Opportunistic community minded technologically savvy dentists the world over have asked themselves that same question. Dentists currently trudging through phase two on the path to dental social media success are searching for answers to the same question in what surely seems like an aimless social stupor.

“Winning isn’t everything, but the will to win is everything.” -Vince Lombardi

The dental marketing motivational analogies abound here amid the muck and mire of the social dental-centric communications path to success timeframe we’ll call phase two.

Dentists around the globe deserve high praise for finally embracing this monumental opportunity known as social media. Neighborhood and cosmopolitan dental practices alike are connecting with their local communities on Facebook and tweeting away on Twitter too.

To what end remains to be seen.

When we really get down to brass tacks, how can Twitter possibly help dentists recruit more new patients, or keep a larger percentage of existing ones?

It could be as easy as…Synch, Tweet, Save!

From the looks of the local social dental landscape, we’re already past the point of above average dental practices using Facebook as a patient communication tool – and even as an inbound marketing component to their overall digital dental practice marketing plan.

What seems to be the sticking point is the effectiveness of these social dental efforts.

Back in 2010, if a dentist had a Facebook (Business) page, the main goal – however shortsighted it may have been – was to build ‘Likes.’

And that’s exactly where most dentists end their effectiveness.

1. Get going with social media already. 

You are missing the boat and selling yourself – and your practice – short. Like get a clue already, short!

If you are not socially engaged with your patients, staff, local media outlets, neighboring businesses, suppliers, vendors, dental schools, CE providers, colleagues, friends, families, and the surrounding community at large, you are missing out on gross production increasing OPPORTUNITY.

“…blind praise is worthless in the absence of fair criticism.”

The preceding quote is credited to Bryant Gumble; it was enclosed in a wrap-up closing thoughts segment of a recent HBO® Real Sports with Bryant Gumble installment. The aforementioned host was examining the sexism evident in the general U.S. media response to the U.S. Women’s World Cup Final soccer match against Japan that took place back on July 17^th.

Throughout time truer words probably have been spoken, “Give me liberty, or give me death” comes to mind.