Building relationships with dental patients via social networking
Dental patients are just like everyone else: they spend a lot of time on social networking sites. Since dentists see many patients only twice a year, they need to learn to use social networking to reach their dental patients the other 363 days a year.
When marketing your dental practice, it’s easy to focus on new patients and forget about the ones who already occupy your chair. If you can’t keep your current patients engaged and happy, then your efforts to bring in new business will be wasted. But how can you get your current patients to take notice when they’re not actively in your office? The answer is: with social networking.
Your patients, both current and prospective, are online. Why not take advantage of online resources to make connections? If you invite them to “like” your Facebook page, then they’ll be reminded that you’re there for them every single time you post.
What can a dentist possibly post that could interest patients? Here are a few suggestions:
- Pictures of staff events such as birthdays or community events
- Before-and-after pictures of patients who had success with whitening or Invisalign
- Short videos introducing new hygienists, dental assistants, or even equipment
- Facebook Live office tours or Q&A sessions with patients
Social networking sites such as Facebook allow you to get in front of your patients on a regular basis. When you show them who you are outside of the office, they’ll feel like they’re getting to know the real person behind the coat. Patients who feel connected to you are more likely to stay loyal, even when another practice opens up just down the street from them.
Another benefit of using social network sites to market your practice is that it gives patients another way to reach out to you. When they comment on a post or follow up with a question is the perfect opportunity to show them that you’re paying attention and that they’re more than just another mouth to you. You can respond to their comments, express gratitude for favorable reviews, and address the occasional negative review.
If a patient tweets that he or she is on their way with a nervous six-year-old who’s afraid of the dentist, you can personally greet them at the door to help the little one avoid further anxiety. The time it takes to respond to your patients will be well worth it when you have fewer people leaving you for another practice.
Finally, using social networking is the perfect way for your patients to share their favorite dentist with the world. When they like your page it will show up in their newsfeed. When they leave your office feeling good about the experience, they can “tag” your practice and alert their Facebook friends about how amazing you are. Prospective patients will check out your Facebook page before committing to you for their dental health. Social networking allows your best advertisers, your patients, to share you with the people who are most important to them.
If you’re looking for a way to breathe new life into your marketing efforts, consider social networking. It’s the perfect way to stay in front of your patients the other 363 days of the year.
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