Social media is now part of all businesses marketing efforts but below you will find 4 reasons why using an online community as part of your marketing plan can also be extremely valuable.

Likes don’t automatically translate to more sales, so when using social media for your business you need to start measuring engagement - how often your audience is interacting with posted content and of course each other through your channel.

With Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin you are faced with a number of challenges, how do you get more visits to your page? Once they do visit, will users engage with a status update, or discuss content you have posted.

Online communities on the other hand, don't have an identity problem. Online communities are organised around clear defined goals and values. Imagine what an established online niche community offers to the business trying to reach a clearly defined audience. By engaging with a targeted community you are filtering out all the white noise and interacting directly.

So why can an online community be a valuable marketing tool for a business?

1. You are marketing your business to your actual target audience. Unlike social media, you know that the audience has interest in the content or message you are trying to get across.

2. When users use a community site, they are doing it for a particular reason, they are interested in the subject and want to learn or share information. There is no distraction of their favourite comedian or band also shouting for their attention. Reaching your audience in a targeted environment, means you can catch them when they are receptive to receiving your message.

3. Engaging on an online community can be risky but if you are seen to offer good service and advice, it will win you plenty of fans and impress the whole community. Communities dislike being sold to but they like being given good customer service and expertise.

4. Being seen to interact with a community that contains your potential customers is extremely important, online communities are a form of social media so marketing your business within a community needs to be a part of your marketing strategy. Anywhere your potential customers engage, has to be seen as a potential medium to increase sales.

Thanks for reading, please let me know your thoughts or get in touch to discuss things further.

Jonny Jacobs

Digital Dentistry Blog on GDPUK.

Over the years, I have mentioned that online advertising has a number of advantages. You can read those articles here and here.

In 2016, we started using DFP, which is a Google programme that serves ads for our clients on to our main site.

One of the exciting features of this software is the ability to serve more than one ad at a time for our clients, to more than one URL. This is a great way of advertising a number of your services or products at once via one booking of a slot. It also has the added advantage of keeping the ads fresh and distinctive for the audience, who may not have interest in one product but an advert for something else from the same company may catch the eye. So a win/win for both the advertiser and the audience.

Yes it can mean more banner designs are needed but the advantages far outweigh this extra work for your design team.

So as you can see this is an amazing advantage compared to traditional advertising, not only is your advert seen thousands of times a month but when compared to print, you can display more than one advert in one position. Another example of modern technology improving the experience for all.

For further information about working with GDPUK and how we can help you reach thousands of dentists, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will be glad to help.

GDPUK will also be visiting next week's BDA Conference and Exhibition in our home city of Manchester. Get in touch if you would This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cheers

Jonny

Digital Dentistry Blog on GDPUK

The Genix 2016 Annual Conference was a huge success with enthusiastic dental colleagues from up and down the country enjoying their time together as part of the Genix Healthcare family.

With around 250 attendees from the UK, US and Asia, delegates had the chance to hear from key speakers and later take part in team building activities. Visitors later changed into their finest for the evening ceremony to recognise and celebrate the hard work and commitment of outstanding members who have truly gone above and beyond their call of duty.

Esteemed guests attending the day included Baroness Nosheen Shaheen Mobarik CBE; Andrea Jenkins MP for Moreley and Outwood; Jack Lopresti MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke; and Professor George E Holmes, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Bolton.

The action-packed event took place at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on Saturday the 14^th of May and opened with a warm welcome from Managing Director, Mustafa Mohammed. Mustafa praised his team for their dedication and continuing contribution to the success of Genix Healthcare, before handing over to Professor Stephen Dunne – Clinical Director at Genix Healthcare and Professor of Primary Dental Care and Advanced General Dental Practice? at King's College London.

