2024 SEO Trends: When it comes to digital marketing, it seems the rules are always changing, and the trends are constantly evolving. When it comes to marketing for orthodontics and dentistry, it’s no different. In today’s rapidly advancing digital world, it’s crucial to keep up with your competition by adopting the latest marketing strategies to effectively engage with your target audience.
Luckily, we here at Ortho Marketing are dedicated to helping keep you ahead of the curve. With our years of experience in digital marketing for dentists and orthodontic practices, we can identify the trends that will position you for success.
In this article, we’ll dive into the top 10 digital marketing trends you must know for 2024 SEO trends and outline steps to implement them into your digital marketing efforts. From search engine optimization to video content—let’s get started!
1. Content Marketing is (Still) King
We’ll start with an easy one. It’s been the case for a while, but come 2024 SEO trends, it’s still the case—so there’s no real shift in strategy required here—but content marketing remains the cornerstone of a successful digital marketing strategy.
Creating high-quality, engaging, and (importantly) informative content is necessary for professionals like dentists and orthodontists to establish trust and credibility with their audience. Patients who can find relevant articles, informative blog posts, insightful videos, and social media updates are likelier to remain patients with your practice.
Not only that, but good content will enhance your website’s search engine ranking, which will drive new visitors and potential customers.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Invest in informative, visually appealing, and regularly published digital content. Consider assigning someone on your team to the role or hire someone who can ensure great content is consistently created. Content can include tips on maintaining oral health, success stories/case studies, or videos explaining procedures that you offer.
2. Video Marketing is Bigger Than Ever
Video marketing has been on the rise recently, but come 2024 SEO trends, it’s taking center stage in digital marketing. Gone (mostly!) are the days of long loading times and worries about data overages preventing viewers from watching web videos; therefore, digital marketers have adapted their strategies accordingly.
Dentists and orthodontists can use video content to add a level of appeal to their content strategy. Showcase testimonials, illustrate procedures, and provide other content that connects more deeply through video than simple text or images. Additionally, live streaming can be a powerful way to engage with your audience in real-time when done effectively and in the right situation.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Create short, relevant video content that addresses your patient’s needs, concerns, and interests. For instance, hosting a live Q & A session to foster a sense of community and allow them to have their questions addressed.
3. Chatbots for Improved Patient Experience
While nothing beats speaking with a real human, that’s not always possible immediately. So, that’s where chatbots come in. These AI-powered tools can offer quick answers to patients’ common questions on subjects like scheduling appointments, office hours, and services available. Rather than sift through info on your website hoping they can find the relevant info, patients can ask the robot!
Integrating a chatbot into your website can lighten the load on your staff by reducing call and email volume, and are accessible 24/7. The only downside is, unlike a human receptionist, they’re unlikely to compliment your new tie.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Implement a chatbot for appointment booking and frequently asked questions on your site. Ensure it’s intuitive, can provide personalized responses, and isn’t too invasive when it pops up on the page.
4. Voice Search Optimization
With the rise of voice-activated devices like Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon’s Alexa, users are becoming familiar with (and even expectant of) voice search functions across various digital platforms. Optimizing your digital presence for voice search is important, as patients may use it to find local dental and orthodontic services.
Ensure your website’s content is structured to answer voice prompts effectively and that you’re also listed on local directories.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: A Google search can provide answers on how to optimize your website for voice search in detail, but some general methods include using natural, conversational language, ensuring your site is SEO-optimized for local search, having a mobile-friendly website; and including location-specific phrases like “near me,” or “in [your city]” on your site.
5. Personalization and Data Analytics
Tailoring your messaging strategy to individual patients as best as possible is now an important part of maximizing the ROI of your marketing budget. Personalization is the key, as you can use data analytics to ensure the info you provide them closely aligns with their preferences and needs.
For instance, consider segmenting your audience based on their demographic category or services needed and then targeting each group with different marketing relevant to them.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Utilize data analytics tools (like Google Analytics) and customer relationship management (CRM) software to track visitor behavior and preferences. Once you’ve attained some data, you can put it to work to deliver personalized promotions and messaging.
6. Telehealth and Virtual Care
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, telehealth and virtual care have greatly boosted popularity. Since pandemic restrictions have abated, telehealth continues to be a common solution for patients who prefer not to (or aren’t able to) attend an in-person meeting.
Implementing telehealth as part of your practice opens up your potential patient pool and provides an additional level of convenience for existing patients they will find valuable.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Partner with an experienced and reliable telehealth platform and promote the service on your website and social media platforms. Ensure to emphasize the safety, privacy, and convenience of conducting an appointment through virtual care.
7. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Search Engines Keep Changing the Rules
Anyone familiar with SEO knows that—when it comes to a functioning SEO strategy— if you blink, it’s gone. The goalposts are constantly moving, so what worked last year might not work this year. Dentists and orthodontists, unfortunately, aren’t immune to this SEO evolution, so it’s important to keep up with the latest SEO trends for your business’ success.
Mobile optimization, local SEO, and structured data markup are all important topics to watch in 2024 SEO trends. While it can be challenging to master, the good news is that evolving search results rankings allow you to grab the top spot on Google search results from your competitors.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Invest in SEO techniques or hire an SEO specialist to improve your website’s visibility in local searches. Make sure your site functions flawlessly on mobile, and use structured data markup to give Google and other search engines the relevant information they need to rank your website.
8. Paid Advertising Through Social Media and Influencer Marketing
Social media influencers probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you consider marketing your dental practice. However, social media posts and paid ads through influencers can be a powerful way to expand your reach and engagement.
For example, several prominent dental and teeth-whitening products have seen major success by paying influencers to highlight their products and services in social media posts. While it’s important to find a social media advertising strategy that fits your specific business, using the power of social media marketing can build your credibility and unlock new patient pools.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Team up with local influencers who already connect with your target audience and have a large presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Paid advertising on social media sites, as opposed to a traditional advertising platform, can also provide a new inroad to your target audience.
9. Maximizing Website User Experience
For an overwhelming majority of users looking to find a local business, they start with a web search (97%, in fact!). That means your website is often the first impression potential patients will have of your practice. Make sure you nail the first impression with a website with fast loading times, simple navigation, and mobile-friendly design. Don’t forget to make it ADA-compliant, too, since accessibility matters.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Regularly update and test your website. Like many other things regarding digital marketing, what worked yesterday won’t necessarily work today! Work with a solid web developer to ensure your site is accessible to everyone.
10. Email Marketing Automation
Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective methods of maintaining engagement with your patient base. Combining personalization (as highlighted previously in this article) with automation can make it easier and more powerful. Use automation to ensure marketing emails go out on time and streamline the process by allowing it to auto-respond to specific inquiries and appointment requests.
Ortho Marketing’s Pro Tip: Break your email list into segments based on demographic data attained through your data analytics efforts (you’ve implemented those already, right?). A/B tests different marketing strategies and sends personalized content, appointment reminders, and follow-up emails.
Conclusion
While much has changed in the digital marketing game recently, much also remains the same. As long as you’re committed to providing value for patients through up-to-date digital marketing efforts, then you’re sure to find success.
As always, focus on creating great content, maintaining accessibility, and leveraging social media marketing and other tools to increase your visibility. Contact us today to learn how we can help elevate your orthodontic or dental practice to new heights through effective digital marketing strategies.
Stay ahead of the curve, and see your practice reach new heights in 2024 SEO trends!
