If are just starting in social marketing you definitely need to know how to avoid making mistakes in the social media world. Below are the biggest mistakes you might be able to avoid, as per Greg Fry: 1. No Consistency. Many businesses start off like a speeding train with their social media efforts. Only to find out that they cannot sustain the volume of activity and engagement.  Don’t start something you can’t finish or don’t intend to do well. If you decide to blog, make a decision to do it on a consistent basis. Not randomly. And the more often, the better. Be consistent, present and responsive. Or don’t do it all. 2. Listen to me! Sell Sell Sell. Many businesses forget that they are dealing with real human beings. With hopes and dreams and pet peeves. People relate to each other through two-way conversation, both online and in person. Ever met someone who monopolises the conversation? I have. And I tend to walk the other way when I see them coming. These shiny new social media tools are not loud speakers. Talking about yourself won’t make others talk about you. Don’t shout offers and deals and me, me, me. Take your sales hat off and think like a human being. Invest in getting to know your customers better than your competition does. Listen. Be curious, and interested and engaged. Tell stories and share knowledge. Most of all, ask yourself how you can provide meaning and value. How can you be helpful? How can you support your best friends and biggest fans? How can you lift them up? It’s about people. 3. No Plan. Lots of businesses, especially small businesses don’t take time to build a proper strategy for social media or even do any planning or set any goals. Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail. I highly recommend to read more

Just came across an interesting article by Dr. Larry Emmott. I think those predictions have a bit of sarcasm built in, and I think all 5 predictions are valid. Below are 5 predictions: 1. Some dentists will postpone the purchase of a digital radiography system because they are waiting for the price to drop. 2. Many dentists will install an upgraded management system, add some new team members, but not bother to set up and pay for team training. 3. Dentists will run a paper system simultaneously with an electronic system. 4. Makers of high-tech dental systems, such as digital radiograph and digital impression systems, will continue to create output in a proprietary format that cannot be used by any other system. 5. Dentists will avoid setting up a practice Web site. I might add a couple of my predictions to that list. 6. Many dentists will realize that SEO and web marketing is way to go to market their businesses. However many are still going to stay ignorant to the fact that nobody can find their website on Google search engine. 7. Dentists will agree that the website must exist for their business and hopefully will engage a webmaster to establish a web pretense for their practice. Source: DentistryIQ.com

PRBewswire [2011-01-24] –  Aflac (NYSE: AFL), the No. 1 provider of voluntary and guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States, today announced its new voluntary dental insurance policy. Aflac Dental offers policyholders more choices with multiple levels of coverage to choose from and bigger benefits ranging from higher annual maximums to enhanced orthodontic coverage. Aflac Dental continues to make it easier for employers to administer benefits because there are no participation requirements, network restrictions, deductibles, or annual premium reviews. It’s an insurance policy designed to meet the needs of employers in the face of growing employee demand. “With more and more companies shifting away from employer-paid benefits to voluntary insurance, Aflac Dental is the right benefits solution at the right time for both employers and employees,” said Tom Morey, vice president of Product Development at Aflac. “With Aflac Dental, employers are able to enhance their benefits package at no direct cost to the company while providing valuable dental benefits – a safety net – their employees can rely on when they need it most.” read more …

Science Daily [2011-01-22] -Cracking a Tooth: 3-D Map of Atoms Sheds Light on Nanoscale Interfaces in Teeth, May Aid Materials Design. Teeth and bone are important and complex structures in humans and other animals, but little is actually known about their chemical structure at the atomic scale. What exactly gives them their renowned toughness, hardness and strength? How do organisms control the synthesis of these advanced functional composites? Now, using a highly sophisticated atomic-scale imaging tool on a sea creature’s tooth, two Northwestern University researchers have peeled away some of the mystery of organic/inorganic interfaces that are at the heart of tooth and bone structure. They are the first to produce a three-dimensional map of the location and identity of millions of individual atoms in the complex hybrid material that allows the animal to literally chew rock. Read more … Credits: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110112132126.htm

Why would dentist want to use Botox? A little bit of history. According to Wikipedia,  Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and is extremely neurotoxic. When introduced intravenously in monkeys, type A of the toxin exhibits an LD50 of 40-56 ng, type C1 around 32 ng, type D 3200 ng, and type E 88 ng, rendering the above types some of the most powerful neurotoxins known.Popularly known by one of its trade names, Botox or Dysport, it is used for various cosmetic and medical procedures. The Tennessee Board of Dentistry is considering a rule change that would allow dentists to treat their patients with the drug. The board has already given the okay to oral surgeons. They can start using Botox Thursday to help treat jaw pain and discomfort. Source: http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/jan/18/dentists-want-use-botox-ar-782868/

shinyshiny.tv [2011-01-10] – We all dread going to the dentist. The very sound of the drill is more than enough to leave even the toughest of us shaking in our shoes. That is why King’s College Dental Institute’s Professor Brian Millar has invented a noise cancellation device that eliminates the unnerving sound of dental drills. Many people put off going to the dentist because of anxiety associated with the noise of the dentist’s drill. But this device has the potential to make fear of the drill a thing of the past. The beauty of this gadget is that it would be fairly cost-effective for dentists to buy, and any patient with an MP3 player would be able to benefit from it, at no extra cost. read more …

Very good points have been published  by Ken Serota on December 17, 2010 in the article “5 tips for marketing your dental practice” Marketing a dental practice is simply not what it used to be. Years ago you could just take out an advertisement in the Yellow Pages or send direct mailers. In today’s saturated media market, these efforts often just end up in the recycling bin. While many dentists still swear by these methods, I argue that you’re not only missing the huge (and growing) group of patients who are online, but also that there is no way to track the success of your 

DentistryIQ (2010-12-13) – Syneron Dental introduces Laser-in-Handpiece technology. YOKNEAM, Israel–Syneron Dental, a provider of dental laser solutions, has announced a patented Litetouch System, featuring the company’s Laser-in-Handpiece technology, has been installed in numerous clinics and universities in 2010. To read more about laser technology, go to laser technology. The system provides dentists across Europe and the Far East with the ability to use lasers to perform complex dental procedures that had previously not been possible with traditional dental laser systems. Syneron Dental’s LiteTouch is an all-tissue, nonfiber, nonarticulated arm Er: YAG dental laser for use on hard- and soft-tissue procedures. LiteTouch generates the laser’s energy within the handpiece, allowing for greater energy transfer than ever before. It provides dentists with high-speed cutting ability, power, precision, and maneuverability. read more …

Dental SEO has assumed more importance than ever. It is imperative for the dentists to hire the services of experienced SEO professionals to attract new patients. Phone Yellow book used to be the main dental marketing option taken by dentists before. Potential customers would be initially contacted through the phone. Things have changed. I think less than 5% of new patients will use Yellow pages to look for a dentist. They will go to search for near by located dentist specialists via the Google, Yahoo or Bing search engines. It has become evident that online marketing is vital for those who want to build their dental practice. If you want to attract new clients or boost your service, you must contact a professional SEO agency. Our team is for sure one of the professional SEO firms and consists of Dental SEO Experts, Web-Designers and programmers to provide SEO Friendly Web Designing and SEO Services.

The cost of dental implants can and does vary greatly.  More information on the cost of dental implants and dental implants prices can be found at Dental Implants Cost website. Dental implants can be part of an overall dental health program.  They can be a cost effective alternative to a full lower denture.  In my Palm Harbor FL dentist office we help many people who hate their lower denture.  Three dental implants with attachments in the lower denture is a very cost effective way to greatly increase the quality life.  Mini dental implants have allowed even more people to experience the benefits of teeth that are more secure than traditional dentures.