So, let’s break down why social media is such a huge deal for your business right now, and how it fits into everything else you do to get customers.

Imagine a Huge Party Where Everyone You Want to Meet Is There

Think of the internet as a massive city. Your business has a shop, but how do people find it? Social media is like the biggest, most popular party in town. Billions of people are there, chatting, laughing, and looking for new things. If your business isn’t at that party, you’re missing out on meeting almost everyone!

• Getting Noticed: It’s your megaphone at the party. You can introduce yourself to tons of people who might not know you exist.
• Real Chats, Not Just Shouting: Instead of just putting up a poster, social media lets you talk to people. They can ask questions, you can answer, and you build a relationship. That’s how trust starts.
• Learning What People Want: Social media is like eavesdropping (in a good way!). You can see what people are talking about, what they like, and what problems they’re trying to solve. This helps you make better products or services.

It’s All About Being Real, Not Just Selling

Remember those old TV commercials that just told you to “Buy now!”? Social media today is different. People want to connect with real businesses run by real people. They want stories, not just sales pitches.

• Customers Are Your Best Advertisers: When a happy customer shares a photo of your product or talks about your great service, that’s more powerful than anything you could say yourself. It’s like a friend telling you about a great restaurant – you trust them more than the restaurant’s ad.
• Video Is King: Short, snappy videos are like mini-stories that grab attention fast. But even longer videos can help you teach or show off your unique side.
• Building Your “Fan Club”: People like to belong. If you create a space online where your customers can connect with you and each other, you build a loyal community, not just a list of buyers.
• Influencers Are Just Trusted Friends: Instead of huge celebrities, think of “influencers” as people who have built trust with their smaller group of followers. If they genuinely love your product, their recommendation means a lot.

Shopping Right from Your Phone: The Easy Button

This is one of the coolest parts: social media isn’t just for Browse anymore. It’s becoming a full-blown shopping mall right on your phone.

• Buy Instantly: See something you like? Many social media apps now let you click and buy it right there, without leaving the app. It’s super convenient for customers.
• Discovery Engine: People are increasingly looking for new products and services directly on social media, using it like a search engine. So, making sure your business can be found there is crucial.
• No More Hoops: This makes the journey from “ooh, that’s cool” to “I just bought it!” incredibly smooth.

What’s Next? Smarter Ways to Connect

The world of social media never stands still, but it’s getting smarter and more helpful for businesses:

• Smart Computers (AI) Helping Out: Imagine a super-smart assistant helping you figure out what to post, who to show it to, and even answering customer questions. That’s AI’s role.
• Using Data, Not Just Guesses: Social media gives you tons of information. We can look at what posts get the most likes or shares, and use that to make better decisions about what to do next. It’s like having a map for your marketing journey.
• Being Flexible: The rules of social media can change quickly. New apps pop up, and how people use them shifts. Businesses that are willing to try new things and adapt will be the most successful.

The Bottom Line: Social Media Isn’t an Extra, It’s Essential

So, if you’re a business owner wondering about social media, think of it this way: it’s not just a bonus anymore. It’s a fundamental part of how people discover, connect with, and buy from businesses today. Ignoring it means missing out on the biggest opportunities out there.

At HI Marketing, we understand this world inside and out. We help businesses like yours not just be on social media, but truly shine there and turn those connections into real results. Let’s chat about how we can help your business thrive online!

At HI Marketing, we believe in a strategic approach to social media marketing – one that focuses on building lasting connections and driving tangible results.

Here’s the key:

1. Know Your Audience:

Before you even consider posting, take a deep dive into who you’re trying to reach. What are their interests, needs, and online behaviour? Understanding your audience allows you to tailor your content and messaging for maximum impact.

2. Craft Compelling Content:

High-quality content is the backbone of any successful social media strategy. Go beyond promotional posts and focus on creating informative, engaging, and valuable content that resonates with your audience. Think infographics, behind-the-scenes glimpses, community spotlights – the possibilities are endless!

3. Engage Authentically:

Social media is a two-way street. Don’t just broadcast your message – actively engage with your followers! Respond to comments, participate in conversations, and show your audience you care. Authenticity is key to building trust and fostering long-term relationships.

