Starting, running and growing a dental practice takes a ton work, and it’s easy for practice owners to feel overwhelmed by all the options out there for ongoing education on business, marketing and leadership.
To help you cut through the noise, GroupUps team spoke to marketing and business experts, as well as some practice owners and dental influencers to find out which books need to be on the reading list for any dental practice owner, whether you’re just starting out or just trying to stay on the cutting edge.
Hug Your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints and Keep Your Customers
Author: Jay Baer
Hug Your Haters is a handbook for any business owner, but especially for dental practice owners! In a world where your Google My Business Page could be the first (and last) thing a prospect sees before scheduling an appointment, you want to be prepared to make the most out of any positive reviews and to handle any negative reviews with grace and professionalism.
From the book’s own description: “Supported by dozens of interviews with large and small companies, social networks and review websites, psychiatrists, and legal experts, Hug Your Haters gives listeners a step-by-step process to magnify the impact of happy customer interactions and to minimize the impact of haters and complainers. “
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The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
Author: Atul Gawande
This book is a #1 Best Seller in Family Practice Medicine on Amazon, so it comes as no surprise that this is one of Dr. Paul “Nacho” Paul Goodman’s top recommended reads for dental practice owners.
From the book’s own description: “The modern world has given us stupendous know-how. Yet avoidable failures continue to plague us in health care, government, the law, the financial industry—in almost every realm of organized activity. Atul Gawande makes a compelling argument that we can do better, using the simplest of methods: the checklist. In riveting stories, he reveals what checklists can do, what they can’t, and how they could bring about striking improvements in a variety of fields, from medicine and disaster recovery to professions and businesses of all kinds. “
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The Local Marketing Handbook: Five Fundamentals to Increase Business & Impact Community
Author: Roberto Torres
A lot of marketing books are aimed at lifestyle entrepreneurs, or makers with a physical product business, which isn’t always helpful for a local dental practice owner. This book, though, is made specifically for marketing within your local community, and reaching nearby customers, which will help you connect to the future-patients in your own backyard.
From the book’s own description: “The Local Marketing Handbook is an easy-to-read guide filled with the fundamentals for successfully marketing your local small business. Inside, you will learn the 3 P's of local marketing, how to build an effective online local marketing campaign, how to impact your community, and help others do the same. This book will equip you, the business owner, with precisely what you need to grow your local business and become an agent of change for your community.“
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Magnetic Marketing: How To Attract A Flood Of New Customers That Pay, Stay, and Refer
Author: Dan Kennedy
This book came recommended by more than one doctor we spoke to for this list, and the description below makes it easy to see why. No dental practice can survive long without a steady flow of new patients, a roster of loyal ones, and the word-of-mouth referrals that continue to grow the business, and this book promises to deliver a system for doing just that.
From the book’s own description: “Magnetic Marketing is a radical, dramatically different sea-change in the way new customers, clients, patients, or prospects are attracted and in the way products, services, businesses, and practices are advertised. It is a “change movement” that has established itself in over 136 different niches, business categories, industries, and professions, but is still also a “best kept secret” - its practitioners are in a “secret society”. “
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How To Build The Dental Practice Of Your Dreams: (Without Killing Yourself!) In Less Than 60 Days
Author: Dr. David Moffet BDS FPFA
There’s a lot of business and marketing books out there, but this one is purpose-written for dental practice owners and managers who want to make a quick change that generates results. Wether you’re coming in as a new owner of a practice, about to open your startup, or just looking to make a fresh approach in your existing dental practice, you’re sure to find useful tactics in this book.
From the book’s own description: “The UPE is a unique, low-cost system of unique patient engagement that is incredibly easy to put in place. In fact, one of Moffet’s strategies costs less than $40 to implement, and you can have it up and running by the end of business, today. The Ultimate Patient Experience has allowed Dr. Moffet to:
Inside these pages, you’ll discover exactly how Dr. Moffet accomplished each of these things, and how you can, too.“
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The Bullet Proof Practice: Your Epic Practice Begins Now
Author: Peter Boulden DMD & Craig Spodak DMD
If you’re looking to craft or refine your philosophy on dentistry and patient care, this book seems to be a top choice among dental professionals. It’s in the top 20 in the Dental & Oral Health category on Amazon, as well as the Dental Office category, and even manages a top 800 in Business Management (a HUGE category with a lot of competition.) Not to mention, it’s stacked with positive reviews from dentists singing the praises of the authors, the book, and all the knowledge they gained from reading. (You can also check out their podcast of the same name!)
From the book’s own description: “With honesty, humor, and just enough profanity to keep things interesting, Peter and Craig take a deep dive into the business of dentistry, covering key aspects including team and practice leadership, metrics, creating a strong and compelling culture, social media, marketing, and guarding against corporate takeover. Whether you're just starting out, in need of a tune-up, or looking to grow an already successful operation, Peter and Craig will help you build and realize your vision for a kick-ass practice that s not only successful but also fulfilling.“
Marketing Basics for Your Small Business: How to successfully evaluate and market your small business
Author: Jen Esparza
Treating patients, managing staff, maintaining your practice and taking care of yourself are plenty to keep you busy, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with marketing and the pace of change. This book offers a great approachable starting point for busy practice-owners who want to start with the basics and get only the most important information to help inform their marketing strategy.
From the book’s own description: “This easy-to-follow book offers simple steps and solutions that will help you make sense of marketing and what you need for your business. This book will help you:
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Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work: Here’s Why… and How to Do it Really Well
Author: Melissa Doman MA
It’s no secret that dentists and dental practice owners are under an immense amount of pressure and often face stressful financial realities as well, and it’s important that practice owners are informed and prepared on how to monitor not only their own mental health, but that of their assistants, hygienists, and other dental staff. Arm yourself for these vital conversations with this book.
It’s worth noting too that this book is approved for SHRM recertification credit (Society of Human Resources Management).
From the book’s own description: “This timely and practical book is for any employee, manager or leader who wants to understand mental health at a deeper level and learn how to talk about it really well in the workplace. Taking a realistic approach through research, stories of lived experience, and applied techniques that anyone can use, this approachable book covers a variety of crucial areas. After reading this book, you will feel empowered and equipped to have constructive, meaningful conversations about mental health in your workplace. “
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Bookshop.org
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