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The Messy Art of Marketing Success


Posted on 4/21/2016 by Rosalea Peters, WEO Media Staff
Voice search is here. Facebook is launching a local search service. More desktop traffic comes from Facebook than any other social service. SEO is more than optimizing for Google. Content is king, but only relevant, rich, story. These are headlines of articles you can find when you're looking for the latest information on digital marketing - which really doesn't need the qualifier of "digital" - because Everything is Marketing (right Fred Joyal).

The other headlines you'll see talk about ROI (return on investment for the uninitiated) and how as dentists, you are responsible for YOUR business, and you should always "trust but verify" that your marketing team is doing well by you.

To a dentist sitting in the latest marketing course put on by her state association or trade association, she is told that she's wasting money if she's not measuring the results of her marketing plan, and that she should ask these 10 soul-searching questions of any SEO company that she plans to hire. Is it really that easy?

This is where you should take your cue from the title. Marketing is messy - and it's pretty rare that you'll find an even trajectory from point A (congratulations! you hired an SEO company or marketing agency) to point B (congratulations! you have 20 new patients a month from your website).

This graphic below is one of my favorites - from a great blog article by Ian Lurie about how marketers aren't storytellers - we are world builders. What this represents is the path that a consumer interacts with your brand. As marketers, we know that there is a high likelihood that a prospect will have brushed elbows with your brand multiple times before they are at a point of conversion.

PortentBlog Ian Lurie Marketers Are Not Story tellers


Those "brushes with brand" are such excellent representations of why marketing is messy, and why it can be difficult for a dentist to measure the ROI of their marketing efforts.

Example: A prospective patient may have seen a sponsored ad in their Facebook newsfeed, or even better, one of their Facebook friends shared a post from their dentist's page. A few weeks later, they run into another friend who tells them about the amazing experience they had at their last dental appointment because "Of all the things, the evening after my surgery, the dentist called me to make sure I was doing okay!". A few months go by and our prospective patient realizes they're past due on their twice-yearly (okay, in reality - their once yearly) dental visit and can't remember the name of this fantastic dentist that their friend recommended, so searches "dentist in Austin, TX". A few names pop up at the top of the first page, and they recognize Dr. Toothy Adams. After a few seconds on the website to find contact information, a call goes in to the office.

Now we all know what happens next. Our friendly receptionist asks, "Who referred you to our office" Our prospective patient says "my friend Amy". No mention of the online interactions the patient has had.

Would the prospect have called the office if their website wasn't on page 1? Maybe. Was the office or dentist's name heightened in their conscious mind because of the three touches (Facebook, in person, website search)? A case would likely be made that yes it was. How then, does the dentist measure the true results of their marketing efforts?

1.  Take the time to train your dental team on more specific questions to ask of a new patient. Instead of "who referred you to us" ask "How did you hear about our office?" and then digging a bit deeper. If a patient replies "an internet search" the next question should be - "oh, did you look on Google or another search engine, or did you see us on social media?" It's also great to refer back to your website as a place to request an appointment, download new patient forms, or find information about your services

2.  Review your referral sources each month, and share that data with your marketing agency. If out of 20 new patients you welcomed to your practice in April, 5 of them found you through online Google search, and 1 searched for you on Bing, that is great data to accumulate. However, this is highly reliant on our first method of a trained dental team being in place.

WEO Blog   New Patient Data image graphic


3.  Dive into your new patient data. Instead of observing that you had 20 new patients, observe what your actual production and collection data was for those patients. Based on our above sample of 20 new patients, if 10 came through the insurance website you have contracted with, 5 found you through an online Google search, 1 found you on a Bing search, and 4 were patient referrals, you should then break down per section what your production was for each of those groups. This helps you understand what you paid into each referral source, and what it cost you to obtain that patient.

NewPatientData WithProduction 1


4.  Work with your marketing agency to identify trends in your practice and for each of your campaigns. Your marketing agency should have a strong history of innovation, closely researching new trends, and is positioned to have expert knowledge about different forms of marketing. At WEO Media for example, we spend time researching data and evaluating industry trends in both dentistry and marketing in general as we look toward the future of what our clients might need. SEO and social media marketing change constantly - and the landscape is an ever moving target. We bring quite a bit to the table, but we need to sit at that table with our clients as partners; helping us to understand what they are experiencing in their day to day operations so we can use the best approach possible, and yield them the results they are looking to achieve.


Marketing is messy. It requires trial and error to finesse the "sweet spot". It requires research, time, and collaboration. It's constantly changing and innovating. There are new things to learn everyday - as we noted from our introduction - the headlines can be mind-boggling. But when the mess of marketing comes together in just the right way - a work of art is born; and the synergy it creates? Amazing.