Professor Dunne did an excellent job of introducing the outstanding speakers who shared their infinite knowledge and expertise with the audience. Key speakers included Krishan Joshi – CEO of Dental Focus, who spoke on the advantages of social media and how to go about achieving the most out of this vast platform of opportunity, in a presentation entitled: “Winning on social media, dos and don’ts”. Next up was Dr Subir Banerji – Private Practice (London), Programme Director MSc Aesthetic Dentistry at King's College London Dental Institute and Board Member Academy of Dental Excellence. Dr Banerji gave an inspiring talk to Genix Healthcare members on presenting yourself confidently in a speech called: “It’s not what you wear – it’s the way you wear it”.

Amit Patel BDS, MSc, MClinDent, FDS, RCSEd, MRD, RCSEng, Specialist in Periodontics and Implant Dentist, followed with a fascinating presentation on “Periodontitis – a clinically effective treatment approach”, which outlined the latest advances and understanding of periodontal treatment.

Following a quick coffee break, attendees had the opportunity to listen to Hassnain Hamid, Clinical Lead at Genix Healthcare, discussing “NHS claims – avoiding the pitfalls”. Then, Dr Banerji gave his second talk of the day on his personal experience of 25 years in private dental practice. Sandy Brown, Sales & Marketing Director of Denplan, concluded the talks with a brilliant discussion on “Supporting private growth via Denplan’s patient-centred plans”.

Delegates then enjoyed a buffet lunch and during the afternoon were split into teams to engage in a fun-packed array of team building activities. Leading dental suppliers and manufacturers who sponsored the event, including Wright Cottrell, Cougar, PerioChip, BlueFin, Ivoclar Vivadent, Cannon and John Winters & Co, were also on hand throughout the day to show delegates the latest innovations in dentistry.

The fabulous awards ceremony was held in the evening with reception drinks, a three-course meal, entertainment and, of course, the long awaited awards with dancing into the night.

The candidates for this year’s awards met exceptionally high standards and the judges had a difficult job deciding. However, with an experienced judging panel, led by Professor Dunne and joined by esteemed professionals from both within the Genix Healthcare group and outside, the following winners were announced:

Practice Manager of the Year, North ­­– Kay Thomson, Edinburgh

Practice Manager of the Year, South – Danielle Stead, Market Weighton / Hull

Dental Nurse of the Year, North – Danni Kerry, Garforth

Dental Nurse of the Year, South – Lauren Curtis, Havant

Dentist of the Year, North – Rana Alsalem, Huddersfield

Dentist of the Year, South – Bart Goralczyk, Kiveton

Apprentice of the Year, North – Olivia Pawlett, Marske

Apprentice of the Year, South – Bipina Thapa, Coinsborough

Receptionist of the Year – Pauline Gowthorpe, Market Weighton

Practice of the Year – Edinburgh

Team of the Year – Whitley Bay

Sparkle – Dental Lab Technician of the Year – Edgars Martins

Sparkle – Team Member of the Year – Tracey Lawson

Head Office Team Member of the Year – Nick Turner, IT

Pictured above: Team of the Year – Whitley Bay

All that is left to say is many congratulations to all our winners! With some truly inspiring stories and demonstrations of outstanding commitment to the profession and to our patients, these awards proved why we are so proud of all those involved with Genix Healthcare!

For additional information please call 0845 838 1122, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or visit www.genixhealthcare.com

With its competitive prices and unbeatable customer service, Wrights proved popular with delegates at The Scottish Dental Show 2016.

In addition to showcasing its exclusive partnerships with top companies such as Planmeca and Bien Air, Wrights was pleased to display products from its very own Essential Range.

Delegates also enjoyed the deals that were available on stand, not to mention the limited seasonal flyers that were on offer to all who attended the show.

For those that didn't get a chance to visit the distributor with a difference in Scotland, make sure you visit the website today to discover the latest promotions and prices available.

Wrights also regularly offer website only offers, so for ultimate value for money, contact this sterling supplier today.

For more information contact Wrights on 0800 66 88 99 or visit the easy to navigate website www.wright-cottrell.co.uk