Dental Facebook Posts and Ideas to Boost Engagement
You’ve been in practice for a while now, and you’re thinking about how to take your marketing up a notch. Facebook is one of the best ways to do so, but it’s always good to have some guidance from an expert, right?
Facebook is a powerful marketing tool for business owners and dental practices alike. Facebook has over 2 billion monthly active users, which allows you to reach potential customers easily. There are many features available on Facebook that can help your practice grow and build customer loyalty.
General Facebook Posting Guidelines
Social networking has its own unwritten etiquette rules, and they’re especially important for small businesses to note. Simply following these social media tips for dental practices can help improve your engagement on Facebook, so you bring in new patients and build your reputation.
Offer Followers Valuable Content
Many small businesses make the mistake of only talking about their products and services. This can overload your feed and convince your followers to unsubscribe. Instead of only posting about your business, try to offer entertaining facts or current news stories from time to time. Oral hygiene tips are another great post to add to the mix. The most important thing to remember is that everything doesn’t need to be a sales pitch! Try to stick to an 80/20 rule when it comes to your posting. 80% of your content should be informative, educational, and fun. Only 20% of your posts should try to sell your services. Following these rules will help you keep your followers and drive engagement!
Don’t Post Negative Comments
The comments you post online stick around forever and being overtly negative can cost you business. Be professional and courteous regardless of what others are saying or doing. Even if you get a negative online review or Facebook post, respond politely, and offer to follow up on the phone to resolve the situation. At the end of your conversation, post an additional reply if the situation has been resolved. You may even be able to convince the patient to update the review with positive comments. However you resolve it with the patient, a respectful reply lets others know that you care about your reputation and want to ensure complete patient satisfaction.
Talk to Your Followers
When a comment or question comes in on your Facebook page, be sure to respond in a timely manner. Set aside 15 minutes during your lunch or towards the end of the day to respond to both messages and comments on your social media pages. You can also set up an autoresponder for your Facebook messages that provides your phone number and website URL so potential patients can follow up on these channels to book an appointment. This allows you to move the conversation to a quicker channel, without just leaving your potential patients hanging with no response. Though it can be difficult to respond quickly to all interactions, it displays your excellent customer service and dedication to your patients, so it’s an important part of your social media duties.
Keep Your Personal Accounts Separate
As a professional, it’s important to keep your personal profiles separate from your business page. Use your personal pages to connect with family, friends, and post about anything you’d like. But be sure to keep your professional pages separate and post items that will only enhance your practice’s online image. It’s best to avoid personal posts, political comments, or venting your frustrations online. Keep your page as a positive space to educate the community on proper oral hygiene!
Don’t Spam People with Follow Requests
Remember when you were a little kid, and your mom told you not to talk to strangers? Well, asking people you don’t know to “like” or “follow” you makes you the stranger and is one of the largest complaints among social network members. If you don’t know someone, don’t approach them about following your brand. If they’re interested, they’ll come around.
Use Pictures Whenever Possible
“A picture is worth a thousand words”. It’s an old saying, but it’s truer than ever with the rise of social media. Typically, the highest rated posts on Facebook include images and videos. They’re eye-catching and can catch someone’s attention if they’re quickly scrolling through their feed. If you can get Facebook fans to stop their scroll for a moment, you might just get them to engage. For educational or entertaining posts, try incorporating pictures of animals with big smiles. For posts about your services, include pictures of your staff or office.
Create a Clear Call to Action
You only have a few seconds to catch someone’s interest on social media, which means that you need to give people on Facebook a reason to engage with your post. Ask a relevant question that prompts a conversation, like how parents handled the tooth fairy situation or convinced their kids to floss. Offer a quick fill-in-the-blank that entices followers to give their two cents. Ask a poll question, as people are always curious to see the results. Remember to be clear about the action you want from your followers and state it in your text. While it can be tempting to always ask patients to like or share your posts, use this sparingly. A better way to get engagement is to try and start a conversation that matters to them.
Use Your Attention to Detail
On your business pages, it’s essential to spell and grammar check everything you post. Nothing sticks out more than a tweet or post ridden with poor grammar and spelling. It is recommended that you write posts within a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Word Perfect, then copy and paste the post into your social media profile to share it, error free.
Provide All the Information You Can
People definitely want to know information about your education, services, location, and hours. When creating your social profile, fill out every field possible that will help Internet searchers learn more about your practice.
Be Consistent
Everyone loves something they can rely on. If you are consistent in your posts and can be relied upon to post around the same time every day, current and prospective patients will be more likely to engage and interact with your social networking activity. With that being said, people become more likely to unfollow or ignore those who post excessively; so, limit your social media activity to 2-3 posts per day, tops.
