Social media platforms are distinctly different. Instagram has a set of rules and guidelines that are quite different than other popular platforms, such as Facebook, and Twitter. Understanding how to use Instagram effectively will increase your number of followers. Bryant Consultants is sharing how Instagram could attract customers to your dental practice by helping your marketing efforts reach new heights.
What is Instagram?
Instagram is a social media platform that initially launched for iPhone users but is now available for Android devices as well. Compared to Tumbler, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, Instagram hit 100 million users faster than the other social media platforms and currently has over 1 billion active users. The focus of Instagram is sharing life through photos to connect with strangers, friends, families, and even businesses.
Why should a dentist use Instagram?
In a digital-driven world, people are looking for real connections with others through social media platforms. Most people who see traditional advertising no longer trust or believe the messages, so they seek a personal connection with businesses through social media. The Instagram profile for your dental practice can be a powerful way to connect with your current patients and obtain new patients, especially during the situation of social distancing due to COVID-19.
How do I market my dental practice on Instagram?
Utilizing trends to market your dental practice could quickly increase your followers and brand awareness. Below are trends that are currently working on Instagram to increase engagement with followers and generate more leads for dental practices.
- Behind the Scenes: Sharing things that happen “behind the scenes” with your followers gives them a backstage view of your dental practice. Share pictures of team lunches, training sessions, or when celebrating something special. The options are limitless in this category.
- Involve Your Patients: Your patients seek their two minutes of fame, and your dental practice can help patients find it by snapping a picture during an appointment and sharing it on Instagram. Two key aspects to remember is to tag the patient in the post and get the patient’s permission before sharing their image on social media.
- Photo Sharing Contest: Hashtags are a unique and easy way to run a photo contest. Choose a hashtag specific to your dental practice and ask patients to share photos using the hashtag. Then, choose a random picture and provide a reward for their participation.
- Community Involvement: Getting involved in your local community is a great way to show your followers that you care about the world around you. Community events such as fairs and school functions are a great way to meet prospective patients. When you take photos at the events and share them online through Instagram, it shows interest in promoting a healthy community.
What should I avoid when marketing on Instagram?
Your dental practice Instagram profile is not a billboard to continuously advertise dental services. Although the occasional advertisement is acceptable, most of your Instagram efforts should focus on building the relationship of trust between your practice and your patients. When patients see that you care about them more than your bottom line, they are more likely to follow, comment, and share your posts with others. Then, when you have a special price on cleanings for the month, posting it on Instagram is an effective way to inform your followers and attract new clients.
Dental Practice Marketing
Learning the details about effectively running a social media platform can be overwhelming, confusing, and time-consuming for some practices. Therefore, hiring a social media manager to help produce a positive online influence could be an efficient and cost-effective method to grow your practice. If you would like to learn more or schedule a complimentary one-hour consultation, please contact Bryant Consultants by calling (877) 768-4799. We provide consultation, training, and coaching and will continue to post relevant updates throughout the coronavirus pandemic. To ensure that you receive the latest updates, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
