Instagram Marketing for Dentists: what to do and what not to do
Dental Instagram marketing is unique compared to other social media marketing. However, don’t worry – we can assist you! Even if you’ve been using Instagram for your dental practice for some time, the information below can enhance your efforts.
People nowadays are seeking authentic connections with the businesses they support, just like they do with their friends, family, and co-workers. As traditional advertising doesn’t carry the same trust as before, dental patients are paying more attention to dental social media. They tend to associate with people they believe in and trust. A dental Instagram page is a powerful way to connect with your patients and potential patients, just like friends connect with friends.
We have noticed that dentist influencers on Instagram have thousands of followers due to the raw glimpse their followers get into their dental practices.
Table of Contents
- Don’t Overpost
- Don’t Post Photos With Words
- Don’t Get Too Caught Up With Filters
- Do not take photos of patients unless you have their permission
- Don’t Overuse Hashtags
- Don’t Overpost About Dental Services
- Do Use Reels and Stories
- Keep in mind to share behind-the-scenes moments
- Do Feature Your Patients
Don’t Overpost
Your patients would love to see your practice updates on social media, but it’s important to avoid overwhelming their feed.
A survey of over 500 Instagram marketers revealed that posting too often was one of the most common reasons for losing followers (33%).
However, not posting enough or not at all is even more problematic (40%).
So, it’s crucial to find a balance that works for both your practice and your followers.
As a general rule, you should aim to post at least three times a week and no more than three times a day.!
Don’t Post Photos With Words
There are no rules prohibiting the use of text over your photos, and you will find many others doing so.
However, according to most market research, photos without any text perform better than those with text included in Instagram feeds.
Unless there is a specific label that is crucial to understanding the picture, it is better to save the words for your caption.
You can use a little more text with your Instagram reels for dentists, which often encourage comments and opinions from the audience or use labels to increase the chatty, playful nature of the format.
Don’t Get Too Caught Up With Filters
Instagram filters can be enjoyable.
In fact, they were a significant feature during Instagram’s early days.
However, seasoned Instagram users can easily recognize a standard stylized filter, and most of them are no longer interested in it.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply that you should not edit your photos to make them look their best.
Instagram provides unique editing tools that enable you to crop and enhance your images.
If you’re serious about making high-quality pictures an essential part of your brand, you may want to consider using professional photo editing software.
However, for most Instagram users, simple but clean, fun, and quick images are the best way to go.
Do not take photos of patients unless you have their permission
It is important to remember that HIPAA rules apply to social media.
Even though Instagram is a casual platform, it is crucial to be mindful of the information you share about your patients online.
Violating HIPAA guidelines in your marketing can lead to severe penalties and loss of patients’ trust.
Fortunately, sharing photos with patient permission is an easy and safe way to stay compliant.
Don’t Overuse Hashtags
It’s important to remember that using more hashtags on Instagram does not always mean better engagement.
While Instagram allows a limit of around 30 hashtags per post, professional Instagram marketers tend to use fewer hashtags than that.
Overusing hashtags can be annoying and repetitive, and may not help your account gain more attention.
Hashtags have become overused and cliched in many circles, but when used wisely, they can be a great way to sort information, participate in fun trends, and expand your reach.
It’s important to use hashtags intentionally and not treat them like an extended word association exercise.
So, before using hashtags in your posts, make sure to do your research and use them wisely.
Don’t Overpost About Dental Services
If you’re a dentist who’s just starting out on Instagram, it can be overwhelming at first.
While your goal is to promote your practice, it’s important to remember that people follow you because they care about their health and your practice.
So, it’s important to prioritize your patients’ needs and interests and make sure your content is valuable to them.
Of course, you can still advertise your services, share your team’s accomplishments, and give advice.
Just make sure you strike a balance and put your patients first.
By doing so, you’ll be able to create a win-win situation for both you and your patients.
Do Use Reels and Stories
Memes and cartoons are entertaining, and pretty sunsets and flyers about upcoming events have their place on Instagram.
However, the main purpose of Instagram is to share moments from your daily life. Think of it as an invitation into your daily routine and the little, happy, interesting, or silly moments that make you love what you do.
In a relationship-based business like a dental practice, photos of people usually perform the best.
Feature candid photos of your team, cheesy grins from your dentist, and fun smiles from your patients.
Don’t be afraid to get real, and make sure it always feels genuine.
Keep in mind to share behind-the-scenes moments
Your dental patients are typically unaware of what happens outside the operatory, and they might be curious to know.
It’s natural to be curious and get a peek behind the curtain.
You can capture visually intriguing and oddly satisfying moments, such as making a dental impression, and showcase them using various video formats.
You can also share photos of you making whitening trays or cleaning instruments and show your patients how your CEREC system works.
Consider giving your followers an insight into your morning huddle.
By doing so, your dental Instagram marketing will thrive, and your followers will feel like VIP insiders.
These are the kinds of things that create a connection between patients and dentist, and it encourages them to think more deeply about their own dental health.
You’ll be amazed at how much your patients will enjoy it!
Do Feature Your Patients
Ultimately, the reason why you do what you do is to serve your patients.
By posting a simple photo of you with your patient, you can demonstrate how much you care about them.
