If you follow technology, or even if you just read this blog, you should know that “blog” has replaced “newsletter” for tech-savvy dentists. With a newsletter, you can outsource your content. You subscribe to a publication, a company creates the piece, then plugs your name in, prints, then mails – and whabam – all done. Easy peasy lemon squeezie, right? But with print newsletters, you pay for paper, printing, and postage. It’s quite an expense. Cha-ching. No one needs that in this economy!
Some practices create their own newsletters, which can be great if the dentist has a talented writer and editor on staff – and that writer and editor has extra time to devote to creating the content, laying out the design, finding the photos, and printing the newsletter. Don’t forget about distributing the newsletter via snail mail or e-mail.
If you opt for an e-mail the newsletter, be prepared to deal with with spam filters, bounce-backs, and unsubscribe requests. Maintaining an email list can be a real headache. You can hire it out, but again… cha-ching.
Let’s just get down to it. Here are the pros and cons:
The Pros to having a Dental Practice Blog
1) SEO Benefit- A blog is indexed by search engines faster than a regular web page. Want to get found for sedation dentistry? A well optimized blog will boost your rankings.
2) Time Benefit – A blog has no deadline. While regular posting is important, you don’t have to meet a deadline to have a successful blog. Simply set a goal – like posting once a month – and if you haven’t found time by the end of the month, no big deal.
3) Patient Ed Benefit – Blogs create a patient education library on your website. When you blog on a clinical topic, the post can easily be cataloged in your blog archives for patients to access any time.
4) Patient Ed Benefit #2 – A blog can allow you to link to more information, whether on your website or another company’s site. For instance, if you post on a new finding by ADA researchers, link to the article from your blog.
5) Marketing Benefit – With social networking, like Facebook and Twitter, your blog can become popular in your geographic region and beyond. A blog is a great platform to share your passions and concerns. Do you participate in Give Kids a Smile? Blog about it. Post pictures. Are you an advocate for oral cancer research? Tell the world on your blog.
6) Save Money – With a new TNT website, a blog is free! For existing websites, TNT will set up a “plain” blog at no charge, or you can upgrade to a blog wrapped in your website’s design. No email lists, no printing, no mailing. RSS feeds and other tools allow patients to be notified when you post a new blog. So a blog is kind of like an e-mailed newsletter, but better.
The Cons to a Dentist’s Blog
The one stumbling block dentists face with a blog is TIME. But there are a few simple solutions to this problem.
Teaming Up for Dentist’s Blog Success
You aren’t the only person on your team who knows dentistry. Everyone on your team can post a blog! The front office team can discuss insurance, financing, rescheduling, and related issues. Assistants can blog about clinical procedures and patient comfort. Hygienists are great at patient education! Take advantage of your resources. Not only will your team provide a ton of information to your patients and potential patients, but by investing in your blog, they’ll become more vested your practice.
Ghost Posting (and Boosting SEO!)
So your team has no time, either? Still not a problem. TNT Dental offers Ghost Posts, a popular solution for the busy dentist’s office. Experienced dental writers who understand blogs and search engine optimization can compose blogs on your behalf as often as you choose. Ghost Posts come with a full-color picture, a significant patient education article, and all of the components necessary for great optimization.
If you’re interested in a dental blog or Ghost Posts, call TNT Dental today at 877-868-4932. Take the next step toward a state-of-the-art practice. Get your dental practice blog up and running and ditch the old-fashioned newsletters!
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