes the sound and meaning of your slogan.

Before finalizing a tagline, you will need to see if another business is already using it. If you’re in the U.S., you can run a trademark check through the USPTO. If you’re located in another country, check for availability with your government.

101 Awesome Dental Promotional Giveaway Items Under $1.00

December 5, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Every dental office needs promotional gifts to distribute to patients and dentists spend thousands to purchase branded giveaway items to promote their dentistry. If you are looking for promotuonal products for your dental office, you have arrived at the right place. While we don’t sell promotional gifts, we have prepared a list of 100+ dental promotional products that cost less than $1.00.

Starlight Peppermints – $0.05

Personalized Mints – $0.07

Colored Napkin – $0.09

Ball Marker – $0.11

Wooden Golf Tees – $0.12

Wooden Nickel – $0.13

Fruit Flavored Lollipop – $0.14

Apple Photo Frame – $0.17

Bic Magnet Business Cards – $0.21

Cubano Pen – $0.25

Personalized Latex Balloon – $0.25

Apple Hand Fan – $0.27

Create-A-Pencil – $0.27

Natural Finish Ruler – $0.31

Clear Plastic Cup – $0.32

Poker Chips – $0.34

Divot Repair Tools – $0.38

Cord Wrap/Earphone Organizer – $0.38

Economy Pocket Coolie – $0.39

Round Paper Plate – $0.41

Oven Stick – $0.42

Awareness Bracelet – $0.43

3-Step Lid – $0.44

Doctor’s Headband – $0.46

Nail File in Sleeve – $0.46

Color Book – $0.46

Smiles Supply Bag – $0.47

Sport Bottle with Push Pull Lid – $0.47

Ping Pong Balls – $0.48

Oval Shape Pill Holder – $0.49

Sport Flyer – $0.49

Round Stress Reliever – $0.51

Round Tape Measure – $0.52

Whistle Light/Key Chain – $0.55

Classic Monthly Pocket Planner – $0.57

Coffe Scoope – $0.57

Auto License Plate Frames – $0.57

Computer Value Calendar – $0.59

Tissue Packet – Pack of 10 Tissues – $0.59

Healthy Gums Pocket Slider – $0.59

Lock Soft Key Tag – Opaque – $0.59

Promotional Jumbo Magnetic Clip – $0.60

Giant 16″ Fly Swatter – $0.60

Carabiner with Ring – $0.62

Magnet – Tooth Shape – $0.63

Little Pocket Size Pad – $0.63

Box Opener Keychain – $0.63

Aluminum Bottle / Can Opener Key Ring – $0.63

Hand Bag – $0.64

Anodized Carabiner – $0.64

Square Clip Memo Holder – $0.64

Rubberized Sunglasses – $0.64

Hi Flyer Luggage Tag – $0.65

Sunblock Packet – $0.68

Circular Jar Opener – $0.69

Pocket Protector – $0.71

Heavy Duty Polar Ice Scraper – $0.71

Personalized Hand Clapper – $0.73

Plastic Yo Yo Toy – $0.73

Mini Velour Pouch – $0.74

Mini Flashlight Tool Keychain – $0.74

Business Card Pocket Magnifier – $0.74

Jumbo Cubicle Clip – $0.75

Oral Syringe – $0.76

Skittles Treat Packet – $0.77

Personalized Compact Mirror – $0.78

Denture Box – $0.79

Heart Shaped Letter Opener – $0.79

Belgian Chocolate – $0.79

Beer Stein – $0.80

Soap Sheet Dispenser – $0.80

Antibacterial Toothbrush Holder – $0.83

hand sanitizer pocket sprays – $0.85

14 Month Press-N-Stick™ – Standard Calendar – $0.85

Mini Beach Ball – $0.85

Brushing Timer – $0.85

Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer – $0.87

Classic Seven Day Pillcase – $0.87

Atlas Nonwoven Grocery Tote – $0.87

Sugar Free Mints – $0.88

USA Made Lip Balm – $0.88

3M Silicon Smart Wallet Cell Phone Card Holder – $0.89

Eco-Friendly Non Woven Tote Bag – $0.89

Comfort Visor – $0.90

Luggage Grabber – $0.91

Flower Highlighters – $0.92

Medium Rubber Duck – $0.92

Keep Smiling Dental Floss – $0.93

Bristle Buddy Computer Duster – $0.93

Dog Tags with Beaded Necklace – $0.93

Megaphone – $0.93

Reflective Slap Wristband – $0.93

Collapsible Cup Pill Holder Combo – $0.94

Instant Care Kit – $0.94

IStand Phone Holder – $0.95

Tube Winder – $0.96

Travel Toothbrush – $0.96

King Size Tooth Flat Tire™ Coaster – $0.96

Cinch Up Backpack – $0.97

Swerve Pillbox – $0.98

Fruit 3Drasers – $0.99

11 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Dental Office Name

December 1, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

One of the first challenges any dentist faces when starting their own private dental practice is finding a suitable name. While using your surname to brand your dental office may be a good idea for some, most dentists would be better off choosing a unique name for their dental office. In this post we go over some important points you should consider when choosing a name for your dental practice.

