While you’re busy running an orthodontic practice, the last thing you have time to worry about is generating leads. But take a moment to ask yourself the following question:
When someone needs local orthodontic services, how will they find my office?
Word-of-mouth referrals are great, but they’re only one part of a marketing strategy. If you aren’t finding customers online, you won’t be able to stand up to your competition.
After all, the first 5 search engine results receive 67% of all clicks.
Using an orthodontic marketing service is one of the best ways to help you improve your online presence. But, what should you consider before choosing an agency?
Keep reading to learn the 7 questions you should ask before hiring a marketing service.
1. Who Are Some of Your Other Clients?
A digital marketing strategy should not be a “one size fits all” approach. What works for some industries won’t work for others. When meeting with potential marketing agencies, ask about some of their other clients.
You can also ask for references and reviews from their current and former clients for more information on what to expect.
Ideally, you’ll want to work with a team that is familiar with marketing tactics specific to promoting orthodontic services. However, it’s important to ask about their policies regarding competitors. You don’t want to work with an agency that will also be promoting your local competition.
2. How Will You Help Me Achieve My Goals?
First, you’ll need to think about your marketing goals. Do you want to promote different types of orthodontic services? Or do you want to bring in a certain number of new customers?
As an example, 60% of people using a mobile device have contacted a business directly from the search result listing. So, one of your goals might be to increase the number of calls coming into your office.
Once you’ve defined your goals, explain them to potential marketing vendors, and ask them for specific examples of how they can help you achieve those goals. If the agency can only offer vague suggestions, you might want to keep exploring other options.
3. How Will You Measure Success?
Before starting a marketing campaign, there has to be a defined marker about what makes it successful. When looking for an orthodontic marketing service, ask them how they measure the success of a campaign and how that success will be relayed back to you.
You should ask them which numbers they’ll report on, both during a campaign and after it ends. You should also ask how they’ll make adjustments if a campaign doesn’t seem to be performing well.
Marketing can often be unpredictable, so it’s crucial to work with a company that can pivot to a new tactic when needed.
4. Can You Show Me Examples of Past Work?
One of the best ways to learn about what to expect when working with a marketing agency is to ask for examples of successful past campaigns.
When meeting with a vendor, ask them if they have a case study that shares a strategy that worked well for a past orthodontic office. This will give you a concrete example of what they might be able to do to help you as well.
5. Will I Have a Direct Point of Contact?
While there are many hands involved in the different aspects of marketing, in most cases it’s easiest to have only one point of contact. This way, if you have a problem with your website or you’ve noticed a sharp decline in leads, you know exactly who to contact.
When initially meeting with potential marketing vendors, try to learn more about the team you’d be working with and if it’s a good personality fit.
If a potential marketing vendor can’t give you a definite answer about whether you’ll have a direct point of contact, it could be a sign that they lack processes designed to help you be successful.
6. How Often Can I Expect Communication?
Before asking this question, think to yourself about how often you’d like to communicate with your marketing partner. Are you interested in scheduled meetings each week? Or would you prefer less frequent conversations?
Before signing a contract with an agency, it’s critical to know exactly what to expect in terms of communication. You’ll want to hear from your point of contact not just when things are going well – or badly.
Instead, look for an agency that operates on a principle of open, clear communication at every turn. If a standard meeting schedule is important to you, make sure you communicate that with the agency from the beginning.
7. What Exactly is Included in My Contract?
Before deciding to work with a marketing agency, make sure to sign a contract. This will protect both you and the agency, helping to make sure that there is no confusion about expectations.
As you would with any contract, look it over thoroughly before signing it. Ask clarifying questions to confirm exactly which services you’ll receive. For example, if you’re receiving pay-per-click (PPC) services, does your marketing fee cover the costs to run the ads? Or, will you need to cover the costs of the ad budget separately?
The more transparency in your contract, the more you and your marketing agency will be set up for success.
Your Comprehensive Orthodontic Marketing Service
When searching for an orthodontic marketing service provider, look no further than the Ortho Advertising team! We have a proven track record of providing marketing strategies that work to orthodontic offices just like yours.
Through a combination of search engine optimization (SEO), PPC, and social media marketing, we’ll bring more customers to your door. As a result, you can focus on the important things, like communicating with patients and providing the best orthodontic services to your community.
For more information about how we can help your marketing efforts, read through our blog. And, when you’re ready to talk, schedule a free consultation with our team. With the Ortho Advertising team, marketing has never been easier.