Take the Time to Invest in Social Media to Attract More Clients and Improve Your Search Engine Rank
Having a social media presence and strategy plan plays an improved role in attracting new clients, keeping your existing clients, and helping patients feel safer and more comforted before an appointment. Using social media is one of the best ways to establish trust with your patients as a dentist. When you use it appropriately, you can help assure your patients that they can feel comfortable and at ease before they ever step into your practice.
Attracting Clients with Social Media
In our modern world, people are comforted by seeing other people have good experiences. Patients can easily log on to Facebook, and other outlets, to see how someone else felt about their time in your chair. However, one of the most important roles of social media in dentistry is using it to show the patient that you care about them as a person, not just what’s going on with their teeth and gums. If you want to attract more patients through social media, try these tips:
- Get and showcase current patient testimonials. While you might have testimonials from the past, start collecting them from your current or recent patients. Your practice could be completely different than it was a year ago, so the more updated the testimonial the better. Did a patient come in with an emergency that your team helped with fast? Was a serious problem caught early on through a basic dental exam? Getting a wide range of testimonials can help future patients see just what you can do to help them in the event of any dental-related condition they might experience.
- Engage on social media. You can post often, but if you’re not engaging with your audience then you’re not doing yourself any favors. Engaging with the public on your social media platforms can be a fun, interactive way to show them that you care for them as a person. You want to help ease their fears and concerns, or just educate them on any dental questions they may have. When someone sends you a message and you don’t respond, you’re not helping yourself bring more clients through the door. Additionally, if someone comments on a post with a question or concern and you don’t address it, you could be showing others that you don’t care enough to take the time to engage and help.
- Share your knowledge. Dentists can use social media to show how they’re a leader in dental care within their communities. Publish weekly blogs about conditions you see and treat, how to establish a good oral health routine, and more. This gives you an extra type of content to incorporate into your feed, but it also shows the public that you care enough to take the time to educate your community about their dental health — even when they’re not sitting in your practice.
- Make videos. Set aside a couple of times a month to record basic info sessions or procedures with the consent of the patient. Having a few quick videos that are educational are a good way to cater to a society that loves visuals. Have your front desk team give an office tour, have a dental hygienist show their station and the tools they work with. Not only is this fun for adults, but it can be a good way to help kids not be so scared of coming into your practice too.
A study published in the US National Library of Medicine found that the presence of a dentist on social media and how actively they interact on those mediums is important to gaining and retaining clients. Interaction can help reach new patients and communicate with those you already have seen. If you’re not convinced as a dentist to begin fully using social media, think about just what it can also do for your ranking on search engines like Google.
Improving Search Engine Ranks with Social Media
Popping up easily on search engines is one of the best ways to get new patients. When someone does a quick search for a dentist nearby and you’re the first to pop up, you can easily get a new client in a matter of minutes. However, to appear towards the top of search engines you have to put in the work online. Using social media can help your practice appear higher on search results. Did you know that when you search for a practice, many of the first results that pop up are their social media channels? If someone clicks on your Facebook and you haven’t posted since 2016, they’re more likely to find a practice that is more currently active. The more active you are on social media, the more likely that you’re going to appear at the top of search engines when someone looks up for a dentist near them. In fact, more and more of the younger generations get most of their information directly from social media. Rather than logging onto a search engine, many people type in a search on Facebook or Twitter to quickly learn more about a practice in a quick way. The best way to benefit from search engines and social media is simple: be active.
There is no harm in being active on social media as long as you’re doing it in a responsible, educational way that can help your patients feel like they’re safe with you. However, it’s important to note that in regard to your search engine rank, being active won’t move you up right away. It takes time and consistency to use social media to your benefit, so don’t give up on it if you don’t notice much return at first.
Get Active on Social Media Now
Whether you choose to be active on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, Google My Business, or all of the above, don’t wait to get started! The sooner you begin and develop a consistent social media strategy, the sooner you will reap the benefits of being a dentist that is active on social media.
About the Author
A native of West Virginia, Dr. Robert Berry graduated dental school from West Virginia University. He excelled in the clinic and participated in the Honors program helping underclassmen. After dental school he worked in a small Texas town, treating all types of people. As a member of the Army National Guard, Dr. Berry has undertaken humanitarian dental trips to Nicaragua and the Navajo Nation as well as several other areas of need. Now located in Broomfield, Colorado, Dr. Berry believes that patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health. Dr. Berry prides himself on establishing the ideal doctor-patient relationship. With a combination of trusted experience and advanced technology, Dr. Berry is a leader in the dental field. https://www.broomfielddentists.com/
