Social Media for Dentists: Don’t be Afraid
Social Media for Dentists: Don’t Be Afraid
Having become a central player in the cultural and social makeup of billions of people’s lives, it is no wonder that many businesses (dental practices included) have flocked to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more to promote their services to the masses.
Whilst many other industries have approached social media with a carefree attitude, highly regulated areas like healthcare and dentistry must approach the platforms in a less reckless manner.
Watch this video from the Dental Focus team about why dentists are afraid of Facebook:
How can dentists be compliant on social media?
One of the factors that prevent dentists from using social media is compliance. With so many regulatory bodies such as the GDC, CQC, ICO and ASA overlooking dental practices in England (with similar bodies globally) it can be hard to know what the rules and regulations are.
Social media is a massively public arena and this seems at odds with dentistry given that the relationship between dentist and patient is confidential.
The good news is that almost all the governing bodies have printed material that sets out the Do’s and Don’ts of using social media.
What can a dentist post on social media?
Staying away from anything that could be considered to bring the dental profession into disrepute is essential. Any content from a patient is a no-go unless you have explicit written consent to use it on the specific platforms. The other factor to consider is the nature of the platform. Ensuring your posts are relevant and suited to the type of social media can be hard to understand, especially as these platforms development at an alarming rate.
The good news is that Dental Focus can help you with this.
What are the benefits of using social media for dentists?
Unlike other forms of digital marketing, social media for dentists is all about the long game. It is unlikely to generate instant return on investment (ROI) if you haven’t put in the hours cultivating your online community and ensuring they feel nurtured by your brand.
The benefits include having more loyalty amongst your patient base, who will appreciate your engagement with them socially rather than just charging them for treatments, as well as being able to communicate with them on a more regular basis – because the majority of adults who use Facebook use it daily. This allows you to:
- Notify them about your latest treatments and services
- Keep them up-to-date with the goings on at the practice
- Promote your team members and their skills
What should a dentist post on social media?
As mentioned, it is essential to post content that is tailored to the platform. It is also important to not spam all of your followers with dull posts about why they should buy the most expensive treatment with you every day. That’s not going to appeal to online communities and it’s a sales tactic that is not very welcome on most platforms.
Instead, you need to decide on a plan of how you want to present your brand on social media and do it consistently, with the goal in mind of getting the most engagement possible. Social media friendly content would include things like:
- Competitions
- Video tutorials on oral health
- Charity work by your team
- Promotion of local businesses
- Local events relevant to your followers
Looking for help managing your dental social media?
Get in touch with our Social Media Guru Dominic Haslam by calling – 020 7183 8388 – for a friendly chat.