Schedule Posts for an Added Convenience
If you’re too busy to post every day but would still like to build your brand on social media, curate posts and save them to publish at a later date. Facebook allows you to schedule future posts directly from your Facebook Page, and you can schedule tweets in advance using a platform like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck. You can even line up an entire month’s worth of posts in a single sitting! For maximum impact, schedule your posts between 11 am and 1 PM in your local time zone. This provides your best chance for your followers to see your posts when scrolling, allowing you to maximize the success of each post.
Promote Other Local Businesses and Charities
Local businesses can make more of an impact when they band together! Build out some partnerships with other business owners in your area and cross-promote each others’ pages. You can also showcase any volunteer work you do in the community, even if it’s just providing a prize for a local fundraiser or attending a 5k walk.
Boosting Facebook Engagement for Dentists
Here we will cover the basics of using Facebook for your practice regarding activities like getting more likes, increasing engagements, using polls, and running a contest on Facebook.
How to generate more likes for your practice
The advantages of having a practice Facebook page are many, namely for those practices actively utilizing the network to communicate and interact with their patients. Seeing that approximately 1 in every 13 people have a Facebook account, and over 1.8 billion people are logged in to Facebook on any given day as of 2021. Facebook is an extremely powerful social network that you can utilize to drive practice growth.
One of the strategic ways to reach more prospective patients is to acquire more “Likes” within the social network. The more “Likes” your page has, the better chance your practice will become visible to these individuals’ network of followers, thereby increasing your exposure to new, prospective patients in your area.
Now the question remains, how do you get Facebook users to follow your page? Use these ideas below to start generating more “Likes” on Facebook and increase your exposure on this incredibly powerful social network.
- Create a vanity URL for your Facebook page. Rather than directing patients to a long, complex URL, a vanity URL makes it easier for patients to find your page on Facebook (e.g., www.facebook.com/yourpracticename). Click here to create a Facebook vanity URL (you must be logged in to Facebook to access this page).
- Create or purchase a beautiful cover photo. Your cover image is the first thing viewers notice on your Facebook page. A beautiful, eye-catching image will spark interest and increase engagement while also helping you convey a professional image of your practice.
- Add the “Like” button to your practice website with a link to your Facebook page. This helps visitors easily access your Facebook page, increasing your chances of them “liking” your practice. At a minimum, include the “Like” button on your Welcome Page and Contact Us page.
- Include a link to your Facebook page on your practice blog posts. Having a blog can not only help increase your rankings on search engine results, but it’s a great way to keep patients informed and drive your visitors to your Facebook page
- Announce your Facebook page by adding a Facebook icon that links to your page in your emails. For example, if your practice uses email to communicate with patients or emails appointment reminders, this is a great way to promote your page to your target audience.
- Use your practice to make your Facebook page known to clients. You can spread the word to patients that you’re on Facebook by making it known on practice advertisements, sign-in sheets, and appointment reminder postcards. Add some sugar to the spoon by offering a discount on their next service if they “Like” your page.
- Use the power of word of mouth. When chatting with patients, let them know that you’re on Facebook and ask them to “Like” your page. With over half a billion people accessing Facebook from their mobile device, most patients will be able to “Like” your page right then and there!
- Offer an incentive for “Liking” your page. People respond to incentives, so offering a special on a service for those who “Like” your page will help you gain more followers. Consider running a promotion, such as offering a discount on a service, for those who “Like” your page.
- Add a link to your Facebook page on your other social media accounts. Most people are on multiple social networks. In addition to including a link to your website, include a link to your Facebook page on other social media accounts that you have (e.g., LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, FourSquare, Instagram).
- Run Facebook ads. Facebook can help you target your ads to reach your local audience and is a great way to spread the word about your practice and drive more visitors to your page.
- Host a contest or raffle for Facebook fans only. For example, hold a “Like-gate” contest, in which Facebook “Likes” are the gateway to entering the contest, such as raffling off a free gadget or a significantly discounted service. Hosting a contest does not just increase likes to your page; it also helps boosts your Facebook Engagements.
However, other factors should be noted regarding increasing your Facebook engagements, and we’ll be taking a look at them in the next section.
How to Increase Your Facebook Engagements
In the motion picture Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s character heard a voice saying, “If you build it, they will come.” Unfortunately, this same phrase does not apply to your social media pages. Don’t think that you can build a Facebook page, then step back to watch the likes roll in. It just doesn’t work that way. However, if you follow a few simple rules, you can boost your dental practice’s presence on Facebook with increased likes, shares, and followers.
