28 Easy Dental Marketing Social Media Ideas
The hardest part of dental marketing on social media is the same as the hardest part of everything else, coming up with effective social media marketing ideas and staying consistent. With everything that goes into running a successful dental practice, it’s a wonder that dental professionals even have time to breathe.
And with so much to do, it’s easy to delay things that you might see as secondary to patient care, such as blogging on your site and staying consistent on social media. Although a dental practice is built on clinical expertise and effective management, a dental practice thrives with smart marketing strategies and a strong online presence.
Fortunately, getting started and staying consistent with dental digital marketing is easier than you think when you have great dental marketing ideas. Try these 28 simple things you can do to build your online presence and help new patients find you.
28 Dental Marketing Social Media Ideas
- Attend the Dental Digital Marketing Conference
- Train Team on HIPAA Social Media Policies
- Run a Dental Office Contest
- Snap & Share Team Photos
- Do a Live Broadcast
- Get Involved in Dental Marketing Charities
- Cross Promote with Local Businesses
- Set up a TikTok Account
- Run a Promotion or Give-a-way
- Leverage Social Media Influencers
- Check your Rankings on Google Maps
- Set up a Google Alert
- Follow All-Star Practices
- Set a Goal for Patient Reviews
- Respond to Reviews Comments, & Posts
- Ask for Patient Feedback
- Check your Social Stats
- Keep up on Major Social Trends
- Make a Calendar of Fun Holiday Ideas
- Run a Social Media Awareness Campaign
- Leverage Instagram to Reach Local Consumers
- Film a Dental Tip Video Reel
- Spotlight an Employee
- Set Regular Social Media Brainstorming Meetings
- Run a Social Ad Campaign
- Share an Article on your Google Business Profile
- Confirm your NAP is Correct
- Feature a Special Dental Service
#1 Send your “Social Media Director” to the DDMC
You don’t need to hire a new, dedicated marketing pro to be effective in your social media marketing, but you do need a designated “champion” to take charge and lead your team’s efforts. Choose a team member who is willing to learn, take initiative, and get everyone organized. Empower them with the training and the support by sending them to the Dental Digital Marketing Conference. Discuss and designate a budget for the in-office tools, online resources, and ad spend that they might need.
Most of all, work with your social media director to set concrete goals and a content calendar. Social media is meant to be fun and easy, but success rarely comes without effort and clear objectives.
#2 Train Your Team on Your Social Media & HIPAA Policies
One of your greatest assets on social media is user-generated content. This includes pictures, posts, and reviews that your patients share about you or that you share about them. However, in all dental marketing social media efforts that involve patients, their comfort and privacy come first. Train your team on HIPPA guidelines, and you can be sharing photos and videos worry-free.
When you share photos, videos, and even share patient testimonials you’ll want to be in compliance with HIPAA. Download this social media consent form and use it to get patient authorization.
Also, make sure that your website is HIPAA compliant. Most dental websites now-a-days have integrations with social media accounts and patient reviews. You’ll want to make sure that you have the proper signed patient authorization for any ePHI that is on your website. In addition you’ll want to make sure that your website is up to date on all HIPAA website compliance issues.
#3 Run a Dental Office Contest
Engagement is crucial to growing your practice with social media. One of the most critical questions is, “How do we get our fans to interact with what we post?” The answer isn’t adding “Please Like and comment!” at the end of everything you post. Mostly, it comes down to regularly sharing useful things relevant to followers’ interests or something that makes them smile!
However, quality content alone doesn’t always guarantee engagement. So, occasionally you can take a more strategic approach: run a campaign or contest to give fans a clear reason to Like, share, or comment on a post.
For some inspiration, check out these dental office Facebook contest ideas.
One idea is to have a floss race. Give two team members identical floss boxes, and share a video of them seeing who can unravel it the fastest! Letting your patients and fans occasionally see your team having fun is a great way to strengthen their relationship with your practice.
This dental marketing social media video will give you more ideas for fun team contests and activities.
#4 Snap & Share Team Photos
Our client practices consistently report that one of the best ways to kickstart social media engagement is by sharing photos of team members. When patients become familiar with your team and are engaged on a personal level, you build the relationships that allow your practice to thrive.
Are you looking for a new way to make pictures fun and unique? Order this free set of social media signs, or you can download this set of digital signs and print them in your office. The digital set of signs is great for capturing moments with your team.
#5 Do a Facebook or Youtube Live Broadcast
Facebook Live and Youtube Live are simple, effective ways for anyone to create engaging video content. All you need is a phone! Don’t overthink the process. Facebook and Youtube Live broadcasts are meant to be informal and off-the-cuff. Pick a topic that will serve the format, like a contest winner announcement, a holiday greeting from your team, or a new team member highlight. Announce your broadcast ahead of time, invite your followers to participate, and have fun with it!
