Outside the Office Walls: 6 Creative Ways to Market Your Orthodontic Services in the Community

How you market your orthodontic services has a major impact on your long-term success and growth. While providing materials at your office and online through your website is important, you can take your orthodontic marketing a step further.

Here are six creative community outreach ideas that can help you build trust and visibility beyond the office.

1. Partner with local schools.

Partnering with local schools can be an excellent marketing strategy for your practice. Getting kids involved in their oral health establishes lifelong habits, which can make a real difference in their overall health and development. Schools are often open to having dentists visit to give talks on oral hygiene and other topics to support their students’ health.

Screenings, fluoride treatments, and other services are also events that schools could be interested in hosting. You can provide educational materials as well, which can help position your practice as a resource for parents. This keeps your practice fresh in their minds when they’re choosing their family’s dental home.

2. Sponsor youth sports teams.

Youth sports teams are among the most effective options for marketing your orthodontic services to your local community. Small businesses of all kinds take advantage of this strategy with great results. A relatively minor financial contribution can provide exceptional local coverage for your practice.

Fully sponsoring a youth sports team typically involves having your practice incorporated into the team’s name, along with printing custom jerseys. All throughout the season, your practice will be presented to the parents and others in attendance at games. This provides highly focused marketing targeting families in your community.

3. Host “Smile Days” at community events.

One of the best ways to market your orthodontic services at any time of year is to put yourself out there directly. Hosting Smile Days events where you offer free consultations or quick smile assessments lets you quickly build connections with potential patients. Most importantly, it means you’re specifically meeting patients in your local community.

Quick screenings can let you identify potential issues that warrant further investigation, whether general dentistry issues like cavities or orthodontic problems. You can often book appointments then and there, or provide patients with resources to learn more and reach out. Goody bags with toothbrushes, floss, and other gifts can also be a big hit.

4. Collaborate with local businesses.

You can become a meaningful part of your community by collaborating with local businesses. There are so many other business owners also looking for practical partnerships, and the right connection can benefit both parties. Gyms, coffee shops, and wellness centers are all ideal places to share patient offers.

In many cases, this can be as simple as adding your business card to a public board. However, you can also foster deeper connections. Working with practitioners in other fields is a great example, as you can both provide referrals and offer educational materials at each other’s practices.

5. Attend farmers’ markets or local festivals.

Farmers’ markets, local festivals, and other community events bring together people from throughout your area. These are great opportunities for businesses of all kinds, and that includes dental practices. Renting a booth or table is typically relatively inexpensive and can help you make a lot of new connections.

At your booth, you can hand out branded items, such as toothbrushes and floss, or complete kits. There are many suppliers that provide custom printing on these items to promote your practice. Of course, you’ll want to have educational materials on hand as well to explain the importance and benefits of orthodontic treatment to any visitors.

6. Run fun contests or raffles.

Contests and raffles are highly engaging ways to reach patients. You can offer a variety of discounts or prizes in these contests. This garners a lot of attention and can create very strong connections with winners when you provide free treatments or services. Make sure to spread the word far and wide by leveraging your social media.

Keep in mind that, as a practicing dentist, there are rules concerning incentives for referrals, raffles, and other such giveaways. Make sure that your marketing strategies align with your state’s regulations to avoid any potential conflicts.

Build real connections to market your orthodontic services.

Connecting with your community strengthens your local reputation and helps you build your patient base. If you’re looking to market your orthodontic services effectively, give one or two of these ideas a try, and see just how much getting creative can achieve.The synergy between general dentistry and orthodontics can be an incredibly powerful tool to grow your practice. However, before you start marketing your services, you need the foundational knowledge and skills to implement orthodontic treatment. Browse upcoming courses from the American Orthodontic Society to get started today.