Is it too long?

The first thing you need to be wary of is the length of your dental office name. Ideally you should keep the name up to 3 words long and anything above 5 words is far too long. In case you have to use 5 or more words, then you can develop an acronym for your practice name and use that as your logo mark. Think KFC for Kentucky Fried Chicken and IBM for International Business Machines.

Is it meaningful?

Another important aspect of a good dental office name is that it must immediately convey what you offer i.e. dentistry services. Avoid using ambiguous words that may be used to refer to something else or whose meaning is not immediately apparent. Your practice name must also distinguish your dental office from other dental related businesses like dental insurance companies and dental labs.

What does it look like?

Write the name down on a piece of paper in lower case and upper case and see if it looks okay and reads well. Show it to a few others as well and make sure you are not setting yourself up for an embarrassment like these guys.

Is it easy to spell?

Another point to consider is the spelling of your office name. When you are on the phone and tell a patient or anyone your office name, they should be able to write it down without much trouble. Stick to commonly used words and avoid fancy words unless you want to spell your practice name out to everyone for the next 10 years.

What does it sound like?

In addition an easy spelling your practice name should also be easy to pronounce. Ask a few people with different accents to ready your practice name aloud. Carefully listen to how the name sounds. Can you make out each word? How fast can people say it? Are there too many syllables?

Does it reflect your positioning?

Another important consideration when naming your dental practice is your positioning in the market. Are you alone or a group of associates? Are you a cosmetic, orthodontic, periodontics, pediatric specialist or a general dental office? Are you affordable of expensive? Your name should be able to convey exactly where you stand.

Is a tagline needed?

If you can’t find a name to fully convey your positioning then try using a tagline. The tagline will support your office name with more information to distinguish your dental practice from the rest. Ideally, however taglines should be avoided because they have become redundant over the years.

Can the City or Location Name be Added?

Since most dentists will only be operating a single city, it makes sense to add the city/town/metro name. This will provide your office a local feel which is important to many patients who wish to support local businesses over national franchises. It will also benefit you with SEO.

Is it unique and memorable?

Another important aspect of a good dental office name is its uniqueness. You want your dental practice name to be different from everyone else in the city so people do not confuse your office with another dentistry. It should also be something memorable to develop better brand recall. This will help you get a better advertising performance.

Is the name still available?

Off course the last step before finalizing an office name is to check it is available. As soon as you have a short list of names, you must check which ones are available for registration with your state and federal authorities.

Is the .com domain name available?

Now that you have finalized a name, you should confirm that it’s domain name is available and register the .com immediately. Do not register any office name where at least the .com domain name not available.

If you have answered all the above questions, then congratulate yourself because you have landed a great name for your dental office. If your shortlisted names are already taken or you are having trouble coming up with dental practice name ideas try our dental office name generator tool.

29 Dental Office Amenities to Attract More Patients

November 27, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

Most people are not fond of dental offices and only visit a dentist because of necessity. Dental office amenities are an easy way to attract more patients to your practice by distinguishing it from other dentists in your neighbourhood. They also improve patient comfort and satisfaction encouraging more repeat visits and higher patient retention. In that sense, dental amenities are an important aspect of good dental practice management. Given below is a list of amenities you can add to your dental office.

Snacks

Snacks help patients refuel after a long commute or hectic work day while they wait for they wait for their appointment. Many patients skip breakfast/lunch to make the visit, specially on weekdays and a free snack would be a very welcome addition for them.

Cookies
Chewing Gum
Chew Mints

Dental Office Snack Bar — Snack Bar at Fieldman Smiles Othodontics

Drinks

Drinks help patients replenish and relax on a hot afternoon while they wait for they wait for their appointment. Water is a must have but you can change the selection of drinks based on the season.

Bottled water
Coffee Bar
Juice Bar

Comfort

Patient comfort is the top most priority of any dental office and the following amenities will help your dental patients relax before, during and after the treatment.

Aromatherapy
Paraffin Wax Treatment
Hot Towel
Lip Balm
Soft Blanket
Eye Pilows
Neck Pilows
Sun Glasses
Warm, Inviting Waiting Room

Reading Material

Reading is one of the best ways to use your spare time productively. Reading material would be a welcome addition in the waiting room for patients who are not very technology savvy and prefer books over TV.

Magazines
Catalogues
Newspapers

Entertainment

Entertainment is one of the best ways for patients to kill time and anxiety in the waiting room. There are many options to choose form and some of the most popular ones are given below

Personal Music Stations
Personal DVD Players
Internet WiFi
Radio
TV
Netflix
Headphones

Kids

Kids can be difficult to pacify but an interactive video game can keep the naughtiest of little ones quiet – both in the treatment chair and in the waiting room.

