Most dental practice owners now use social media as a marketing and customer service tool. Yet, despite the widespread use of social media, many dentists are inadvertently damaging their brand through their efforts, rather than growing and building their presence.
Here are 7 mistakes that you may not know you are making on social media.
1. Posting the same types of content again and again
What do you typically post on social media? Are you hung up on posting a few different types of content? Maybe sharing your newest blog posts and asking the occasional question? Posting the same things again and again will inevitably cause your audience to tune you out. Change up your social media posts regularly so that they do not become stale.
2. Not responding to comments and questions
Posting on social media isn’t enough. In fact, posting, tweeting, pinning, etc. are only one part of the equation. You should be spending as much time reading and engaging with your followers’ questions and comments as you do posting your own stuff. And, in light of Facebook’s new “very responsive to messages” icon, responding quickly to comments is now more important than ever.
3. Being insincere or inauthentic
You may think you can get away with not sharing your true self on social media. You may have this idea of who you should be (or want to be!) on social media, but this isn’t a great strategy over the long term. Instead, be yourself! Share your thoughts and opinions, and let your practice’s personality shine through.
4. Not posting with your target market in mind
When you post are you thinking about what you want to say, or about what your target market wants (or needs) to hear? Spend some time thinking about your social media personas, and then ask yourself, “What does my ideal patient want to know today? How can I help him or her?”
5. Constantly promoting your products or business
This is probably one of the biggest and most harmful mistakes. Your business doesn’t always have to be at the forefront of your posts. Regularly providing valuable content to your audience is the best way to keep your business top-of-mind for viewers.
6. Having unrealistic expectations of social media
Social media marketing is a long-term endeavor. Sure, you can see positive results in the short term, but the biggest benefits can only be truly realized after months or even years. Unfortunately, many practice owners try out a new platform, then quickly give up on it when they don’t see immediate results. Approach social media with the expectation that you’ll need to put in a lot of work now to experience great results over the long haul.
7. Posting too much
One of the most common reasons people unfollow brands on social media is because they post too often. Whilst there is no optimal number of times to post on each social networking site, be mindful of what you’d be happy to view from other businesses.
If you would like further information about social media for your dental practice, give dental design a call on 01202 677 277 who will be happy to help you.