Google Plus benefits for the Dental Practice

Seven Benefits of Google+ for your Dental Practice

New features in Google+ can help patients find your practice, improve your collaboration and productivity.

Launched in August 2011, Google+ is a prominent player on the social networking block. Despite the late start, it’s becoming increasingly useful and important for dental practices and dentists. Here are seven ways Google+ you can take advantage of Google+ for your dental practice.

1. Google+ Pages

It is imperative for your dental practice to have a professional business presence on Google+. Similar to Facebook Business Pages, Google+ Pages are a destination for anyone seeking information about your dental services. Users can “follow” you by adding you to one of their Circles; this is a new feature and Facebook is looking to introduce the concept of ‘Circles’ soon on Facebook.

2. Google+ Profile

Profiles refer to individuals; think about your dental biography and your credentials to be highlighted in a Google+ Profile. It is important to include your email address and a link to your Google+ Profile when publishing articles using Twitter or blog technology. This increases your authority and adds bonus points for the Google search engine.

3. Google+ Chat

The Google+ Chat application is the same as chat in Gmail, the additional advantage is that it includes people in your Circles. A number of our customers use it for instant messaging, audio, and video chats with other dentists and even patients. The chat area in Google+ has a status field to show they are online and if there is the possibility to use a camera for video-chat, which is similar to Skype. It is very easy to set up and use; literally just clicking and typing.

4. Google+ Hangouts

Google+ Hangouts is the application for a free of charge video conferencing tool that allows up to 10 participants, and focuses its main screen on whoever is talking at the time. Access can be via phone as well, which allows remote participants and those on the road to join your meetings. To facilitate online presentations, Google+ Hangouts also allows screen sharing and online broadcasting as well as recording tools. Additional integration is provided with Google Docs, the equivalent of the Microsoft Office Suite. This is very helpful for online presentation of text documents, spreadsheets or x-rays in electronic formats.

5. Google+ Stream

Google+ Stream is a great way to share ideas and work collaboratively. Features include text messaging via notes, editing pictures, videos and links to other internet pages, all focuses with your Circle of friends, co-workers, colleagues or patients. Only those in the Circle will see what you’ve shared, and they can respond and add their own notes. It’s a great way to have an informal conversation about dental topics.

6. Integration with GMail

Critical to Google+ is the integration with Gmail. This means that while you are reading an email, you’ll see any Google+ activity by its sender appear on the right side of your screen. This allows you to easily add people, such as patients, colleagues and co-workers to your Circles, and automatically keeps your contact information synchronized and fresh.

7. Integration with Reader

Google Reader is the application to share articles you find on other websites or which is transmitted to you via RSS. Via the integration with Google+, you can now share an article with any circle you desire, so those people can read and comment, and of course share their own as well.

Author: Gene Greiner, www.dentist-websolutions.com
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