I’ll keep this simple because I know all of the dentists we work with are swamped.
I will say that if you don’t already have an Instragram account, then I don’t believe it’s crucial to get one. This is just a quick list of ideas to improve your account and get more engagement if you’re already using Instagram regularly.
- Setup a business account if you’re using a regular, personal account
Benefit: Get simple metrics for your account and determine the best day/time of day to post to get more likes, comments, and clicks to your profile link.
How to: Go onto your profile page by clicking the circle profile photo in the far bottom right. Next, click the gear or 3 dots in the top right corner (Image 1 below). Lastly, select “Switch to Business Profile” from the menu (Image 2 below). You can also connect your Instagram account to your Facebook business page if you haven’t already. This will allow you to easily post pictures to both accounts at the same time.
Once your business account is turned on, you’ll see the little bar graph on your profile page in the top right corner (see image below). Go there to get feedback on post engagement and followers.
2. Get More Followers and Web Traffic with an Informative Bio
Benefit: The bio will quickly help new people decide if you’re worth following. You can also use it to encourage people to visit your site or sign up for an offer.
How to:
- Use pictures of smiling people in the profile photo unless you have a recognizable logo. People like to buy from people they like so help them connect with you using a good photo of you or your team.
- Use industry keywords in the bio that help strangers easily figure out what it is that you offer. That way they can easily and quickly decide if your account is one they might like to follow.
- Bio keywords also also searchable so use words that people might be looking for like Invisalign provider, CITY NAME Dentist, etc.
- A strong bio also includes a call to action whether it be “email for inquiry”, or “visit our website”.
- And lastly you need to have a link to wherever it is that you’d like to drive traffic. This could be your website or blog. This works really well if you lead followers somewhere that will add them to your email list, like a landing page with an offer on it. Since Instagram tends to have a younger demographic, this could be an offer for teeth whitening or Invisalign.
Bio Examples:
3. Create Engaging Content
Benefit: Get more people engaged with your account so that new people can find you.
How to:
- Put thought into your descriptions and tagging. The description of your post is just as important as the image itself. Always provide additional value, insights, or inspiration as context around your post.
- Before you share a post think to yourself “is this meaningful, entertaining, interesting, funny, informative, resourceful, or motivational”- if not think again before your share it.
- Use a variety of very specific hashtags while avoiding wildly popular ones. The goal is to use hashtags that your potential customers are already browsing. Look at some of the hashtags your competitors are using as well as ones your followers are using. You can use up to 30 hashtags on each post.
- You’ll also want to choose at least one hashtag that is unique to your business. Start tagging your own pictures with it and include it in your bio.
- Post ideas for dentists include – before and after photo, patient photos after completing a treatment, interesting “Did you know?” posts, inspirational quotes/images, photos of your team, special offers, and reminders (i.e. use your insurance before the end of the year).
4. Use Tools to Make Posting Easier
Benefit: Schedule posts all at once for the week or month so you don’t have to login to your account and post daily/weekly.
How to: Check out Buffer or Hootsuite to upload posts (images and text) in advance and schedule when they get posted.
The speaker, Sue Zimmerman, has also created a PDF called the 2017 Guide to Instagram. Click here to read it now if you want more info about using Instagram for your practice.
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