Archive for May, 2010

Facebook – Four Things to Keep in Mind

Friday, May 7th, 2010

There is no doubt about it. Social media is here to stay. It’s becoming more and more ingrained into our everyday lives. Not only do we see it when we’re surfing the Web, but now we see it when we watch TV and when we visit stores and restaurants. We’re surrounded by it. But, how can it help a dental practice?

Many dentists don’t know how social media can work for them. Facebook is by far the most important social media site for doctors. The first thing you’ll want to do is set up a fan page for your practice, but here are a few quick things to keep in mind when assessing your Facebook strategies:

1. Understand the purpose of social media. Social media is a way for people to connect and share their thoughts and ideas among friends. It is the perfect place for you to connect with current and past patients, as well as potential patients, and build relationships with your online community.

2. Don’t expect to get a flood of new patients from your social media efforts. I’m not saying you won’t receive new patients from Facebook, as there is a chance you will. But, don’t expect it to be an automatic source of new business for you. Try not to view your fan page as a patient source, but rather a place where you can build your credibility and online reputation. Once you have done that, and people begin to recognize your name and become comfortable with you, they will be more likely to think of you when they are in the market for a dentist or cosmetic dentistry procedures.

3. Encourage your current patients to join you on Facebook. In order to build a strong rapport with new patients, you need to leverage your current patients. People LOVE to hear great testimonials about a service or product. What better person to be an advocate for your expertise and service than a patient who is thrilled with their results? By encouraging your current patients to become a fan of you on Facebook and post their comments, you will allow potential patients to read these wonderful things about your practice.

4. Post relevant and interesting information and post regularly, but not too often. Facebook is a great way to drive people to your blog, to mention awards or certifications you may have received, new equipment or services you now offer, etc. Strive to post something once per day. If it’s timely information, more than one time a day is fine, but you want to avoid bombarding your fans with so many posts that you clog up their “walls.” You also don’t want to post so infrequently that they forget who you are. Try to maintain that delicate balance.

These are just a few of the things that you should keep in mind when thinking about how to incorporate Facebook into your online marketing. Each practice is different, so if you need help developing a social media strategy, please contact us today.

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