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Contact Us if you have more questions and thank you for your cooperation.

Seven Creative Social Media Content Sources for Dentists

Author: Heather King
Heather King

Heather King

Heather King has over 10 years of experience leading comprehensive marketing campaigns that include traditional marketing and advertising, social media and content marketing, public relations, and internal communications. As the social media director for Infinity Dental Web, she manages the development, deployment, and strategic vision of client and agency social media programs, training a team of community managers on best practices in sharing content. When not obsessing over engaging content, she’s cheering for Chicago sports teams. A self-proclaimed favorite aunt, Heather spends hours consuming any news story she can get her hands on, playing with her rescue dogs, and planning her upcoming nuptials.
03.29.16 / 9:42 am

To me there’s nothing more daunting than sitting down in front of a blank Word document or content calendar. That’s one of the reasons I use templates—although my tendency to overthink things might also play a part in that…

Creating content is the hardest thing we do in social media. Every blog post, status update, Periscope, and ad need to provide value while being engaging, conversational, pithy, and witty. And, it should go without saying; content should also be grammar and spelling mistake free, and within brand guidelines.

As a dentist, or member of a practice’s team, generating social media content probably isn’t the first thing on your mind in the morning. Here are some ideas to help you cultivate shareable content, or to use as inspiration for your own content.

1. Social media content should be social

Use social media to cultivate relationships with existing and potential patients. Allow them to get to know you by posting pictures and videos of your team celebrating a team member’s birthday or from content you’re hosting in the office. Awards establish your authority, so post links to the magazine or organization that named you the “Valley’s Best Dentist.”

The types of content are up to you, and should reflect your brand. For example, if you’re a luxury cosmetic dentist focusing on smile makeovers in LA or New York, shy away from photos featuring your grandkids. Instead, establish yourself as an expert in your field—perhaps post a picture of you with a celebrity client or lecturing on an advanced cosmetic technique.

2. A little bit professional, a little bit rock and roll

Follow or like the professional organizations to which you belong (eg, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), charities you’re affiliated with (eg, board member for March of Dimes, volunteer for Give Back a Smile), and the brands you offer (eg, Invisalign®, Zoom Whitening, Sonicare). Share or re-tweet content they post.

3. Keep it local

Follow a local news channel and share or comment on local news. This increases your organic visibility.

For example, we have a client who’s a Phoenix Suns fan. When the Phoenix Suns participated in a birthday party for a boy in the hospital, our client commented that he was proud to be a Suns fan. This is a great way to expose him to the more than 1.7M fans of the Phoenix Suns Facebook page.

4. A picture—or infographic—is worth a thousand words

Content doesn’t always have to be written, but it does have to provide value. Cartoons or memes may be funny occasionally, but use these sparingly. They can cheapen your image and provide little value, and therefore no reason for a visitor to return to your page for more expert advice.

If you have graphic design or video skills, create something visual. If you have no skills, Canva.com, has infographic and other visual templates you can fill in with your own images and information. Be sure to pay attention to image copyright limitations and attribute when appropriate. Blogger and social media strategist Jeff Bullas recently wrote a blog post featuring 20 Cool Tools for Creating Infographics.

If you’re going to share an image, be sure it’s the correct size.

5. All you really need to know about social media, you learned in kindergarten

In the real world, sharing sucks. Seriously. No, I have no interest in giving you my last Portillo’s cheese fry.

In the social media world, we share—a lot. For every piece of self-serving marketing or sales content, you should post four educational or interesting pieces of content from other sources and one post
of a lighter nature (think, a behind-the-scenes picture of your reception desk).

The challenge: curating four articles.

Articles about general dental health, the dental industry, and healthy living make for great sharing material. Sources include blogs like MyNewSmile and PatientConnect365Dentistry TodayMen’s Health, and MindBodyGreen. There are a plethora of health and dental-related magazines and blogs available online. Because, you know, the internet.

After you gather this content you can do one of two things:

  1. Post a link to the article and include comments about the article. Something like, “Wow! We tried tip number three and we’re blown away.”
  2. Use the article inspiration for your own blog post. For example, after reading an article about dentistry apps, you could put together a list of your favorite apps for encouraging proper brushing techniques.

6. Hashtag bling that post

Use hashtag themes to inspire your content for a particular day. We have several cosmetic dental clients who use #MakeoverMonday to highlight their smile galleries. And a general dentist client who dabbles in health education shares tips for healthy living on #WellnessWednesday.

7. Jump on the bandwagon

Pay attention to what’s trending. Social media trends are the one time you won’t be made fun of for jumping on the bandwagon (Yep, I’m talking to you Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers “fans”).

