Effective Communication on Social Media
Social media has become a natural forum for people to share opinions, information and ideas.
For dental practices it’s an incredibly cost effective way to engage and communicate relevant messaging with new and existing patients, increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your website to generate a buzz around the practice.
With so many channels now available, practices need to focus on the social channels that will best suit them to develop an effective strategy.
Gain trust with your patients
Use social media to help patients feel comfortable before they even step inside the door. You can do this by showcasing your experience and letting them know they’re in safe hands. That means convincing your patients that you can deliver a pain-free experience.
By giving your practice an interesting personality online, you can ensure that patients trust and look forward to visiting you as well as reassuring nervous patients.
Satisfied patients are then more likely to share their experiences with others online which will in turn help to promote your practice and bring in new patients.
Helping patients during this difficult time
New research from the Oral Health Foundation shows that more than 9 in 10 of UK adults (94%) have been affected in some way by the rising cost of living.
Data also reveals that 4 in 5 (82%) are being forced to make sacrifices to their spending habits. Figures show that 1 in 3 (31%) have not visited a dentist in over two years, whilst 1 in 4 parents (25%) have had to spend less money on their own oral health to look after their children’s teeth.
With this in mind, be mindful to start swicthing the tone on your social channels. Instead of pushing high end treatments, communicate how you could help those patients struggling if they were to sign up to treatment.
Are you offering any offers or discounts? Do you offer 0% finance or practice plans? Offering finance options will make the cost of procedures more manageable and affordable by allowing patients to pay in monthly instalments.
These are the things that patients will look out for when choosing a practice to sign up to, and will help you stand out from your competitors.
Communicate changes at the practice
Social media is also a great way to communicate changes within the practice. Are you changing your opening hours, making changes to your practice plans, putting on an open day or providing a package for new or existing patients?
Social media allows you to communicate faster, more often and with greater relevance.
Highlight key benefits
Cosmetic dentistry can be expensive so make sure you highlight the benefits of each treatment. Focus on how patients will feel after investing in the treatment – feeling confident, smiling more, looking younger etc.
It can take some time for a patient to decide to go ahead with a more high end treatment, particularly during this current climate. Have patience, keep educating them on the benefits and they will soon take that first step.
If you’re looking to communicate your practice more effectively online, we can help! Get in touch with our social media team today.
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