Dr. Edward Zuckerberg: "Jump in social media marketing early" [VIDEO]

Back in March, Edward Zuckerberg, the dentist dad of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, told us that social media can make a big difference by showing off all the great things a dentist does and the technologies he or she uses.

For patients who have great oral health and would otherwise not see the technology capabilities outside of digital radiography or intraoral cameras, Facebook is a great way to showcase your technologies.

“Social media is the perfect way to get all the great things you do out there," explained Dr. Zuckerberg. "You can be doing amazing work, but for patients who aren’t getting a crown or inlay, the only way they might get this message is through a fan page on Facebook and the related blurbs, status updates and photos. It may take that ordinary patient who came to you for convenience and thinks you’re a regular dentist, and help reinforce their decision to choose you, even if he or she doesn’t use all your services. At this point, there is tremendous future potential for social media to help dentists with external marketing.”

Dr. Zuckerberg made the good point that patients may go to your website when looking up specific information, but they have to be actively seeking out that information. But what are the chances that they keep going back to look for an article you authored, a story about your work with a local charity or the new technology you purchased?

This is why a fan page can be so effective; status updates are pushed out through the newsfeed and you bring the information to them.

By taking control of the message delivery, you can stay one step ahead of patients, letting them know you can meet their needs, before they are aware those needs exist.

As part of a video interview with Solutionreach CEO Jim Higgins, Dr. Zuckerberg said social marketing is evolving very rapidly.

"I've found that with a lot of different technologies, if you don't jump in early it's very hard to get on later," said Dr. Zuckerberg. "Facebook is one of the best vehicles out there right now."