Imagine that a random internet user searches for dental services in their area, and you show up on the first page of Google. The good news is that you can stop imagining and make it happen by using Google Ads for dentists. Google ads are one of the best dental marketing strategies to attract high-quality clients and grow your clinic. If you do not already have a Google ads strategy for your clinic, now is the time to have one! In this article, we discuss the steps and tips on using Google Ads to get more clients for your dental clinic.
Do Google Ads Work for Dentists?
The short answer is yes.
The long answer is one of the best ways to get new patients and grow your practice as a dentist is through Google pay-per-click (PPC) ads.
Dentists should consider using Google Ads to reach potential clients looking for dental services like checkups, implants, braces, and oral surgery. This is supported further as the number of dentists continues to increase and the market is getting more competitive. If you want to stay ahead and get more clients, a dental pay-per-click strategy can be the most effective tool to invest in.
Here are some advantages of using Google Ads for your dental practice:
High Traffic
Google is one of the most popular platforms worldwide. This search engine receives more than 6.9 billion searches every day, and with these numbers, you can be sure that Google Ads can get you the exposure you need to grow your practice. A study showed that the average cost per lead for dental practices is about $158, making it one of the best forms of marketing for dentists.
Precise Targeting
One of the best things about using Google Ads is targeting your ideal audience and potential clients. Google has many targeting options so that you can target people by age, gender, location, likes, and so on. For this reason, using Google Ads can save dentists a lot of money by helping them target their ideal customers more effectively.
Budget Friendly
Google Ads run on a Pay Per Click system, which means you only pay when someone clicks on your dental PPC ad. People who use these ads do not lose money because you don’t pay anything if nobody clicks on your ad. Also, Google lets users select a budget that can fit their needs; you can choose as low as $5 per day and high as $5,000 per day, depending on your needs and goals. You have total control over your budget and can decide how much you want to spend per month or day.
Step-by-Step Guide to Get Started With Your Dental Google Ads
Google Ads, formerly known as Google Adwords, is a tool that allows you to advertise your service and expertise on Google to bring in new dental patients. However, running a dental PPC campaign requires a great deal of effort and know-how to get the best results. Here are some steps to get started:
Set Up an Account
Setting up an account is the first step to getting started with Google Adwords. Go to the Google Ads website to sign in or create a Google account. While setting up your account, you will be prompted to choose your campaign goals, such as lead generation or website traffic. You will also be promoted to set up your campaign, and the steps discussed below should guide you in setting up an account:
Identify the Right Audience for Your Clinic
Before you set up a Google Ad campaign for your dental clinic, you need to know the type of patients you are looking for through detailed targeting. Identifying the right audience when setting up your Google ad campaign will help you improve the performance of your dental practice’s PPC. For example, targeted advertising enables you to focus your ads on people likely to need your services. These people will likely become high-quality leads who click the link and visit your clinic. A strong plan is to figure out your audience’s demographic data, like age group, gender, and audience interest. You should also focus on keywords targeting your audience’s needs and specialties.
With that said, only narrow down your target audience a little to prevent losing valuable clients or minimizing your advert’s visibility.
Choose Keywords for Your Ad Campaign
One of the major parts of Google Ads is selecting the right keywords for your campaign. First, you must think about your industry and the purpose of your campaign to figure out the keywords.
As a dentist, it’s a given that your keywords should be related to dentist services (not dentistry courses or dentist job opportunities). Suppose you want to capture the audience needing dental services. In that case, you can consider using keywords like ‘dentist services,’ ‘best private dentist in Chicago,’ ‘dental clinic near me,’ and ‘dentist for braces.’
Some tips for choosing keywords for your dental ads are:
- Understanding what potential clients might type to find a dentist to go to
- Researching popular keywords and search terms related to the dental services you offer
- Taking advantage of Google Keyword Planner to find keywords with high search volume in your industry.
- Combining general keywords like dentists in my area with specific keywords like dental implants in (your location).
Add Location to Your Keyword
One of the best strategies to get high returns from your Google Ads Campaign is by adding your specific location to your keyword. If your clinic is in Florida, use a phrase like ‘dentist in Florida’ on your ad to target clients in your area. It would help to utilize location targeting to avoid casting your net too wide. Always set your location to your area so that Google ads can display your ads in places where you can get high-quality leads.
You might end up with many wasted ads if your ads keep showing up to people who live far away from your location.
