1 Billion monthly users are on TikTok scrolling. Yes, TikTok feels like its meant for tweens, and it once was, but not anymore. Your patients are on TikTok. People searching for a dentist are on TikTok.
TikTok has skyrocketed in popularity for all ages, but especially amongst Gen Z and Millennials. Gen Z -ers and Millennials are in their 20s to 40s and are starting families and searching for their forever-dental office. And dentists should take notice, because this generation spends around one hour per day on the platform.
TikTok is a way to gain authority, and trust, and visibility online. Which is what you need today as a local dentist marketing to a generation that is online more than ever before. In this video, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about TikTok for dentists, including What it is, how to to get started, and why it matters.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a short-video sharing social media platform where users create and share short videos (usually 15-60 seconds long) about just about anything. You can find recipes, dances, comedians, musicians, artists, local businesses, or someone just sharing themselves talking about their day. Its sort of like Facebook posts, but all in video format and much more creative.
Watching short videos one after another can be incredibly addictive, encouraging them to binge watch content. As I write this, I can remember a few times where I lost an entire hour just scrolling through videos.
The platform was originally created for users to create short music videos, but TikTok has expanded significantly with endless possibilities for content creation.
TikTok is a fun platform with an aesthetic somewhat similar to Snapchat, and it can help you connect with new audience members daily. Even someone who has almost zero followers on TikTok can create a video that goes viral where millions of people see it.
Many people have become famous just from posting videos on TikTok.
Why TikTok Matters for dentists
Dentists should be paying close attention to TikTok because it is immediately relevant right now, and growing fast. There are currently over 1 billion people on TikTok, and Gen Z and Millennial users are highly active, creating content and engaging on the platform daily. Therefore TikTok is one of the most effective ways to reach these audiences.
This generation is not clicking on Facebook or Google ads, and they are definitely not reading the old paper mailers that show up every week in their mailbox. This generation is finding products and local businesses online, on the platforms that they are already on every day. Here’s why you need to be on TikTok as a dentist:
-TikTok is the number 1 most downloaded app in the world, with 672 million downloads in 2023 alone
-The U.S. alone has over 150 million users total, and 50 million ACTIVE DAILY users
-Over 1 billion videos are viewed on TikTok every day
-Advertisers can reach around 885 million users aged 18 and above on TikTok
-90% of users engage with the app multiple times a day
-Users spend an average of 56 minutes on the platform daily, meaning they are engaged and active. (Compare this to Facebook’s 4.5 minutes daily, and Instagram’s 3.1 minutes.)
What do all these numbers mean to you as a dentist? You need to be on TikTok. This is where your target audience is. And most dental practices haven’t caught on yet, so you will be at a direct competitive advantage if you start now.
Most people find their forever dentist at a young age and tend to stay with them. This platform could help you reach a younger audience who maybe aging out of pediatric dentists or moving to a new area for college or a new job, or moving to a new house with their family, and they’ll need a new dentist.
How to Get started on TikTok for dentists
The first step to get started is to download the app. You can do it on any phone, just go to your app store and type in “TikTok” and click download. Follow the steps to create your profile and you are ready to get started.
The main thing you want to do, is just start making videos. Don’t worry too much in the beginning if they are perfect or if anyone sees them or likes them, just get started and you will get better as you go.
But there Are a few key strategies and best practices that will help you drive results and views faster:
#1 – Create an Eye Catching Profile
Creating a strong, eye-catching profile on TikTok is quick and easy. You’ll want to choose a username that is approachable and professional. You could just use your name, or the name of your practice, or you could try to get a little creative. Some examples of popular dentists on TikTok are TheBentist, DrCatherineDing, JustFlossIt, dr.johnyoo, and RyanSavageDDS. You can check out their profiles to get some inspiration. Then choose your profile picture, featuring either your headshot or the logo of your practice.
Next is creating your bio. It is important to keep it short, and also share something personal or interesting about yourself that will demonstrate your expertise, while creating a connection with younger audiences. A great example of a profile that encompasses all of this is Dr.Johnyoo by mentioning that he’s a “Kid’s dentist by day. K-pop by night.”
