Thirteen years ago, I wrote a blog post (Linked Here) about how many dentists misunderstand web marketing—chasing numbers and stats instead of focusing on what really matters: revenue. I used a baseball story to make the point, but today, I’d like to update that message using another passion of mine: golf. The technology has changed. The strategies have evolved. But just like with your swing—the fundamentals still win.
Imagine this: It’s Saturday morning. You’re in your lucky chair watching The Masters. Your favorite golfer is in the hunt. They’re calm, focused, and relying on years of practice and course management to navigate the final few holes. Then a commentator says, “Well, he’s hit 81% of fairways today and has a ball speed of 178 mph,” as if that somehow guarantees a win. You’d roll your eyes. The only stat that really matters? The score.
And yet, when it comes to marketing, many dental practices still judge their success by website traffic, bounce rate, and social followers. Like a golfer obsessing over swing speed while ignoring their putting, they lose sight of the only metric that truly matters: revenue.
At Dental Revenue, we work with hundreds of practices, and we’ve learned that marketing is a lot like golf. Success doesn’t come from one perfect shot—it comes from mastering a repeatable process and making smart decisions at every stage. That’s where our Stages of Marketing Achievement framework comes in.
The 4 Stages of Marketing Achievement (Or, How to Play a Complete Round)
1. Visibility (Teeing Off with Confidence)
Every great golf round starts on the tee box. You need to be seen. In marketing terms, that means search visibility, online reviews, ads, and optimized content. It’s not just about getting attention—it’s about reaching the right audience with the right message.
We build modern websites and launch targeted campaigns that make your practice visible where it matters—whether that’s Google, YouTube, or your local community.
2. Opportunity Creation (Approach with Precision)
Now that people see you, are they taking the next step? This is your approach shot—the moment where interested website visitors become actual leads.
Through compelling design, call tracking, smart forms, and AI-driven tools, we help convert traffic into inquiries. But here’s the kicker: we track every form fill, every call, and every chat so you know what’s working.
3. Revenue Conversion (The Short Game Wins Tournaments)
You don’t win golf tournaments by hitting long drives—you win with a strong short game. For dental practices, this is your front office.
We give you the tools and coaching to convert those inquiries into real patients: call recordings, scheduling support, lead scoring, and consultation strategies. The average Dental Revenue client earns 5–10x ROI in year one by simply improving conversion at this stage.
4. Performance Tracking (The Scorecard That Matters)
At the end of the round, the scorecard tells the truth. Our integrated dashboard shows you your real marketing ROI. Not guesses. Not generic benchmarks. Real, trackable revenue connected to your leads and sources.
With regular reporting and strategy reviews, we tweak the plan just like a good caddy would—adjusting your aim based on course conditions (or competition in your local market).
What Still Matters Most: Fundamentals
In 2012, I told dentists to stop judging their marketing like my friend judged baseball—focused on side stats instead of outcomes. In 2025, that advice hasn’t changed. You can have all the AI, chatbots, and dashboards in the world—but if you’re not bringing in the right patients and growing your revenue, what’s the point?
Marketing, like golf, rewards consistency, strategy, and knowing your numbers. Not vanity metrics. Results.
Final Thought: Keep Your Eye on the Flag
Whether you’re swinging a club or running a marketing campaign, remember this: you’re not just playing for pretty numbers. You’re playing to win.
So ask yourself:
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Are we growing?
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Are we profitable?
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Do we know what’s working—and why?
If not, it might be time to take a lesson. Golfers do it all the time. And the best practices in the country do, too.
Bill Mulcahy is President of Sales and Marketing at Dental Revenue. If you want to learn how to grow your practice with proven fundamentals and powerful new tools, reach out at bill@dentalrevenue.com. You can also Schedule a Meeting Today!