Rule 1 – Engage and enlist your current patients. Every brand needs a core group of brand ambassadors. No one can do a better job of promoting your dental practice than a very happy and loyal patient. Don’t be afraid to ask for “likes” on social media by putting up signs in your waiting rooms, slipping a call-to-action on the back of your bill, or sending an email to select patients.
Ask anyone that has had good experiences with you to comment on your posts occasionally. You might even consider incentivizing the program with discounted teeth whitening or something along those lines.
Rule 2 – Don’t post more than three times a day. Some people think that the more you post, the better. While it may work for some businesses, it doesn’t work for everyone. Facebook is a “social” media that users still see as a place where they engage with their friends. It is not a site for hard-core selling. Buddy Media found that pages that posted twice a day received 40% higher user engagement than pages with more than three posts per day, proving quality is more important than quantity.
Rule 3 – Ask questions in your posts on social media. It may seem like a no-brainer, but one of the best ways to start a conversation on social media is to ask a question. Don’t limit yourself to questions that pertain to your practice’s special offers, procedures, or new equipment. Get personal and have fun. Ask something like, “What is the most memorable smile you have ever seen?” Then engage with the answers. Ask them to tell their stories or post a picture if they have one.
Rule 4 – Post shareable content. Everyone likes to share memes, interesting articles, videos, and photos, so take advantage of the movement! Post a few funny dental memes or buzzworthy articles and videos. Then try posting photos of smiles and cartoons that need captions.
Ask your followers to get involved by writing the caption and sharing the newly created meme. A qualified Internet marketing company can help you post images that get the most engagement so that you can develop a strong social media plan moving forward.
Rule 5 – Timing is everything. If you update your wall while no one is there to see it, it’s like it never happened. People are most likely to check for updates in the morning before work or just upon arrival at work, lunch, and in the evenings after work. A qualified Internet marketing company can help you test timing and responses to hone in on the best update schedule.
And speaking of timing, keep your posts relevant to now. Tie them into hot news stories and current events. The only way to stay top of mind is to be aware of and relevant to what is on people’s minds. Be careful not to post opinions that can cause an Internet fight, such as political or religious battles.
Bonus – Contests work. Contests reward loyal fans and create excitement that draws new visitors to your page. With a contest, your audience will check into your page often to see if they have won. So, make your page memorable, and keep visitors coming back by regularly posting new content.
Many practices get into a routine of posting only announcements and news pertaining to their practice. If this is where you are, stop. Take a step back and remember that social media is supposed to be social. It’s a conversation – a series of engagements. You have to build relationships and be a source of entertainment at the same time.
Facebook polls are also a great way to increase your engagements and build a relationship with your patients. Creating a poll can help you connect with a fraction of the over 1.8 billion people that are active on Facebook daily.
How to Use a Facebook Poll
As a dentist, if you’re on social media – you already know the importance of staying engaged with current and potential patients. In addition to posting about dental hygiene tips, special offers or promotions, and office news – have you considered using a Facebook poll as part of your content strategy?
Asking poll questions is something that both large and small companies can benefit from. It allows you to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of your patients (current and potential)
- Get more content ideas for new posts
- Differentiate the types of content you’re posting about for more engagement and interaction
Create a Facebook Poll
To get started, go to your practice’s page, then into publishing tools, and go to create a post. From there, click “poll” in the drop-down options.
From this option, you can insert your question and type the various answer options. You can also set the duration for how long you want the Facebook poll to last. Once you’re all set, hit publish and wait for the results to come in!
Common Poll Questions
To help you get started, below are five examples of questions you could ask your patients:
- Which appointment times do you prefer?
Option 1: Morning/early afternoon
Option 2: Mid-afternoon to early evening
- Which types of content would you like to see more of?
Option 1: Tips on hygiene and cavity prevention
Option 2: Tips on teeth whitening
- Do you prefer to use a manual or electric toothbrush?
Option 1: Manual
Option 2: Electric
- How often do you floss? (Be honest!)
Option 1: At least 4x a week
Option 2: Under 4x a week
- Do you want to see more posts about…
Option 1: Special offers and promotions
Option 2: Tips to keeping a healthy smile
You can even create polls asking your clients if they would be interested in partaking in a contest sponsored by your practice. The information received would help you structure your contest better if your practice decides to sponsor a contest in the future.
Tips For Running a Successful Facebook Contest
Facebook is one of the most effective avenues for doctors to market their practice, and gaining exposure on the social network has proven to increase new patient referrals. Facebook reaches 59% of the world’s social networking population, and 35% of Facebook users like pages so they can enter a contest. So, what is one of the quickest and most effective ways to increase your exposure on Facebook? Run a contest!
