Using Social Media to Shout Your Web Presence

Guest blog post written by Roadside Multimedia:

As specialists in internet marketing for dentists, we at Roadside Multimedia see our dental clients aiming to be among the best in their field. Such a dedication to distinction is a sure-fire way to increase new patients as well as build patient loyalty. If your practice mission includes striving for excellence, have you considered the ever-expanding role of social media in the dental field?

Social websites like Facebook and Twitter are turning on-line communication into group dialogues that can be beneficial for business. It has been estimated that over 80% of American adults regularly use social media sites. What you might be surprised to learn is that these consumers tend to put a great deal of trust in endorsements made via social websites. What we mean is, while consumers are savvy enough to be skeptical of direct ads, they tend to put more stock in Facebook “likes” and Twitter “follows.” When they see their friends are fans of your practice on social media sites, this endorsement is akin to word-of-mouth advertising more than traditional forms of marketing!

Another huge benefit of social media marketing is the potential to build meaningful relationships with your patients. Social media forums like Facebook, Twitter, and even your office blog provide the opportunity for you to showcase what sets your practice apart. While it’s wonderful to provide information regarding your state-of-the-art services and facility, social media is also a place to engage your patients on a more personal level. Office news, events, and even well-wishes demonstrate your dedication and commitment to your patients. One of the most important things to remember to effectively market your dental practice using social media is to engage in the dialogue. This is the purpose of social media! Just like face-to-face interaction, if you don’t respond when spoken to, you’ll soon find people just walking away. So be sure to engage, responding to posts, tweets, and blog comments. Your fans, followers and readers want to know they’re being heard, and interacting with them on social media sites is a terrific way of building a loyal relationship with valued patients!

If social media marketing is new to you, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, time and patience are of the essence. Remember that engaging in a dialogue is going to take effort, so it may be beneficial to delegate social media to a trusted member of the front office staff who can access Facebook, Twitter, your office blog, or your preferred portal on a regular basis. Remember too, that it is worth it! A good demonstration may be to search Facebook for some other dental offices in your local area. You’re sure to find a practice that already has the social media ball rolling, and is reaping the rewards in the form of patient interactions, positive reviews, and online endorsements that draw a constant stream of new patients through their door! Lastly, remain flexible, open to new ideas. Consumer mood is fickle, and while hundreds of millions worldwide use Facebook today, next week could bring an entirely new trend in social media. Finally, know when to call in professional help. Depending on the nature of your dental practice, you may find that effectively implementing social media marketing comes easily, but for some practices, additional guidance may be necessary!

The bottom line is that social media marketing is having a huge impact on where dental patients choose to have their dentistry performed. Are you shouting the announcement of your web presence via social media? Make sure new patients can find you by effectively implementing social media marketing into your dental practice today!