Social media. Everyone knows it’s there, but how much are you using it? And are you making the most of your time on social media? There are so many opportunities to grow your private practice through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
It would be a waste not to take advantage of these digital avenues while your competitors probably maximize them. So don’t waste any more time thinking about why you should take to social media for your business and just do it.
If you’re being held back by your lack of experience in digital strategies, you can always hire a digital media marketing agency to help you out with your social media campaigns. That said, here are five ways you can make social media work harder for your private practice:
1. Create content-rich posts with relevant backlinks
You should be posting at least once a day, but more than that if you can afford it. The content doesn’t need to be too long or drawn-out; in fact, concise posts are preferable because they’re easier for your audiences to digest.
The important thing is that the post has something interesting and relevant to say about you or your practice. For example, you could post a picture of an article about the health benefits of weight loss and comment on it. Just by writing a few words, you can include backlinks to your website or relevant articles that will help you get more out of your social media accounts.
This will keep people coming back to see what new information has been added since their last visit. It also helps build an audience because users who find something useful will share the post with others in their networks who may find it useful as well.
2. Be sure to have a social media presence
It’s a lot easier to have a successful social media campaign if you’re on all the popular platforms. Facebook and Twitter are great but don’t neglect LinkedIn or Google+ because many professionals spend their online time there.
Don’t be afraid to try new platforms if they’re relevant to you; the worst thing that could happen is nothing at all. Social media is a lot easier when you have a presence on every single popular platform out there, so don’t write it off before you’ve given it a chance.
However, if you’re strapped for resources, there’s nothing wrong with being selective about the platforms you use. For example, if your practice is primarily concerned with sports medicine, posting on Twitter and Instagram might make sense rather than LinkedIn or Google+. Or if you work with seniors, posting on Facebook and Twitter might be the best bet because that’s where seniors are most active.
3. Interact with other professionals in your industry
Participating in group discussions, like talking vs. selling, will build relationships that could turn into referrals or joint venture partnerships. However, if you’re going to participate in these conversations, it’s important to have the right tone.
People appreciate helpful, objective information that can be immediately applied to improve their practice, not sales pitches. So, make it a point to share helpful posts and participate in discussions that add value to the conversation.
4. Keep your posts short and sweet
Users are scrolling fast! If they’re looking at their newsfeeds, then they want to see bite-sized information, so they can quickly scan it and move on, or better yet, interact with it if it’s meaningful to them.
Providing links to longer posts can be useful, but you should also provide enough information in the post itself so that it’s not just a teaser for what could be an interesting article later on. Plus, it’s important to strike a balance between engaging your audience with what’s on the surface and encouraging them to dig deeper into your posts.
5. Use Facebook ads and Twitter promoted tweets
Paid ads can be a practical way to reach more people across the world by targeting them with relevant content about topics they’re interested in. This is a great way to generate leads from people you wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise.
With a strong online presence, the success of your private medical practice will blossom and grow exponentially over time. But you need to make sure you’re putting in the right work to get results. This way, you can make the most of social media and focus on what matters: offering great services to your patients.
Have you started using social media yet? If not, it’s never too late to begin; just make sure you follow these tips closely so that your audience will grow and relationships will be forged. And soon enough, you’ll be able to reap the fruits of all your hard work.
