This July, Celebrate More than Fireworks at your Practice!

With June coming to an end, we’re almost halfway through 2018! As someone in the dental field, you know your business ebbs and flows, especially in the summertime. There is no time like the present to work on your marketing efforts for this summer and beyond! We know that coming up with creative content for your marketing efforts can be difficult. Luckily, content doesn’t always need to be dental specific. Often times, simple things that are light-hearted, community-driven and fun can be the perfect solution to create a robust marketing strategy.

Here are 8 holidays you can highlight to help market your practice this July:

July 1, 2018 | Canada Day aka The National Day of Canada

This federal holiday celebrates the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the Constitution Act which united three separate colonies of Canada. Think of Canada Day as Canada’s birthday! We recommend celebrating this day, especially if you live in Canada, but even if you live in the U S of A!

Here are two ways to celebrate:

Post a picture on Instagram of your office waiting room rockin’ the Canadian flag.
Run a contest on Facebook and ask patients to submit videos of them singing Happy Birthday to Canada. You can pick a winner and give them an epic Canadian themed prize such as maple syrup or chocolate-covered turtles.

July 4th, 2018 | Independence Day | Every year in the US, we celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Similar to Canada, the US had thirteen American Colonies unite to become a new nation! As this is a national holiday, your dental practice may be closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage!

Here are three ways to celebrate:

Send a well-crafted marketing email out to your patient’s to let them you’re your practice is closed because you will be reppin’ red, white & blue with your family. Don’t forget to update your office hours on Google and Facebook!
Celebrate with your staff by bringing cupcakes in or having a BBQ in the office parking lot the day before. Don’t forget to post about it on Facebook and Instagram!
While you’re out of the office, post a photo with your family on Facebook and Instagram wishing your patients a Happy 4th of July. You can make it light-hearted by reminding them not to throw their Invisalign in the garbage after they eat corn on the cob!

July 5th, 2018 | Workaholics Day

If you didn’t know, now you know. This day is dedicated to all the folks out there who spend most if not all of their time working. While this day may raise awareness about the mental and physical health of employees, it’s also a great day to remind your patients (who may be workaholics) that while work is fun, they still need to make time to come in for their annual checkups.

Here are two ways to celebrate:

Post a time-lapse video on Instagram of the doctor in the office, showcasing that they too are a workaholic and ready for their next patient!
Create a meme of someone in the office working too hard and post about it on Facebook.

July 13th, 2018 | Friday the Thirteenth

Luckily for you, July 13th just happens to be on a Friday this year which means more content to post on social media! This holiday is considered an unlucky day so it’s up to you to give it a positive spin.

Here are two ways to celebrate:

Close your office, nobody wants to work, it’s an unlucky day. (Just kidding!)
If you can’t do number 1, then we suggest you throw a spooky party in the office and serve some sweet treats to your patients and staff. Send out a marketing email inviting patients to stop by, even if they don’t have an appointment!

July 14th, 2018 | Bastille Day

On this day, France celebrates the anniversary of Storming of the Bastille, which was a turning point in the 1879 French revolution. It also celebrates the Fête de la Federation which celebrated the unity of the French people in 1790. It is one of the biggest celebrations held throughout France.

Here’s one way to celebrate:

Give a shootout on Facebook, to France on their la Fête Nationale!

July 11th, 2018 | National Slurpee Day

On those hot summer nights, everyone loves a frozen carbonated beverage from 7-Eleven. In the years past, 7-Eleven’s all over have given away a free small Slurpee to honor National Slurpee Day!

Here are two ways to celebrate:

Partner with your local 7-Eleven and get coupons to send to patients to get a free Slurpee throughout the week!
Bring in Slurpees on National Slurpee Day for your staff and post an epic Boomerang on your Instagram Story.

July 22nd, 2018 | National Ice Cream Day

Ronald Reagan signed into law on July 9th, 1984 that every third Sunday in July was to be National Ice Cream Day. You may be closed on Sunday, July 22nd but on Monday, July 23rd it’s time to bring in some ice cream to share with your patients.

Here are two ways to celebrate:

Create a marketing campaign surrounding National Ice Cream Day. Promote your practice and let patients know that if they book an appointment the week of National Ice Cream Day, you’ll give them a free scoop from your local ice cream shop (This will require partnering with your local ice cream vendor!)
Bring in an ice cream sundae bar and celebrate with your staff.

July 29th, 2018 | National Lasagna Day

It’s time to open up grandma’s cookbook and find that famous lasagna recipe! This wonderful dish is made with flat pasta sheets, cheese, tomato and other delicious ingredients.. Fun fact: people have been eating noodles for over 4,000 years, but culinary historians disagree about when and where lasagna originated.

Here are two ways to celebrate:

Host a staff contest and have everyone bring in their variations of lasagna for lunch. Vote on the best dish and share it on social media and your marketing newsletter.
Partner with your local food shelter and have patients and staff donate lasagnas to your office. Later that day, take the donations to someone in need and provide a warm meal for them!

Every month there are tons of national holidays that you can use to your advantage. We recommend planning out your social media calendar quarterly and checking what holidays are coming up! Not only is it a fun way to spice up your dental marketing, but it’s also an awesome way to interact with your patients and staff! If you have any questions or need any advice our Sesame Social Media team is always here to help.

— Alexis Mallos, Senior Marketing Manager, Sesame Communications