AM-Touch Dental

A “Place” On The Web – Free Advertising At Its Best

Posted by AM-Touch, 7/25/2011 12:15:23 PM

There are many ways to advertise a dental office these days. You can hit the phone book, develop a website, advertise on local television, or even hire someone to stand outside your office in a giant tooth costume waving at passing cars.

Advertising is important – we all know that. Problem is, it’s not cheap. But there is one absolutely essential marketing tool that won’t cost you a dime and won’t take more than a few clicks of your mouse.

Google has developed “Place Pages,” which is essentially a business listing that appears before local web surfers when they search a term relevant to your business. Signing up for your own Google Place page is free, and the results are incredibly valuable.

Free Advertising
First, by setting up a Google Place page for your business, you ensure that you’ll be in the mix of local businesses that pop up on the screen when a specific search term is entered on Google.

For example, Jon Dell (me) goes to Google and searches for “Dentists.” Google knows that I’m in Valencia, CA, so in addition to your normal search results (definition of dentist, dental schools, e.t.c) a section called “Places for Dentists near Valencia, CA” pops up. In my case, it’s the third result on the page. In it, I see about 7 dentists in my town, their address, phone number and how many reviews they have.

As a Marketing guy, I can’t help but be impressed. Companies spend tens of thousands of dollars every year trying to increase their presence in search results and these dentists were able to get a PRIME spot near the top for free? It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. It’s actually part of Google’s plan to deliver the most relevant information to searchers, and you’re a beneficiary of that.

*Note, there’s no way of guaranteeing where your place page will show up in the search results. Competition, keyword value and a few million other factors determine when and where your place page shows up, so be patient.

Reviews = Credibility
It’s one thing to get free advertising, but it’s another thing to get reviews. Like word-of-mouth, reviews are much more powerful than any advertisement money can buy. People trust people, and the Internet has brought reviewing to a whole new level.

When you develop a Google Place page, consumers will have the ability to rate your business and write reviews. You have absolutely no control over what they write, but you do have the ability to monitor your reviews and respond as necessary. I know that’s a scary proposition, but reviews usually even out. Readers aren’t stupid, and they disregard fake or overly vicious reviews.

The good news is that reviews build credibility. They allow the good doctors, the great customer service and the hard work to shine though.

Crave Input
Like finding a $5 bill in your jacket pocket, Google Place pages have one more pleasant surprise. When you activate your place page you also get access to analytical data that tracks how web searchers found you, which keywords they used and where they came from.

It’s up to you to use the data wisely and help refine all other modes of advertising.

More?
Yes there is more. Your Place page comes equipped with some nice customizable features, including the ability to display a coupon.
Additionally, Google has an integrated paid advertising program called ADWords, that’s conveniently managed in your Place page admin section. If you’re looking to do any pay-per-click adverting, you can add that on through your existing Place page.

In order to get started, all you’ll need is a Google account, which is also free to anyone. Setting up a Place page is pretty straight forward, although you will need to verify the account through SMS or a telephone number. But the process is harmless and very, very easy. You can learn more about the process directly from Google.

As with all marketing tips, there is no silver bullet. A Google Place page won’t be all you need to survive this tough economy. But honestly, its value/cost ratio will almost always be 100%. Those are odds you won’t find in Las Vegas.

- Jon Dell, Director of Marketing, AM-Touch Dental

Category: Featured Articles

Patient Armor

Posted by AM-Touch, 6/28/2011 08:31:32 AM

Millions of infectious bacteria, tons of saliva, and all kinds of harmful chemicals. In a dental office, this is what you face on a day-to-day basis but worry NO MORE!

AM-Touch Dental’s Patient Armor is ON GUARD!…providing the best of protection for you and your patients.

The full line of Patient Armor includes…

Syringe Sleeves (Blue), Syringe Sleeves (Clear), Barrier Film (Blue), Barrier Film (Clear), Headrest Covers (91/2”x11”), Headrest Covers (91/2”x14”), Tray Sleeves (101/2”x14”), Tray Sleeves (115/8”x141/2”), Full Chair Sleeves, Half Chair Sleeves

Why you will love Patient Armor:

-Made with special copolymer plastic that easily slides over equipment
-Extremely durable and excellent tear-resistance
-Affordable protection from infectious aerosols
-Minimizes time spend on cleaning

Sound interesting? “ARMOR” up and defend yourself with the best, most affordable barrier protection system around!

Order NOW by visiting the AM-Touch Dental Shopping Concierge >>

Category: Infection Control

Top 5 Alternative Uses For Saliva Ejectors

Posted by AM-Touch, 6/13/2011 03:27:12 PM

Until today, Saliva Ejectors across the Country have been viewed as hardware; tools to be used for shuffling icky saliva to the drain in an effort to make the doctor’s job easier and the patients more comfortable. And what reward do these heavy lifters get after a job well done? They’re tossed in the trash, too filthy to autoclave and too easy to replace.

