How to better engage with patients on social media [VIDEO]

Rachel Mele describes herself as an Internet and social media junkie … and she doesn’t believe she is that different than many of the people who sit in your chair on a daily basis.

So how should dental practices better engage with the 1.15 billion people who are on Facebook? How can you attract new patients and interact with current ones who spend their time liking and updating the day away?

Mele, the director of business development for Sesame Communications, has some ideas. Among them include these two tips:

1. Make it fun. When you are making your posts fun, you are making social media truly “social.” Don’t sell to people. Interact with them.

2. Go for the comments. When you post something on Facebook, ask your entire team to comment on it and like it. When someone comments on a post, make sure someone from your team is replying to comments. Remember: Posts with comments get four more times clicks than those without comments.

Another interesting fact to remember is that 80 percent of Facebook users will check Facebook within 15 minutes of waking up. Does that mean you have to post something first thing in the morning? Not necessarily, says Mele, but you should be cognizant of when you get the most interaction from your posts.

Mele still hears dentists and dental team members tell her that social media is a waste of time and that their practices get the majority of patients through word of mouth.

She is quick to remind you that social media is simply a way to accelerate word of mouth.

Click below to see hear the suggestions on social media from Mele:

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