Seasonal Dental Marketing Ideas
Dental professionals have taken a collective breath now that the back-to-school flurry of appointments have shifted into falling leaves and temperatures. However, if you’re wondering how to fill the gaps and sustain a steady schedule at your practice through the end of the year, RAMP has some seasonal suggestions to integrate into your marketing strategy.
Mark Your Calendar
Mining content for your fall and holiday marketing, be it social media, direct mail, or email, can be coordinated with designated special days and months. You can acknowledge mainstream holidays or have fun with lesser-known celebrations.
October:
- National Dental Hygiene Month
- National Orthodontic Health Month
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- 10/31/22 Halloween
November:
- National Children’s Month
- American Diabetes Month
- 11/11/22 Veteran’s Day
- 11/13/22 World Kindness Day
- 11/24/22 Thanksgiving
- 11/26/22 Small Business Saturday
December:
- Month of Giving
- 12/4/22 National Cookie Day
- 12/17/22 National Ugly Sweater Day
- 12/18/22 Hanukkah Begins
- 12/23/22 Festivus
- 12/25/22 Christmas
- 12/26/22 Kwanzaa
A Happy, Healthy Halloween
The month that culminates in a night of candy, not to mention complete disregard for oral health, doesn’t have to be scary for the creative dental practice.
Candy “buy back” activities have become very popular, with dentists offering to exchange money, prizes, and good will for excess Halloween treats. One of the more well-known organizations, Operation Gratitude, accepts candy from the Halloween Candy Give Back program each year for U.S. service members around the world.
Invite young patients to wear their costumes while encouraging parents to set up regular cleaning and check-up appointments that may have been delayed in the back-to-school rush. Post pictures on social media with parental permission for valuable user-generated content.
For memorable fall giveaways, hand out pumpkin spice or candy apple flavored dental floss.
‘Tis Almost the Season
Once Halloween is over, it’s suddenly Thanksgiving and the December celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa – all of which provide their own creative marketing opportunities.
For Thanksgiving, it’s easy to incorporate gratitude into your practice’s message by thanking your current patients and rewarding them for their referrals with gift cards or discounts. There’s no rule that says dentists can’t participate in Black Friday or Small Business Saturdays, so advertise a limited time offer for new patients or aligners.
Everyone wants to look good for holiday gatherings and family pictures, which makes teeth whitening treatments or cosmetic services an ideal promotion in November and December.
While good philanthropy happens year-round, December is The Giving Month making it a time of heightened awareness of those in need. By setting up a giving tree, toy drive, or food donation drop-off in the office, you’re providing a service and engaging your patients in a good cause.
Make Joyful Connections
The season really lends itself to fun by conjuring images of leaf piles, fall sports, hand-shaped turkeys, and gift-giving. So, be sure to shift to colorful, autumn- and winter-inspired art for your digital ads, social media, and direct mail pieces.
Hosting a holiday open house – off-site or at the office – will warm the hearts of current and prospective patients when they get to know you and the practice in a non-dental setting.
Consider using timely content for blogs and other platforms, such as common dental injuries in sports or which holiday treats to avoid for the sake of orthodontia. Send out a friendly end-of-year email letter, updating patients on staff changes, new babies, or exciting news for 2023.
Dentists who prefer cameras to copy can join the Tiktok wave with virtual costume contests or sharing holiday recipes. With more than 86% of businesses incorporating it into their marketing, video is here to stay.
And before ushering out 2022, don’t forget to remind patients who may have insurance savings or flex plans to schedule any treatments accordingly.
Are you ready to give your seasonal marketing strategy the attention it deserves? Whether utilizing digital tools, social media, postcards, or pumpkin spice floss, marketing is a vital, year-round investment in your practice and RAMP can get started on your 2023 plan today.
