Savvy dental practices are increasingly using social media to stay connected to patients, chat, and even promote services. They are discovering new, innovative ways to use social media as these platforms grow and become a popular form of reaching out to customers. If your practice is slow on the uptake, it might be time to get involved.
Why does your dental practice need social media?
The following are some of the advantages of using social media for dentists:
- Build practice awareness: A social media presence will help educate potential patients about your practice. Platforms can also provide information about your workplace’s look and feel, which can persuade a potential patient to call you.
- Encourage patients to schedule dental check-ups: To give patients a reason (and a reminder) to make an appointment, your office could share content about the importance of getting an annual dental examination.
- Obtain patient referrals: Having an active social media presence will assist your practice in obtaining patient referrals. For example, a patient who appreciates your team and care might share your Facebook page with friends or family members.
- Demonstrate dental expertise: Social media will also provide an outlet to demonstrate your expertise. Prospective patients will be persuaded to contact your practice because of your knowledge of various topics. Sharing news articles, analysis, and other materials may help you demonstrate your expertise.
- Share new content: Oral practitioners may use social media to educate patients about lesser-known health problems, like Bruxism.
A guide to social media platforms for dentists
When it comes to implementing an excellent social media marketing campaign for your dental practice, you must first consider the various social media platforms and which ones are the best match for your practice.
Your specialism, target demographic, location, content you make, and other factors all play a role in determining which social media sites are worth your time and effort in reaching your ideal patient.
Let’s take a look at the various platforms available.
Because of the sheer number of people who use Facebook, it should probably be part of your social media plan unless your dental practice caters exclusively to seniors. You can use Facebook to post videos, share blog links, message people who have customer service issues, promote your company, and get online feedback.
In addition to being a social media platform, Facebook also functions as a search engine. According to Search Engine Watch, there are over 1.5 billion searches for local companies, resources, and goods on Facebook every day. This is around 40% of all Google searches, which is still a significant number. Since a large portion of your target audience uses Facebook, your dental practice should have a presence there as well.
Twitter is a social media website similar to Facebook, but it is more direct. With a small word count, this platform allows users to get right to the point. If your practice produces unique material, Twitter is an excellent social media network for sharing similar blogs and posts, helping drive new patients to your website.
Because of its emphasis on trendy photos and short videos, Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social networks. Instagram was purchased by Facebook in 2012 and has since expanded to encompass a wide variety of interests and age ranges.
Since the entire network is based on photographs and videos, any dental practice with a cosmetic or physical component is an excellent match for using it. As a result, Instagram is a great place to share pictures of you and your patients, before and after photos of a procedure or operation, and infographics that help illustrate basic anatomy or medical concepts.
LinkedIn is currently being used as a digital networking tool for many healthcare and business professionals. It was created as a B2B relationship networking and growth site. As a result, it’s a fantastic way for dentists to communicate directly with colleagues and potential patients.
LinkedIn’s network helps the dental community share relevant industry news, stories, and foster connections and relationships. You may also use the platform to find recruits and review resumes.
Don’t spread yourself too thin!
All the social networks have their benefits and drawbacks, but the answer is not to join them. It’s better to ‘go deep’ with a few networks than to ‘go shallow’ with all of them. Choose wisely, work on your presence, and you’re likely to be rewarded with a rich source of new patient leads.