Using Instagram Stories To Engage With Patients

We all know that social media is a great way to engage with an audience. But with so many tools available, it can be difficult to know when and how to use different platforms and features. Instagram, and the Instagram Stories feature in particular, has grown into one of the largest and most effective platforms - with more than 80% of Instagram users following at least one business. With Instagram Stories, users can post a sequence of photos and videos that appear at the top of their feed and vanish after 24 hours.
 

For dentists trying to grow your practice and engage more with patients, Instagram Stories can be a great tool to differentiate your practice and build an authentic connection with patients that goes beyond their visits every 6 months.
 
For more info, social media expert Jenny Crandall explains exactly how to do use Instagram Stories in this how-to video. For a little extra help getting started, Delta Dental has also provided Instagram Stories templates. You can customize these to fit your practice and combine them with your own photos and content. Click here to download the templates.
 
Here are a few more specific tips to remember when using Instagram Stories.
 

Adding Links to Instagram Stories

Adding links to your practice’s website, or including a specific Call to Action – something that encourages the follow to take an action to engage with you (liking a post, commenting, sharing, clicking a link) – is an important part of any social media strategy. To add a live link to an Instagram Story, Instagram requires 10k followers. That’s out of reach for most smaller practices, but, there are still plenty of other ways to share a link. If it’s a simple URL that is easy for the user to remember, type it out in the story. You can also add “link in bio” to the story text and then update the link in your Instagram bio. Either way, giving your followers somewhere to get more information is a key way of keeping them engaged.

Using Instagram Story Highlights

If you have a great Instagram Story, don’t let it disappear! Instagram highlights is a great tool to keep the momentum going after posting a story and make sure new followers who come to your profile can see that great content that you put so much time and effort into. Save your Instagram Stories past their 24-hour lifespan by saving them as highlights on your profile. Followers can then go back into your highlights and see all the content they may have missed or want to re-visit.
 

Creating Authentic, Simple Stories

Instagram Stories should be authentic and simple. You don’t have to over-produce the content. Think of Instagram Stories as behind-the-scenes. It’s an opportunity to open up and give a natural snapshot or insight into your dental practice or your life. Allowing your followers to feel like they have a more direct, authentic understanding of who you are will not only increase their engagement, but their loyalty and affinity for your practice.
 

Using Filters on Instagram Stories

There is no such thing as a “wrong” or “right” filter or editing style, but rather one that is on brand. Just be consistent and use the same filter or editing style throughout all of your Instagram Stories. Your Stories should also use the same style as your other Instagram posts. Doing so makes it easier for you followers to recognize your brand when they scroll past a post or story.
 
Instagram Stories are a simple tool that any practice can take advantage of easily. If you need some inspiration for what to post, don’t forget to use the templates provided by Delta Dental. They’re easy to customize and you can pair them with your own original photos to tell a unique Story!