Step 1: Build a Membership Plan That Makes Sense

Before we even talk marketing, let’s talk product.

Your membership plan has to make sense.
It’s not insurance. It’s not charity. It’s a value exchange that includes your new membership plan .

Think:

• Affordable annual fee (or monthly options: monthly plans increase retention).

• Clear preventive services included (like 2 cleanings, 1 exam, X-rays).

• Discounts on treatments (15–20% is typical).

• Zero waiting periods.

If patients can’t quickly see what’s included and what it costs, they won’t bite. Literally.

Mini tip: Print your plan details in a one page, easy to read format for your waiting room and treatment rooms. You’d be surprised how many signups happen while people are just waiting around.

And please name it something friendlier than Dental Membership Plan.
Try:

• Smile Club

• BrightCare Plan

• MyDentalPass

Catchy names stick.

Step 2: Train Your Entire Team (Not Just the Dentist)

This one’s huge. The entire dental team member from hygienists to front desk staff needs to understand how the membership plan works.

Because guess what? Most patients won’t hear about it from an ad. They’ll hear it from your desk staff when they ask, “Do you take insurance?”

Train your team to respond with confidence:

Actually, we have our own affordable dental membership plan, no insurance needed. It covers your checkups and gives discounts on other services.

Boom. That’s your first conversion right there.

Side note: Run short monthly refreshers. Even a 10 minute meeting helps staff remember plan details and keeps your messaging consistent, which is vital for patient retention.

Step 3: Market the Plan Inside Your Office (Seriously)

Before you run ads or fancy email campaigns, start inside your own walls.

People sitting in your waiting room are literally your warmest audience.

So

• Add in office signage (posters near the checkout counter or TV screens).

• Include QR codes on your pamphlets that link to the membership landing page.

• Hand out info cards with after visit summaries.

It’s simple but crazy effective.

Pro tip: Create a mini “why join” display at checkout with testimonials, cost comparisons, and maybe even a fake dental insurance quote beside your plan price to help boost engagement.

Let them see the difference.

Step 4: Build a Dedicated Membership Page on Your Website

Now, about your website stop burying your plan under three clicks.

Your membership landing page needs to be front and center, with:

• Transparent pricing

• Services included

• Discounts explained

• “Join Now” or “Enroll” button

Keep it user-friendly. Keep it visual.

Add a short explainer video even a simple one shot on your iPhone where the dentist says:

We designed our Smile Club to make dental care affordable for everyone especially if you don’t have insurance.

(If you want inspo, check out BoomCloud’s examples they specialize in dental membership marketing tools.)

Also, SEO tip: Use keywords like dental membership plan near me, affordable dental care without insurance, and dental savings plan [city name] naturally on the page to improve oral health awareness.

Step 5: Email Campaigns & SMS Nudges

You’ve got a goldmine sitting in your patient management system (PMS).

Use it.

Send out an email campaign to existing patients who:

• Don’t have insurance on file

• Haven’t visited in 6+ months

• Declined treatment plans due to cost

Subject line ideas that actually get clicks:

• “Tired of dental insurance headaches? We fixed it.”

• “Introducing our Smile Club affordable care, no middlemen.”

• “No insurance? No problem.”

Keep the email casual, visual, and human.

Mini hack: Follow up with a short SMS like:

“Hey [First Name], we just launched our new dental membership plan! Want details? Tap here ➜ [short link]”

It’s low pressure, high engagement.

Step 6: Use Local Marketing Touchpoints

Now, let’s get into local marketing.

The goal? Get your membership plan mentioned everywhere your community looks.

Ideas:

• Partner with local businesses (gyms, small companies, salons). Offer them a small corporate discount or referral code.

• Add flyers or brochures at local coffee shops, libraries, and co working spaces.

• Attend community events bring a signup sheet or tablet with QR codes.

• Share posts on local Facebook Groups (yes, they still work).

Casual example post:

“We know insurance can be confusing that’s why our dental office in [City] now offers our own Smile Club. No insurance. No surprises. Just clean teeth. Message us for details!”

Step 7: Leverage Social Media (But Be Real About It)

Okay, look. Most dental social media pages are boring. Stock smiles. Canned captions. Blah.

If you want people to care about your dental membership plan, you’ve gotta sound human.

Try these:

• A short video of your team explaining the plan in plain English.

• A patient testimonial saying “I used to skip cleanings because I didn’t have insurance now I’m part of the plan.”

• Instagram carousel post: “Insurance vs Our Membership Plan, which one’s easier?”

Tag your location, use local hashtags like #YourCitySmiles, and keep it conversational.

And please reply to comments. That’s literally engagement fuel for the algorithm.

Step 8: Use Reviews & Word-of-Mouth

Patients trust patients when it comes to their dental health .

When a happy member says,

“This plan saved me hundreds this year,”
…that’s gold.

Encourage reviews that mention the membership plan (authentically, of course).

Like, when someone praises your staff, you can reply:

“We’re so glad you’re enjoying your Smile Club membership!”

Those little phrases help build visibility and social proof.

Also, referral bonuses work wonders. Give existing members a small discount or whitening kit for every new signup they bring, which contributes to your recurring revenue.

Step 9: Measure What’s Working (Don’t Just Guess)

Track your membership plan growth monthly:

• New signups

• Cancellations

• Referral sources (Google, in office, email, etc.)

If 90% of signups are happening in the office, maybe your digital side needs love.
If email campaigns convert better than flyers, double down there.

Tools like Dental Intel or BoomCloud Analytics can help track ROI.

And yeah, you don’t need to get crazy with spreadsheets, just keep your eye on trends.