4. Track Progress, Adapt & Stay Ahead of the Curve:

Social media is an ever-evolving landscape. Analytics are your friend! Track your progress to see what’s working and what’s not. Be ready to adapt your strategy based on data and current trends. The key is to continuously learn and improve your approach.

Building Sustainable Success Together

At HI Marketing, we’re passionate about helping businesses like yours leverage the power of social media. We can help you develop a customised strategy that fosters genuine connections with your audience and drives real results.

Ready to take your social media marketing to the next level?

Message us today to learn more about how HI Marketing can help your business thrive!

I love using awareness days across my social media channels, and for my clients too. Learning about the different days, campaigns, movements, etc., makes my job interesting and ensures that I am aware of what’s going on in the world, which is precisely the point.

Not only does this make me more appreciative of different causes, illnesses, etc., that perhaps weren’t on my radar, this also makes me think in wider terms with regard to each audience and what might be impacting, or of interest to, them.

Therefore, using awareness days on your social media feeds can make you more sympathetic and understanding towards your customers, promoting engagement with your posts.

Make it relevant

I recommend using a mixture of fun and serious awareness days but the key is to always select ones that are relevant to you and your business.

For example, you could create a post around World Autism Awareness Day (2 April 2022) and share the ways in which your practice caters to the needs of autistic patients. Or, during Diabetes Week (12-18 June 2021) explain the impact of diabetes on oral health.

Some awareness days can help you to inject some personality on your social media channels. For example, you could treat the team to a chippy tea in honour of Fish and Chip Day (4 June 2021) and share some nice pictures.

Taking the time to learn about different awareness days and then create lively content that is still relevant to your followers while remaining on brand certainly isn’t ‘lazy’ work, quite the opposite!

Plan ahead

There are websites that list the various awareness days/weeks throughout the year – one of my favourites is www.daysoftheyear.com because it has a great mix of ideas, but there are a few other sites so do have a search for the ones you like.

It is worth looking at these ahead of schedule to decide if any upcoming awareness days suit your business and the personality you wish to portray. I suggest doing this at the beginning of each month to help you create a rough idea of your content strategy for the weeks ahead.

No time?

Here at HI Marketing we love creating content that gets seen, it’s just what we do. If you’d like some help to get started, or a little boost to give your social media accounts the wow factor, get in touch on 07805506477, or drop us an email at hayley@hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk

Often, patients are nervous about visiting the dentist, either due to previous trauma or general anxiety. It’s something they fit into their diary once or twice a year so it never really becomes a comfortable space for many. That’s where marketing can really help, especially through the power of social media. We can help new and existing patients to engage more with your practice by portraying the personality of the business and the team members who work there.

Why do we do this? It’s all about making your space familiar, inviting and welcoming before the patient has even arrived. This helps to alleviate stress and concern about visiting the practice and having dental treatment.

While on social media we can use a mixture of clinical, professional and amateur photography – sometimes the best moments are captured on your phone! – when it comes to your marketing literature and website, your images need to be extremely high quality. The difference is down to customer expectation. We all accept lower quality imagery on our social media feeds because this is a more relaxed space, but when it comes to professional material it needs to be slick. This is where you want to shine as clinical professionals and excellent photography, and videography where suitable, will put you ahead of the competition.

Picture this…

Think about from your own viewpoint. If you were looking for a cosmetic surgeon you would narrow it down to a few options based on skills, accreditation, qualifications and specialisms. You’d look at patient reviews and testimonials, as well as social media for before and after images. You’d also head to the website and if this looks tired with terrible photography it immediately brings your opinion down. A website that showed off a beautiful clinical with well-presented staff is far more enticing, we all want that luxurious service. The crux of the matter is this, low-quality imagery portrays a low-quality service – it’s off putting!

Invest in the best

When I am working with new clients who want to refresh their website, or build a new one from scratch, I always recommend investing in a good photographer. In many cases, you can book them for a full day to capture a wide variety of content for you, including the necessary team headshots, clinic photography, and even videos of your team explaining various treatments or specific cases with happy (and consenting) patients. Not only will this give you the imagery required for your website and any subsequent patient literature, you will end up with a bank of great content that can be used on social media to keep that lively and fresh.

Great photography is a fantastic investment and if you think this is something you need, we can help! At HI Marketing, we can recommend some excellent photographers and videographers who will help your practice shine. Just get in touch on 07805506477, or drop us an email at hayley@hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk.