Is it national coffee day? Great! Share an article about the many places giving away free coffee with a comment about your teeth whitening services. Be aware of what a hashtag or trend is really about. Sometimes a seemingly positive hashtag may have a negative intention.

How about a bonus tip?

Planning what you’re going to post days or weeks ahead of time empowers you to be creative because you’re not under the gun. I use a content calendar to pre-schedule content for Infinity Dental Web and MyNewSmile.

Not all content is appropriate for all clients, your brand and persona will determine what content makes sense. Know your voice and clearly define brand guidelines to any employee who’s posting on your behalf.

Where’s your favorite source for great content? Tell us in the comments.

Heather King

Heather King has over 10 years of experience leading comprehensive marketing campaigns that include traditional marketing and advertising, social media and content marketing, public relations, and internal communications. As the social media director for Infinity Dental Web, she manages the development, deployment, and strategic vision of client and agency social media programs, training a team of community managers on best practices in sharing content. When not obsessing over engaging content, she’s cheering for Chicago sports teams. A self-proclaimed favorite aunt, Heather spends hours consuming any news story she can get her hands on, playing with her rescue dogs, and planning her upcoming nuptials.

Heather King

Heather King

Heather King has over 10 years of experience leading comprehensive marketing campaigns that include traditional marketing and advertising, social media and content marketing, public relations, and internal communications. As the social media director for Infinity Dental Web, she manages the development, deployment, and strategic vision of client and agency social media programs, training a team of community managers on best practices in sharing content. When not obsessing over engaging content, she’s cheering for Chicago sports teams. A self-proclaimed favorite aunt, Heather spends hours consuming any news story she can get her hands on, playing with her rescue dogs, and planning her upcoming nuptials.

31 responses to “Seven Creative Social Media Content Sources for Dentists”

  1. Good post Heather! I find that posting pictures from around the office or from our team have a much higher reach than other kinds of posts.

  2. This post is very informative. In this digital age that almost everyone is involved in social media platforms, it is imperative that your content is crafted in excellence to catch your audience’s attention. In the busy day of the a dentist a service of an expert in digital marketing will help in the process.www.spargoconnect.com

  3. Great post Heather. we are into the same type of industry proiding denta services. We are always live on social media pages and have to maintain them on a regular basis. Your post have given us a different idea and taken to a diferent level of marketing. Canvas.com is something I would like to try first for my infographics.

  4. Hello Heather ,
    Thanks for your great blog.
    To be honest, i always try to engange with social network for my profession and my dental clinic.
    By reading your blog, i can do social engagement more professionally.
    Thnaks again and keep sharing new trend.
    Cheers
    Arran

  5. I find it’s always worth writing some social media guidelines, so that everyone knows what they can and should say. The guidelines shouldn’t just be negative stuff, but it can really set the tone, while also making clear the feel and style of the content that’s expected.

  6. Hi

    First of all thanks for the great post and all the information that you are giving us.
    I find this article very intresting, especially point 2 because it’s very difficult to be a little bit rock & roll and stay professional at the same time.

    Personally we are trying to give professional advice while publishing creative content to avoid being too boring.
    Check our blog here: https://maryleboneimplantcentre.co.uk/blog/

    Thanks for reading

  7. Being social is quite working statergy for dentist. Being original is most cruical as its related to health. Want to go viral and successful go for infographics. Its easy and people love visual explanation. Very nice read. Dentist in Orangeville

  8. This is a great lesson for all business owners. In the spirit of sharing we would love to share these tips on our website and newsletter! Great Job!

  9. This post is truly informative. My family friend, a Bozeman Dentist in Montana is always busy with his patients. I recommend him to increase his presence on social networking sites, as in this digital age almost everyone is involved in social media platform.

  10. Dentists would surely rock the social media ads they’re going to make. But of course, the question of it is or it’s not painful is still on.

  11. Super helpful article. Thank you for sharing your social content calendar template! I’ve found those useful for remembering holidays and varying the types of content we post.

  12. Great info, Heather. I agree, dental clinics should raise their game in this higly competitive business/dental world. Social media is now an integral part of many businesses including dental clinics. If you’re not online, how else will you reach your audience who are surfing the internet every single day? I suggest, quit ghosting around and start building your online presence with top outsourcing companies, like Cloudstaff.

  13. Excellent inforfation Heather. I agree,dentle clinics should raise thier game in this highly competitive business/dental world.If you are not online,how else will you reach your audiance who are surfing the internet everyday.

  14. Heather, these continue to be great resources even in 2021! Thanks so much, and I also found another great suggestion from another blog here that has free resources for dentists… postsformypatients.com –> great for free social media content for dentists as well. Again, thanks for the great article and resources!

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