As a dental professional, have you ever really stopped to think about the massive audience you have at your fingertips via the world wide web? The web is the status quo for how information is found today. If your child gets sick, is your first trip to the doctor's office or to your computer? I'm betting for many of you the answer was "computer". There is an absolute overabundance of information at everyone's fingertips. So how can you, the dental professional, take advantage the way people search for information? In a word, "blog".
A blog (or web log) is a vehicle by which individuals can spread their expertise across the World Wide Web in the blink of an eye. Potential patients can read your information and advice free of charge; and believe me, they will do just that. As a dental professional, you inherently possess valuable information that the public wants and needs. Writing a blog is one way for you to quickly and effectively distribute this knowledge to your patients and perhaps more importantly, potential new patients.
Blogging is also an easy way to organically boost your practice website's ranking in search engines like google, yahoo, bing and others. Search engines rank websites by content. The more relevant content you can spread across the World Wide Web and link back to your practice website, the higher your website's ranking will be when potential patients enter search terms into a search engine. Blogging is perhaps the quickest and easiest way to build content and in return, boost your ranking.
Your blog is essentially a mini-website where readers can access a ton of great information, comment on that information and ask relevant questions. You can set up a blog quickly, easily and free of charge using websites like www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com. Even the least tech savvy among us can handle this task with relative ease.
Then, it's up to you to start writing small articles (blog posts) about whatever topic is interesting to both you and your audience. As long as you present relevant information in a unique way, the patients will visit your blog, will read your content, will keep coming back to your blog for similar information and will spread the word about what a fantastic blog you have. It really is that simple.
Just try to keep in mind which keywords your patients are likely to type into a search engine when they are looking for information about dentistry. Instead of "periodontal disease" think "gum disease" or "bleeding gums". Instead of "endodontics" or "orthodontics", think "root canals" and "braces". Try to always write in terms your patients will know and for which they will search. Also, (and I can't stress this enough) ALWAYS provide a link back to your practice website so that your readers have a direct portal to your practice. Remember, this is your blog, so a little marketing will be well received by your audience as long as it is surrounded by a lot of useful information.
My final bit of advice to you before you embark on this new blogging journey is to just go for it. Be yourself and you can't get this wrong. Don't assume people aren't interested in what you have to say. I guarantee there are potential patients waiting to be won over by a sincere dentist with an honest and interesting blog. Write about what you know and the patients will follow...maybe not immediately, but they will follow. The more blogging you do, the better you'll get at this craft. As long as you keep the needs of your patients at heart, you won't get this wrong.
To learn more about the Michigan Implant Study Club or Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS and Associates, visit http://www.drnemeth.com/ or call 248.357.3100. More information is also available at the Michigan Periodontist Blog and the Michigan Dental Implants Blog or you can stay updated by becoming a fan of the Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS and Associates Facebook Fan Page or the Michigan Implant Study Club Facebook Fan Page.
Author: Jodi Alcock, I.T. Specialist
Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS and Associates
The Michigan Implant Study Club
