Each week, dental practice management consultant Dr. Charles Martin stresses the importance of improving dental practices through active marketing.

During economic hardships, dentists often have more time than money. An effective marketing tool that Dr. Martin recommends is "shoe leather" marketing. This type of marketing requires little money and provides a dentist with an opportunity to get to know residents that live around his practice. Dr. Martin encourages dentists to fill bags with brochures, a letter about the practice, a coupon or discount offer, and a couple of toothbrushes. The dentist then should go door-to-door and introduce him/herself and invite the neighbors to come to his/her practice.

Dr. Martin also encourages dentists to create an active referral program. He recommends utilizing www.loyalpatients.com. This website shows dentists how to create an effective referral program.

Along with using a website to create a referral program, all dentists should have a website for their practice. Since people often do an Internet research before making decisions, a dentist needs to be found on the Internet. A dental website needs to be easily located and on the first page of all major Internet search engines. The site needs to attract visitors, but more importantly, needs to convert those visitors into patients. A purely cosmetic website is ineffective.

Another cost-efficient marketing tool dentists should consider is hosting public seminars. This allows dentists to educate the public on the latest dental techniques, principles, and technology. It also gives the public an opportunity to learn about the dentist and his/her practice.

As with any aspect of dental practice, Dr. Martin recommends effective time management in marketing. Dentists should keep track of their efforts to determine what avenues work best. Once a plan of action is correctly formed the practice should start to see results.

About: Dr. Martin is a senior diagnostician that teaches other dentists how to be successful in their practices. He has been at his practice, Richmond Smile Center, for over 30 years. Dr. Martin has authored several books for patients and dentists. He has spent close to 10,000 hours training in leadership, management, marketing, and clinical dentistry.

For more information, visit www.dentistrysecrets.tv or www.martinmanage.com/blog

About the Author:
Dr. Martin is a senior diagnostician that teaches other dentists how to be successful in their practices. He has been at his practice, Richmond Smile Center, for over 30 years. Dr. Martin has authored several books for patients and dentists. He has spent close to 10,000 hours training in leadership, management, marketing, and clinical dentistry.