#6 Get Involved in a Dental Marketing Charity
Charitable giving brings a host of unexpected benefits to your practice. It fosters a sense of team unity, impacts your patients’ perception of your brand and your values, enables new community connections, and increases feelings of gratitude in both you and your patients.
There are plenty of ways to synthesize your dental office’s charitable giving campaign and your social media marketing. Sharing information about your goals and your passion for the project online raises visibility and money for the organization. At the same time, your followers’ willingness to be a part of something good will increase your posts’ visibility and reach.
We’ve helped practices put this idea into practice with a turnkey campaign. Learn more about our free whiten for charity campaign.
#7 Cross Promote with a Local Business
One of the biggest challenges of dental marketing social media and general online marketing is ensuring that your posts are seen by people who are geographically close enough to use your services. One way to appeal to potential new patients in your community is by working with other local businesses. Follow your favorite restaurant, local artists, and the business next door. Share their posts when it makes sense to do so and give them a shout out for a job well done.
As a good neighbor, they’ll probably do the same. You can even team up to do a giveaway, offering gift certificates for local services during your promotions in the office.
#8 Set up an Account on TikTok
If you have not yet set up a TikTok account, get one now! Video is the most popular content format on social media, and TikTok is the king of engaging, viral video content. Its hyper-curated algorithm ensures that your content is served to those who will enjoy it, and the informal format will give your whole office a chance to cut loose.
Not sure where to start? Check out these easy approaches to dentist marketing on TikTok. You may also want to take a look at our guide to TikTok and Instagram Reels eBook.
#9 Run a Promotion or Give-a-way
Doing frequent, small prize giveaways is an excellent way to show patient appreciation and keep people coming back to your page! Even the chance to win a $10 gift card is enough for fans to Like, comment, and share with friends — which helps new patients find you. Giveaways are also a great way to create dental marketing video content.
#10 Leverage Local Social Media Influencers
In the evolving world of dental marketing, influencer marketing is emerging as a potent tool, focusing not on celebrities but on micro-influencers within the patient community.
Many dental patients with strong local followings can be potential influencers. The key is genuinely approaching them and offering collaborations like dental services in exchange for social media exposure. A case in point is Natalie Montez, a local photographer who partnered with her dentist, Dr. Harmon. She shared her veneer treatment journey on Instagram, increasing visibility and trust for Dr. Harmon’s practice. This approach underscores the immense value and confidence in genuine influencer endorsements in the digital age.
Dentists should seriously consider venturing into influencer marketing as a strategy and investment in their practice’s future. Tapping into the authenticity and trust that local influencers command can lead to unparalleled visibility and preference in the community.
It’s not merely about being found by potential local patients but about positioning oneself as the premier dental practice in the area. By harnessing the power of genuine endorsements, dentists can elevate their practice’s reputation and become the go-to choice for dental care in their locality.
#11 See how You’re Ranking on Google Maps
Because most healthcare decisions start with an online search, dental practices must ensure their online footprint is robust and effective. If you’re yet to assess your digital standing, it might be the right moment to critically evaluate how your online visibility compares to other local dental competitors.
One of the most frequented platforms patients turn to is Google Maps. It begs the question: When local patients seek dental services, does your practice appear as a top option on Google Maps?
Interestingly, many dental professionals must be aware that Google allows dentists to enhance their Business Profile. Improving your business profile isn’t merely about updating details but involves optimizing your profile to achieve a higher ranking on Google Maps. With the right tweaks, your practice can become visible across an expanded geographic area, capturing the attention of potential patients well beyond your immediate surroundings.
By taking these steps, you boost your digital visibility and position your practice as a top choice, often outshining competitors. In a realm where online presence directly correlates with patient acquisition, optimizing your Google Business Profile is no longer just an option—it’s a strategic imperative.
#12 Set Up a Google Alert
Communication on social media is best when it’s instantaneous and of the moment. A Google alert on keywords like “dental news” “ADA,” and “dental health” can help you know about breaking stories and trending topics before others hear about them. These alerts can be a great way to generate fresh new ideas for your regular social media posts. You might even want to save an alert for your own practice name and any special services you offer. Just go to google.com/alerts, make sure you’re logged into the account you want to have notified, and enter your topics of interest.
#13 Get New Ideas from All-Star Practices
We often interview our star practices. Here is a recent webinar with an orthodontic practice in Laredo TX by the name of Advanced Orthodontics. They’ve had huge success with their TikTok account. After all, successful practices have great dental marketing social media strategies.
Looking for more all-star dental practices? Check out our blog posts, we’re always highlighting practices there. We also have several dental marketing case studies that may help.
