First and foremost, every orthodontist looking to grow their customer base and compete in the market must have a great looking website. Period.
With so much research being done by consumers online, even a great reputation can’t save a poorly designed, poorly functioning website. And, because orthodontia work is typically such a high-ticket service, the ability to convey quality work through a great looking website is an effective way to help build the trust you need to get website visitors to convert.
As an orthodontist, it’s your responsibility to allay the fears of your potential clients, giving them the information they need to make smart decisions that are right for their health and the health of their family. This responsibility is what makes your work so important, but it’s also why your website design is even more crucial.
When your potential customer comes to your website, they are bringing with them a lot of preconceived ideas, false concepts, and, of course, fear and anxiety.
The thought that this work will cost them a fortune, be painful, or potentially create more issues is enough to put them on the edge, instantly nervous and fearful before they even read the first word.
Because your audience is typically arriving to your business in such a fragile state, it’s your responsibility to put them at ease, ensuring that their experience (even on your website) is one that is easy, painless, and completely stress-free.
Why Responsive Is Responsible
More and more people are using their mobile devices, especially smart phones, as a tool for nearly everything they do in their daily lives. As such, it’s likely that when they decide they need your orthodontia practice’s services they’ll be on their phone or other mobile device.
And, as we’re sure you’ve already experienced, there’s a big difference between a website that responds to a handheld device and one that is only designed to function on a laptop or large monitor. In the case of the latter, you are left feeling frustrated, unable to find the information you need or to even see the website correctly.
To make sure this doesn’t happen to your potential customers, you need to make sure your website is built with the latest responsive technology, ensuring that it looks great and functions properly regardless of where it’s being viewed.
Not sure you want to make the leap to responsive website design for your orthodontist practice yet? Here are some reasons why it’s not just a smart decision, but a responsible one at that…
- Everyone’s On Mobile Devices. According to recent reports, more than 75% of all adults living in the United States own a smartphone. Around the world, there are more than two billion people who use smartphones regularly – that’s more than a third of the entire global population. Not reacting to this monumental shift in culture tells your potential customers that you don’t care. And, as an orthodontist, the last thing you want to do is come across as being unwilling to give people what they need.
- Social Media Isn’t Just For Selfies. Businesses that use intelligently designed responsive websites benefit from the ability to have their services shared quickly via social media platforms. The new word-of-mouth marketing, people are eager to offer recommendations to friends and family, which means having a website that makes it possible for this kind of sharing is actually some of the smartest marketing you can do for your business.
- Dramatically Boost Your SEO. Search engines want to give people a great experience, which means they look for websites that can do just that. If you want to boost your SEO rankings, changing to a responsive website is huge. Search engines like Google recognize the difference between a responsive website and one that isn’t, and will give preference to those that are. Trying to build a separate mobile site with a different URL isn’t recognized the same way by search engines as a completely responsive website and, therefore, aren’t ranked as well.
The Other Benefits of Responsive Websites for Orthodontists
Unlike other businesses, orthodontists have the advantage of better understanding why visitors come to their website. As such, they can optimize their website to make sure the experience and information their visitors need is exactly what they are getting.
The problem with not having a responsive website is that you can spend loads of time and money creating the perfect layout only to have it completely jumbled when someone tries to access it from their phone or other mobile device.
At the end of the day, your goal as an orthodontist is to create a website that is easy to use. By doing so, you not only give your audience everything they need, but you do it in a way that allows them to set aside their worries and concerns.
And, when your potential customer feels at ease on your site, they’re much more likely to trust you; this is where leads turn into conversions.
