Most dental startups guess at their marketing budget and end up either starving for patients or wasting money. Guido Tebano of Market My Market breaks down real numbers for SEO, ads, and mailers.

In this episode of the Marketing Series, Michael Dinsio and Paula Quinn sit down with Guido Tebano to answer the question every startup dentist asks: how much should you actually spend on marketing, and where should that money go? They cover the real difference between SEO and paid ads, how long a new dental website takes to start ranking, what a qualified implant lead actually costs, whether direct mail still works in 2026, and the calls to action that convert new patients on a website or mailer.

• Why a marketing budget can’t be copied from another office
• The real timeline for SEO and organic ranking Cost per lead and cost per patient, broken down by platform
• Are dental directories like ZocDoc worth the markup
• Do direct mail campaigns still work?
• The five calls to action that actually convert new patients
• General budget benchmarks for a dental startup by market type
• Why the first 90 days matter most

CHAPTER MARKERS

0:00 Intro: budgeting for marketing
1:04 Meet Guido Tebano
2:13 Why budgets can’t be cookie cutter
3:18 SEO vs paid ads timeline
5:38 How long a website takes to rank
8:23 Cost per new patient compared
9:46 Are directories worth the markup
11:24 Cost per implant lead and ROI
13:00 Do mailers still work
16:04 Why mailer messaging matters
18:01 5 CTAs that convert patients
21:35 Promotion vs production costs
23:51 General budget benchmarks
26:01 Spending your first $3,500/mo
28:15 When to turn ads on
29:35 Why your first 90 days matter

Learn more about Guido Tebano and Market My Market at https://marketmymarket.com

This episode is part of our Marketing Series for dental startups.
Catch Part I, our episode on dental startup demographics, wherever you listen.

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Michael Dinsio, MBA

Paula Quinn, BSDH

Production by © Dental Unscripted 2026

The content provided in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.