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Posts Tagged ‘Facebook’

Like it or not, Facebook has changed the look and layout of their Profile page.  Some areas we had before, such as the small bio box underneath our photo, have been removed, while other areas, such  as the banner across the top of the page has been added.

 Aliza Sherman’s Mashable post How To: Customize The New Facebook Profile helps you make the most of these changes and shows you how you can modify some of the sections for more control over what is displayed.

Remember this only effects your Profile page, not your Business “Like” page.

Have you changed your setting to the new Profile?  What do you like or dislike about it?

Technorati Tags: Facebook, Facebook Profile Page, Facebook settings, How to change new Facebook Profile settings, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, New Setting for Facebook Profile, social media marketing

“Getting to Know You” is a show tune sung by Julie Andrews from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, but it could very well be the theme of social media.  Social Media:  Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You.

Traditional marketing  such as telephone book ads, magazine ads, and direct mail are static ads.  Once mailed there isn’t any more contact unless someone replies to the ad. The only thing the viewer knows about you is just what you’ve been able to place within the ad space.  There’s no interaction and the ad just stays there until the next ad renewal only to be renewed “as is”. 

With Social Media Marketing such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and your blog, there’s no limit to the amount of information the viewer can learn about you, your practice, your team, and your skills.  In addition to practice information, the viewer also can learn about your hobbies, your interests, even your likes and dislikes. 

Yes, social media has given dentists the opportunity to show personality, to show skills, to show techniques, and to gain their patients trust. But most importantly social media gives dentists the opportunity to show they’re real!

Let’s face it…who likes going to the dentist?  I don’t and I work in dentistry (a 30 year dental business office professional)!  Most all of us have a fear of dentists, some much more than others.  It’s the biggest reason given for not going to the dentist until there’s a dental emergency.

New patients walking in the door today already know far more about the dentist than the dentist knows about the patient. Because of social media and reading the social posts, the new patient has connected with the dentist because the dentist loves dogs, loves fishing, loves to cook, has teenagers in their family, has a military background from their same branch of service, attended the same college, loves the same sports team….and the reasons go on and on.

The real benefit of social media:  Helping to take the fear out of going to the dentist and drawing more people into the practice for the dental health care they need, because with social media ~  patients are getting to know you, getting to know all about you! What a huge benefit!

What connection has social media played in bringing in new patients to your practice?

Technorati Tags: Building Business, engaging and connecting, engaging social media, Facebook, Facebook for business, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing, Twitter

Whether it’s using social media platforms, newsletters, direct mail, or print ads…it’s all about keeping your name in front of your patients or new prospects and the end of the year presents one of the best opportunities…Year End Benefit Reminders.  

As we all know, the last quarter of the year is a busy time.  Businesses are pushing for that year end rush and people are gearing up for the holidays. 

The last thing on their mind is a trip to the dentist…but…they may have also forgotten about those unused flex benefits and unused insurance benefits that have been deducted from their salary all year and they will be lost if not used!

Sending your patients a Year End Benefit Reminder not only benefits you, it can present a big benefit to your patients especially if they have forgotten.   If you haven’t already sent reminders, NOW is the time, it’s not too late.  Sending now will give you time to send any PreTreatment Estimates needed and still have time to seat any crowns before the end of the year (if paying by seat date).  

If you are using Demand Force or Sesame Communications  getting the message out can be very simple. You can even utilize your own newsletter or your practice blog and social sites, the point is make sure you remind your patients. 

ADDED BONUS:  Remember to Tweet and post on Facebook, even your YouTube video reminder…New pospects looking for a dentist have unused flex benefits and unused insurance benefits, too,  and you just let them know where they can use them!

Here is a sample letter:

Subject:  Year End Benefit Reminder

Another year is winding down!  We wanted to remind you to make sure you take advantage of any unused dental insurance benefits and/or unused  flex (FSA) or healthcare (HSA) benefits you may have remaining since most companies do not allow you to carry these over to the next year. 

Call (office telephone number) or email (office email address) to schedule your appointment or if we can be of assistance in any way.  We’re here for you!

Look forward to seeing you soon!

(Doctor’s Name)

Year End Benefit Reminder letters sent in house or by social sites are just one of the many ways to keep your name in front of your patients and new prospects.  What are some other ways you use?

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Dental Marketing, Facebook, keeping your name in front of patients, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing, Social Media Specialist, Social Media Specialist Charlotte NC, Twitter, unused dental benefits, year end benefit letter, year end insurance reminder

Many people on Facebook use their PROFILE page in some way associated as their business page.  When “Friending” some people recently,  I’d noticed once on their page, there was no “What’s on you mind?” status bar to type in a message to them. 

This had actually happened to me awhile back, and thankfully one of my online friends emailed me to let me know she couldn’t post a message on my Profile Wall.

As the owner of the page, you can view the “What’s on you mind” status bar, but your viewers cannot.  To make sure this isn’t a problem for your Profile page, here’s how to check or change it to make sure it’s viewable on your Profile wall and others can post to your Wall:

On your Profile under your picture:

• Click “Edit Profile”
• Look in the left column for Basic Information
• On the left column, in the little paragraph Click Privacy Settings link
• On the next page in the middle of the large column near the bottom Click Customized Settings
• Scroll down to the 2nd paragraph area  titled Things others can share
• 3rd item down in the list it reads Friends can post on my Wall
• Scroll to the right of that and put in a check so it reads Enable
• Then go back to your Profile

If Enable was already checked your Wall status bar was already viewable, however if you had to check Enable it was not enabled.  To make sure your viewers can see  your “What’s on your mind?” status bar, have a follower of yours  come to your profile page and type you a message. 

If you would like to view how to do the steps above, here’s a quick video with step x step how to’s:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXO3BJspA60

What Facebook tip have you used that helped you? 

Technorati Tags: Dental Marketing, enable Facebook profile status bar, engaging social media, Facebook, Facebook for business, Facebook Profile Status Bar, Facebook settings, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing, writing Facebook messages

With all the buzz about social media, social networking, and other social sites, it can get very frustrating not to mention distracting.

Since attending the Social Media Success Summit’09, I’ve also started coaching with Chris Marlow, the Copywriters Coach and more recently am half way through a course for becoming a Certified Social Media Specialist! Whew…I just got tired typing it all out.

All of this with social media is good, but be careful.  This is about being social yes…but you must keep your focus.

Facebook has many distractions.  Applications, games, surveys, sending cards and flowers, joining different groups…etc.  Twitter can be distracting as well with all the tweets coming through, applications, responses, direct messages… etc

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: Facebook, LinkedIn, social media marketing, Twitter