Video Game Consoles
Treasure Chest
Toys

Depending on your location and patient demographic you can pick and choose the facilities you want to offer to your dental patients. If we missed anything, please comment below to add to the list above.

Convenience

Facilitate your dental patients as much as possible by removing any complaints they could have about visiting your dental office.

Ample adjacent parking
Attractive restrooms

Dental Office Branding: Dentist Name vs. Practice Name

November 26, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

Before launching your dental office, you need to decide what to call it. Whether you are a start-up practice or buying an established office, you have to brand your dental office with a suitable name. Unfortunately they don’t teach you that in dental school which is why we are here to help.

One of the main sticking points dentists face when naming their office is to decide whether to use their own/family name or to come up with a unique practice name. There are pros and cons to both approaches and in this post we look at some of the points you should consider in this regard.

Do you have family history in the same town?

Perhaps one of your parents or grandparents practised dentistry in the town where you are setting up your office. Maybe your family ran a successful local business in the same town. Basically if you have an established and respected family name in the community, you can leverage that to benefit your dental office. If you find yourself in such a fortunate situation it makes complete sense to use your name as the practice name. It will give you a distinct advantage other dentists in the area. A creative, non-family name may sound and appear more attractive but if nobody in your town can relate to it then all that creativity is of no use.

Do you plan to take on associates?

Another point to ponder is how you plan to run the office not just in the present but in the future. Do you have any plans for adding associates? How many will there be? If you have such plans, then it is better to avoid using your name for your dental practice. This will avoid unnecessary confusion in the future and will make transition a breeze when you eventually take on associates to share the workload.

Do you belong to a minority group?

This one may sound controversial but as humans we tend to trust one of our own more than others – specially with personal things like oral health and hygiene. If you are an Asian dentist practicing in a predominantly Asian community, it may be beneficial to use your real name to brand your dental practice. This will help Asians in your town identify with your ethnic background and prefer your office over non-Asian dentists. However, please note that this can also work against you as well because dental patients from other ethnic backgrounds may be turned off by your Asian name. Therefore, dentists from minority groups need to account for the current and future demographic make-up of their town before using their actual name to represent their dental office.

Do you plan to sell your dental office in the future?

Another important consideration for using your actual name is the marketability of your practice to potential buyers. Off course this only applies if you plan to sell your dental office in the future like many dentists do. If your exist strategy in the next 5 years involves selling your dental office then you may want to avoid using your personal name to brand your office. This will make all your branding including, logos, bill boards, marketing materials, brochures, website, patient reviews, stationary, staff uniforms etc. transferable to the new owner making your dental practice a turnkey solution for potential buyers. This is a very attractive proposition for any dentist wanting to buy an established practice in your town.

If you are facing trouble coming up with a catchy name for your dental office, please try our practice name generator tool.

Custom Dental Websites vs Cookie-Cutter Design Templates

November 17, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

When reviewing website design options for your dental office, most website design companies will ask you to choose between a custom design and a pre-built template website. While both types or websites can be successful, following are some useful points to consider when deciding between these two options.

Cost

Custom dental websites will always cost more than a pre-built design. If you are on a budget or just starting out, then template design may be the way to go. You can always revisit the design after a few years. Then again, if you will get a custom website in future anyway, then why not get it now.

Time

Custom websites will take longer to complete since everything will have to be approved by you and there is going to be a lot of back and forth until everything is exactly how you want. For a template design only the color scheme will be changed to your logo and your website would be ready to go. You just need to add content to make it live. Again, if you are pressed for time, a template design may be the better option.

Customization

A custom website is personalized to your exact preferences and satisfaction. On the other hand a template design will only allow for basic changes. You will rarely find a design template to match your exact needs because templates are designed to cover all/most audiences. If you find yourself wanting too many changes to a template design, you should consider a custom website.

Uniqueness

While a template website does undergo some basic customization, it is possible that two or more dental practices have the same color scheme. In such cases, their websites can look identical or very similar. Obviously, no dentist wants their website to look the same as another local dentist, particularly if they offer the same services. It can damage your brand and cause confusion among patients. Ideally your website should be unique to your dental practice and only a custom website will achieve that.

Marketability

A custom website can be tailored to your target audience and therefore provide better conversion rate than a template design. For e.g. If your dental office is located in a minority dominated area, you will need your website to reflect that. If you want to attract young professionals, your website should be built to do so. In short your website should speak to your patients (whether they are blue collar workers or corporate executives or middle class families) instead of the general population. This is where template designs suck big time and the main reason why we recommend custom websites.

Ultimately, the choice between a custom website and template design comes down to how committed you with online marketing. If you are serious about getting dental patients online, then your website has to be professional and marketable in terms of both design and content. Template websites usually fail to deliver on both counts. If you want to get a custom website for your dental practice please contact us for a free consultation.