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dental practice social media strategy

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How to Create a Social Media Plan for Your Practice – And Stick With It!

by Naomi Cooper March 5, 2018

Nearly every dentist is online these days, but there are far fewer dentists who approach online marketing with a serious strategy, especially when it comes to social media. It’s one thing to set up a Facebook page for your practice; it’s quite another thing to update it with fresh and relevant content on a regular basis.

So what’s the secret to social media success?

Create a social media calendar – and then stick with it! No matter how often you decide to post – daily, weekly or even monthly – the key is to keep it consistent. And here are 3 expert tips to help you make it a habit within your practice:

  • Brainstorm ideas ahead of time

Get in the habit of collecting links to relevant articles and headlines that you come across all month long. Copy and paste those links, saving them in a “library” of content that you can then turn into social media posts. Also, get your team involved. Encourage them to share anything they come across that would be good additions to your Facebook page, and ensure there is a wide variety of content for your feed.

  • Start using an online scheduling tool

There are several free social media management platforms (Hootsuite and Buffer are two of the most widely used) available that dentists can use to help keep their Facebook pages updated automatically. Once you have the content you want to use, you can upload it all to tools like these and choose the day and time you would like them to post. In just an hour or two, you can have your Facebook feed (and multiple other social media sites) filled and scheduled every month.

  • Keep the content timely

Creating content that is relevant to the time of year is a great way to ensure your posts remain fresh and relatable. Ideas like sharing summertime sports injury prevention tips, Halloween candy tips in the fall or benefit expiration reminders near the end of the year will not only keep your social media content engaging and practical.

For more expert tips into how to outsmart your competition online, check out my recent article featured in Dental Products Report.

Blog

E-Communication Tactics for Dentists

by Naomi Cooper May 12, 2014

E-Communication Tactics for DentistsOne of the major advantages of a modern dental marketing plan is that patient communication and education don’t have to be limited to the two or three times a year a patient comes into the office for their hygiene appointments and annual exam.

Keeping in touch with patients consistently throughout the year will keep the conversation flowing between appointments. Dentists have the unique opportunity to truly build long-term relationships with patients. Communication is the foundation of these relationships, and with good communication, the chances of increased case acceptance and patient retention are exponential.

Here are 4 ways to utilize e-communication methods you need to know about:

  1. Implementing a practice e-newsletter
  2. Using electronic appointment reminders
  3. Creating social media profiles on sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter
  4. Including a blog on the practice website

All of the above serve to reinforce the fact that dentists are their patients’ partners in continually thinking and learning about their oral and overall health.

Vendors such as Sesame Communications, DemandForce, and My Social Practice can be incredibly helpful in leveraging technology for practices that don’t have the time or expertise to do it on their own.

Today, dental patients are looking not only for a competent doctor, but also for a dentist who educates them about their oral health — and above all, someone who demonstrates that they truly care. Whether through verbal skills or electronic mediums, ongoing and effective patient communication is one of the keys that unlocks a prosperous future for every dental practice.