You’ve likely heard that in order to grow your dental practice you’ve got to get out there and be visible. But no one tells you what you’re supposed to do if you’re an introvert.
I’m about to let you in on a secret: you can get more patients into your dental practice even if you are an introvert who tends to avoid the spotlight.
I’m a really private person, and believe me, I’m much happier in my comfort zone. But I know just how important it is to get out there and share my message, my training, my experience with dentists like you, so I do it.
Here’s why it matters so much to step out just a little bit and how you can still build and grow your practice even if you’re an introvert.
If people don’t know about you, you can’t help them.
If you’re anything like most of the dentists I know, you got into this field because you really want to help people. You’re in the smile business, so naturally, you care about your patients, and you love that you’re able to improve people’s lives. I want you to remember that, to hold onto that, as you listen to what I’m going to tell you.
You have a gift. You are an amazing dentist. You’ve taken the time to learn all kinds of specialized skills. And you’ve invested in courses to learn how to place implants or Invisalign or to put on sealants or to treat sleep apnea.
You’ve also improved your patients’ lives and saved marriages. You’ve given people the confidence to smile and speak in public.
You’re a really important person. Your hands are amazing, and you can do beautiful dentistry.
There’s only one problem: If people don’t know about you, you can’t help them. So you must get the word out. If patients don’t know you exist, you can’t help them.
So here’s how to get the word out, even if you’re an introvert.
Go live on Facebook and speak from your heart to the people who need to hear you.
I know exactly how terrifying that sounds. But you’ve done much harder things in your life, and what I can tell you is this: I’ve worked with thousands of dentists. The fastest way to get you to overcome those fears, introverted tendencies, and shyness, is to get started. The easiest way to start getting out there and connecting with the people who need to hear from you is to take a leap of faith and do a simple Facebook Live.
To make this super easy for you, let me give you a simple structure to help you plan your Facebook Live videos:
1. Speak from your heart.
Introduce yourself, tell people that this is the first time you’re doing a Facebook live, and let them know you’re nervous, but you’re doing it anyway, because you want to share this information with them. Then, tell them why you became a dentist and why you love serving your patients.
2. Acknowledge their fears.
Let your patients know that almost everyone has some anxiety around going to the dentist, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Reassure them that you’re not mean or scary, and that your office is actually a welcome place. Let them know what they can expect when they come in.
3. Invite them to connect.
Ask your patients to drop any questions or concerns they have in the comments on your video. Then follow up with each one and send them a personal invitation to come into the office.
Yes, your first Facebook live will be a bit scary. But it was probably also a little bit scary the first time you treated a patient without relying on a more senior doctor for backup. You had to put on your brave face and push through, so you did. It gets easier — and you get braver.
Plus, you get to help more patients who need your talents by making sure more people know about you and hear your heart for helping.
Are you ready to get more patients to your dental practice?
Way too many introvert dentists force themselves into less-effective, ineffective, or expensive marketing because they don’t believe they can use the most effective dental marketing strategies. But I know you can.
Start with this pattern and use Facebook to grow. Speaking from your heart will be much easier for you than trying to force yourself into some hype-filled video. Talk to your future patients, just like your webcam is a patient in the chair. And, if it helps, script out your video or use bullet points to help you get more comfortable.
If you want more help, I have a great tool that will really help you. You can get a free 12-month marketing plan that includes 80 strategies to grow your dental practice. This is the perfect tool to help you get started building the practice you’ve always dreamed of. Did I mention it’s FREE?
If you want to join a community of Dental Bosses just like you, I have a Facebook group where over 1,000 Dental Bosses are already learning and growing. Join us in the Dental Boss Movement Facebook group if you want support and training as you grow your dental practice.