Avoid Online Obsoletion with Facebook Ads
Technology is a fickle beast. One moment, a platform is all the rage, the next, it is completely obsolete. As a result, there are plenty of headstones in the cyber cemetery: AOL Instant Messenger, MySpace, Friendster… but one social networking site that has proven to be enduring is Facebook. Its cousins have limitations that prevent them from reaching immortality: Twitter limits users to 140 characters, Instagram features only photographs and videos, and LinkedIn is myopic in its business focus. Facebook, however, does it all – messaging, status updates, photos, and videos – making it the ideal social networking site to promote your dental practice.
My Dental Agency has often touted the importance of posting to Facebook to improve relationships with current patients and reach out to potential patients; after all, sixty-seven percent of Americans have Facebook accounts. The true value of using this platform to promote your practice lies in the demographic data on each user that Facebook stores. Each “like” and “share” allows them to refine that data and target the very specific needs of their users. Facebook knows who is looking for a dentist, where they are located, and sometimes what service they need – and they know it faster than you can say “Google search.”
Facebook account holders – both personal and commercial – already understand the value of using it for “social” networking, but very few practices are aware of the advantages of using the Facebook ad platform. Consumers are inundated with advertisements. TV commercials, billboards, pop-up ads, fliers, even bathroom stall doors – these omnipresent tricks of the trade can be overwhelming. None of those options allow consumers to read reviews, assess proximity, or view credentials. Facebook sifts through the superfluous and sends those in need directly to your practice page, where they can see all of the aforementioned and make an informed decision about your practice.
Facebook users want to follow businesses that suit their needs, but they also want to be informed and entertained. A twenty-second video highlighting a new procedure or product, a picture of a skeleton with a toothy grin at Halloween, or a mini-biography of a new employee – all can be used to drive people to your practice while those without the Facebook presence fight to claw their way through the jumble of digital detritus. While posting regularly and responding to reviews, comments, and inquiries may seem daunting, doing so is both necessary and worth the investment of your time. One of My Dental Agency’s specialties is helping you maintain your online presence. Too busy? Too unfamiliar with Facebook? They’ve got you covered.
While there are multiple layers of Facebook ad management, MDA has identified a few to get you started.
You can “promote your page” by targeting your current patients using their email and asking them to “like” your page. This is an easy and effective way to grow your practice page and stay connected with your patients.
With prospective patients, you can target those who work or live near your office by using the “Reach people near your business” ad. This ad provides a map so prospective patients can easily get directions to your practice and Facebook is now allowing you to track those results.
You can use videos to inform potential patients about your practice or the services you offer. Video is a great way to get their attention and build practice awareness, and you can even offer specials for new patients to claim
All of these are a must to maximize your online presence.
Before you allow your practice to go the way of MySpace, consider utilizing the Facebook ad platform. My Dental Agency can help you promote your practice like nobody’s business, keeping you smiling and on this side of the corporate cemetery.
