While the importance of advanced in-office treatment options is stressed, it’s essential to address digitally-minded patients’ expectations of out-of-office experiences as well.
Many patients are aware they should visit the dentist at least twice a year, but it can be all-too-easy to procrastinate or forget about the appointments altogether. It’s no longer sufficient to politely notify the patient at the end of a visit when they should return; tech-savy patients expect reminders delivered on their mobile devices. Reaching out to patients with text messages or emails with appointment reminders is an effective way to communicate with patients out-of-office.
Having a proper online and social media presence is a necessary element in keeping patients engaged and creating return patients. In order to get the most of the practice’s website, it is vital that the site is built with search engine optimization in mind, is mobile-friendly and allows patients to schedule appointments with little-to-no hassle.
A report from Google showed that 97 percent of consumers research local businesses online, so a website that is search engine optimized will appear higher in google search results than websites that are not. A mobile-friendly website where patients can schedule appointments from their smartphones is also key for gaining and retaining tech-savy patients. This kind of website can be used in conjunction with reminder texts or emails: reminder messages can now be sent that include a link back to the scheduling section of the website where patients can book their next appointment right from their smartphone.