Social Media Marketing for Dentists
This blog is about all the information you need to know about digital marketing for Dentists. However, we not only deal with Dentistry but also, various medical domains. so you can relate this blog with your perspective Field.
By 2022 the dental industry is projected to be worth around $36.8 billion. That’s a lot of teeth for the tooth fairy. But if your practice wants a piece of the profit, it’s incredibly important to start a social media marketing plan for dentists and your specific industry.
For decades, dentists relied almost exclusively on reputation and word of mouth marketing to help them build their practice. But it’s 2021 and more likely than not, your audience is on social. Whether it’s blogging, video marketing, paid social ads or even podcasts, you have to learn the specifics of social media marketing for dentists.
Just like any other industry, there are ways to better attract, retain and ultimately market to your patients. And for the sake of this article, we’re looking at the dentists needing the extra push for social marketing efforts.
Let’s get started!
Why Does Social Media Marketing Matter For Dentists?
Dentists are in a bit of different position than many other industries. Clothing stores, software companies, restaurants and other industries have to convince people that what they’re selling is worth their money—even if it’s something they don’t need. Dentists on the other hand don’t need to convince people they need to get their teeth and gums checked. Everyone knows they need to visit the dentist.
The challenges most dentists face are simply getting people to remember to schedule their appointments, and helping them overcome the fear and anxiety associated with dental visits.
Ultimately, it comes down to building trust and earning a patient’s confidence.
Social media marketing is the ultimate way to build relationships with your audience. For a dentist, that means convincing your patients that you can deliver a pain-free experience.
Use social media to help patients feel more comfortable before they even visit your office. Showcase your authority, track record and industry experience by letting clients know they’re in safe hands. Remove some of the stigma around going to the dentist through fun and light hearted social content. By giving your practice an interesting personality, you ensure that people look forward to seeing you. Again, it’s all about trust.
Remember that you’re not just selling toothpaste and root canals–you’re selling comfort, good health, confidence, trust and above all a good experience. Social media gives you the platform you need to connect with your patients. Remind them that you’re all about people, not just teeth.
The more digitally focused the world becomes, the larger amount companies from the healthcare industry realize that Facebook, Twitter and Instagram aren’t just channels for sharing cat pictures. They’re a place where businesses discover new clients, interact with prospects and build a better brand name. Here are just some of the ways social media benefits dentists:
1. Better Establish Relationships
Many people consider going to the dentist to be a nerve-wracking experience. In fact some people are so scared that they avoid going to their appointments. It’s no wonder that marketing toward this experience is well, like pulling teeth.
Fortunately, social provides you the chance to create relationships with your audience through customer testimonials, client experiences, friendly office images and most importantly, the results of your work. For instance, when it comes to relationship building, responding to a question through social media about dental care demonstrates your effort of care and knowledge. You want to show you’re there to help. Tweets, Facebook shares and liking patients’ Instagram posts shows support on a friendlier level.
2. Attract New Clients
People take their healthcare decisions very seriously–and a lot of folks turn to Google for help. More than half of people use search engines to find a dentist. However, another survey discovered 15% of people said their No. 1 reason for not booking a dentist appointment was due to trouble finding an office.
When we invest in a dentist we’re not just buying a one-off product. Instead, we’re committing to a consistent relationship with someone we feel we can trust to keep us looking and feeling our best. When your patients start looking for a new dentist, they’re going to do their research and you need to be there.
In fact, 75% of people admitted they purchased a product or service because they saw it on social media. If you’re active on social, the things that you post help answer the questions customers have about your practice, making you into a more credible option for your prospects.
3. Showcase Your Leadership
Finally, the viral nature of social media means it’s easy to spread information about your practice far and wide. By writing articles, posting videos and sharing information that demonstrates your expertise, you can begin to show off thought leadership.
Best Social Media Platforms for Dentist
Now that we’ve covered the importance of social, it’s time to take the next step and figure out where you’re going to launch your campaign. There are several platforms out there and each one has the power to attract new patients. However, some social channels naturally work better for dentists than others. Let’s go over the big networks to see what works best for you.
Facebook:
Facebook attracts billions of visitors every day, which makes this platform one of the broadest networks for dentists. However, through Facebook advertising, you have the chance to dive deep into customer personas and audience types. If you haven’t already, check out our guide below to help get you started on a social media advertising strategy.
Facebook is an intimate social platform used by friends and family members, so it’s important to learn about and work with the Facebook algorithm accordingly. Use Facebook to build deep and trusting relationships with your audience by trying a few of these options:
- Sharing photos of your team and office, as well as any happy clients
- Linking to blog posts and news articles relevant to your area
- Providing updates about your practice and asking customers for input
- Running promotions and contests
- Showing off a patient or team member of the months
- Running Facebook Live Q&A sessions
- Providing dental tips and answering customer questions
When you’ve finished giving your patients a photo-ready smile, where do you think they show it off first? Instagram is the ultimate way to demonstrate the confidence-boosting visual side of your practice, particularly if you focus on cosmetic dentistry. Remember, don’t overuse filters here. The aim should be to appear as professional and authentic as possible. Some things dentists on Instagram might take advantage of include:
- Behind the scenes photos
- Reposting pictures patients take in your office
- Showing before and after images (with patient permission)
- Promoting events
- Running competitions for #BestSmile or something similar
- Branded hashtags
Build Your Own Website/application
Social Media Secrets for Dentists: Best Practices
Once you’ve decided where to campaign, it’s time to finalize your social strategy. We’ll say it again, but the key to a truly incredible marketing campaign will always be understanding your audience.
Start by considering your USP (unique selling point), what you can offer to your customers and the kinds of clients you want to attract. Building user personas will help you figure out not just where you should launch your social media campaign, but what kind of content you should share.
Once you know your audience, don’t forget these last tips to increase awareness and solidify your campaign
1. Make the Most of Employee Advocacy
2. Be Personal, Not Clinical
3. Share Engaging & Valuable Content
4. Engage With Your Audience
5. Generate Reviews & Referrals
Using Social Media Marketing for Dentists
Just like any marketing strategy, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to be successful in the social media world as a dentist. However, if you can recognize the importance of building a relationship with your audience through social channels, you can begin to create a brand that’s more credible, trustworthy and appealing for today’s patients.
Prove to your audience that they can trust you, and you’ll look forward to an army of happy patients who no longer dread going to the dentist.
