The Value of Social Media for a Dental Practice
Date: January 13, 2022Category: Author: Kevian Ngai
Social media has become a prime way that people connect. If you have a well-designed presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other platform, you will engage your patients with the potential that they will share what you post, or mention you in their own social media posts. You then become a social media referral.
As we track how patients find our clients, more and more we are seeing Facebook in particular, but also other social media, being mentioned as the way they found them. Your patients can post reviews of your practice there, and many of them will have hundreds of online friends. In 2022, you need a professionally crafted social media marketing program as part of your complete marketing effort.
Social Media Referrals
Social media has become a prime way that people connect. If you have a well-designed presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other platform, you will engage your patients with the potential that they will share what you post, or mention you in their own social media posts. You then become a social media referral.
As we track how patients find our clients, more and more we are seeing Facebook in particular, but also other social media, being mentioned as the way they found them. Your patients can post reviews of your practice there, and many of them will have hundreds of online friends. In 2022, you need a professionally crafted social media marketing program as part of your complete marketing effort.
Other Benefits of 
Social Media
Social MediaOur research shows that patients who engage with you on social media refer more friends that patients who aren’t engaged, and they spend 82% more per year in your practice. We’re guessing that comes from them having a higher level of trust which leads them to accept your treatment plan recommendations more readily and ask you to perform elective procedures.
Building a Presence on Social Media
Your social media should coordinate with your branding. Every practice is different and needs a different online presence to accurately communicate what sets you apart.
One popular theme for our clients is communicating that the dentist is caring. Social media is a great way to do this, by posting about community or volunteer events. Friendliness can be communicated by posting about things you have learned about certain patients or about office celebrations. Expertise can be portrayed by posting about continuing education activities or any awards or recognitions.
No wonder a certain percentage of new patients report that they checked the Facebook page of a dental practice as part of their decision process in selecting that dentist.
Keeping Patients Informed
You can use social media to give patients updates such as business hours, being closed for holidays or vacations, new procedures, new team members, or anything else going on in your office.
A Professionally Crafted Social Media Presence
Some dental offices feel that they have a team member who can manage their social media. But it isn’t really that expensive to have us take care of that for you. We have social media account administrators with training in marketing and in creating a professional online image for you. If you are wanting effective social media marketing, give us a call.
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