How to create and manage an effective Facebook page for your practice

By Glenn Lombardi

Taking the plunge and creating a Facebook page for your practice may be one of the most unfamiliar, yet important, steps you make for your online marketing efforts. Building a Facebook page can broaden your online exposure, serve as a valuable educational resource, and improve your ability to connect with new and existing patients for increased referrals.

You can learn how to set up your page yourself, or you can seek the expertise of a professional in dental online marketing who can help you take your social media campaign to the next level.

Step 1: Create your page.

The first step is setting up your page, which involves registering and completing the basic information. Many practices get through this step and then come to a screeching halt, leaving their page without activity, which is even less valuable than if the page was never created in the first place.

After you’ve set up your page, you’ll want to expand on its content and design so that it reflects your practice and is appealing to visitors. There are many interactive features available that allow you to personalize your page and better engage your followers. An online dental marketing provider can help you choose the most useful features for your page and even build custom tabs that set your page apart from your competitors and encourage patient engagement.

Step 2: Get fans.

So you have a practice Facebook page. Now what? You need to get fans if you want to encourage participation and empower your existing patients to spread the word about your practice to their network of followers. There are a number of practical things you can do to grow your Facebook following. For starters, make sure you’ve added your social media icons on your website home page. You should also include your Facebook URL on all of your other marketing materials, including brochures, mailers, and newsletters. Most of your patients are already using Facebook daily and will be excited to become a fan of your page. An integrated approach that incorporates your social media strategy with your website is the best way to manage your online brand and increase the number of people following your practice on Facebook.

Step 3: Start connecting.

Most importantly, you’ll want to engage regularly on your Facebook page by posting content. No other online channel gives you such a direct way to connect with your patients on a daily basis.

Your posts can range from video testimonials and images to promotions, dental health tips, and articles. An automated blog management service provided by your online marketing provider is a great (and easy) way to streamline the entire content management process, keeping your Facebook page updated regularly with informational articles from your blog.

Consistency is the key to a successful social media campaign and increased referrals. Regular participation from your practice, combined with assistance from your online marketing provider, can help you thrive on Facebook and take your online marketing to a new height.

Author bio
Glenn Lombardi is president of Officite, LLC, the No. 1 provider of websites and Internet presence management strategies for the dental community. Officite has built more than 6,000 websites that have generated hundreds of thousands of appointment requests since 2002. To learn more, visit www.officite.com or call (800) 908-2483.