Location based social media is growing in popularity and can help your practice gain free exposure through what amounts to an online word-of-mouth advertising campaign. When parents use their smartphone to check-in they are announcing to the world that they trust your services. Their friends and family will know that they count your practice as their dental home.
With parents frequently using their mobile devices while in your office, here are four ideas to make sure you are capturing the full power of the check-in. While these tips can be used for any location based social media app, such as Foursquare, they are geared specifically to leading new fans to your Facebook page.
- Make it easy. Your patients will be excited to know that you are online and active. Tell them where to find you and don’t make them search for it. Consider displaying a QR code, which not only peaks curiosity, but makes it even easier for them to find you online.
- Offer an incentive. Give patients a reason to check in by utilizing a promotion that rewards them for doing so. Your signage might include an offer for a giveaway, entry into a monthly contest, or discount on a special service. Whatever your reward, the goal is to catch their attention and make them want to check in. (Here is a great example of how this could work for your practice.)
- Get Creative. Most smartphones allow more than just a simple check-in to your practice. You might also suggest that patients leave a message. Your promotional materials might ask a question like “What’s your favorite thing about your dentist?” to encourage them to add a comment to their check-in. You can even place signage at checkout, asking them to upload a quick picture of their child with his or her biggest smile. Think outside the box and put together something that makes your posts standout. The more attention the check-in receives, the more people that are likely to see it online.
- Reconnect & Engage. We can never stress enough that social media is about relationship building. When someone checks in to your practice on Facebook, they are creating an opportunity where you can publicly thank them for checking in. Consider responding to their post, letting them know how much you appreciate their business. Not only will that personal touch increase loyalty for current patients, but because of the viral nature of social media, it increases your reach to potential patients as well.
The greatest advantage of social media and Facebook in particular is that it extends your marketing voice far outside the walls of your practice. Nearly every single parent that walks through your doors can help you develop the most sought after (and effective) method of advertising there is – the recommendation of a friend.
