3 Unique Email Marketing Strategies for Dentists (Beyond the Basic Blast)

Email marketing is a tool that’s often overlooked in the dental industry.

It’s the key to building lasting relationships with your patients.

The numbers speak for themselves:

Email marketing has an ROI of 4400%. For every dollar you spend, you make $44.

Despite these impressive figures, many dental practices are yet to tap into the full potential of email marketing.

Why should dentists do email marketing?

The beauty of email marketing lies in its ability to facilitate one-on-one communication, offering a window into the soul of your practice (though that might sound a bit dramatic!).

As a dental provider, you already excel building relationships with your patients at their appointments.

But what happens when your patients step outside? Are you keeping in touch with them to stay top of mind?

This is where email marketing steps in. It provides multiple touchpoints to keep your practice at the forefront of their minds.

Marketing isn’t a simple linear process of seeing an ad and making a purchase.

On average, people need 8-10 touchpoints before deciding.

Email marketing is a powerful tool to achieve these touchpoints in an efficient manner, helping to nudge potential patients towards a decision without being overtly salesy.

But what kind of emails should you send to your database?

We’ll share 3 unique email marketing strategies tailored for dental practices.

And I’m not talking about those bland, generic newsletters from your PMS system.

We’re diving deep, beyond the basics.

I’ll also share with you some key benchmarks to tell if your emails are working and what steps you need to take to elevate your success rate.

Strategy 1: Newsletters

Newsletters are your gateway to connect with your entire patient base, providing value without the hard sell.

Always think about give, give, give – give as much free info that people will find valuable because they will notice.

Take inspiration from Robert Stephens, founder of Geek Squad, who used free, valuable content to build a wave of loyalty.

This created a wave of loyalty, turning Geek Squad into a household name, eventually catching the eye of Best Buy. What Robert understood was the art of giving – and it’s a strategy that can turn sincere gestures into sustainable growth.

Newsletter content ideas:

• How to handle 5 common dental emergencies
• Recipe to make a homemade mouthwash
• Dental tips
• TMJ exercises to do at home
• Vegetables that will clean your teeth
• Share a Recipe: Maybe one from your family’s cookbook?
• Dental Jokes: Lighten the mood and make them smile

Remember, the goal is to build trust and authority.

Strategy 2: New Lead Nurturing Sequence

When a potential patient shows interest through a form on your website, they’re at the “top of the funnel.” They need nurturing before they even step into your office.

That’s where a New Lead Nurture Sequence comes in

It highlights your expertise, offerings, and practice culture before they come to their first appointment.

Some email ideas for new leads:

• Use videos to answer FAQs
• Tackle common misconceptions
• Offer valuable insights
• Show Social Proof: Share testimonials and case studies
• Meet the Team: Introduce your staff and the dentist

By the end of the sequence, they should feel familiar with your practice, trust your expertise, and be ready to commit to treatment.

And when they finally do come to your appointment, they’ll be ready to say yes.

Strategy 3: Post-Consultation Sequence

It’s astonishing how many dental offices provide a thorough consultation and then follow up minimally, perhaps with just a call or two.

This gap can be bridged with a well-structured post-consult email sequence.

Some email ideas for the post-consultation:

• Address common questions and concerns that patients might have after the consultation
• Share relevant case studies, giving them a glimpse of potential results
• Remind them of the benefits of the recommended treatments
• Understand and discuss any barriers or apprehensions they might have
• Position yourself as their guide and support throughout the dental journey

Email marketing metrics:

To gauge the success of your email marketing efforts, focus on three key metrics:

• Open Rate: The percentage of recipients who open your email. Aim for a benchmark of 21.5%
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): This measures engagement. A good benchmark is 1-2%
• Unsubscribe Rate: A high unsubscribe rate (above 0.5%) could indicate issues with content or frequency

Try email marketing for your dental practice

Email marketing is a cost-effective strategy with significant results. Start with one of these strategies and observe the impact.

If you have questions or need assistance in developing a marketing strategy, feel free to reach out.

We’re here to help you strategize and offer ideas to enhance your practice’s outreach.