Where is Your Facebook Page Headed – How to Create A Basic Facebook Marketing Plan for Your Practice

Would you get into a car without knowing where you are going?  Seems silly, however many practices dive into social marketing without plans.   A recent informal poll of dental practices actively marketing in Facebook revealed that the majority, over 80%, had no plan in place.

A basic Facebook marketing plan can help you and your team to be organized, consistent, and most importantly effective. Here are five major plan components to keep in mind.

1.  Who – Who will be responsible for managing your Facebook efforts?  This person will monitor, interact and post on behalf of your practice.

2.  What –  What will your practice post about?   Will your focus be on sedation dentistry, cosmetics, dental implants or perio disease?  Remember, it’s also important to post non-dental, social, items from time to time.

3.  When –  When will your practice participate on Facebook?  Will you check-in “whenever you have time” or will you schedule specific days of the week to check for comments, interact, and post?

4. How –  How will you inform your patients about your practice Page?  What tactical methods will you employ to promote your Facebook community?  For example, you may decide to use email, incentives, or special business cards.

5. Why –  Why are you participating in Facebook marketing?  Is it to build a lively online community or simply push out dental messaging?  Either intention will deliver two totally different results …

It’s important that you determine what you want to achieve by establishing a presence in Facebook.  Hold a Facebook plan discussion with your team at your next staff meeting. Together you can create a basic, yet effective, one-page plan.  You’ll find a plan will make it easier for you to sustain your efforts in the long term, as well as to track and note successes.

Do you have a plan in place?