It’s no longer a question of IFyou should be using Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and other social media sites, but HOWyou are using social media to engage with current and referred patients online. Here are some quick tips on how (and how not) to use social media in your practice’s online marketing strategy.
Do create quality content.
Social media presents the perfect opportunity to disseminate engaging, informational content about your practice and your services to your patients and all of their contacts almost instantaneously. This can include publishing an article to your blog about the benefits of Invisalign, tweeting about a special tooth whitening special in your office, or posting photos of your new reception room on your Facebook page. When you share information that patients care about, they will be more likely to respond by commenting and sharing your post with their entire network of followers.
Do listen.
Patients can comment and respond on your various social media sites, so don’t forget to take the time to listen. Find out what patients are saying about your practice and your services, and listen to their questions or concerns. When you take the time to respond to your social media community, you show patients that you care about their experiences, which can have a tremendous impact on your patient loyalty and their confidence in your ability to render professional dental care.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
It takes time to manage an effective social media presence. As a general rule, you should be updating and monitoring your social media sites at least a few times a week. If you can’t allot time each week to share great content and read and respond to patient feedback, then enlist another member of your staff to help. A better solution is to seek the assistance of an outside source who can help you maximize your social media presence and grow your network of followers.
Author bio
Glenn Lombardi is president of Officite, LLC, a provider of dental websites and Internet marketing strategies, including social media, search marketing, reputation management, and mobile websites. Officite has built thousands of websites that have generated more than half a million new patient appointment requests since 2002. For more information, visit www.officite.com or call (800) 908-2483.
