What do Disney, Zara, and Tastemade have in common? They have Facebook pages with over 20 million fans and they share more than one post per weekday. Posting often isn’t annoying when it’s done right.
A common concern we hear from dental practices looking into our service is “You want us to post to Facebook every day? Won’t that bother people?” The short answer is this: Your fans followed you because they want to stay in touch and hear what you have to say. When you provide content that is meaningful and valuable to your audience, you shouldn’t hesitate to share something daily.
What patients and fans find annoying, and what causes them to unfollow, is generally not the frequency of posts, it’s the content. If your pages look like they only exist to sell services or solicit Likes, people will see right through it and disengage.
Here are a few simple tips on how you can post every day and avoid boring or bothering fans:
1. Follow the 5 Fundamentals of Great Posts
First and foremost, create posts that makes your page worth following. Don’t post just to “fill your weekly quota.” Learn more about the 5 principles of great posts in our blog post, which include:
- Provide Value
- Make It Personal
- Invite Interaction
- Use Interesting Visuals
- Have Fun Together
2. Use Sales Language Sparingly
While social media is a great tool to tell potential patients about your services, seeing phrases like “call today” or “schedule an appointment” gets old fast. Focus your efforts on building relationships and participating in your community, and occasionally share about the benefits of products and treatments you offer.
3. Talking is Fine if You’re Listening Too
Fans of your pages are much less likely to stay engaged if they feel like they’re only be talked at, not having a conversation. In your posts, express your desire to hear your patients’ and fans’ questions and feedback. Then, make sure to respond to EVERY comment, review, and visitor post you receive. Demonstrating that you are present and listening makes a huge difference in social media marketing results.
4. Keep it Short and Sweet
Generally, Facebook posts should be no longer than a paragraph. If you can’t convey what you would like in three to four sentences, consider putting your thoughts into a blog post and then sharing a link to it. Also, avoid tacking on an excessive amount of hashtags to the ends of Facebook or Twitter posts.
5. Vary Your Content
Sharing only one type of post is sure to bore fans and discourage interaction. A good content mix is essential to a strong social media presence. Make sure videos, practice photos, links to articles, polls, and perhaps the occasional prize giveaway all have a part in your social media schedule.
As you provide content that is relevant and valuable to your patients and fans, you’ll find that they’ll not only look forward to hearing from you every day, they will be more likely to introduce your practice to family and friends.
About the Author
Jackson Hadley is a marketing strategist with My Social Practice, which provides a complete social media marketing solution for dental, orthodontic and optometric practices. A public relations specialist, Jackson combines the advertising and trust-building aspects of social media to help businesses connect authentically with their communities.
Interested in contributing to Oral Health Group’s dental blog? Email krysten@newcom.ca for more information!
