The Dental Marketing Mix

Are you spending money on dental ads without really knowing what’s working?
In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan Brian is joined by DentalScapes co-founder Brian Craig to break down how dentists should think about online advertising in 2026 — and how to avoid lighting your marketing budget on fire.
They walk through the three primary advertising channels dental practices use today: Google Local Services Ads (LSAs), traditional Google pay-per-click (PPC), and social media advertising. Dan and Brian explain when each channel makes sense, how much practices should realistically budget, and why choosing the wrong strategy at the wrong time can quickly destroy ROI.
The conversation also dives into real-world cost-per-lead benchmarks, why front desk call handling is just as important as ad performance, and how AI-driven ads — including advertising inside tools like ChatGPT — are poised to change dental marketing in the near future.
If you’re new to advertising, frustrated with current results, or trying to decide where to allocate your marketing dollars in 2026, this episode offers a clear, practical framework to help you make smarter decisions.
Key topics covered:
Where dentists should start with online advertising
Google Local Services Ads vs traditional Google PPC
How social media ads fit into a dental growth strategy
Budget expectations and cost-per-lead benchmarks
The hidden role of front desk conversion in ROI
What AI advertising means for dental practices
For full show notes and resources, visit the episode page: https://www.dentalscapes.com/stop-lighting-your-money-on-fire-choosing-the-right-online-ads-for-your-dental-practice/
To get help building a smarter, more efficient dental advertising strategy, schedule a free strategy call at https://DentalScapes.com/start.

Online reviews are no longer optional for dental practices—they’re a critical driver of growth, visibility, and trust in 2026.
In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian is joined by DentalScapes Content Manager Skylar Massengill to break down why Google reviews matter more than ever and, just as importantly, how dental practices can generate more 5-star reviews without feeling awkward or salesy.
The episode dives into how reviews influence patient decision-making, local SEO rankings in Google’s map pack, and even visibility in AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Dan and Skylar also share practical, real-world strategies dentists can actually implement, even if marketing isn’t their comfort zone.
You’ll learn:
Why reviews are a core ranking factor for local search and AI visibility
How to ask for reviews in a way that feels natural and authentic
Why QR codes and automation dramatically increase review volume
How hygienists and team-wide incentives can drive better results
Why responding to both positive and negative reviews builds trust
How to start small and build review momentum consistently over time
If you’re an independent dental practice owner competing against larger DSOs—or simply want more patients finding and choosing your practice—this episode provides a clear, actionable roadmap.
Don't miss the full show notes and complete video episode: https://www.dentalscapes.com/more-reviews-less-effort-how-to-get-more-google-reviews-for-your-dental-practice/
And if you want help implementing a review strategy that actually works, schedule a free strategy call at dentalscapes.com/start.

Dental marketing is heading into 2026 with major changes already underway. In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian breaks down three clear predictions that will reshape how dental practices get discovered, how they pay for visibility, and how they turn interest into booked appointments.
The episode dives into how AI-driven search is changing local visibility, why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough, and how AIO (AI Optimization) is becoming critical for getting recommended by AI platforms. Dan explains what “confidence signals” really mean in this new landscape, including the growing role of reviews, authority, structured data, and trust signals that AI systems rely on when guiding patient decisions.
Dan also explores why AI search is likely to introduce advertising inside AI-generated answers and why this could be the biggest shift in local dental marketing since Google Ads. He explains how trust and credibility may directly impact ad performance and cost, and why practices that invest in authority now will be better positioned when AI-driven ads roll out at scale.
Finally, the episode tackles a reality many practices aren’t prepared for: fewer clicks. As AI answers more questions directly, website traffic is shrinking, which makes conversion optimization more important than ever. Dan walks through what high-converting dental marketing looks like in 2026, from faster websites and clearer messaging to better call handling, scheduling, and follow-up.
If you want to understand where dental marketing is headed in 2026—and what you should be doing now to stay ahead—this episode lays out a clear, practical roadmap.
For more information, don't miss the show notes at https://www.dentalscapes.com/3-predictions-for-dental-marketing-in-2026/

Blog posts aren’t dead—far from it. In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan Brian sits down with DentalScapes Content Marketing Manager, Skylar Massengill, to break down why blogging is still one of the most underrated growth channels for dental practices as we shift into 2026.
The conversation digs into how patients actually search today, how AI platforms surface dental content, why long-form answers drive trust, and how practices can repurpose a single blog post into weeks of social, email, and video content. Skylar shares her behind-the-scenes workflow for crafting personalized, patient-friendly posts—and how to use blog content as a silent sales tool for big-ticket cases like implants, aligners, and cosmetic dentistry.
If you’ve been overlooking your blog or treating it like a checkbox item, this episode will change the way you think about content forever.
For show notes and links, visit https://www.dentalscapes.com/not-dead-yet-why-blogs-still-matter-in-dental-marketing-in-2026/

To schedule a free strategy call, go to DentalScapes.com/start

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian breaks down the biggest dental marketing takeaways of 2025—and why this year represents one of the most significant shifts we’ve ever seen in how patients find and choose a dentist. Drawing on industry-leading research, including the latest Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors Report, Dan explains the new rules shaping visibility, trust, and patient acquisition in 2025.
You’ll learn why Google reviews are more influential in SEO and AIO than ever, how Local Services Ads (LSAs) have emerged as the most reliable paid acquisition channel for dental practices, and why PPC is still essential—especially for cosmetic, specialty, and high-value patient demand.
Dan also explores the rising influence of AI search platforms (Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more) and how your website content now acts as training data for AI systems. Plus, he uncovers one of the most overlooked growth levers in dentistry today: lead handling. With practices losing 30–50% of potential new patients at the front desk, Dan explains how optimizing follow-up, phone performance, and chat-to-text can transform your ROI without spending a dollar more on ads.
Whether you’re a GP, pediatric dentist, or orthodontist, this is a must-listen episode if you want to future-proof your practice, improve your visibility, and convert more new patients.
🔗 Show Notes:
https://www.dentalscapes.com/stop-chasing-hacks-the-biggest-dental-marketing-takeaways-from-2025/ 
📞 Book a Free Strategy Call:
https://DentalScapes.com/start
Tune in, take notes, and get ahead of the curve.