How Inspiration Builds an Instagram Following with Dr. Celine Higton

Dr. Céline Higton is all about taking the initiative. That's how she's ended up with 26,000 followers on Instagram. When she graduated from dental school in London, Dr. Higton knew she wanted to focus on a more personal type of dentistry. She was advised by a mentor to forget the job advertisements for the larger practices and pick out which private practices she wanted to work with. Then it was only a matter of tailoring a CV and cover letter and hand-delivering it to each one. This advice proved invaluable. Not only did she find a perfect first dental job, but it also inspired her to take that same approach with the rest of her career. Being active on Instagram was just a bonus. Because tailoring social media posts is easier than writing a cover letter, mostly because Dr. Higton only posts images that inspire her.  Dr. Higton didn't really like social media at first, but she focused on finding a genuine way to connect with people online that was less about likes and more about education. The secret to being successful on social media, she says, is to inspire. She takes time to reply to every message and only makes posts about general dentistry to help our community learn the tips and tricks of the trade. Sincerity like that translates through a screen. Dr. Higton uses Instagram as an educational tool and she's sharing some of the things she's learned over the years creating her own following online. She discusses the rules she has about what types of photos to post and how to know your audience if you want to gain momentum on social media.  You used to have to be published in journals and speak at universities to gain recognition as a dentist, but now, a social media account with the right content can skyrocket you to the front of the crowd. Tune in now to learn how to use Instagram as an educational tool for your followers, and how Dr. Higton is using her experience with social media to create a new kind of dental education website. In This Episode You Will Learn: The more personal type of dentistry Dr. Higton specializes in 6:55 Where Dr. Higton finds her motivation 10:16 How Instagram opens new doors for dentists professionally 20:56 The right way to take Instagram-worthy photos 22:44 Dr. Higton's favorite things about teaching dentistry 30:52 Why Dr. Higton was inspired to create her own education website 35:21 Some Questions We Discuss: What's a Foundation Training Year? 3:00 How did Dr. Higton gain 26,000 followers on Instagram? 11:47 What is the process for creating an Instagram post and engaging with followers? 18:36 Can you learn more by going back to look at images of your own work? 26:49 How do engagement styles differ on Instagram vs. an educational website? 37:16 What is Dr. Higton's favorite dental slang? 39:20 Resources: Visit our website: www.DentalSlang.com Connect with us on Facebook: Dental Slang Get in touch with Dr. Higton on Instagram: @drcelinehigton or send her an email at [email protected]