Include Ad Extensions
Ad extensions, also known as ad assets, are features from Google Ads intended to improve your click-through rates. There are different types of ad assets, including location extensions that link to your address on Google Maps, price extensions that display the pricing information for a particular service, and callout extensions that let potential clients call you through the ad. You should use as many extensions as possible to provide more information about your dental services and increase your conversion rates.
Create an Optimized Ad-Specific Landing Page
A landing page is a page on your website that people are directed to when they click on your ad. It’s best to have specific landing pages for all your ads.
Also, ensure your landing page has a Call to Action (CTA), contact details, and a brief description of your services. For example, if a client clicks on an ad that says ‘fast tooth extraction,’ your landing page should reassure them that you offer tooth extraction.
Write a Compelling Ad Copy
To get people to click on your ad, you must create content relevant to their search and compelling to read. The more information you add to your copy, the easier it is to generate clients. We also recommend that you avoid generic ad campaigns if you want to differentiate yourself from other dentists offering the services you do. Highlight your practice’s specialties and selling points, and include relevant keywords in your description.
Also, remember to add a unique selling proposition or incentive to entice people to choose your dental service. Consider offering a discount for new patients, free consultation, or free products on certain services (e.g., free electric toothbrush for every teeth whitening session).
Other important tips to consider when writing dental ad copies are:
- Adding a Call to Action (CTA) like ‘Contact Us Today, ‘Get a Free Consultation’ to encourage people to click on your adverts
- Using exclamation marks when necessary
- Keeping it short and simple
- Capitalizing the first letter of each word
- Include unique selling propositions like Same-Day Appointments, 200+ 5-star Reviews, No Insurance, No Problem.
Set a Realistic Budget
Budget plays an essential role in the success of dental PPC ads. The key is to have a reasonable budget depending on your goals and needs. We often encourage dentists to start with $10-100 daily and adjust the budget depending on their returns and goals. You’ll want to increase your daily budget if you target a more competitive market.
Review and Launch
Once you’ve completed your dental ad campaign set-up and added a payment method, it’s time to review everything before you launch your ads. Make sure you go through everything again before you start running your ads.
Track Your Ads Performance
How do you know if the ad campaign you launched is converting or reaching your desired audience? Simple: you track your campaigns.
Monitor your ads performance by focusing on metrics like conversion and click-through rates. This will enable you to know what’s working for you and allow you to make informed decisions on your subsequent ad campaigns. After monitoring, don’t forget to use the insights you get to optimize and improve your ad campaigns. Update your ad copy, try new keywords, refine your targeting, and try out new approaches for optimal results.
More Google Ads Tips to Get The Most Out Of Your Dental Marketing Campaigns
Now that we’ve covered the steps to launch a Google ad for your dental services, let’s look at some tips to ensure your ads are successful:
Use Keywords Effectively
Knowing the keywords to use can make a big difference in the visibility of your dental adverts. We always recommend that dentists use very descriptive words that are related to the services they offer and the things their clients are likely to type into a Google search bar. For example, someone looking for braces may type “dentists for braces in San Diego” on Google, making the phrase a relevant keyword you can use.
Utilize Retargeting ads
Not everyone who clicks your ad will appear at your clinic the next day. This is where retargeting ads come in: you can utilize them to remind potential clients who clicked on your ads about your services in case they need them later.
Target Specific Dental Services
There are many dental services out there, so you should consider targeting services that are your specialties. For example, if you focus more on dental implants, you should make that the focus of your ads. Also, consider identifying your audience’s most common dental needs, like teeth whitening, cavities, and gum diseases, to craft your ad copies.
Be Conscious of Your Ad Schedule
It’s best to target your dental ads at the right time of the day and weeks to increase your adverts’ visibility. For instance, if your clinic is usually closed on Saturdays, you can avoid targeting that day since no one will be available to answer the calls that day. Research and monitor your ad performance to identify the days and times best for your dental ads.
Try Different Ad Formats
One of the most effective tips to get the most out of your Google Ads for a dental practice is by testing. Conduct A/B testing and try your hands on different ads like text, images, and videos.
Consult With an Expert
Working with a Google Ads expert can save you a lot of time and give you a better investment return.
If you are a dentist looking to grow your practice, you can reach out to us, and let’s chat about how we can help you gain more clients through Google Ads.
How can we help?
At Newfound Marketing, we work closely with dentists to grow their practice by getting them in front of new clients. We are experts at creating and reviewing Google Ads Campaigns for our dental clients to expand their reach in the ecosystem. If you are interested in attracting new customers through dental PPC ads but need someone to take care of it, feel free to contact us.