Increasing your exposure on Facebook works the same as most other social networks; the more your page and content are shared, the more prospective patients it reaches, and contests are frequently shared among Facebook Fans which account for 30% of the world’s population.
How to Get Started
Before running your contest, you first have to determine three things:
- What are you willing to spend on the contest?
This will determine how much of your budget you have to spend on a prize and how much you need to allocate for the costs of running it.
- How will fans enter the contest?
The type of entry will, in part, determine the type of contest you run. Entries can be anything from a “Like” to a photo submission.
- How long will my contest run?
Studies show the best length for a social media contest is 25 days.
What Type of Contest Should I Run?
There are many different types of contests, and you don’t want to make an entry overly complicated. Consider simplified entries, such as a page “Like” or tagging a photo with a predetermined hashtag.
To have patients enter a photo contest using hashtags, ask patients to share photos that address a prompt, such as “I love my dentist because…”. Then have them share the photos with a coordinating hashtag, like “#ilovedrsmithbecause.” You will then be able to search Facebook for all images with your contest hashtag and choose the winning photo.
Where Do I Share My Contest?
In accordance with Facebook’s new policy, you can post your contest on your timeline, or you can purchase a page app that runs your promotion for you.
If you decide to post your contest on your timeline, be sure to continue to re-post the contest entry rules throughout the extent of the contest, so new visitors can easily access the information.
When choosing a page app to run your contest for you, be sure you choose a reputable company and don’t forget to factor the cost of the app into the total amount you want to invest in the contest.
Don’t Forget!
You must state within the rules of your contest that it is “in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered, or associated with Facebook.” You must also indemnify Facebook from any legal implication your contest may cause.
Want to see an example of a Facebook contest? Enter ours now!
Facebook Dental Post Ideas
On average, adults in the USA spend nearly two hours on social media networks per day(!). Facebook is in the lead with 2 billion users worldwide and offers a growing array of things you can do on the platform. From posting a status and sharing photos to getting news, selling items, or asking for recommendations – being on this social network has almost become a cultural requirement for both individuals and businesses. Become an expert in Dental Facebook Posts today!
As people are now so transparent in sharing their lives publicly, they expect the same from businesses. Social media is a great place for your practice to showcase its personality, interact with current patients and drive more traffic (prospective patients) to your website.
People won’t be impressed if your dental practice’s Facebook page is bare, missing information, or simply promoting patients to come in. Instead, publish amazing Facebook Dental Posts that provide valuable and educational content to get people Liking and interacting with your page.
Need some help getting started? Here’s some ideas that you can take and use as your own the next time you hit social media writer’s block.
Post Idea 1
Have a toothache? Here are four ways to offer temporary relief (but in the meantime, make sure to call us to get it checked out):
- Rinse with warm water.
- Floss to remove food or debris that may be wedged between the teeth.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
- Apply an over-the-counter antiseptic containing benzocaine.
Post Idea 2
Frequent headaches? You might be grinding your teeth at night which can also hurt your sleep and damage your teeth. Find out if a mouth guard is something you should consider and ask us about it at your next appointment!
Post Idea 3
Did you know that in a lifetime, the average person spends 38 days brushing their teeth? #themoreyouknow #dentalfacts
Post Idea 4
Tooth decay is the world’s second most common disease (the common cold is #1). Take a few minutes morning and night to take care of your pearly whites!
Post Idea 5
The great debate – do you brush your teeth the moment you wake up, or wait until after breakfast? Comment below and watch out for tomorrow’s post on my viewpoints! Make sure to follow-up with a post with your views on morning brushing. Bonus: Tag people who commented on your original post so they can see your answer.
Schedule Facebook Posts in Advance
Now that you have content to post, the next step is to publish frequently and consistently. Plus, Facebook has a tool that allows you to schedule posts in advance. Instead of needing to remember to post 3 times each week, you can dedicate an hour to scheduling out posts months in advance. This way you can focus your time spent weekly on social media to engaging with followers by commenting, replying, and liking their feedback and posts.
Watch the video below to learn how to schedule your content on Facebook.
Once you have a month’s worth of content on your page, it’s worth taking the time to view your Insights, or Facebook page analytics, to determine the best days and times to post, and adjust your scheduled posts accordingly.
As the world’s most popular social media platform, Facebook greatly influences our everyday lives. The most important thing to remember is that Facebook is not just for fun. It’s also a powerful marketing tool, and it can be used in so many ways to grow your Practice presence.
Whether you are looking for new patients or want more people coming into your office, our team atProSites has the experience necessary to put together an effective strategy tailored specifically for your needs. Give us a call today at 888-932-3644, and we will work with you on growing your practice online!