Well, we at AM-Touch Dental see more than that in our hard working bendable buddies. We believe that our AM-Touch Saliva Ejectors are incredible at ejecting saliva, but they’re also capable of so much more. Below – The Top 5 Alternative Uses for Saliva Ejectors!

Pocket Drumsticks
Who doesn’t love a coworker that constantly drums on the desk? Whether it’s tapping along with the radio, an impromptu John Bonham solo or simple inter-office revenge for breaking into their personal stash of M&Ms, some folks just can’t keep from drumming. With a gently bulbous tip, AM-Touch Saliva Ejectors make perfect mini drumsticks. Order varying tip colors or personalize with standard markers to create a custom set of sticks that would make even Carter Beauford proud.

Tic-Tac-Toe Board
Need to be mildly entertained for two and a half minutes? Play the world’s most well known and least challenging game; Tic-Tac-Toe! Simply use 4 Saliva Ejectors to create the board and paper clips/thumbtacks as the game pieces.

Birthday Princess Crown
We’ve featured some birthday-specific alternative uses for products before, but this one is especially for the ladies. Say you forget a coworker’s birthday. You arrive, see cake, birthday cards and heartfelt gifts waiting for that special person and the only thing in your hands is a half-eaten granola bar and your car keys. Fear not! Head to the supply closet for a few saliva ejectors, grab some tape and start construction on an elegant princess crown. Use the pliability of the Saliva Ejectors to get the perfect shape, add flair and customize fit. Ask the birthday girl to close her eyes and place the crown on her head. Tell her to open her eyes and announce “you’re the office princess today!” Then hurry back to your desk and hope she doesn’t look in the mirror until she gets home.

A Quiet Way To Interrupt
Sometimes you just need to get your colleague’s attention! But that doesn’t mean you have to be abrasive, intrusive, or even nearby! Connect two or more of our Saliva Ejectors to gently tap whoever you need without alarming them or interrupting an important call. Sure you won’t be able to use any actual words to communicate, but that’s not important. Just extend your arm and with a gentle tap of the saliva ejector on the shoulder….BAM! You’ve got the main stage. How will you use it? We recommend showing them a funny picture of your cat…again.

Street Line Dividers for Pet Turtle Races
No doubt you’ve heard of Teacup Turtle Racing, the 6th most popular sport in the Marshall Islands. Essentially, a daunting maze-like track is constructed over a two square foot area. Tiny pet turtles, dressed in a variety of bold and exciting race wear are released onto the track at the sound of a cap gun. Three action-packed days later, one turtle successfully emerges at the end of the track. Aside from the glory and respect earned from a hard-fought victory, the winning reptile also gets an entire leaf of iceberg lettuce!

And now to the really incredible part…AM-Touch Brand Saliva Ejectors are available for purchase now! Click here for pricing on all varieties or click here to see the tens of thousands of other products available to you right now.

Legal note: Yes, in this time of legal scrutiny we are obliged to make disclaimers as to the appropriate use of the products listed in this article. They should only be used as indicated in our current AM-Touch Dental Catalog. Using them in any other way, much like using a plastic shopping bag as a parachute, is neither recommended nor endorsed by AM-Touch Dental.

- Written with contributions from Stephanie Moore, Nitasha Khetarpal and Jon Dell.

Category: Featured Articles

SonicFill....Fill at Sonic Speed!

Posted by AM-Touch, 6/2/2011 04:38:46 PM

From placement to polished in less than three minutes!

That’s what Kerr is promising with the introduction of their new sonic-activated bulk fill composite, SonicFill. Touted as “the new standard in delivering posterior composite restorations”, SonicFill is a system that gives dentists the ability to create a true bulk fill with speed, adaptability, handling, and strength.

How does this system work?

According to Kerr, the sonic activation of the composite dramatically lowers its viscosity, allowing the material to easily and thoroughly adapt to cavity walls. Once the composite is placed, it then returns to a creamy, non-sticky state, making it easy to handle margins and contour the occlusal anatomy. A quick 20-second cure and you will have a highly-filled composite composition with superior depth of cure and extraordinary flexural strength.

Doctors have declared SonicFill as a practical, efficient system that will change the way composites are done forever!

Want to find out more? Get a closer look at SonicFill composite system to view Kerr’s informative library of procedure and training videos >>

Love it? Want it? Check it out in the AM-Touch Dental Shopping Concierge >>

Watch SonicFill in Action!!

Category: Composites

RelyX Unicem Self-Adhesive Resin Cement

Posted by AM-Touch, 5/17/2011 10:38:54 AM

3M ESPE’s RelyX Unicem Self-Adhesive Resin Cement delivers a strong bond without etching, priming or bonding. RelyX was formulated to be self-adherent and moisture tolerant, saving time and greatly reducing the potential for patient sensitivity compared to other resin cement systems.

Why you should trust the RelyX material:

Excellent adhesions & high physical strengths
Low linear expressions & superior marginal integrity
Better resistance to water uptake & more stable over time (*by raising pH value to neutral level of 7)

Sound interesting? Visit the AM-Touch Shopping Concierge to order NOW >>

Category: Cements & Liners