Your practice’s website is likely to be a patient’s first contact with your office—and first impressions matter

By Andrea De La Cerda, Scorpion

When do patients form an opinion of your orthodontic practice? Is it when they first call to speak with a receptionist? The first time they visit your office?

For most patients, it’s actually much earlier—it happens online.

Patients will often make a judgment about your practice based on your website. To ensure that this first impression is the best it can be, here are three quick tips for improving your website for your orthodontic practice:

Tip #1: Make sure your website is mobile-responsive

First impressions matter. Nothing is more frustrating than a website with text so small that it is impossible to read at first glance. 94% of people said they don’t trust websites that are not responsive, and according to Google, 64% of dental searches in 2019 came from mobile devices. This means if you don’t have a website that is mobile-responsive (meaning it’s designed to adjust to the smaller screen of a smartphone or tablet), then 64% of users may be clicking away because they don’t trust your site.

Tip #2: Demonstrate how you’re different 

Given that the services you offer are likely similar, if not the same, as other orthodontists in your local area, it is critical to quickly communicate what makes your practice different when a potential patient visits your website. Not only will this differentiate you from other orthodontists, but it will help you attract the right patients for your specific brand. Whether your main differentiator is a patient-first philosophy, unique product or treatment options, state-of-the-art office amenities, extended weekend hours, or something else, be sure to tell your story upfront.

Tip #3: Make contact information clear

It is surprising how many orthodontists keep their contact information solely on a “contact us” page on their website. Having a contact page is fine, but limiting your contact information to one page on your site requires users to take more time to look for your phone number when they are ready to make a call. This can be particularly cumbersome when visiting from a mobile device. Make sure your phone number is in a prominent place on your homepage, as well as on other pages, to make it as simple as possible for prospects to call your office with questions or to schedule an appointment.

Now that you know what goes into creating an effective website, it’s time to get started! 

Start by making it easy for prospects to learn more about who you are, what makes you different, and how they can contact you. These simple steps will jumpstart your website and set you up for success. Your website is the best first step to begin a long relationship with your new patients. OP


READ MORE: FIVE WAYS TO LEVERAGE DIGITAL MARKETING TO GROW YOUR ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE


Andrea De La Cerda is the director of vertical marketing at Scorpion. De La Cerda leads Scorpion’s strategy for the medical industry and enjoys educating practice owners about digital marketing solutions to grow their businesses. She brings more than 20 years of award-winning national and international marketing expertise to the Scorpion team.