Marketing Services for Dentists & Dental Specialists


As leaders in our industry, we here at WEO Media can help you and your team navigate the intricate complexities surrounding today's dental marketing.


A computer with rocket launching

Dental Websites


Your dental website is the first impression your potential patients have of your practice, make sure that impression is the one you want to make.

A magnifying glass inspecting results from SEO

Dental SEO


When your business is at the top of Google’s search results, you should see a significant increase in website traffic.

A magnifying glass inspecting results from PPC

Dental PPC


Pay per click ads typically pop up at the top of search engine results pages and are an effective tool if you want to drive more traffic to your website.


Sales pipeline with a graph showing increasing result

Patient Pipeline


Optimize marketing efforts, increase practice revenue, and get higher returns on your investments.

Online reviews with 5 star ratings

Reputation Management


Drive patient reviews to the most important online review sites for dentists: Google, Facebook, and Healthgrades.

Multiple social media channels with play button

Social Media


We will work with you to implement strategies designed to grow your followers, and ultimately grow your practice.



Along with the basics, we also offer a wide-variety of additional marketing services. Some of these services include:
• 

Credit Card Processing:

We have partnered with an online credit card processing company to help your patients pay through your website. Our partnership also helps you save money with lower rates and transaction fees.
• 

Dental Practice Photography:

As we mentioned in a previous section, custom photography can help potential patients feel connected to your practice before their first appointment. If you need an experienced photographer to update your online photos, our team is here to help!
• 

Direct Mail Campaigns:

Believe it or not, direct mail campaigns are still a powerful promotional tool, especially for people that have just moved to your area. If you want to target this demographic, we can design a custom campaign tailored to your office and brand.
• 

Email Based Newsletter for Patients:

An electronic newsletter is one of the best ways to stay in touch with your current patients. We want to avoid the old adage, “out of sight, out of mind.” Staying visible with a newsletter can lead to more scheduled appointments and better patient loyalty.
• 

Email Hosting:

We offer email hosting to ensure your business email matches your website domain. A matching domain and email address is much more professional that using Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail.
• 

Facebook Ads:

Due to Facebook’s popularity, paid ads can be a fruitful way to generate new patients leads. Facebook ads are also unique in that they allow us to target your key demographic (with laser focus) based on age, gender, geographic location, relationship status, “likes,” education, job title, and other aspects.
• 

Logo, Design, and Branding Services:

Your logo and brand may be more important than you think. Talk with our design team to learn more about your possible options, whether you need a new logo or want to update an existing one.
• 

Online Bill Pay:

Much like our credit card processing, online bill pay makes it easier for your patients to pay for their treatments, especially if they need a payment program. We use the latest software and security measures to ensure a seamless billing process.
• 

Patient Forms (Fillable PDF):

A fillable PDF makes it easier for your patient to complete their paperwork before their first visit. This reduces your set-up time, allowing you to see more patients throughout the day.
• 

Patient Forms (Secure Online):

Secure online forms cut paperwork out altogether, meaning your staff will not have to waste time transferring the data to your computer system. It is also a more environmentally-friendly option, a nice selling point for patients that want to keep it green!
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We Provide Real Results

WEO Media helps dentists in Portland, OR acquire new patients, reactivate past patients, and better communicate with existing patients. Our approach is unique in the dental industry. We work with you to understand the specific needs, goals, and budget of your practice and create a proposal that is specific to your unique situation.


+400%

Increase in website traffic.

+500%

Increase in phone calls.

$125

Patient acquisition cost.

20-30

New patients per month from SEO & PPC.




Schedule a consultation that works for you


Are you ready to grow your practice? Talk to one of our Senior Marketing Consultants to see how your online presence stacks up. No strings attached. Just a free consultation from experts in the industry.

Let's Get Started



Why Choose WEO?


Not your Average Dental Marketing Agency


WEO Media specializes in dental marketing for dentists across the country, offering a comprehensive suite of services tailored specifically for you.


We have helped dental practices across the country enhance their online presence, attract new patients, and increase patient retention. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the dental industry. Our expertise in SEO, website design, and content marketing ensures that your practice is easily found online.

Ensure your practice remains competitive in an ever-evolving landscape, our commitment to innovation means your marketing efforts will always be cutting-edge.


At WEO we take the time to understand your practice's specific goals and tailor our marketing strategies to meet your needs. Whether you need a new website, social media management, reputation management, or pay-per-click advertising, WEO Media provides customized solutions that fit your needs and budget.
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WEO Media, 125 S. 1st Ave, P.O. Box 249, Hillsboro, OR 97123 • 888-788-4670 • weomedia.com • 1/9/2025 • Page Phrases: Dental Marketing •