Social Media Marketing By: Mandy King
In today’s society; the answer is most definitely YES! Social media is an opportunity to attract new patients, boost referrals, and build a loyal online patient base by actively interacting with your followers. Studies show it is no longer dominated by just the young; 80% of American adults are actively using it as well. Your return on investment is huge because sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube are free to use.
Relationship marketing through social media helps you focus on the people you are treating. This engagement will set you apart. Remember that the quality of the content you post is more important than the frequency. Social media needs to be carefully planned and executed by making your message consistent on all platforms your office may choose. A scheduling calendar is a great way to keep you organized.
The next step is selecting which social media platform is right for your practice. Facebook is by far the most preferred social media out there but don’t limit your strategy to it only. Keep in mind that each channel presents you with a unique promotional opportunity by updating them with fresh, relevant content.
Facebook will likely attract the majority of your target audience. A great way to promote your practice is by running paid advertising campaigns to attract new patients. Encourage your active patients to follow you on facebook. They will likely post positive reviews that will be seen by prospective patients visiting the site. Use facebook to introduce your team and practice culture. It is a great avenue to promote non-profit, local community initiatives you take part in as well. Think about making a clever use of #hashtags as people use them to search for specific content. Celebrate with your patients by taking pictures with them the day their braces are placed or removed. Creating an album of before and after photos will grab peoples attention! Organizing contests and giveaways will help spread your reach to your patients family and friends.
Twitter is the place to be for teenagers. The content on this social media platform has a short lifespan, so you have to be more active when sharing. Keep your tweets short and to the point with the latest orthodontic news or fun fact. Remember to include relevant #hashtags in your tweets as they could boost the visibility for a longer period of time.
Instagram and Pinterest are a great way to showcase images of your orthodontic practice and your team. Be creative by coming up with visually appealing content. Use these avenues as a way to share successful orthodontic cases. Creating stories on instagram by recording a short video could be fun for your staff and patients. Moms love Pinterest! This is an endless source of content for a variety of orthodontic tips, do’s and don’ts, and infographics about orthodontics. While creating your content for Instagram and Pinterest, gather fresh ideas and don’t forget to use your #hashtags.