#14 Set a Goal for Patient Google Reviews
Getting positive Google reviews is one of the best things you can do to grow your practice’s online reputation and visibility. It’s especially important for your local SEO, an area of digital marketing which will provide some of the best ROI for your location-based business. While most dentists are familiar with the harm bad reviews can do, they don’t fully understand the importance of positive reviews in creating a healthy online presence. Build a consistent flow of favorable patient reviews by downloading this Free Google review marketing kit.
#15 Respond to all Reviews, Comments, & Visitor Posts
Show patients and fans that you’re available and listening by responding to any reviews, comments, or posts they leave on any of your profiles. Even a simple “Thanks! We appreciate your feedback!” will let them know you care.
#16 Ask for Patient Feedback
Use social media or send an email to occasionally ask patients and fans what they appreciate or would change about your practice and social media pages. You can even use surveys built into the functionality of reels and Facebook posts to get instant feedback.
#17 Check Your Social Stats
Use Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok analytics tools to see which posts are your most popular. This information can help you learn more about your followers’ interests, the best times of day to post, and what content has gotten the most interaction over the last year. You can get more information on social media stats here.
#18 Catch up on Major Social Media Trends
Social media is all about “what’s new.” Follow a few tech and pop culture news sources like Mashable and Buzzfeed to help you stay current. Trending hashtags on Facebook and Twitter can also help you tap into popular topics. Test some trending topics out by posting as part of your dental marketing social media strategy.
#19 Make a Calendar of Fun Holidays
Holidays are always a great way to shake things up and connect online. But don’t limit yourself to bank holidays… celebrate Tooth Fairy Day by sporting a tutu or take the team out for Taco Tuesday. Find a good calendar online and plan ahead so you don’t miss something that generates great interaction and conversations, like National Pet Day.
#20 Run a Social Media Awareness Campaign
As a health provider, you have the responsibility and honor to inform your patients on topics that affect their wellbeing. Don’t let oral cancer awareness month go by without reminding your patients how important it is to get a screening. You may also chime in on topics like diabetes or heart disease to help patients know how it correlates with their dental health. You may even want to go the extra mile by fundraising for a cause. Remember to utilize hashtags to engage in the conversation with other healthcare organizations and representatives online.
#21 Leverage Instagram to Reach Local Consumers
If your practice hasn’t gotten started on Instagram, now is the time. Instagram makes it easy to share quick, fun, visual content, amplifying your dental marketing social media strategy. You can even link your Instagram account to your Facebook account and easily post to both platforms to save time. To make the most of your account, keep up on trending topics, use smart hashtags, and engage with your community.
#22 Film a Quick Dental Tip Video Reel
You’ve demonstrated it for your patients a million times: how to brush in a circular motion, how to floss with a permanent retainer, how to recognize the signs of bruxism… So why not film a quick video for your patients and post it online? Video content is great for Facebook and Instagram reels, YouTube, and TikTok. Keep it short and sweet, and you just might surprise someone who’ll realize they’ve been doing it wrong this whole time!
#23 Spotlight an Employee
The human connections between your team members and your patients are what keep your practice healthy and thriving. They also happen to make the best social content. Take a moment to share a pic of a team member and have all your followers join in on celebrating him or her. You might even share some fun facts or challenge your followers to guess some personal trivia to make it interesting.
Use the life events social sign pack to capture great team moments.
#24 Set Regular Brainstorming and Goal-Setting Meetings with the Team
You don’t need to do any of this alone! The most effective and genuine social media marketing is a group effort. Help get everyone in your team on board with social media marketing using contests and incentives. Take time to celebrate small victories, and make sure that everyone knows their contributions are valued. If your team is feeling shy about speaking up, you might select a “Social Media Representative of the Month” to give everyone a turn to take charge and feel a sense of ownership over the success of your marketing efforts.
#25 Run a Social Ad Campaign
Regular, sustained growth online is usually best served by regular, sustained posting and engagement. However, every once in a while it’s worth putting some money behind your content and turbocharging your efforts in order to get more reach out of your dental marketing social media. Facebook has one of the most robust and targeted tools for finding promising new audiences for your content. To get the most out of your ad spend, be thoughtful about the content you promote. Utilize your best pictures and feature an introductory offer that will inspire action. As long as you have a Business page on Facebook, you already have the tools you need to get started with a Facebook paid ad campaign.
#26 Share an Article on your Google Business Profile
You can post updates to your Google Business Profile which helps it to rank better on Google maps.
Not everything you post has to be made from scratch. If you see an article online that is relevant to your patients and fans, create a post linking to it and write a few sentences about why you feel it’s important. This is a great way for a doctor who’s pressed for time to participate!
You’ll want to follow some of your favorite brands to find great content. You should also follow My Social Practice’s Facebook, Instagram and Youtube accounts so that you can be apprised of all the cool trending posts we create and find. Most of them you’ll be able to repost on your own social media channels.