Happy Friday!

Wednesday Wisdom…

Super Saturday!

I could go on and on, but you get the picture! Our social media feeds are often awash with happy weekday quotes but the question is, are they still relevant?

As a content creator, I’m always interested in what works and what doesn’t. There was definitely a time where these types of posts worked really well. They brightened up people’s feeds and injected a little bit of positivity that became memorable… precisely what we want to achieve. However, the reach on this style of posts was definitely beginning to see a reduction, perhaps they had been overdone or were becoming too common.

Does this mean the positive weekday quote is dead? Well actually, it probably would have been if the Covid-19 pandemic hadn’t hit. Since March 2020, this style of post has come back strong, especially when used with the right hashtags.

Due to the pandemic, mental health has become a top subject and social media has given us a perfect platform for raising awareness about it. We are able to reach people in more ways than ever before, whether that’s to share top tips for dealing with stress, to let them know we are there for them, or to simply brighten their feed with something heartwarming.

As ever, the key is to use the right hashtags with these posts in order to ensure they are reaching the right audience. I have noticed #BeKind and #GetBritainTalking have been especially useful in gaining a good reach with happy weekday quotes, so why not give this a try next time you’re stuck for ideas?

No time?

Here at HI Marketing we love creating content that gets seen, it’s just what we do. If you’d like some help to get started, or a little boost to give your social media accounts the wow factor, get in touch on 07805506477, or drop us an email at hayley@hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk.

People remember…

10% of what they read

20% of what they hear

30% of what they see

50% of what they see and hear

70% of what they discuss with others

80% of what they personally experience

95% or what they teach others

If we bear this in mind, it’s a great way of planning how to use social media for your business as it really shows the value in the different posts you might be considering. For example, a simple status update with no imagery will be less memorable than a picture post, but a video that followers can both see and hear will have an even greater impact.

Video content

I’m a huge fan of using video content on social media. I always find, from analysing the insights, that these posts gain far more interaction than anything else. With so much content on offer to users, from so many sources, the key to reaching people is all about interrupting their timeline with something that makes them stop and take notice. Videos have this effect more than anything else.

If we go back to that original quote, video content provides something that is both seen and heard, which means there is also a greater chance of people remembering your post. In addition, a great video that is interesting or funny is likely to be shared and discussed later on… meaning that it becomes even more memorable.

Personal experience

You may be thinking that your followers can’t personally experience your service via social media, and you would be right. Of course, no one can have a hygiene clean or dental check up through the powers of Facebook, but there is still a way for your followers to personally experience YOU.

First and foremost, everything you post should be on brand and in your brand’s voice. This helps to portray what people can expect if they visit you. Your tone should be professional yet friendly, knowledgeable but not patronising. Exactly how you would talk to patients in your practice.

You can then take this a step further by ensuring that you respond quickly to any engagement you receive. Comments should be reacted and replied to, messages should be answered, and shares should always be liked. If a patient tags you in a post, comment and thank them. All of this helps people to experience you and your business without them even being on your premises, and it is precisely this that can help you stand out.

And that is the true power of social media!

I know that ] you have plenty to think of at the moment, including compliance, staffing, PPE and social distancing in the workplace, not mention how to go about things in the practice, and figuring out which treatments you can and can’t offer. However, once your back to work plan is in place and running smoothly, you should be shouting about it and Facebook advertising can help you to do just that.

More reward for less outlay

We know for definite that more people than ever are spending their time scrolling though Facebook, so you have a large and captive audience… with people on furlough they are consuming online content throughout the day, so it’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of your business.

In addition, there is less competition at the moment, so you will be able to achieve the same (or better) results on advertising campaigns with less spend than you previously have. This is because with the market less saturated your advert doesn’t need to work as hard to reach your audience, so it’s definitely worth considering.

Your message

If you’re going to go ahead and use Facebook advertising, your message is key. Avoid being too salesy as it’s still a sensitive time and instead focus on brand awareness and building your online audience. Simply letting people know that you are open and share updates on what treatments are available is enough but you could also try running some competitions – teeth whitening is a great one for building engagement and following!

Here at HI Marketing we love planning Facebook advertising campaigns, it’s just what we do. If you’d like some help to get started, get in touch on 07805506477, or drop us an email at hayley@hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk.

