7 Tips for Creating a Client-Friendly Dental Website Now

Website development for dentists guarantees professional-looking sites with a client-friendly appeal. An expert web developer partner uses trusted strategies such as the following:

1. Use clear and intuitive navigation
2. Adopt a responsive design
3. Create an engaging homepage
4. Include educational content
5. Promote social media integration
6. Help customers with an online chat or messaging feature
7. Develop a secure and private patient portal

This article highlights these tips and more. Let’s go!

To learn how Digital Authority Partners can create a standout website for you, watch this video!

1. Use Clear and Intuitive Navigation

A dental website with straightforward and intuitive navigation allows visitors to quickly find the information they seek. They can navigate through the site's different sections without confusion or frustration. Also, a clear and intuitive navigation system helps users quickly understand the website's structure and locate the desired dental services or content they need.

To implement straightforward and intuitive navigation, web developers use the following guidelines:

• Plan and structure the website's content logically and hierarchically.
• Divide the information into relevant categories and subcategories.
• Use a simple and consistent menu structure by limiting the number of main menu items to a manageable number (usually around 5-7).
• Include clear and descriptive labels for the navigation menu items.
• Avoid jargon or technical terms that might confuse visitors.
• Place the navigation menu prominently on each website page, typically at the top or side of the page.
• Implement breadcrumb navigation, which shows the user's current location within the website's hierarchy.
• Include a search bar prominently on the website to allow users to search for specific content or services.
• Maintain consistency in design, layout, and navigation throughout the website.

2. Adopt a Responsive Design

A responsive design for a dental website means creating a design that automatically adjusts and adapts to different screen sizes and devices. This provides an optimal viewing and browsing experience for users. To implement a responsive design, developers consider these strategies:

• Design and build a website focusing on mobile devices to accommodate users who primarily access the internet this way.
• Create a flexible layout that adjusts to different screen sizes, for instance, using percentage-based widths and heights instead of fixed pixel measurements.
• Optimize images for different devices using CSS media queries to load appropriate image sizes based on the user's device, screen resolution, and network conditions.
• Choose legible fonts that work well across different devices and screen sizes.
• Consider the touch interface of mobile devices when designing buttons, menus, and interactive elements.
• Test the website's responsiveness on various devices and screen sizes. Use emulators, simulators, or physical devices to preview and evaluate the design.

3. Create an Engaging Homepage

An engaging homepage for a dental website captivates visitors and encourages them to explore further. The homepage should convey the essence of the dental practice, showcase critical services or offerings, and create a positive first impression.

Implementing an engaging homepage involves various elements and strategies to make it visually appealing, informative, and user-friendly. Follow these methods:

• Use a clean, professional design that reflects the dental practice's brand identity, choosing an appropriate color scheme, fonts, and imagery.
• Craft a concise, attention-grabbing headline to communicate the value or unique selling proposition.
• Add high-resolution images that showcase the dental practice, including photos of the office, staff, and satisfied patients.
• Ensure that the contact information, including phone number, email address, and location, is prominently displayed on the homepage.
• Include clear and strategically placed call-to-action (CTA) buttons on the homepage to guide visitors, such as "Schedule an Appointment," "Contact Us," or "Learn More."
• Provide a concise overview of dental services or treatments on the homepage.
• Display icons or links to the dental clinic’s social media profiles to demonstrate the clinic’s active online presence.
• Ensure the homepage has a straightforward and intuitive navigation menu that allows visitors to explore other sections of your website easily.

4. Include Educational Content

Educational content refers to informative and helpful materials that educate visitors about oral health, dental procedures, preventive care, and other relevant dental topics. These turn the dental website into a resource to empower patients and promote dental health awareness. Integrating educational content into the dental website requires these steps.

