As a dentist, you have probably heard and said multiple times that dentistry isn’t expensive…neglect is.
At RevLocal, we think the same when dental offices aren’t implementing an effective social media strategy.
Did you know that more than 77 percent of patients have searched online prior to making an appointment with a physician, with more than half of people using a search engine to find a dentist?
This means that most of your new patients’ first impression occurs online before they even sit down on your dental chair.
You may be sitting here thinking that you have this covered because you are already working on growing your dental office's online local search visibility or because you are consistent with asking patients for online reviews.
But how often do you think about your social media presence? Let’s get you started!
Attract New Patients by Showcasing Your Dental Expertise
Social media is one of the best online platforms that you can use to attract new patients by using your brand’s voice.
We recommend that you use social media to help patients feel comfortable about making an appointment with you before they even step foot inside your practice.
With social media, you can showcase your expertise, your industry knowledge and your involvement in the local community.
We know dental practices, in nature, are local businesses that attract patients within a 10 to 20-mile radius, so show your community that you are present.
It can take time and research before a patient chooses a new dentist, but once they start to trust your brand and start to feel comfortable, they are going to be more likely to schedule their routine exam with you.
Educate New and Current Patients
As you begin your social media strategy, don’t forget to take this opportunity to write articles, create videos of your office and team and post those fun Friday dental facts!
When you post on social platforms, you want to keep in mind that you are tailoring your strategy to educate new patients about your services to let them know that you offer pain-free and comfortable cleanings.
At the same time, you want to remind your current patients why they chose you in the first place. This approach will increase the chance that they become lifelong patients.
A few post ideas include:
- Your photo and information about you
- Photos of your team in the office (include birthday celebrations and holidays)
- Photos or a video of the office
- Fun facts about the dental field
- Oral tips
- Funny dental jokes
- Quotes about health
- Healthy recipes
Before you post, we recommend that you look ahead and plan out a social media strategy that is professional, educational and fun.
Keep in mind that you are still a dental practice and you must be careful and follow HIPAA guidelines every time you post.
You and your staff should be careful to never include any identifiers in posts, such as:
- Photos of patients without their permission
- Reviews left by patients if they did not post them on social media
- Name and address of the patient
- Dates of patient visits
- Contact numbers and email addresses
- Social security numbers
- Medical record numbers
- Health plan beneficiary numbers
- Finger and voiceprints
- Other unique identifying numbers, characteristics or codes
Engage With Your Audience
We don’t have to remind you that most people feel anxious about going to the dentist that they often avoid their appointments. So, take advantage of this platform to let them get familiar with you.
Take time to educate and encourage engagement by asking questions. You can ask questions about their hygiene routines or even what their plans are for the weekend.
Just remember that once you start the conversation, don’t forget to respond and show them that you value more about them than just their teeth.
Final Thoughts
For those of you who are new to a social media strategy, this may sound a little daunting to even get started.
If you are thinking to yourself that you don’t have the time to do this or you are nervous about a post being published that could violate HIPAA, our social team has the experience to help you launch a social strategy — pain-free!
Contact us today to get started!