#27 Make sure your NAP Information is Up-To-Date
While this suggestion may feel a little less exciting than others, it’s an important move that can have a big impact. Local SEO depends on consistent listings across the internet, which means that your name, address, and phone number should always be accurate and up to date. Check your contact information on every social media platform you own, along with your website, Google listing, and any referral site such as ZocDoc or HealthGrades.
Your SEO rankings will be improved through updating your data.
#28 Feature a Special Service
If you’re like most dental practices, even your most loyal patients don’t actually know all of your services. In fact, they may even be drawn away to another practice who offers same-day crowns or advanced oral-cancer-detecting technology… not knowing that you offer that very same thing in your office! Choose a special tool or service from your office and give your patients a brief introduction. You might make a brief video to share on your Facebook and Instagram reels, or share promotional materials provided by your supplier.
Do you offer Invisalign as a service? Then you may enjoy using this complimentary set of social media signs to help promote Invisalign.
What about digital smile makeovers for those patients considering cosmetic or full arch reconstruction. There’s a great product out there by PreVu software.
GUESS WHAT? We Can Help
Looking for more great ideas for your dental social media marketing? Follow us for a never-ending stream of creativity, or reach out to our team to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you thrive online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is social media the best digital marketing strategy?
Think of social media as a social proof statement. Once someone has found your practice they then look at your social media accounts as a way to get to know you. If you are active on your social media channels they become a formidable tool for encouraging patients to choose your practice.
Social media is best in a found-and-chosen marketing strategy. Some marketing ideas for a dental office help practices to be found and others help the practice to be chosen. There isn’t any one digital marketing strategy that on its own, is the best. The best practice is to have an unified strategy that helps patients find your practice and choose you.
Which social media accounts should a dental practice use to find new patients?
Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are the social media accounts that most consumers use to investigate and research a company, especially local businesses. We recommend that dental practices focus on these three and also to focus on video content over photography.
For specialists we recommend adding LinkedIn to the list. LinkedIn is a professional network and it’s a great way for a dentist to connect with Endodontists, Orthodontists, Pediatric practices and other specialists.
Can I share patient photos on social media?
Sharing patient photos online can be one of the best ways to connect with your audience, showcase your services, and improve your online presence through dental marketing social media. It can also be your greatest source for engaging social media content. However, as a medical professional, you need to follow the proper HIPAA guidelines before sharing any patient information, including photos, videos, and reviews.
Before sharing anything patient-related, have them sign a HIPAA compliant photo release form. Even if a patient has one on file, it’s good practice to have them sign one before you share anything new. The last thing you want is to break patient trust or face a HIPAA compliance fine.
How can I better market my dental practice?
If you want to grow your practice and attract new patients, investing in marketing for dentists is a great way to kickstart your efforts. For example, social media is an amazing tool for diving into different and unique ways to market your practice. You can utilize the community-building features within social media, create fun and engaging short videos, and connect with your community just by using these platforms effectively.
If patient growth is your goal, maximize the tools already at your disposal: your dental marketing social media, website, and Google Business Profile. Optimizing your efforts in these areas will help attract new patients without paying for costly ads.
How do you use SEO as a dentist?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of improving your website to attract new traffic and rank higher on the search engine results page (SERP). Getting into the top spots on the SERP can vastly impact how much traffic you see on your website.
SEO for dentists means putting the latest SEO strategies into practice as a dental professional. You’ll want to optimize your website with keywords that target your demographic (i.e. dentists in [location], pediatric dentists, root canal specialists). Consider using a dental marketing agency to maximize your impact with dental SEO.
Watch this dental SEO training seminar to help you get started.
Do photos matter for SEO?
Your photos can be a valuable asset to your overall SEO strategy. The metadata (the alt text and image titles) is how search engine algorithms properly categorize and index images for search. You want to implement current dental SEO strategies for images so that you don’t miss out on this valuable piece of your SEO strategy.
This will look like using original content whenever possible, including valuable keywords in your alt descriptions, and choosing the right file format so that photos load quickly and don’t slow down your website.
What makes a good dental website design?
Your dental website design is often the first impression that patients and dental partners have of your practice. Your website should not only look good, but function well in order to convert website visitors into patients and boost your rankings on Google.
The best dental website designs use cohesive and clean design elements, include organic videos and photos, and use the latest SEO strategies to improve the overall functionality of the website.
About the Author: Adrian Lefler is a dental marketing expert and a key member of the dental marketing team at My Social Practice. My Social Practice is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Adrian is passionate about helping dental practices grow through transparent and effective dental marketing services. If you have any dental marketing questions, give us a call at 877-316-7516. And, don’t forget to read our Google My Business reviews.