Why DIYing Your Dental Practice Website Isn’t Always the Best Idea

Marketing/September 10, 2024/Jameson Marketing

Should you build your own dental practice website?

Whether you are a new dentist opening up your practice or you’ve been in business for a while, you likely understand the importance of having a website presence. After all, gone are the days when people would thumb through the Yellow Pages looking for a dentist to help with their toothache.

Today, consumers are more tech-savvy than ever and they have embraced the internet with open arms. In fact, there are an estimated 5.35 billion internet users across the globe. And in the U.S., it is anticipated that people spend an average of six and a half hours online each day. That’s a lot of time!

But how do you go about building a website? It’s true that you can take the DIY approach and build your own. But if you don’t have experience in the dental practice website space, taking the DIY approach might not be the best idea.

Potential Hurdles of DIY Dental Web Design

Speaking of spending time online, if you go to Google and start searching for instructions and information on how to build your own website, you won’t be disappointed in the volume of information coming your way. There are oodles or articles out there telling you this and that on how you can save time and money building your own site.

But if this is your first time building a dental practice website, this might not be the best approach. Here’s why:

Limited understanding of SEO: By building your own dental practice website, you may miss out on important search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. Without proper SEO, your site may not show up in search results when potential patients are looking for a dentist.
Lack of professional design: A DIY website may not have the polished and professional look that patients expect. First impressions matter, and a poorly designed site can make your practice seem less credible.
Inadequate functionality: Your dental practice website should feature online appointment scheduling, patient forms, and secure contact options. DIY platforms may not allow you to add these elements or may lack the customization needed for your practice.
Security concerns: Protecting patient data is a top priority, and DIY websites may not offer the same level of security as those built by professionals, potentially putting sensitive information at risk.
Time-consuming: Building and maintaining a website can take valuable time away from patient care and running your practice. Professional developers can save you time and provide ongoing support.

Advantages of Professional Dental Practice Website Development

Again, if you have prior experience in website development and have the extra time to invest, you may still decide to tackle setting up your dental practice’s site on your own. But if not, enlisting the help of professional web designers is well worth considering. Here are some of the biggest advantages of expert web design.

Expertise in Design and Functionality

Yes, professional web design makes your site look good, but it also ensures that your dental practice’s website is user-friendly and accessible, as well as meets both your practice’s and patient’s needs. A dental marketing agency has the expertise to design a site that is easy to navigate, mobile responsive, and equipped with essential features, such as online appointment booking and patient forms.

SEO and Online Visibility

There’s that acronym again—SEO. This is an incredibly important component of any successful website, especially in a competitive field like dentistry. A well-designed website is useless if potential patients can’t find it online.

Dental marketing agencies specialize in optimizing your site with the right keywords and local search strategies to improve your search engine rankings. This includes updating old website content to keep it relevant and appealing to search engines.

With the help of professional expertise, your practice can achieve greater online visibility so that you reach more potential patients searching for dental services in your area.

Ongoing Support and Maintenance

Once your website is up and running, the work doesn’t stop. Maintaining a website’s health, security, and functionality requires ongoing effort. This includes regular updates and security checks, plus troubleshooting any issues that may arise.

A dental marketing agency provides continuous support and maintenance, allowing you to focus on patient care without worrying about the technical aspects of your site. They will keep your site secure, up to date, and fully functional, which is a must for maintaining patient trust and satisfaction.

Customized Marketing Strategy

A dental marketing agency can also develop a comprehensive online marketing strategy tailored to your practice’s specific goals. This includes SEO, social media management, content marketing, and pay-per-click advertising.

By creating a custom strategy, an agency can help you connect with potential patients across multiple platforms, increasing your practice’s visibility and engagement. They can also update old website content and create new, relevant material that resonates with your audience.

Jameson Marketing can help.

Whether your dental practice is in need of a new site or a marketing overhaul, you have come to the right place. At Jameson Marketing, we help with all facets of your dental marketing strategy. From website design and development to content creation and more, we’re who you have been looking for.