With many of us temporarily unable to work, we’re finding ourselves with more time on our hands than ever before, and it’s tempting to turn to social media for a quick browse.However, with time to kill, it is easy to end up down a Facebook or Instagram rabbit hole,whiling away the hours until we’re allowed back outside to play again!

All this made me wonder what effect this may be having on our mental health, and I believe that there are two ways of looking at it. On one hand, social media can be a tricky place to navigate. As soon as you log on, you are thrown into a world of opinion, most of which is unsolicited! There are various groups that have been created to help us navigate the Covid-19 outbreak from a business or personal perspective, but while this on the most part is very useful, these can also be very scary, too.

I know many people have taken the decision to avoid the news, instead only accessing the important parts that we need, but pushing the vast amounts of negativity to one side. This is a very healthy way to cope. However, this can be hard to do on social media, lots of people share news stories, opinion pieces, often from sources that you wouldn’t normally access or trust, but if it’s on your feed it’s difficult to ignore.

Then there’s the other side of the coin. Social media also affords us the opportunity to stay in touch with people while we are living in an isolated world, and that’s incredibly important. We can see what our friends and family are doing, we know they are safe, and we can share moments that we are missing in person, such as seeing the grandchildren growing up and celebrating birthdays. This is a vital tool in helping us feel more connected to one another.

When it comes to social media use during the Covid-19 pandemic, I would suggest being a little mindful about the information you allow yourself to see. If there is a group that creates anxiety for you, leave it. If there is a friend who consistently shares news items that you’d rather avoid then mute them from your feed for the time being. Then focus on the positive aspects of social media, the great content that people are putting together to help us avoid boredom. There are live fitness sessions, cook-a-longs, quizzes, etc. Give your social media feeds a bit of a cleanse in order to protect your mental health during this tough time, it matters.

Stay safe x

Remember the days when your Facebook timeline was mainly status updates and you had to actually READ in order to find the good stuff? Take a look today and you’ll be faced with images, videos and memes all trying to grab your attention in a much more efficient way, and it works.

Instagram itself is testament to the fact that images rule, this entire platform is based around the sharing of images, the captions really are secondary to the visual content.

Add some imagery

When it comes to your blogs, if you’re not including images you really are missing a trick. In fact, Marketer Jeff Bullas cites that blogs with images receive 94% more reviews than those without. That’s a huge amount!

That’s not to say that your copy doesn’t matter, what you have to say is still absolutely crucial, it’s just that without great imagery it may get missed. In addition, big blocks of content are just too much for most of us. In our increasingly data-led, online world, we are saturated with content, which is why it is important to break up your message and keep things interesting.

Where can you get great images?

There are great stock sites such as Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, but you will have to sign up and pay for these.

Alternatively try Pixabay for free images, or Canva which will allow you to create eye-catching designs of your own, including infographics.

In addition, you can use your own images and videos, or things like screenshots or memes where relevant.

No time?

Here at HI Marketing we love creating content that gets seen, it’s just what we do. If you’d like some help to get started, or a little boost to give your blogs the wow factor, get in touch on 07805506477, or drop us an email at hayley@hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk.

In a world where we are surrounded by so much choice, for many people the decision comes down to the people behind the brand. If we feel some sort of affiliation with their ethos or like the personality and vibe they are giving off, this can often seal the deal.

What does this mean for your social media?

You know that you are competing with lots of other people out there offering a similar service to you. You can no longer rely on locality because these days people are prepared to travel for the right service. You need to dig deep and show off what sets you apart.

And what is that? It’s your personality and your passion for what you do. Show people how much you love your job, how well your team get on and really give your social media channels some personality. People want to see who works in your business, who they will be dealing with and sometimes, they’ll use one of you posts as an ice breaker to start a conversation with you.

Ideas for creating passionate posts:

• Share your plans for the future – Doing some renovations? Share the process. People love to come on your journey with you and they’ll appreciate the investment you’re making in the service you provide
• Show your learning – If you’re attending a course or doing some team training, share some snippets. Explain why learning is so important, why you love it and what it means for your customers
• Solve problems – Ask people what they want from your service and put steps in place to provide it. If there’s a need in your area, fill it!

So next time you’re stuck for what to post, look around you. Or think about why you started this in the first place and share it. That’s what sets you apart so flaunt it!