Dentists and Orthodontists Are Smiling About TeleVox Websites
For years, TeleVox has worked with orthodontists and dentists in designing professional practice websites. From this experience, TeleVox has developed a fast, efficient system to design websites that meet the unique needs of dentists and orthodontists, whether they be in large practices or in small ones, whether they offer many services or specialize in certain areas.
Practices are realizing the benefits of this expertise by receiving quality professional websites in as little as 45 days. This development cycle is far faster than other services catering to the industry, which often take up to eight months.
TeleVox consults with doctors seeking website development services to learn specifics about their practices in order to design a site that meets each customer’s individual tastes and desires.
Helping to accelerate website development completion is TeleVox's proprietary Collaborate tool. Without sacrificing quality, uniqueness or customization of design, TeleVox uses the Collaborate tool to stay in close contact with each client throughout the site development process, ensuring quick response to site design requests, changes and approvals. The client can see each proposed design and site architecture, make comments and have any needed changes made quickly by the TeleVox design team.
"What made me select TeleVox was their customer service, their good reputation, and the fact that they specialized in Web development for the dental field," says Allison Albrecht with Hood Dental Group. "Even though I came back with additional changes, and more things I wanted to add to the site, TeleVox was able to get the website up and running for us in about five weeks.”
Albrecht adds, "We loved the initial phone consult with TeleVox to get and exchange design ideas and they really listened to what we wanted. Within a couple of weeks they got back to me with a demo. They were always getting back with implemented changes immediately."
“Good Web sites are critical for today’s health care practices. But orthodontists want to spend their time treating patients, not worrying about the design or the performance of their Web sites,” says Scott Zimmerman, business leader for TeleVox. “We help meet both of these needs by working as a website design partner who handles all of the intricate elements of the process to develop a site that delivers benefits to the orthodontists and their patients.”
How to Win on the Web: 6 Practice Website Essentials
As more patients search the Internet for healthcare information, the need for a practice website has become greater than ever. With increased traffic on the Web and more competitors taking their practices online, there is a greater focus on not only having a website, but making sure it creates an advantage to attract new patients. The most effective practice websites focus on these six important, but often overlooked elements.
1. Visibility
Even the best websites do no good if patients are unable to find them. One of the best ways to improve a practice’s results in online searches is through a process called search engine optimization (SEO). SEO techniques allow a practice’s website to rank highly in a variety of searches, including doctor name, practice name, procedure name and geographic location. Though the details of SEO require the assistance of professional hosting services, the benefits are realized almost immediately through search results and later through increased revenue.
2. Appearance
Relationships are all about first impressions, and the healthcare industry is no different. If a patient has found a website through an Internet search, the chances are that this is their first encounter with the practice. A professional appearance makes a world of difference in forming patient opinions. An attractive, tasteful design adds credibility to the website and suggests that patients will receive first-class treatment should they choose the practice. Websites should mirror the practice’s brand image; so fonts, colors and other design elements must provide the same tone. A fun, child-oriented orthodontic practice is far different from a cosmetic dentistry practice, but with the proper design choices any practice’s website can have a professional appearance.
3. Content
Why are patients on the website? Are they looking for a dentist or orthodontist? Are they in need of information about a particular condition or treatment? When developing content, it’s important to remember the reasons that patients have come to the website in the first place. For descriptions of procedures and other in-depth topics, concentrate on keeping the language as simple as possible. When used properly, before-and-after pictures, diagrams and other graphics add to a website’s content by complementing and explaining difficult text.
4. Navigation
When it comes to navigation of a website, experts agree that simplicity is essential. Patients who experience difficulty finding the information they need are likely to continue on to another practice’s website to find it. Make life easier for patients by streamlining menus, keeping page loading times to a minimum and eliminating unnecessary extra mouse clicks. Placing menus at either the top or side of the page will prevent any possible confusion and allow patients to efficiently browse everything that the website has to offer.
5. Interactivity
One of the benefits of the Internet to practices and patients is its interactive nature. Games and other activities can keep patients online and surrounded by a brand image. Rather than being passively bombarded with information from media such as magazines, TV and radio, patients play an active role when visiting a website. Also in contrast to these other media, websites can feature e-mail links and provide a forum for patient feedback and discussion.
6. Maintenance
While a professional appearance and thorough content add to a website’s effectiveness, few things detract potential patients like a website that seems to be neglected. In a busy practice, finding time to keep the website fresh and fully functional can present a formidable challenge. Thus many practices will turn to outside sources to maintain (and in many cases, handle all aspects of) their website. Regardless of who handles maintenance, keeping a website current and accurate plays a great role in a successful online practice image.
