Growing an orthodontic or dental practice requires more than just excellent patient care. It demands strategic marketing, community engagement, and consistent follow-ups. One of the most effective ways to achieve rapid growth is by hiring a full-time marketing coordinator. In this blog post, we’ll break down why this role is crucial, what they should do daily, and how to find the right person for the job.
Why A Marketing Coordinator Is Essential for Growth
A marketing coordinator is not just another employee—they are the linchpin of your practice’s growth strategy. According to Dr. Bryce Gilliam, a highly successful orthodontist, your marketing coordinator is the most important person in your practice next to you as the doctor. In fact, over the long term, they may be even more crucial than the doctor themselves.
Why? Because they handle the activities that keep your practice in front of potential patients and referral sources. They build and nurture relationships, create community connections, and coordinate marketing efforts so that you can focus on patient care.
What Does A Marketing Coordinator Do?
A successful marketing coordinator handles several key responsibilities:

Community Outreach and Relationship Building

Maintain and Build Referral Networks: They nurture relationships with local dentists and pediatricians who can refer patients to your practice. This includes scheduling doctor-to-doctor lunches or meetings, which adds a level of professionalism and prestige to your practice.
Community Engagement: They organize school visits, community events, and giveaways, ensuring your practice stays visible and trusted in the community.

Digital and Social Media Management

Content Creation: From social media posts to community newsletters, your marketing coordinator will create content that resonates with your target audience. This keeps your practice relevant and top-of-mind.
Campaign Management: They plan and execute marketing campaigns, ensuring consistency in messaging and branding.

Coordination with Marketing Partners

Your marketing coordinator serves as the point of contact for any marketing agencies or vendors you work with, such as digital ads, SEO, billboards, or even TV commercials.
They report on campaign performance, helping you make informed decisions about your marketing budget.

Office Support on Clinical Days

On days when your practice is seeing patients, the marketing coordinator doubles as a front desk person. This helps them learn patient FAQs, build communication skills, and improve the overall patient experience.

Analytics and Reporting

They provide regular reports on marketing performance, patient acquisition costs, and ROI. This data helps you make smarter decisions about where to invest your marketing budget.

Why Full-Time Is Non-Negotiable
You might be wondering, “Why hire a full-time marketing coordinator when I’m only open a few days a week?”
The reason is simple: Full-time employees are easier to hire and retain. Most job seekers look for full-time roles with benefits. Additionally, having a full-time marketing coordinator ensures consistent marketing efforts. On clinical days, they focus on patient interaction. On non-clinical days, they plan and execute marketing campaigns, build relationships, and engage with the community.
The Ideal Marketing Coordinator — Skills And Traits
Finding the right person for this role is crucial. Here’s what to look for:

Charisma and Likeability: They must be able to build rapport quickly and make people feel comfortable.
Fearlessness: This role involves cold calling and networking, so they must be confident and proactive.
Creativity and Organization: They need to be cr...

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