When you think of YouTube, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Animals doing adorable things? Epic fails? Makeup tutorials? DIY everything? Unboxing videos? All of the above? Would you ever consider YouTube as a way to market your dental practice?
If not, then perhaps you might reconsider after reading this article.
YouTube is an amazing phenomenon. It’s a space where anyone can post a video about virtually anything. There are more than 2 billion active YouTube users. That and the fact that it is free makes YouTube one of the best ways to promote a business. Dental practices in particular can use YouTube to reach a wide audience of potential patients who are interested in learning more about oral hygiene and dental issues.
The key to being successful on YouTube is simply posting content. First, you have to create a channel for your practice, which is relatively easy and free of charge. The next step is to create and post videos on that channel.
Videos don’t have to be lengthy or technical, but they should be interesting and relevant. Choose a topic you think patients would be interested in learning more about, and then do your best to explain it in a fun, easy-to-understand way. A 2-4 minute video is a good place to start. As you get more comfortable with making videos, you can experiment with format and length.
When creating content for YouTube, your primary objective should be to inform and educate. Try to make the topic approachable by using terms that anyone can understand, staying away from industry jargon.
The idea is to demystify dentistry and promote your practice as friendly, welcoming, and compassionate. YouTube videos help humanize your practice by putting a face to the name.
Therefore, it is important to smile and speak clearly so viewers can easily understand you and want to keep watching.
If you are unsure about where to start, here are some ideas for YouTube content:
- FAQs – answer some frequently asked questions. You can also make it more personal by using first names (they don’t have to be real, but it helps if they are). For example, “Barbara wants to know, “When is the best time of day to floss?”
- Dental topic of the week – pick a specific treatment or issue and explore it, for instance, “Dental Implants: What, When, and How.” Use visual aids if possible, and if you have the time and know-how, have a little fun with editing.
- Get to know your local dentist – Take videos around the office, highlighting the parts of the practice that make it unique. Feature staff members in action or just having a good time, and turn the camera on yourself. Don’t be afraid to get a little personal.
Any of the topics above are a good place to start and are easy to produce with just a smartphone or computer webcam. Videos don’t have to be fancy, but they should feel authentic.
Once you have a video on your practice’s YouTube channel, you can begin cross promoting it on your Facebook page, your website, and in your office. This is important in order to attract viewers to your channel. The more viewers you have, the more likely your videos will show up in other viewers’ feeds, much like how it works on Facebook and Instagram.
Once your practice’s YouTube channel is up and running, it can boost your online presence.
YouTube is an important digital marketing platform because people are drawn to video content, especially if it’s relevant and engaging. According to Google’s statistics, viewers are four times more likely to go to YouTube than another platform to learn more about brands and services. So, if you post new content on a regular basis and do your best to make it interesting, the better your chances of attracting viewers who will turn into patients.
YouTube is also a great place to run ads for your practice. Because it is owned by Google, it uses the same data as Google Ads to target viewers who would be a potential fit for your practice.
YouTube lets you customize a number of parameters, including your daily budget, the time frame for your campaign, and the specific location you wish to target. So, you can be sure your ad is seen only by people who are in your city or county, on the dates you want, and at the times you want. YouTube also offers tracking, which makes it a good testing platform for ad campaigns.
As a digital marketing channel, YouTube is a good bet. It’s simple, effective, and works for any budget.
If you don’t have a YouTube channel for your practice, you can start one for free and begin posting customized videos immediately, broadening and deepening your digital marketing repertoire and strengthening your online presence.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With more than a decade of experience in corporate dental laboratory marketing and brand development, Jackie Ulasewich-Cullen decided to take her passion for the dental business and marketing to the next level by founding My Dental Agency.
Since starting her company, she and her team have helped a wide variety of practices all over the nation focus their message, reach their target audience, and increase their sales through effective marketing campaigns.
She can be reached at (800) 689-6434 or via email at jackie@mydentalagency.com.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: PxHere.
