The orthodontic industry is constantly evolving. Fresh innovation focuses on leveraging technology to create value for patients.
Pricing and finances are major concerns for patients. Listing prices on your website shows you’re transparent about costs and builds trust with patients.
Running a social media contest is a great way to attract new followers. Boost engagement with a prize like a gift card.
Invisible Item Contest
Word of mouth has gone digital, and social media is where your patients are telling their friends and family about your practice. Hosting contests to promote your orthodontic practice is an easy, cost-effective way to grow your following and create a social footprint that attracts new patients. Whether you’re looking to get more comments, reposts, or followers, there are plenty of innovative contest ideas that will help you accomplish your goal.
If you’re looking for a fun and quirky social media contest idea, try asking your followers to post a picture of themselves holding an invisible item. This could be anything from swinging an invisible baseball bat at a local ball field to mowing the lawn with an invisible mower. It’s sure to generate some creative and unique entries! If your practice has a strong community of supporters, consider giving away a big prize when you hit a follower milestone. This will be a great way to thank your followers for their support and show them that you appreciate their loyalty. We recommend choosing a reward that’s worth the extra effort!
Braces Bestie Selfie Contest
For many teens, getting braces is a rite of passage that brings them closer to their friends. Encourage that camaraderie with a Braces Bestie Selfie Contest. Ask your social media followers to post a photo of themselves and their bestie (or sibling) posing together, holding up signs that say “I’m so lucky I get to share my journey to a straighter smile with this person!” Be sure to require the photos be tagged with your orthodontic practice’s hashtag and mention that the winner will receive a gift card for a local coffee shop.
A simple social media raffle doesn’t need to be a big production, and can be repeated frequently enough that your patients keep one eye on your page. Pair the prize with a braces-related item or a fun quote, and you’re sure to get some creative entries! If your social media presence isn’t growing as fast as you’d like, give this a try. It’s a great way to promote your practice without seeming desperate for likes, shares, and reposts.
Gift Card Raffle
In the past, word of mouth was the primary way that orthodontic practices grew. Now that word of mouth has gone digital, it’s time to up your game and encourage your patients to spread the news about your practice. Creating a contest that rewards likes, reposts, and follows is an inexpensive and effective way to build your following. Whether you’re trying to get the word out about a new treatment, an innovative service, or even your awesome staff, the more people that see your post, the better!
Gift card raffles are another great way to engage your social media followers. This idea is especially effective if you have a local business partner, such as a restaurant or coffee shop. The prizes for the winning raffle can be a special meal, a free drink, or a discount on services. This type of contest also works well for announcing milestones, such as hitting a certain number of Facebook likes or Instagram followers.
Create a Parent Ambassador Program to encourage parents to spread the word about your practice. This program can include a series of informational materials, such as informative brochures about braces or dentistry, and can also offer incentives, such as discounts on orthodontic care, convenient appointments, five-star customer service, and beautiful smiles for everyone in the family.
For your next fundraiser, consider using gift cards as the main prize for your raffles. You can display them at a stand-alone table or in a separate area from the larger auction items so that your guests will be able to easily see what’s on offer. For a more decorative look, you can add them to a small bouquet of flowers or in a stylish gift frame.
In-Office Photo Op
A photo op is one of the best Orthodontic marketing ideas you can implement in your clinic. This photo opportunity, in the form of a prop or sign, is designed to encourage patients and their family members to snap a social media post before or after their appointment. In a world where likes, shares, and reposts can drive organic traffic to your practice website, this simple idea is sure to boost engagement and help you grow your orthodontic following.
Another great way to build your online presence is by hosting an open house at your Orthodontic office. This is a great way to promote your new patient specials, and it can also serve as a platform for community service. Depending on the season, you can choose to host a food or coat drive, or give back in other ways. For example, you can partner with a local charity to give away a gift card to whoever donates the most during your open house.
When you create an Orthodontic-themed photo booth, your patients and their friends will be more likely to tag you in a post, which means more views for your online content. Plus, it’s a great way to show off your team! In your social media caption, be sure to compliment each of your team members on their skills and attributes. This will show that you care about your team, and that goes a long way in creating loyal patients!
If you want to take your Orthodontic marketing efforts to the next level, consider investing in a digital smile appliance printing solution. With BRACES ON DEMAND, you can print your own unique and customized brackets, bands, and retainers for your patients in a durable, aesthetic, biocompatible, photo-cured polymer. It’s the ultimate customization tool for your Orthodontic practice and will allow you to create a unique brand identity.
Tag-A-Patient Contest
If your social media feels stuck in a rut, a simple contest can bring in engagement. Not only is it fun for patients and fans, but it can also help improve local search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. If you have a branded hashtag for your practice, such as #YourPracticeSmile or something similar, use it in the title of a contest to get more attention and entries.
For example, you can host a “tag your friend” contest and reward the person who tags their best friends with a gift card to your practice. This type of contest can be a great way to boost the reach of your social media and generate new leads for your orthodontic practice.
Another option is to create a social media contest that rewards your patients for promoting your brand and services to their friends. You might offer a discount on a new treatment if they share or repost your post, such as a water flosser for braces. Or, you could host a contest where the winner gets a free down payment on their next orthodontic appointment.
In addition to the tag-a-friend contest, you can host a referral contest. This is a great way to encourage your existing patients to refer your practice to their friends and family. Simply mention in a social media post that anyone who refers a friend who visits your practice will receive a prize such as a Dairy Queen treat or your own GSO Beach Towel.
You can even host a livestream of the raffle to further build excitement. Just make sure to reach out to the winner directly via a direct message on the platform you used for the contest to avoid any potential scams.