• Create a blog section on the dental website where you regularly publish articles on dental health topics.
• Compile a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to dental care and oral health, providing detailed answers.
• Use visual content such as infographics, diagrams, and images to simplify complex dental concepts or procedures.
• Create videos or webinars where dentists discuss dental health topics, demonstrate oral hygiene, or explain procedures. Embed or host these videos on relevant website pages.
• Develop downloadable guides, brochures, or e-books that offer comprehensive information on specific dental health topics or procedures.
• Share practical dental health tips on the website, focusing on preventive care, good oral hygiene, and healthy habits.
• Showcase real-life case studies or patient testimonials highlighting successful dental treatments and transformations.
• Include links to reputable dental health resources, associations, or research studies that support the information provided on your website.
• Share snippets or excerpts from the educational content on the dental practice's social media channels.

5. Promote Social Media Integration

Social media integration refers to incorporating social media elements and functionalities within the website. For a dental website, promoting social media allows potential clients to interact with and share content from the website directly on various platforms.

Integration increases visibility, engagement, and traffic to the dental office’s social media pages. Here are ways to effectively integrate social media into dental websites:

• On the dental website’s header, footer, or sidebar, include social media icons or buttons that link to the clinic's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube accounts. 
• Include social media share buttons on the website's blog posts, articles, or other content pages.
• Embed social media feeds on the dental website to showcase the latest social media posts.
• Use social media plugins or widgets that enable visitors to like, follow, or share your social media profiles directly from the website.
• Feature social media patient reviews for social proof and positive reviews from Google My Business, Facebook, and Yelp on the website.
• Provide options for visitors to connect with the dental clinic through social media platforms on the website's contact forms.
• Encourage visitors to engage with the dental practice on social media by running social media contests, surveys, or interactive campaigns.
• Utilize social media analytics and tracking tools to measure the impact of social media integration efforts.

6. Help Customers With an Online Chat or Messaging Feature

Adding an online chat or messaging feature to a dental website improves visitor communication, provides real-time assistance, and enhances overall user experience. Start by selecting a chat platform or software that suits the clinic's or practice’s needs.

Available online options include LiveChat, Intercom, Drift, Zendesk Chat, or Facebook Messenger. The features that differentiate among these options include ease of use, customization options, integration capabilities, and pricing. Note these factors when adding online chat or messaging features to a dental website.

Customize the chat widget to match the dental website's design and branding. Choose colors, fonts, and other visual elements.

Set availability hours for the chat feature. Define when the marketing or customer service team can respond to chat inquiries.

Customize the greeting message that visitors will see when they initiate a chat.

Integrate the chat widget on the dental website.

Determine chat behavior and routing rules. For example, configure automatic greetings, chat routing to specific team members or departments, and chat routing based on particular criteria or keywords.

Ensure the chat widget is mobile-responsive and works seamlessly on various devices and screen sizes.

7. Develop a Secure and Private Patient Portal

A secure and private patient portal is a web-based platform that allows patients to access their personal and medical information. A portal is also where patients communicate with their dental healthcare providers, schedule appointments, view treatment plans, make payments, and access other relevant services.

It provides a convenient and confidential way to interact with the dental practice. Here are strategies to optimize a patient portal:

• Select a patient portal software or solution that meets the practice's needs. Look for secure login, data encryption, appointment scheduling, messaging, medical record access, and payment integration.
• Integrate the patient portal software into the website by adding a login button or link to the website's navigation menu.
• Ensure that patients can securely register and create their accounts on the patient portal. Provide clear instructions for patients to log in to their accounts.
• The patient portal should include appointment scheduling, treatment plans, medical records, secure messaging with dental providers, online bill payment, prescription refill requests, and educational resources. 
• Implement robust security measures to protect patient data, such as using secure socket layer (SSL) encryption to encrypt data transmission and implementing multi-factor authentication for user logins.
• Adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements for patient data storage and access. Once the website is set up properly for HIPAA compliance, make sure that all clinic personnel understand how to use it to avoid legal liability.

Summing Up

Creating a client-friendly website is about improving navigation, site design, homepage design, and educational content. Also, integrating social media, online chat, or messaging, as well as securing the website, ensures more effective and efficient customer engagement, trust, and loyalty to the dental practice.

By partnering with an expert in website development for dentists, you can create customer-centric websites to promote your practice. Contact Digital Authority Partners today to find out how.