The Power of Social Proof in Dental Online Marketing

Key Takeaways

• Social proof is a powerful online dental marketing tool because it comes directly from patients, not your practice.
• Forms of social proof include online reviews, patient testimonials, and case studies.
• Place social proof in prominent places like your website and social media channels.
• Automating the review process can help alleviate time and effort from your front desk while ensuring you connect with every patient.

People are influenced by others’ actions and opinions, and the result is what we call social proof. It works like a herd mentality: When people see other people buying a certain product or brand, or in this case, going to a particular dentist, others are more likely to follow suit. 

For dental practices, different forms of social proof can be game-changers. For many, reviews are a person’s first impression of your practice. This proof comes from your existing patients who have already sampled your services. They offer direct insights into their experiences, which can help others make informed decisions.

Here’s how you can use social proof in your dental online marketing to build trust, improve visibility, and grow your practice.

Use Patient Reviews to Build Trust and Credibility

Studies show that 98% of people read online reviews at least occasionally before making a purchase. Many people are more likely to be influenced by an online review than a special discount or offer. 

Reviews help convert potential patients by establishing trust and transparency. Patients can share details of their experiences in their own words, which helps to build trust.

Reviews help to alleviate skepticism that prospective patients might feel, which may encourage them to choose your practice over another.

Even better, reviews are free marketing tools that have virtually no shelf life. Once published, they keep working for you every time someone reads them.

Encourage patients to leave reviews through post-appointment reminders. You can automate the review collection process to gain more reviews with minimal effort.

Leverage Compelling Testimonials to Improve Visibility

Testimonials are straightforward yet powerful ways to demonstrate patient satisfaction and outcomes. Think of a testimonial as a story: It highlights a patient’s specific experience, including their initial problem, the solution you provided, and how it’s affected their quality of life.

You don’t need extensive marketing expertise to collect and use testimonials — just sit down and talk to your patients. You can offer them a template to fill out, then use their responses to create their story. Or, you can record them on video to share on social media or your website.

No matter how you choose to collect patient testimonials, make sure you feature them in prominent places. Think of all the ways patients discover you, such as search engine results, social media, your website, or just by walking into your office. Testimonials should be part of these channels to encourage prospects to choose you.

Differentiate Your Practice with Case Studies

Differentiation is one of the top dental online marketing pain points. Many dentists offer similar services, so standing out in dental marketing is key to winning new patients.

One way to do this is to create case studies that highlight successful treatments or patient journeys. Case studies offer detailed narratives that build trust and showcase your expertise in dental practice marketing issues.

For example, you can use real-life patient success stories to show your unique approach to care, helping you stand out from competitors.

Post Social Proof on Social Media to Increase Engagement

Your social media channels aren’t just a place to share your content; they also serve as social proof. Every follower, like, share, and comment is visible to your audience. When people see others engaging with you on social media, it sends a strong message of legitimacy.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are ideal for sharing patient reviews, testimonials, and case studies. Each time you share your content, you’re increasing your practice’s visibility, engagement, and reach.

Create a content calendar to get in the habit of posting on social media. Designate specific days to include a testimonial, case study, or review on your channels. Consistent action will help you build trust and engage potential patients.

Manage Negative Reviews to Safeguard Your Dental Reputation

You might be thinking, What about negative reviews affecting dentists? 

Bad reviews happen even to the best dentists. But they’re not necessarily harmful. 

Surprisingly, as many as 96% of consumers actively look for negative reviews. Consumers realize it’s only natural for businesses to have less than a perfect rating. You simply can’t please everyone. A perfect 5-star rating is actually a red flag.

The more good reviews you have, the more they can offset the occasional bad review. Plus, negative reviews give you an opportunity to improve your image and turn a bad experience into a positive one.

You can turn a negative review into a good experience simply by responding to feedback. Be timely and professional to mitigate the impact of the review. 

Once you resolve their concerns, ask the patient to update their review. If you’ve satisfied them, they may be more likely to add back a star or two or at least update their feedback.

GrowthPlug as the Solution

If you want the most bang for your dental online marketing dollars, social proof is it. Patient reviews, testimonials, and case studies are an essential part of your dental reputation management — they can be powerful marketing tools that work around the clock, offering insights into your practice and expertise.

GrowthPlug is your comprehensive solution for all your dental reputation management, including those tailored to collect and leverage social proof. Review Generation tools work on autopilot to free up your front desk and ensure you connect with every patient after their appointment. 

With a single click, patients can leave reviews on popular sites like Google and Yelp!, giving your practice a visibility boost. 

Once you have social proof, GrowthPlug helps you automatically share it with your audience. It integrates with your social media channels and allows you to load and schedule posts ahead of time. This gives you a way to stay in touch with your audience without having to remember to post every day. 

GrowthPlug’s review generation tools integrate with your website to display your social proof to your site visitors. Credibility boosters contribute to SEO, which can lead to higher rankings and more opportunities to bring visitors to your practice’s website. 

Combined, these tools will help you attract new patients, build instant trust, and grow your practice.

Get a free website audit to see how GrowthPlug can improve your first online impression.