Winning the Marketing Game: How to Leverage College Football Rivalries to Grow Your Dental Practice

As football season rolls in, fans across the country are gearing up for high-stakes matchups like the Kansas State Wildcats vs the Colorado Buffaloes. But what if you could use this excitement to build your dental practice’s brand, attract new patients, and connect with your community in a fun, engaging way?

As a dental marketing company, Smilevolve knows that successful marketing isn’t just about pushing services—it's about creating connections. And what better way to do that than by tapping into the passion surrounding college football? Here's how dentists and oral surgeons can use the rivalry between Kansas State and Colorado to increase visibility, build trust, and ultimately drive patient growth.

1. Create Sports-Themed Campaigns with a Local Touch

Football season is the perfect opportunity to build campaigns that resonate with your local community, especially when teams like Kansas State and Colorado are facing off. These matchups are more than just games—they’re events that bring people together. Use this local excitement as a platform to promote your services.

• Create a “Game Day Smile” Promotion: Highlight the importance of protecting your smile, just like football players wear mouthguards to protect theirs. Offer a promotion on custom mouthguards, teeth whitening, or other preventive services. Position it as the “official smile protection plan” for game day.

• Football Fan Contests: Encourage your patients to show their team spirit by holding a contest. Have fans of Kansas State Wildcats football and Colorado Buffaloes football submit photos or videos in their team gear for a chance to win a free dental exam, a teeth whitening session, or a discounted oral surgery consultation.

• Engage with Social Media: Post about the big Kansas State vs Colorado game, and ask your followers to predict the score or share their best game day snack recipes. Reward participants with a small prize, such as a free consultation or dental care package. This helps you stay top of mind in a fun and engaging way.

2. Highlight the Importance of Oral Health in Sports

Athletes know that good health is key to optimal performance—and dental health is no exception. As an oral surgeon or dentist, you can use the high-profile Kansas State vs Colorado football game to raise awareness about the importance of oral health, especially for athletes.

• Mouthguards and Sports Dentistry: Many football players, like those from Kansas State football and the Colorado Buffaloes, wear mouthguards to protect their teeth and jaws. Use this as an opportunity to educate your audience about the importance of custom-fit mouthguards to prevent injuries in contact sports. Highlight the fact that a well-fitting mouthguard can protect against concussions and tooth damage—two issues common in football.

• Injury Recovery and Oral Surgery: Football players are at a higher risk for dental injuries due to the physical nature of the game. Create content around how your practice can help athletes or anyone with a dental injury recover with oral surgery. Promote your expertise in handling sports-related dental injuries, from fractures to soft tissue damage.

• Promote Preventative Care: Just as players like Avery Johnson and Shedeur Sanders stay on top of their training, fans should stay on top of their oral care. Create educational blog posts or social media content discussing the connection between overall health and oral health, emphasizing preventative care, regular checkups, and professional cleanings.

3. Use Sports Marketing to Build Relationships and Trust (How to grow your dental practice?)

Marketing is about more than just attracting new patients; it’s about building relationships with your community. During football season, when fans are already deeply engaged with their teams, it’s a great time to build trust and rapport with potential patients.

• Partner with Local Sports Events: Consider sponsoring local events like a Kansas State vs Colorado watch party or tailgating event. This creates a natural opportunity to introduce your practice to a large group of people in a fun and relaxed setting. Hand out branded items like reusable water bottles, dental floss, or team-themed dental kits.

• Offer Game-Day Discounts: Run a time-limited promotion that coincides with a big game. For example, offer a discount on dental services or oral surgery consultations for patients who book appointments around the time of a Kansas State football game. A simple “Game Day Special” can be a powerful way to drive more bookings and keep your practice top of mind.

• Leverage Testimonials from Local Athletes: If you’ve treated athletes in your community, ask them to share their stories. Post their testimonials on your website or social media pages, emphasizing how your practice helped them recover from dental injuries or provided them with preventive care. This establishes your credibility, especially if your target audience includes athletes or sports enthusiasts.

4. Engage with Online Communities and Fan Groups

The Kansas State vs Colorado rivalry is sure to ignite passionate conversations, not just in stadiums but also online. Engage with local online communities and fan groups to create visibility for your practice.

• Sports-Based Facebook Ads: Run Facebook ads targeting local fans of both Kansas State and Colorado. You can create ads that feature dental services with a sports twist, like “Protect your smile like a pro” or “Score a healthy smile this game day.”

• Content Marketing with a Sports Angle: Create blog posts or videos that talk about sports injuries and dental care. Title them with something like “Protect Your Teeth Like a Pro: Oral Health Tips for Football Fans.” Include keywords such as “oral surgery,” “Kansas State Wildcat football,” or “Colorado Buffaloes football” to target fans in your area who are searching for dental solutions related to sports.

• Incentivize Referrals During Football Season: Tap into the community spirit of game season by creating a referral program for existing patients. Offer rewards for each new patient they refer during Kansas State vs Colorado season, such as discounts on services or a chance to win a prize.

5. Provide Exclusive Offers for Patients Watching the Big Game

Game day offers don’t have to be limited to just dental services; they can also be about connecting with fans. Use the excitement around the Kansas State football season or the Colorado Buffaloes football schedule to offer exclusive deals that tie into the game.

• Offer a “Game Day Smile Tune-Up”: Have patients book a cleaning or consult around a specific game, and provide them with a “Game Day Smile Tune-Up.” This could include a routine cleaning, fluoride treatment, and advice on keeping their teeth strong during game-day snacks.

• Limited-Time Discounts for Game Viewers: For patients watching CU Boulder football or Kansas State football at home, create a limited-time promotion, such as a discount for anyone who calls or books an appointment during the game. Pair this with a fun social media post encouraging them to “take care of their smile while rooting for the home team.”

Final Whistle: Get in the Game with Smart Marketing

The Kansas State vs Colorado rivalry is an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the excitement of football season and connect with your community. By incorporating sports-themed campaigns, educational content, and game-day promotions, dentists and oral surgeons can boost their practice’s visibility, build trust with patients, and establish themselves as leaders in dental care.

At Smilevolve, we understand the power of dental marketing and oral surgery marketing strategies tailored to your unique audience. We can help you craft the perfect game plan for your practice, ensuring that you stand out during football season and beyond.

Ready to kickstart your marketing efforts this football season? Contact Smilevolve today to learn how we can help you develop effective dental marketing campaigns that attract new patients and grow your practice.