Why does it matter if a website company specializes in designing websites for dentists? Think of it as a general dentist who can provide some orthodontic services yet will send patients to an orthodontist for in-depth services. A website company should help guide you through the initial decision-making process, so your website will not only look great but also gain attention online and provide visitors with a user-friendly experience.

A leading website company will help you:

1. Set Realistic Goals

Topping a Google search and increasing web traffic is great, but what is the underlying goal? An experienced ortho website company with a solid grasp of medical marketing strategies will take the time to help you set realistic goals for your orthodontic website design. Short and long-term goals to evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing campaign, let’s say six and twelve months out, help determine if the tools and services they provide are doing their job. See examples of orthodontic websites done by O360.

A reliable website company will make sure goals are measurable. If there is no way to analyze particular strategies’ effectiveness formally, how will you know if your investment was worthwhile? Generating leads and increasing conversion rates are common goals of ortho web developers. Depending upon the practice, another goal of website design for orthodontists and many other dental practitioners is to connect with current and prospective patients.

2. Plan Your Strategy

Marketing ideas are like the individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. A good orthodontic website company like O360 will formulate a larger overall strategy to help connect the puzzle pieces. Components of medical marketing strategies include the use of PPC Ads, social media pages, SEO, and updated content that is relevant to visitors. These components, plus other fine design details, should help establish you as a recognizable authority in your field.

As discussed in #1, you will know if your strategy works based on measurable outcomes. An orthodontist should expect to see an increase in the number of new patients of all ages.

3. Provide Proof of Results

Twenty years of experience in marketing does not necessarily trump five years of experience in website design. Sometimes, newer agencies are full of people pushing the envelope and tapping into highly effective methodologies before they are widely known. Your website company should understand what makes your ortho website different from the boutique down the street. You want a company that will stand behind its products and services. When a company has performance data, client reviews, and a high Google rating like Optimized360, you know they get the job done right.

Avoid cutting corners and hiring a friend or relative who says they can build your website. While you will probably save money upfront, you may pay dearly in ways you cannot fathom at this point. They may even make a decent, professional-looking site, but what happens when it crashes? Is that one person able to offer support 24-7-365? Is the website built to be responsive, and is it optimized both onsite and offsite? What about content updates? A website company has a team of people with diverse web design and development backgrounds who will ensure your site produces positive results.

4. Understand the Power of Content

A website design company should prioritize content over aesthetics when discussing how a website looks and functions. Website design for orthodontists should be a framework that makes high-quality content available to both current and prospective patients. A website design company will work with you to determine how visitors will interact with your content. This content may include educational articles, blog posts, patient education videos of orthodontic treatments, and professional-quality images.

The company needs to understand orthodontic procedures, treatments, and terminology. You may want to think twice if they don’t know what Invisalign or InnBraces are. If they cannot access images of functional appliances or cosmetic braces, look elsewhere.

Some companies offer copywriter services that provide a specific number of content updates over a designated period. As you set goals, you should ask whether you will be responsible for updates and managing content down the road or whether the company will be contracted to do so. A company that recognizes the content as the heart of your website understands it is the content that keeps visitors engaged long enough to convert into patients.

5. Stick to your budget with a healthy ROI

Let’s talk money. No one wants to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a website. But more often than not, you get what you pay for concerning design quality and usability. As a dental specialist, can you keep a practice alive by providing cheap services? Patients can tell the difference between a professional website and one that is subpar, just like they know if you are cutting corners in the care you provide.

An experienced website design company like Optimized360 has a variety of packages to meet your price point. Regardless of the package chosen, the quality of the website design and services provided make you look like a dedicated professional. Think of a website as a piece of dental equipment. When you buy the cheapest version, do you not replace the equipment more frequently? Spending a bit more upfront can improve ROI over time. A site designed by a reliable website company will work better for longer and will provide the quality you’re looking for at a price that won’t break the bank. It does not mean paying the most always gets you the best. What you want is the best ‘value.’

6. Maintain and Update as Needed

Launch is an exciting word, especially regarding the “birth” of a website. Once a website is up and running a quality website company will be there for you to walk you through various aspects of website ownership.

Depending on your chosen maintenance package, you may receive help in content management and publication. Does your company help you learn how to use Google Analytics to adjust strategies as needed to meet goals?  You should not wait days or weeks for your web developer to make updates. If you are made aware of an issue, a good website design company will provide prompt service. You should not wait days or weeks for your web developer to make updates.

At Optimized360, we know what it takes to run a successful orthodontic office. Because of our experience, we can create a custom website for you from the ground up. We offer services that will move you to the head of the class and get you recognized as an authority in your field. Check our orthodontic website design service and our digital marketing solutions here.