Why Most Dental Marketing Sucks (And How to Be the 1% That Grows No Matter What)

August 02, 2025
Topics: Dental
Written by: Lisa Rasmussen

Best marketing strategies for dentists:

Let’s be brutally real. Most dental marketing is…boring. Vanilla. “Come get your teeth cleaned!” Yawn. No wonder most practices get lost in the noise and then wonder why they’re scrambling to fill the schedule every week.

But what if I told you the best marketing strategies for dentists aren’t what everyone else is doing? What if you could stand out, attract raving fans, and double or quadruple your revenue per patient—while building an asset that pays you even when you’re golfing, Netflixing, or out hiking with your golden retriever?

Stick around. Best marketing strategies for dentist.s Because you’re about to discover what the “big dogs” know (and the rest are still sleeping on).


STORY: From Waiting Room Ghost Town to Recurring Revenue Machine

Let’s meet Dr. Lila. Three years ago, her practice was stuck. Direct mail campaigns, Facebook ads, referral cards—you name it, she’d tried it. Results? Meh.

But then, Lila discovered one of the best marketing strategies for dentists isn’t just getting new patients—it’s creating loyalty and boosting revenue per patient. Enter the dental membership plan, powered by BoomCloud™.

She launched a plan at $30/month, included two cleanings, some sweet discounts, and marketed it everywhere:

  • Social media? Check.

  • Website pop-ups? Yup.

  • Email blasts to inactive patients? You bet.

Within 12 months:

  • Active members: 412

  • MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue): $12,360

  • ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue): $148,320

  • Average patient value: Up 3.1X

Her waiting room became a revolving door for loyal, happy, “take my money” members.


Your Best Patient Is the One You Already Have

Here’s the mindset shift. Most dentists burn time, money, and sanity chasing new leads. But the gold mine? It’s in your existing patient base.

Did you know:

  • Membership patients spend 2-4X more than non-members?

  • 82% of dental membership patients show up for ALL recare visits?

  • Loyalty programs can increase retention by up to 30%?
    (Source: BoomCloud™ Internal Data, ADA Reports)

The best marketing strategy isn’t just a slick Facebook ad. It’s building a revenue engine that keeps your chairs full, your hygiene team busy, and your bank account smiling—even during “slow seasons.”


BEST MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR DENTISTS: THE 2025 PLAYBOOK

Ready to get specific? Here are the tactics real practices are using to break records and dominate their markets.

1. Build (and Market) a Dental Membership Program

  • Why? Recurring revenue, price transparency, and zero insurance drama.

  • How? Use BoomCloud™ to launch, track, and automate everything.

  • Where to market? Everywhere—website, Google My Business, social media, inside your office, and via email.

2. Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

  • Claim your Google Business Profile. Keep NAP (name, address, phone) consistent.

  • Use keywords like “best dentist in [city]” and “dental membership plan [city]”.

  • Get more reviews—Google loves social proof.

3. Use Video Like a Pro

  • 74% of patients say video helps them trust a provider. (Source: Wyzowl)

  • Shoot quick explainer videos about membership plans, whitening, Invisalign, etc.

  • Share them everywhere: website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook.

4. Launch Email and SMS Recare Campaigns

  • Automate reminders for overdue patients.

  • Promote special offers and membership benefits.

  • Texts get 98% open rates—use them!

5. Leverage Internal Marketing

  • Train your team to explain the benefits of membership at every check-in and check-out.

  • Posters, handouts, TV slides—remind patients of the value.

6. Build Referral Loops

  • “Refer a friend, get a month free!” (for both the referrer and the friend)

  • Make it easy—QR codes, referral cards, even shareable links.

7. Community Outreach & Partnerships

  • Sponsor local events.

  • Partner with gyms, schools, and local businesses for co-marketing.

8. Track the Metrics That Matter

  • MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) and ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue).

  • Membership conversion rate.

  • Lifetime patient value.


MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS: THE DENTAL MARKETING CHEAT CODE

Most dentists chase the “new patient high”—but the real pros know that optimizing revenue per patient is the most profitable, least stressful path to growth.

Why do membership programs crush it?

  • Patients who join spend more, stay longer, and refer more often.

  • BoomCloud™ users report a 2X-4X jump in average revenue per member.

  • When your base is stable, every new patient is “bonus profit”—not survival.


CASE STUDY: $250k+ Growth in 18 Months with BoomCloud™

Dr. Ray’s practice, mid-pandemic, decided to get aggressive. They launched a “Smile Club” membership, priced at $35/mo.

  • Marketed to inactive patients with email, postcards, and targeted Facebook ads.

  • Website pop-ups drove conversions (“Join our club, save BIG on your care!”).

  • Team trained to ask every patient if they wanted to join.

Results:

  • 612 members after 18 months.

  • MRR: $21,420. ARR: $257,040.

  • Treatment acceptance among members up 57%.

  • Practice valuation up significantly (recurring revenue is gold for buyers).

“We were just another dentist in a crowded market. Now we have people driving from 30 miles away because our membership is a no-brainer.”
—Dr. Ray, BoomCloud™ User


BEST MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR DENTISTS: QUICK-HIT IDEAS & BOOMCLOUD™ POWER-UPS

Bullet List of Quick Wins

  • Launch a “Join Our Membership” contest—win an electric toothbrush or whitening kit.

  • Go LIVE on Facebook/Instagram monthly—answer dental FAQs.

  • Text all overdue patients about membership discounts (“We want you back!”).

  • ‍⚕️ Feature real patient testimonials about savings and ease of use.

  • Integrate BoomCloud™ with your practice management software for seamless tracking.

  • Offer a “Family Plan” for multi-member sign-ups.


START PRINTING RECURRING REVENUE—NO INSURANCE REQUIRED

Let’s face it: Dental insurance is a nightmare—for you and your patients. Membership programs (done right) are your escape hatch.

  • Launch with BoomCloud™.

  • Automate the boring stuff (renewals, payments, communication).

  • Track every dollar of MRR/ARR.

  • Enjoy a practice full of loyal, happy patients who say “yes” to treatment.

Your Best Marketing Strategy in 2025 = Optimize Revenue Per Patient.
Every dollar you invest in loyalty, education, and membership pays you back multiples.


CONCLUSION: Go Beyond Boring—Be the Dentist They Can’t Ignore

The best marketing strategies for dentists aren’t about being louder. They’re about being smarter—building relationships, recurring revenue, and a brand that’s impossible to forget.

Your challenge:
Pick two strategies above and commit.
Launch a membership plan.
Measure your MRR and ARR.
Turn your practice into the Netflix of dentistry—stable, scalable, and loved.


RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS


Ready to dominate with the best marketing strategies for dentists?
Don’t just survive—THRIVE. Now go build something worth talking about!

My Top Podcasts

How Smart Practice Owners Attract, Retain & Create Recurring Revenue

Get the book that’s helping over 65,000  practices ditch insurance, boost cash flow, and create financial freedom with a patient membership program.

Membership Plans For Optometrists

vision-membership-plan-ebook Creating a patient membership plan is the smartest strategy to implement in your practice. You will increase patient satisfaction & loyalty, Increase predictable recurring revenue & increase sales!

Fire The PPOs!

Say goodbye to PPOs and hello to a thriving, independent dental practice. Don’t miss out – your journey to financial freedom starts here!

Subscribe to Our Podcasts!

Jordon Comstock

Author Bio

Jordon Comstock is the Founder & CEO of BoomCloud™, a software that allows practice, clinic & spa owners to build, manage and scale a membership program. This helps practice & clinic owners to create recurring revenue & improve loyalty via membership programs. Jordon is passionate about Music, Hawaii, Healthcare businesses like: dentistry, optometry, med spas and massage spas. Schedule a demo of BoomCloud™ and learn how membership programs can improve your business. Here are more dental books to improve your practice

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