In today’s digital era, having a website is crucial for any business, including dental practices. Your website is a digital representation of your practice. It is frequently the initial point of contact between prospective patients and your business. A well-crafted website can enhance patients’ chances of selecting your practice, while a poorly-designed one can deter them.
There are many ways to get more dental patients, including advertising, offering special discounts, or even hiring a dental marketing company. However, the first thing that you should do is evaluate your dental website.
In this blog post, we will discuss the six common mistakes dental websites make and advise on how to avoid them.
Avoid These 6 Common Mistakes on Your Dental Website
Having an effective dental website is crucial for your online presence, so avoid these 6 common mistakes that could potentially hurt your dental practice.
1 – Your Dental Website Speed Is Slow
At least $2.6 billion is lost in revenue every year because of a slow website, as per WebFx. However, per the same research, if you only increase your website speed by 1 second, it can increase by 7 percent in conversion.
The same applies to your dental website. If you neglect your website’s design, performance, and functionality, patients may not be willing to wait for it to load. Instead, they may quickly close your website and seek recommendations for other dentists in the area.
2 – Your Dental Website Is Not Search Engine Optimized
According to Moz, 75 percent of people make decisions by looking at the first page of results. Just think about that for a moment. If your dental practice is not showing up on the first page, you lose out on potential patients daily.
Fifty-one percent of the traffic on the website comes from organic search, and organic traffic can generate over 40 percent of revenue, as per HubSpot. Therefore, you cannot ignore the search engine optimization that can drive considerable revenue every year.
3 – Lack of Clear and Concise Information
One of the dental websites’ most common mistakes is not providing clear and concise information about their services. Patients are looking for a dental practice that can meet their needs, and they want to be able to find the information they need to make a decision easily. Therefore, your website should list your services, pricing, insurance information, and special offers.
Additionally, it is essential to have a section dedicated to frequently asked questions. This section should answer common questions that patients may have, such as how to book an appointment, what to expect during a dental visit, and what types of insurance you accept.
4 – Lack of Trust Signals
A dental website should provide trust signals to potential patients to build confidence in the practice. Trust signals can include testimonials from satisfied patients, before and after photos, and reviews from reputable third-party sites such as Google, Yelp, or Healthgrades.
Additionally, the website should display the practice’s qualifications, such as degrees, certifications, and memberships in professional organizations. This information can help patients feel more comfortable with the practice and its providers.
5 – You Are Not Offering Online Appointments
In modern dentistry, scheduling an appointment with the dentist doesn’t have to be time-consuming or inconvenient.
As per Black Book Market Research, 97 percent of people expect an online scheduling option from providers.
Nexerasoft’s dental website experts also recommended having an online scheduling function to get maximum conversions if patients visit your dental website. So, you may lose many bookings if you do not offer online scheduling.
6 – Lack of Calls to Action
Finally, a dental website should have clear calls to action. Calls to action encourage visitors to take a specific action, such as booking an appointment or contacting the practice.
It is important to have calls to action on each page of the website, not just on the homepage. Calls to action should be prominently displayed and easy to find. They can be in the form of buttons or links and should communicate what action the visitor should take.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, a dental website is essential for any dental practice. However, to ensure its success, it is crucial to avoid common mistakes that can turn off potential patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do dental websites need to be optimized for mobile devices?
With more and more people using mobile devices to browse the internet, optimizing a mobile website is crucial. However, suppose your website isn’t easy to use on a smartphone or tablet. In that case, you risk losing potential patients who may become frustrated and leave your site.
What are some common mistakes that dental websites make with their content?
One common mistake is failing to provide enough information about services or procedures. Another is using overly technical language that can be difficult for patients to understand. Additionally, websites may not be regularly updated with fresh content, which can hurt their search engine rankings.
How important is website design for dental practices?
Website design is incredibly important for dental practices. Your website is often the first impression potential patients will have of your practice. So it’s important to ensure it looks professional and is easy to navigate. Conversely, a poorly designed website can turn potential patients away and hurt your online reputation.
How can I make sure my dental website is accessible to all users?
Making your website accessible involves using alt tags for images, which enable visually impaired users to understand your content. Additionally, it’s crucial to choose colors with sufficient contrast for those with color blindness and ensure that your site is compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers.