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Do Google Ads Still Work for Dentists? How to Compete Without Overspending
Do Google Ads Still Work for Dentists? How to Compete Without Overspending
Google Ads used to be one of the easiest ways for dentists and orthodontists to bring in new patients. A decade ago, you could run a couple of ads, toss in a few hundred dollars, and the phone would start ringing.
But times have changed. Click costs for dental-related keywords have skyrocketed—today, terms like “dental implants near me” or “Invisalign in [city]” can cost anywhere from $10 to $40 per click. For many practice owners, that price tag feels impossible to justify.
So the big question is: Do Google Ads still work for dentists in 2025?
The short answer: Yes—but only if you play smarter, not bigger.
Why Google Ads Got More Expensive
Over the past decade, the advertising landscape has shifted dramatically. Large dental service organizations (DSOs), corporate chains, and national orthodontic providers now dominate the top ad slots.
Here’s why:
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They have massive budgets. These organizations can spread high advertising costs across dozens—or even hundreds—of locations.
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They can test endlessly. With deep pockets, they can afford to bid high, experiment with multiple campaigns, and still remain profitable.
This doesn’t mean independent practices are locked out. It just means you need a different approach.
The Big Mistake Most Dentists Make
Too many practices try to compete head-to-head with corporate players—matching bids, chasing the same high-cost keywords, and hoping for the best.
The result?
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Bloated ad budgets
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Low return on investment
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Frustration that “Google Ads don’t work”
The truth is, Google Ads do work—but only if you avoid playing the corporate game.
How Independent Practices Can Win with Google Ads
Instead of outspending corporate competitors, focus on outsmarting them. Here are a few ways to do it:
1. Target Smarter Keywords
Don’t chase the most obvious, expensive terms like “dentist near me.” Instead, look for long-tail keywords and intent-based searches such as:
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“Emergency dentist open Saturday in [city]”
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“Affordable Invisalign provider [city]”
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“Best family dentist with sedation [city]”
These may get fewer searches, but the patients who click are often more motivated—and cheaper to acquire.
2. Geo-Targeting and Radius Ads
Instead of blanketing an entire city, narrow your ads to the zip codes or neighborhoods where your ideal patients live. This not only reduces wasted spend but also increases conversion rates.
3. Fix Your Landing Pages
Clicking an ad is only half the battle. If your landing page loads slowly, looks outdated, or doesn’t have a clear call to action (like “Book Online Now”), you’re burning money.
4. Track, Test, Adjust
Too many dentists “set it and forget it.” Instead, monitor performance weekly, run A/B tests on ad copy, and adjust bids frequently. This keeps your campaigns lean and effective.
The Bottom Line
Google Ads for dentists have never been more competitive—but that doesn’t mean small and mid-sized practices are out of the game.
You don’t need a $50,000-a-month ad budget to win. What you need is a smarter strategy:
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Focus on intent-driven, less competitive keywords
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Narrow your targeting
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Optimize landing pages
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Continually track and refine
When you approach Google Ads strategically, they remain one of the fastest and most reliable ways to bring in new patients—even in 2025.
Resources & Links: 🎧 Listen to The Dentist Money Show: dentistadvisors.com/podcast
Want a full list of 50 plug-and-play ChatGPT prompts for your dental practice?
👉 Download your free guide here
Ready to grow with a system that works? Schedule a Free Strategy Session
🛠️ Tools & Tips:
SmartFollow™ – Automated lead follow-up
CallGuard AI™ – Review & coach call performance
PatientLine™ – AI phone assistant for overflow and after-hours
💬 Let’s Talk Strategy:
👉 Book a free strategy session:
https://kickstartdental.com/get-in-touch/
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Join Our Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsdentalgrowth
Check us out! https://kickstartdental.com
Follow us for daily tips, tricks and growth hacks for YOUR practice!
https://www.instagram.com/kickstartdental/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicsktart-dental-marketing _________________________________________________________________________
Want to work with KickStart Dental to GROW your dental practice?
Contact mailto:chris@kickstartdental.com
Episode ideas? Guest Inquiries?
Contact mailto:jennifer@kickstartdental.com _________________________________________________________________________
How to Convert the 90% of Website Visitors Who Don’t Take Action
How to Convert the 90% of Website Visitors Who Don’t Take Action
If you’re like most dental or orthodontic practices, you probably put a lot of time and money into driving traffic to your website—whether through Google Ads, SEO, or social media campaigns. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: 80–90% of those visitors leave without ever calling, filling out a form, or booking an appointment.
That’s right. Even with strong traffic numbers, the vast majority of potential patients slip through the cracks.
So, how do you capture and convert more of this hidden opportunity? Let’s break it down.
The Website Visitor Problem
On average, a practice website gets thousands of visits each month. But not all traffic is created equal:
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50% of traffic is bots or junk. Out of 1,000 reported visits, you may only have 500 real humans looking at your site.
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90% of real visitors take no action. They browse, click, then leave for the next option without ever reaching out.
That means from 1,000 monthly visits, you may only get inquiries from about 50 people—a huge waste of potential.
Why Visitors Don’t Convert
Most people aren’t ready to make a decision the first time they land on your site. They may be:
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Comparing practices
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Researching treatment options
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Distracted or short on time
Without a clear system to stay in front of them, they’ll likely forget you and move on.
A Smarter Way to Capture Website Visitors
Traditional retargeting tools like pixels and cookies only scratch the surface. Newer proprietary marketing technology can now identify 80–90% of real visitors’ information—including names, addresses, and email addresses—without requiring a form submission.
This opens the door to:
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Smart mail campaigns: Sending tailored direct mail to warm leads.
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Targeted email marketing: Following up with people who visited your site but didn’t take action.
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Facebook lookalike audiences: Reaching new prospects who share the same profile as your website visitors.
Multi-Channel Marketing That Works
The magic happens when these tools are combined:
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Capture real visitor data.
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Nurture those leads with direct mail, email, and Facebook ads.
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Stay top-of-mind until they’re ready to book an appointment.
This multi-channel approach ensures you’re not just chasing new traffic—you’re maximizing the traffic you already have.
What This Means for Your Practice
If your marketing agency is only running ads and tracking clicks, you may be leaving a lot of money on the table. Start asking questions like:
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How are you capturing the 90% of visitors who leave without taking action?
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Can we identify real visitor data, beyond cookies and pixels?
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What strategies are in place to follow up with those leads across multiple channels?
Final Thoughts
The reality is that most dental websites are underperforming—not because of poor design or low traffic, but because they fail to convert the majority of visitors into patients.
By adopting smarter technology and a multi-channel approach, your practice can transform website “window shoppers” into loyal patients who actually walk through your doors.
Resources & Links: 🎧 Listen to The Dentist Money Show: dentistadvisors.com/podcast
Want a full list of 50 plug-and-play ChatGPT prompts for your dental practice?
👉 Download your free guide here
Ready to grow with a system that works? Schedule a Free Strategy Session
🛠️ Tools & Tips:
SmartFollow™ – Automated lead follow-up
CallGuard AI™ – Review & coach call performance
PatientLine™ – AI phone assistant for overflow and after-hours
💬 Let’s Talk Strategy:
👉 Book a free strategy session:
https://kickstartdental.com/get-in-touch/
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Join Our Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsdentalgrowth
Check us out! https://kickstartdental.com
Follow us for daily tips, tricks and growth hacks for YOUR practice!
https://www.instagram.com/kickstartdental/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicsktart-dental-marketing _________________________________________________________________________
Want to work with KickStart Dental to GROW your dental practice?
Contact mailto:chris@kickstartdental.com
Episode ideas? Guest Inquiries?
Contact mailto:jennifer@kickstartdental.com _________________________________________________________________________
How Much Do Dentists Really Need to Retire? Dentist retirment Planning with Ryan Isaac, co-founder of Dentist Advisors
For many dentists, financial success seems tied to how busy the schedule is, how many chairs are full, or how much revenue the practice brings in. But when it comes to retirement, the numbers often tell a very different story.
On a recent episode of the No BS Dental Growth Podcast, I sat down with Ryan Isaac, co-founder of Dentist Advisors and host of The Dentist Money Show, to talk about the one question every dentist eventually asks:
👉 When do I finally have enough to retire?
Why Dentists Retire Later Than Most
Ryan has worked exclusively with dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons for nearly two decades, and he’s noticed a trend: dentists often retire later than the average American.
Why?
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They tie their identity closely to their profession.
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They’re high earners but often late savers.
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Debt (student loans, practice loans, mortgages) lingers longer than expected.
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Many underestimate just how much they’ll need to keep their lifestyle in retirement.
The Retirement Formula for Dentists
Forget chasing the next “shiny” investment. Ryan explained that the most reliable formula for retirement comes down to three essentials:
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Liquidity – How much cash do you have available today?
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Income – What recurring income sources will you have (practice sale, real estate, investments)?
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Net Worth Growth – Are you steadily increasing assets that will compound over time?
It’s not about timing the market or getting lucky with the next hot stock—it’s about consistent, measured financial planning.
How Much Is Enough?
The truth: there’s no magic number for every dentist. But Ryan recommends thinking in terms of lifestyle replacement.
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What does it cost you to live your life right now?
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Multiply that annual number by 25.
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That’s your rough “financial freedom” benchmark.
For example, if your lifestyle costs $200k a year, you’ll want around $5 million invested and working for you.
Avoiding the Biggest Mistakes
According to Ryan, here are the traps dentists fall into:
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Waiting too long to save because they assume practice growth will cover everything.
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Over-leveraging debt with new equipment, expansions, or second locations without building personal wealth.
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Lack of liquidity, meaning they’re “asset rich but cash poor” when opportunities—or emergencies—arise.
The Elements Planning System
Ryan also introduced the Elements Financial Planning System, a tool his firm uses to give dentists a real-time snapshot of their financial health. Instead of waiting for a year-end review, dentists can benchmark where they stand today—across liquidity, savings rate, net worth, and retirement readiness.
Takeaway for Dentists
The biggest myth in dentistry is that financial freedom comes “someday.” In reality, it comes from building systems today that grow with you through every stage of your career. Dentist retirement planning.
Whether you’re fresh out of school with student loans or approaching the finish line, now is the time to start planning.
Because the truth is, dentists don’t just need enough to retire—they need enough to retire well.
Resources & Links: 🎧 Listen to The Dentist Money Show: dentistadvisors.com/podcast
Want a full list of 50 plug-and-play ChatGPT prompts for your dental practice?
👉 Download your free guide here
Ready to grow with a system that works? Schedule a Free Strategy Session
🛠️ Tools & Tips:
SmartFollow™ – Automated lead follow-up
CallGuard AI™ – Review & coach call performance
PatientLine™ – AI phone assistant for overflow and after-hours
💬 Let’s Talk Strategy:
👉 Book a free strategy session:
https://kickstartdental.com/get-in-touch/
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Join Our Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsdentalgrowth
Check us out! https://kickstartdental.com
Follow us for daily tips, tricks and growth hacks for YOUR practice!
https://www.instagram.com/kickstartdental/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicsktart-dental-marketing _________________________________________________________________________
Want to work with KickStart Dental to GROW your dental practice?
Contact mailto:chris@kickstartdental.com
Episode ideas? Guest Inquiries?
Contact mailto:jennifer@kickstartdental.com _________________________________________________________________________
Funnels Are Dead: Why Dentists Need the 7-Stage Marketing Hourglass
Funnels Are Dead: Why Dentists Need the 7-Stage Marketing Hourglass
Most dentists think about marketing like a funnel. You pour money into ads or SEO at the top, cross your fingers, and hope enough patients drip out the bottom. The problem? Funnels leak. Patients drop off, ghost after consults, or never return—and you’re left on the hamster wheel, constantly chasing the next new lead.
Sound familiar?
There’s a better way, and it comes from one of my favorite marketing books, Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch. Instead of a funnel, Jantsch suggests using a Marketing Hourglass—a seven-stage framework that takes someone from total stranger to loyal patient who refers their friends and family on autopilot.
For dentists, this is gold. Because let’s be honest: you don’t want one-time $49 cleaning specials. You want long-term patients who trust you, keep coming back, and bring others with them.
Here’s how the Dental Marketing Hourglass works—and how you can apply it to your practice.
Stage 1: Know
Patients need to know you exist. This comes from visibility: Google Ads, local SEO, community presence, and social media. If people don’t know you, they can’t choose you.
Stage 2: Like
Once they find you, patients need to like what they see. Showcase your personality, your team, and your office culture online. Humanize your practice—it builds connection before they even walk in the door.
Stage 3: Trust
Trust is non-negotiable. Online reviews, testimonials, case studies, and transparent communication all matter here. Patients won’t buy from someone they don’t trust, especially when it comes to healthcare.
Stage 4: Try
Give potential patients a low-risk way to experience your practice. Think new patient specials, consultations, or even educational content. It’s like a test drive before committing.
Stage 5: Buy
Here’s where many practices leak patients. To increase acceptance:
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Offer online scheduling that’s as simple as booking a haircut.
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Be transparent about costs—clear treatment plans, memberships, and payment options.
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Train your front desk to confidently guide patients, not just answer phones.
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Build in same-day treatment options for emergencies.
When the buying process feels easy and supportive, patients say “yes” more often—and sooner.
Stage 6: Repeat
This is where most practices leave money on the table. It costs hundreds of dollars to attract a new patient, but virtually nothing to bring back an existing one. Yet too many dentists assume patients will return automatically. Wrong. Life gets in the way.
How to drive repeat visits:
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Multi-channel recall systems (text, email, voicemail, not just postcards).
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Follow-up systems for unscheduled patients.
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Membership plans for loyalty (especially uninsured patients).
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Consistent touchpoints between visits (newsletters, events, social posts).
Repeat patients are your compounding interest—they build stability and predictable growth.
Stage 7: Refer
Here’s the real multiplier. Happy patients become your best marketing channel—if you ask and make it easy.
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Ask at the right time: after a positive appointment.
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Automate reviews: every Google review is a mini referral.
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Offer referral programs: simple rewards like gift cards or whitening.
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Create shareable moments: photo walls, goodie bags, or Instagram-worthy touches.
Referred patients cost you nothing to acquire, but they’re the most loyal and profitable ones you’ll ever get.
Putting It All Together
The Marketing Hourglass takes patients through all seven stages: Know, Like, Trust, Try, Buy, Repeat, and Refer. Most practices only focus on the first half (getting new patients in the door), but the real profit comes from repeat visits and referrals.
Think of it this way: if your funnel is leaking, you’ll always be stuck chasing new leads. But when you build an hourglass, you create a full journey that turns strangers into lifelong advocates for your practice.
So here’s your challenge:
Grab a piece of paper and draw the seven stages. Then ask yourself honestly—where are the leaks in my patient journey? Plug those, and you’ll see your growth compound faster than any ad campaign.
And if you’d like help building your own Dental Marketing Hourglass, that’s exactly what we do at Kickstart Dental Marketing. From visibility at the top to retention and referrals at the bottom, we help practices like yours grow without the BS.
Resources & Links
Want a full list of 50 plug-and-play ChatGPT prompts for your dental practice?
👉 Download your free guide here
Ready to grow with a system that works? Schedule a Free Strategy Session
🛠️ Tools & Tips:
SmartFollow™ – Automated lead follow-up
CallGuard AI™ – Review & coach call performance
PatientLine™ – AI phone assistant for overflow and after-hours
💬 Let’s Talk Strategy: Feeling stuck or short-staffed? Let’s find what’s broken and build something better.
👉 Book a free strategy session:
https://kickstartdental.com/get-in-touch/
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Join Our Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsdentalgrowth
Check us out! https://kickstartdental.com
Follow us for daily tips, tricks and growth hacks for YOUR practice!
https://www.instagram.com/kickstartdental/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicsktart-dental-marketing _________________________________________________________________________
Want to work with KickStart Dental to GROW your dental practice?
Contact mailto:chris@kickstartdental.com
Episode ideas? Guest Inquiries?
Contact mailto:jennifer@kickstartdental.com _________________________________________________________________________
The Marketing Hourglass: A Smarter Way to Grow Your Dental Practice
When it comes to dental marketing, most practices still think in terms of a funnel: bring in new leads at the top, and hope enough become patients at the bottom. But as Chris Pistorius, host of The No BS Dental Growth Podcast, explains, this model is outdated — and it’s costing practices growth.
Instead, Chris recommends the marketing hourglass, adapted from John Jang’s Duct Tape Marketing. Unlike the funnel, the hourglass doesn’t just focus on acquisition — it emphasizes building long-term patient relationships and generating referrals that fuel growth year after year.
In this blog, we’ll break down the seven stages of the marketing hourglass and how your practice can start using it today.
Why the Funnel Falls Short
The funnel has one major flaw: it assumes once a patient buys, the process is over. In reality, that’s when the most important work begins. Without systems to nurture patients and encourage repeat visits or referrals, practices constantly scramble for new leads — a costly and exhausting cycle.
The marketing hourglass solves this by focusing on seven connected stages:
Know → Like → Trust → Try → Buy → Repeat → Refer
Each stage builds on the last, creating loyal patients who not only stay with your practice but also bring in new ones.
Stage 1: Know – Be Visible
Patients can’t choose you if they don’t know you exist. Chris emphasized that visibility starts online:
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Keep your Google Business Profile updated with photos, categories, and correct hours.
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Aim for 10 new reviews in 30 days as a team goal.
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Run a basic Google Ads campaign (even $500/month can make an impact).
📌 Pro tip: Search “dentist near me” and see where your practice shows up — that’s what patients are seeing.
Stage 2: Like – Build Connection
Patients want to feel a connection before they ever sit in your chair. Authenticity is key here:
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Use real team photos, not stock images.
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Post genuine content on social media.
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Record a simple meet-the-dentist video — even 60 seconds can make a big difference.
Stage 3: Trust – Earn Credibility
Trust is the foundation of case acceptance. Patients need to believe in you before saying “yes” to treatment. Strategies include:
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Patient testimonials and reviews.
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Before/after photos of real cases.
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Transparent communication around treatment and pricing.
One Buffalo practice doubled implant case acceptance just by adding trust-building elements.
Stage 4: Try – Offer Low-Risk Entry Points
Give new patients a chance to “try before they buy.” Ideas include:
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Free consultations.
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New patient specials.
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Virtual smile assessments or membership plans.
Chris shared how an Illinois practice grew cosmetic cases significantly with free smile assessments.
Stage 5: Buy – Make It Easy
Once a patient is ready to buy, the process should be frictionless:
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Offer online scheduling.
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Provide clear financial options.
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Train front desk staff to guide patients smoothly.
The easier it is, the more patients will move forward with treatment.
Beyond Buy: Repeat & Refer
While Chris focused in detail on the first five stages, the hourglass doesn’t stop there. The last two stages — Repeat and Refer — are what transform patients into long-term advocates. Satisfied patients return regularly and bring others with them, lowering marketing costs and increasing profitability.
Action Steps for Your Practice
Here are quick wins you can implement this month:
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Update your Google Business Profile.
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Set a team challenge to collect 10 reviews in 30 days.
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Audit your social media for authenticity.
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Film a 60-second dentist intro video.
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Launch a low-barrier offer like free consults.
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Add a virtual consult button to your website.
Final Thoughts
The marketing funnel focuses only on filling the top. The marketing hourglass ensures you’re building strong, lasting relationships that keep patients coming back — and bringing their friends and family along.
If your practice is ready to break free from the endless chase for new leads, start thinking hourglass, not funnel.
Resources & Links
Want a full list of 50 plug-and-play ChatGPT prompts for your dental practice?
👉 Download your free guide here
Ready to grow with a system that works? Schedule a Free Strategy Session
🛠️ Tools & Tips:
SmartFollow™ – Automated lead follow-up
CallGuard AI™ – Review & coach call performance
PatientLine™ – AI phone assistant for overflow and after-hours
💬 Let’s Talk Strategy: Feeling stuck or short-staffed? Let’s find what’s broken and build something better.
👉 Book a free strategy session:
https://kickstartdental.com/get-in-touch/
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Join Our Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsdentalgrowth
Check us out! https://kickstartdental.com
Follow us for daily tips, tricks and growth hacks for YOUR practice!
https://www.instagram.com/kickstartdental/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicsktart-dental-marketing _________________________________________________________________________
Want to work with KickStart Dental to GROW your dental practice?
Contact mailto:chris@kickstartdental.com
Episode ideas? Guest Inquiries?
Contact mailto:jennifer@kickstartdental.com _________________________________________________________________________
"We started working with Kick Start in Q2 of this year, and the dramatic results we saw from their team left us floored. With the right strategy, our rankings improved instantly! Their professionalism, transparency, and ability to stay on brand has been refreshing. Additionally, the monthly reporting meeting is really insightful. The Dentistry Collective highly recommends Kick Start for all your digital marketing needs! Wonderful team!"
Kristin Prince
