Instagram is an outstanding platform for dentists to use when they want to attract more patients and grow their practice.

While it’s a naturally high-engaging platform with plenty of potential for discoverability, it also comes with so many additional features within the app that can help you attract patients like never before. One of those features is Instagram Live.

In this post, we’re going to show you how you can use Instagram Live to grow your dental practice by attracting and converting more patients.

Why dental practices need to use Instagram Live

Instagram Live is an in-app Story feature. When you go live, your followers will receive a notification, and you can broadcast from your phone in real-time while you answer questions and respond to user comments. Once the Live is over, you can save it and share it in your Stories or to your camera roll so you can repurpose it on other platforms.

Instagram Live can be exceptionally valuable for dentists for the following reasons:

• It allows you to build relationships with clients naturally. Instagram Live is such an engaging feature because users can actually interact with someone from your practice in real-time, forming valuable relationships and trust.
• It can expand your reach and discoverability. Instagram Lives can show up in the Explore section, making it easier for new patients to find your content and discover your practice. This can help you gain followers who may eventually become patients.
• It gives you valuable content you can repurpose. You can share the Live again in a Story so anyone who missed it (in part or in its entirety) can check back in and watch. You can also share it on other platforms, including IGTV, YouTube, or Facebook.

How to go live on Instagram

Going Live on Instagram is fairly easy. Go to your profile, and click your profile picture to create a Story. When you do, scroll to the right until you see “Live” at the bottom of the creator tool.

Before you actually start to go live, you’ll see a few options that you can click. The set of lines allows you to give your Live a title, which you should always do. The heart icon allows you to set up a nonprofit you’d like to raise money for during the Live. The people icon lets you determine if you want to go Live now, or practice privately first, and the calendar lets you schedule the Live for later.

Once you’re ready, hit the broadcast button in the bottom center of the screen to start the Live.

Once you’re broadcasting, you’ll see several options; you can turn your camera, add emojis and pictures, and more. There are also options along the bottom of the screen to allow others to join you. You’ll see user comments show up on the screen as they start to engage.

Once you’re done, click on the “x” in the top corner.

After the video is over, you can choose to share it to IGTV, where you can save the video, or delete it.

5 tips to find new clients & grow your practice with Instagram Live

Now that you know how to create your own Instagram Live, let’s take a look at a few best tips for dental practices to find more patients.

Let people know you’re going live ahead of time

That Live scheduling option can come in handy; you can set up your Live in advance, and let people know about it ahead of time. This increases the number of users who will get on to watch right away, and the more high-engaging your content is, the more likely it is that it will show up in others’ “Explore” sections.

Make sure that you’re doing the following:

• Let users know in your Stories and even in your feed that you’ll be going Live ahead of time, when it will be, and what you’ll be talking about
• Promote this cross-platform and give users a link to your Instagram profile; you can encourage them to follow you so they’ll get a notification
• Send out an email blast fifteen minutes before the Live so users who are free can jump on

Host a Q&A

While any Live can theoretically turn into a Q&A or have Q&A-like elements, intentionally setting up a question-and-answer session with one of your prominent hygienists or dentists can go a long way.

Let people know that they can ask you any question they’d like about your practice, their concerns, or dental best practices. They might want to know why fluoride is so important or ask for tips to help get their children less anxious before a first visit.

These sessions are particularly powerful for rapport-building and can earn trust quickly.

Take Patients Through the Process

Most people aren’t crazy about heading to the dentist, especially when they need specific treatments like cavity fillings or oral surgery. Going Live to walk people through different procedures can help calm their nerves. You can start a broadcast with the help of one of your dental hygienists, allowing them to explain what will happen during cleanings, Xrays, or different types of procedures. Viewers can see the tools, your office, and even the chair where they’ll be sitting, and even demonstrate on a model or each other. The personal attention you give the broadcast can put people at ease, especially since they can ask questions.

Talk About Trending Topics

Is there a new trend like charcoal toothpaste that you absolutely do not want your patients to do? Or maybe there’s a new brand of toothbrush that you love, or that you hate.

Going live to talk about trending topics in dental care can be greatly appreciated by your patients and great educational opportunities. Again, since potential patients can tune in and ask questions, you can really give your take on these trending topics while creating valuable content you can repurpose across multiple social profiles.

Share Oral Healthcare Tips

We could all use more healthcare tips in our lives! Share your favorite products, go over proper flossing techniques, or even just explain why it’s so important to come in for a cleaning every six months. Patients may not realize they need the info until they’re watching, but a few quick tips can go a long way while demonstrating your practice’s expertise and commitment to patient care all at once.

Final thoughts

Instagram Live is an exceptionally valuable tool for dental practices who are looking for new ways to both connect with existing patients and who want to find new ones. The direct interaction allows for quick relationship- and trust-building, which is a huge hurdle that many dental practices face.

There are plenty of great ways to use Instagram Live for your dental practice, so consider which would benefit your audience most and give it a shot!

And remember:

• Schedule and promote your Lives ahead of time
• Practice before you go Live so that you’re comfortable with the topics and the interface
• Share tips or talk about trending topics for patient education and trust-building
• Host Q&As or show patients what their experiences will be like

Further Reading

Want to learn more about Instagram and social media marketing for dentists? Check out these resources:

• Instagram for Dentists: Everything You Need to Know
• S1E1: The Social Media Mix
• eBook: How to improve your online patient communication strategy