In the digital era, social media has emerged as a powerful tool. From creators to businesses everyone is banking on the utility of social media to reach out to their target audience and the dental industry is not far behind. Today it is not uncommon to see doctors and dentists creating and posting content on social media. Social Media Marketing for Dentists has really benefited both dentists as well as patients. However, it can feel overwhelming if you do not have any prior experience in actively building a social media profile that attracts people. Hence, there are certain things that you must know about social media marketing before you get started.
Paid vs. Organic Social Media Marketing
First and foremost, you need to understand the two types of social media management that exist so that you can make the right decisions about them. They are as follows:
1. Paid Social Media Management
This refers to managing paid advertisements on various social media platforms. You essentially pay the companies to run your ads so that they can reach the right audience. It is created to achieve a particular objective - so if you are launching a new service or expanding your practice to another location - these ads would be helpful in ensuring that the right people come across them. However, figuring this out on your own can take some time. It is advisable to instead hire a company that provides dental marketing services to manage paid ads for you.
2. Organic Social Media Management
This is essentially all about your day-to-day management. This includes the content you and your team create, share online, reply to comments and messages, posting stories, and other updates. This focuses on creating a robust online presence for your practice. This might not result in instant sales but it will help you in the long run. It also helps in building relationships with existing patients and gaining their loyalty.
Goals that can be achieved through Social Media Management
In the current times, social media for dentists is not just about marketing but also a form of customer service. People expect you to have some form of online presence and engage with them on a regular basis. The following are some other purposes that are fulfilled by Social Media Management:
1. Communicating with your patients
Once someone clicks the follow button on your page, you’ve established a line of communication with them. You can easily update them about new services, special events, or policy changes. Other than this, you can easily reply to their questions and queries. This makes your followers feel heard and strengthens your relationship with them.
2. Creating Brand Awareness
Creating a brand image is a great way of ensuring that people remember you. Given that most people scroll through hundreds of posts every single day, it is important to make sure that you are unforgettable. You can do this by hosting a live session, posting pictures of your staff members, or sharing stories of your patients (with consent)
Conclusion
Managing social media on top of managing your clinic and providing the right services to your patients can be a daunting task. Moreover, you only have so many hours in the day, and prioritizing social media management might not be feasible. It is advisable to hire a dental marketing agency to make the most out of social media marketing.
