Dental clinics have a target market, and it’s important to understand who they are, to create an effective marketing strategy that reaches the right people with the right messages.
The target market of a dental clinic is typically people who are looking for general dental care. This includes things like check-ups, teeth cleaning, and other preventive measures.
People who need more specialized care, such as those who need oral surgery or braces, may not be the ideal target market of a dental clinic. And so all dental clinics need to be clear about who their ideal customer is and who isn’t.
In this article, we will review the target market of a dental clinic and see what they look for in a dental clinic.
Who is the Target Market of a Dental Clinic?
The target market of a dental clinic includes:
- People who need a regular dental check-up
- People with a specific dental problem (toothache, gingivitis, etc.)
- People who want to prevent dental problems
- People who are looking for a new dentist
- People who need their teeth cleaned or whitened
- Parents looking for a dentist for their children
- People with dental insurance
Let’s look closely at each of these dental market segments.
#1. People who need a regular dental check-up
The target market of a dental clinic is incomplete without including people who have to go for regular dental check-ups. For these patients, there are two types of services that they may need from a dental clinic.
First, they may need annual cleanings and x-rays to ensure that there is no developing tooth decay or plaque buildup.
Other patients may need teeth cleaning or filling if they have any teeth decay or cracks in their teeth, which can lead to infection if left untreated.
This category of people already has reasons to visit a dentist regularly, making them a large target market you don’t want to ignore in your marketing campaign.
#2. People with a specific dental problem (toothache, gingivitis, etc.)
This segment of the target market of a dental clinic includes people who are experiencing a specific dental problem, such as a toothache, gingivitis, or another oral health issue.
These patients usually come in for treatment when their problem becomes too painful or starts to impact their daily life. For example, someone who has a toothache may not be able to eat properly or concentrate at work.
People in this segment of the target market are usually looking for relief from their pain and discomfort. This means that your marketing messages should focus on how your dental clinic can help them solve their specific problem.
For example, if you’re marketing to people with gingivitis, you could highlight the fact that your clinic offers deep cleanings that can remove the bacteria causing their gingivitis.
Or, if you’re marketing to people with toothaches, you could highlight the fact that your clinic offers emergency dental services for patients who are in pain.
#3. People who want to prevent dental problems
Dental pain is often what drives people to a dental clinic, but people who have seen how devastating it can be for others will want to prevent it by all means.
Then there are also those who don’t even have to witness how awful dental problems can be before booking a session with a dentist. They just want to maintain a healthy set of teeth. This category of people is another huge target market for a dental clinic.
People who care about their oral health make prevention one of their top priorities when they go to the dentist. Although they are less likely to show up with multiple tooth issues they are still a major target market.
#4. People who are looking for a new dentist
Another set of people to position for are people looking for a new dentist. When we can’t get results from somewhere, we tend to look elsewhere, especially for something as critical as our health. People will always change their dentists just like they change their stylists when they aren’t getting results.
And you’ll want your clinic to be there for them with open arms. You can attract this category of people by posting pictures and testimonials from your satisfied patients on your social media pages and having them share their stories on other social media pages.
You could also offer free consultations for prospective patients, allowing them to experience the care you provide before committing to any long-term treatment plans. In fact, offering free consultations is one of the many ways dentists can generate leads and attract new patients.
#5. People who need their teeth cleaned or whitened
This target market of a dental clinic includes people who from time to time need their teeth cleaned. These people are not looking for a specific dental procedure to be done, but instead, they just need someone to clean their teeth. They may also be looking to get their teeth whitened.
This target market is usually reached through word of mouth. When people have had a good experience with a dental clinic, they are likely to tell their friends and family about it. This is why it is so important to provide a good experience for every patient that walks through your door.
By providing a good experience, you can turn one-time patients into lifelong customers who will continue to come back for regular teeth cleanings. As we all know, it is easier and cheaper to keep a customer than it is to attract a new one.
#6. Parents looking for a dentist for their children
Kids often develop dental issues faster when enough attention is not given to their oral health. That’s why parents with kids suffering from dental issues are a big market in the dental industry. However, some parents take their kids to dental clinics for regular check-ups to prevent any dental health issues.
They are either looking for a dentist to care for the poor health of their kids’ teeth or to prevent any future oral problems.
How do they find the right dentist? They often start by doing a quick online search and by asking around friends and family members.
#7. People with dental insurance
This is an interesting segment of the target market of a dental clinic because it is not based on need. People with dental insurance are not usually looking for a dentist because they have an oral health problem that needs to be fixed.
Instead, they are usually looking for a preventative care solution or they want to take advantage of their dental insurance benefits.
This means this segment can be regular clients and not just when they are in pain.
Conclusion
The target market of a dental clinic includes anyone who needs dental care, whether it is for preventative measures, to fix an existing problem, or just to take advantage of their dental insurance.
Dental clinics need to be able to reach all of these target markets in order to be successful. The best way to do this is by having a strong online presence and by providing a good experience for every patient that walks through the door.