This is short, fun, shows what he does professionally, and also lets you connect to him personally by sharing what one of his hobbies are. He also ads emojis to keep it fun and visual, and also shares his Youtube and Instagram handle as well.
If you have a Youtube channel, Instagram, or Facebook page you will want to link them in your bio for maximum visibility and sharing.
#2 Always Use Hashtags
Now that you’ve got your profile set up, its time to talk about hashtags and why they are necessary. Hashtags are not something that are a necessity on every social media platform, but they are a major part of TikTok. When you add multiple hashtags to each post, you can be found by users searching for the topics you are hashtagging. Once you make a video post, there will be a section for you to write captions in before you publish it. This is where you place the hashtags. For example, you create a video about brushing your teeth and you own a practice in San Diego, California. You would have multiple hashtags such as #sandiegodentist #brushyourteeth #dental and so on.
While dental specific hashtags like #dentist #orthodontist and #braces will help people find your content, you should include other hashtags as well. Some other hashtag options include:
- Trending hashtags. Trending is exactly what it sounds like, are there any immediately relevant hashtags that might be trending or experiencing high levels of interest at the moment? You can search for trending topics on TikTok or google to get ideas, or look at other dental profiles for inspiration as well.
- Location specific hashtags. TikTok does already track locations and shows users content local to them, but hashtags specific to your location help people near you to find your content as well. This can help you connect with local audience members who could actually become patients, which is the ultimate goal.
- Interest based hashtags. Hashtags such as #lookgoodfeelgood or #healthandwellness, as long as they are relevant to your post can help you connect with an audience that may not specifically have been looking for you, but is receptive to seeing what you’re publishing because they are interested in similar posts. A lot of people aren’t looking for dentists at the moment, but are reminded that they need to take care of their smile and should make an appointment soon.
#3 Make it Entertaining
Dentistry can be a really entertaining topic for people, and help them to not be so afraid or apprehensive. Sharing useful information about dentistry is a good way to connect with your audience and gain trust and authority.
By showing them videos of how a crown is placed, or a day in the life at your practice, or even funny videos you can really start to connect with your audience and gain trust and authority, so that when the time comes for people who are looking for a dentist they trust, they will think of you, and may even drive hours to see you over someone else. I have personally worked in dental offices where patients happily drove an hour or more to see a dentist they trusted.
You can also ask patients to post about their visit. User-generated content or (UGC) is very powerful on all social media platforms, but especially TikTok. Users love to see other people just like them that they can relate to. You can ask them to share about their recent visit, and what they liked about it, or the before and after of their smiles is a great one too. You can put out calls-to-action on TikTok for this, or ask patients in-office to do this for you and offer incentives such as Starbucks gift cards.
#4 - Optimize the “For You” Page
When you open TikTok, you’ll see a video, and if you swipe, you’ll see another one. These are carefully-curated videos chosen just for you by the TikTok algorithm, based on the content you’ve interacted with in the past. This is called the “For you” page and its customized for each user.
As a business, you want your videos to end up on that page in front of your target audience. The best way to do this is to just create high quality content consistently that will grab the attention of your audience. Put yourself in your patient’s shoes, think about the questions they ask you on a daily basis, and answer them in your videos. Make it entertaining as well, and you have created content that your audience will watch again and again.
#5 - Take action
Now that you know how to start a TikTok channel, and why it is so important, go take action. Don’t think about it too much, the first step is to just start. Make your first video introducing yourself, talking about why you became a dentist. Then make a video about what you love about it. Then make one about what you don’t like about it. Then take your audience on a tour of your office. Boom you just made 4 videos and you are off to a great start.
Once you make your channel please come back To this Youtube video and post a comment below with the name of your channel so I can follow you and help you along the way.
And click the Pricing button on the homepage or contact us to have our team get you more visibility online that is currently bringing in our clients 40-60 new patients per month consistently.
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