This photo can convey, without the need for words, the importance of a strong relationship in promoting lifelong health.
It also helps to put a human face to your profession and ensures that the primary focus of your Instagram account remains on your patients- the most critical aspect of your work.
Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to showcase more smiling faces and gives your team occasional breaks from the spotlight.
Additionally, featuring your patients on your Instagram account can help you expand your reach as they receive a notification about the picture and can like and comment on it.
Do Spotlight Your Team
Your team is an essential part of your practice, and they work hard to make your patients happy. Therefore, it’s important to celebrate them! One way to do this is by featuring team members in your social media posts. Share some fun facts about each person, such as milestones in their lives, insights from their expertise, and random quirks that patients can relate to. By doing this, you can start new conversations online and in the practice, which will help strengthen the bond between your patients and your team. Don’t forget to tag your team members using their Instagram handles.
Team spotlights can become your most popular posts, so give it a try!
Do Comment Back
It’s important to respond to comments when people leave them on your social media posts. By doing so, you show that you are listening and that you value their input. Additionally, having an engaging and friendly conversation can help attract more people to your posts and ensure that they are seen more often by others.
Always keep your comments professional, courteous, and grateful, and make sure to answer any questions that your followers may have. If the conversation gets heated, invite them to get in touch with you directly to discuss it further. Remember that social media is not just a platform for you to express your views, but it’s a place for conversation.
You and your followers are part of a community, so make sure to nurture it with respect and kindness.
Do Run Contests
Instagram contests are a popular way to engage with your followers and attract new ones. By running regular contests, you can ensure that your content always appears at the top of your followers’ feeds. Additionally, contests can help generate unique and engaging content from your followers, making them a great way to integrate new ideas into your Instagram dental marketing strategy.
Contests don’t need to be overly complicated or time-consuming. It’s important to communicate the details and time frame of the contest clearly to your followers. Use exciting prompts to get everyone excited about the contest, and offer worthwhile incentives to keep your patients engaged. By following these simple guidelines, you can create successful Instagram contests that will help grow your dental practice’s presence on social media.
Do Promote Events
Do you have any upcoming events or promotions in your practice schedule? If so, Instagram is a fantastic way to spread the word! Whether you’re promoting teeth whitening, celebrating a colleague’s retirement, or hosting a charity event, it’s essential to use Instagram to promote your event before, during, and after it takes place. Share details about the event beforehand, and make sure you do it more than once. On the day of the event, take some videos and reels to capture the highlights. You can also use Instagram Live to share special moments and make announcements. After the event, share photos and express gratitude to everyone who helped make it a success.
Social media platforms like Instagram are an excellent way to keep your followers informed and engaged. So, make sure you keep them in the loop!
Do Research and Use Hashtags
We previously advised you to avoid overusing hashtags, but that doesn’t mean you should abandon them altogether. In fact, using relevant and well-researched hashtags can make all the difference between having a growing Instagram account and a stagnant one. Using popular hashtags can help increase your reach by joining in on current trends.
Before using a hashtag, always research it first. You may be surprised to find out that the phrase is used for something completely different than what you had anticipated. You may also discover that one phrase has much more traffic than another. For instance, #dentalhealtheducation generates much more traffic than #dentalhealthtips.
If you’re using a hashtag for a contest, be sure to use a unique one that can effectively sort posts.
Do Respond to Tagged Photos
When someone uses your Instagram username in their post, it means you’ve been tagged. This is a great way to get noticed by people. However, some people use this technique to get more followers on their account.
If you receive a tag from someone who doesn’t fit your target audience or isn’t connected to your practice in any way, you may choose not to engage. However, it’s always a good idea to respond with friendliness, gratitude, and courtesy. Most of the time, tags will come from your existing patients, team members, or professional connections.
So, if you get tagged by them, make sure to respond!
Do Start Recording Video
Instagram is not only for sharing still photos but also a great platform for sharing videos. You can share your videos on Instagram in several ways, including in-feed posts, stories, reels, or through Instagram Live.
If you’re not leveraging videos in your dental social media marketing, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to maximize your Instagram account’s potential. Studies suggest that video content performs better than images in terms of engagement and reach on Instagram.
Do Follow Other Local Businesses and Hashtags
It is important to remember that as a business, you are not alone in your community. You are part of a larger conversation and community.
By following other local businesses, you can stay up-to-date with what is happening in your area and get inspiration for ways to participate in local events.
Building connections and friendships with other local businesses can also create opportunities for cross-promotion and collaboration.
Working together with professional businesses that have a similar client base as you can be a great way to increase your presence.
Do Print Photos
Social media can be most effective when it seamlessly integrates with in-person conversations, office habits, and marketing strategies. To achieve this, you can try printing a few of your Instagram photos and displaying them in your office. You may frame them on the counter, post them on a bulletin board, or hang them from a miniature clothesline. Alternatively, you can rotate some photos through one of the television screens in your waiting room. This approach helps promote awareness of your Instagram activity and creates an opportunity to have conversations about your social media platform. Additionally, it adds some warmth to your workspace and fosters a sense of community amongst your team.
However, if you plan to use the photos for print advertising, it’s important to obtain permission from any patients who may appear in the photos.
Would you be interested in learning about how social media can benefit dentists?
Contact us.
