Video isn’t usually the first thing that professionals turn to when creating content for their marketing campaign. After all, creating a polished, well-executed video takes forever.
Video may seem like a complicated enterprise at its surface, but it provides a good return on investment. With the popularity of video at an all-time high, it’s not surprising why more and more healthcare professionals are adding video content to their healthcare marketing mix.
Here are 5 reasons why you should be getting on board with video marketing.
Internet users love watching videos
In a world of infinite content, where millions of contents are being published on a daily basis, capturing the attention of your audience is a challenge. If you want to capture the attention of your target audience, then you need to provide them with content they actually want to engage with.
Video is becoming the preferred way of consuming content online. In the fast-paced world, we live in, most people would rather watch a 2-minute video than spend 10 to 15 minutes reading the same information. They communicate more in sight, sound, and feelings than words or images alone. Plus, they deliver messages more effectively in a shorter amount of time.
The good news is, getting started with video marketing can seem daunting at first, but it’s actually much easier than you might think. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can create compelling video content that engages your target audience and promotes your practice.
Video encourages social shares
As visual species, humans find videos more interesting and more engaging than any other type of content out there. People watch a lot of videos and share them with their family and friends.
According to Small Business Trends, social videos generate 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Social sharing is the equivalent of word of mouth. When people share your content, your chances of getting in front of potential patients increases exponentially.
Make sure that your videos are not only interesting and engaging, they should also be evergreen. This way, you can share it across multiple channels more than once and continue reaping the benefits.
Easy to digest format
Let’s face it. Explaining a medical condition and procedure to an average patient is not an easy task. There are a lot of technical jargon, complicated processes, and scary surgical tools.
A video is a great tool for learning. It is easier to consume and understand than a verbal or written explanation. Plus, it gives people a real-life picture of what’s going on. Sharing videos that detail the procedure is a great way to explain how a procedure works. It can also help alleviate a patient’s fear.
You can also use videos to teach patients how to prevent or alleviate a specific concern. For instance, dentists can demonstrate the proper way to use floss. Dermatologists, on the other hand, can share some tips on how to get rid of acne scars or how to layer skincare products.
Search engines love video
You don’t just want to be on Google; you want to be on top of the search engine results page. One way to do this is by incorporating videos to your website.
If there is anyone who loves video more than us, it’s Google. Why? It’s because a greater percentage of people prefer video than text.
Videos can help you rank higher on Google. Studies suggest that websites with high-quality videos are 53 times more likely to appear on the first page of Google than those without any video. By adding videos on both your website and Youtube, your chances of showing up in search engines will increase significantly. If you promote your videos on your social media, your visibility will go through the roof.
If video isn’t a part of your healthcare marketing strategy already, then you’re missing out on an incredibly powerful opportunity to be found by prospective patients. But first, you need to have a good video marketing strategy to make it work.
Videos evoke emotion
Stories make for better marketing because they elicit emotion. But with the infinite content online combined with people’s short attention span, you need to be able to cut through the noise in order to gain traction and capture the attention of your audience. This is where videos come in handy.
Videos are a great tool for storytelling because they elicit strong emotional responses. As physicians, you’re not merely offering your services to the public. Rather, you want them to envision themselves spending more years with their family – healthy and pain-free – after visiting your office.
Personal stories from satisfied patients are one of the best ways to promote your practice. Use visuals and sounds to convey the message you want to share through your story. Remember, storytelling is far more effective than a sales pitch.
Final thoughts
Video marketing has become a vital component of healthcare marketing strategies, and it’s not hard to see why. Videos are an effective way to engage and educate your target audience, generate social shares, boost your search engine ranking, and create an emotional connection with your viewers.
By adding videos to your marketing mix, you can provide valuable content to your patients and establish yourself as an authority in your field. So, don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your digital presence and connect with potential patients.
The content marketing world is more competitive now than it has ever been before. Big brands, small businesses, influencers, and even healthcare professionals create their own content to reach more people online.
But with so many blog posts, videos, infographics, and other types of content online, it can be challenging to stand out. That’s what we’re going to talk about next.
When developing a content strategy for your healthcare practice, there are five things you need to keep in mind. Let’s dive into those now.
Know your audience
It is estimated that Google processes approximately 5.6 billion search queries every day. According to Google, 5% of those searches are health-related.
There is no shortage of content on the internet. But if you want to get in front of your target audience, you need to create content that is relevant and useful to them. To do that, you must get to know your audience on a deeper level.
Dig deep into what types of content they’re consuming and what topics they’re interested in. This way, you can align your content with your target audience’s specific needs and interests.
Establish your content marketing goals
Let’s face it. It’s easy to get caught up in the who, what, how, and where of content marketing that people tend to forget about the most important question: why?
Every strategy should start with a specific goal in mind. So ask yourself. What do you want to achieve with your content? Are you hoping to capture more leads? Or maybe you’re looking to grow your brand awareness and social media presence.
By defining your goals, you can ensure that each piece of content works towards meeting those goals. Even better, you can keep track of your data and use them to improve your content marketing strategy in the long run.
Create a content messaging roadmap
Now that you have already created a buyer persona, established your goals, and set criteria for success, it’s time to start building a content messaging roadmap that can help move each persona through the sales funnel.
Patients who are visiting your site for the first time may be looking for a healthcare provider but aren’t ready to book an appointment with you yet. During this stage, getting their trust is of key importance. This is where educational content can help. Articles, podcasts, videos, and case studies can help position yourself as an expert and get potential patients’ trust.
Warmer prospects may have considered booking an appointment already but may still be looking around. At this stage, adding testimonials from other patients, answering frequently asked questions, and offering free consultations may be just what you need to seal the deal.
Make the most of your content
You spent hours creating those content, so why not make the most out of them? You can repurpose your content to introduce them to new audiences who might prefer a different format.
For instance, you can turn your blog post into an infographic to make it easier to digest and understand. You can turn it into video content, which is perfect for those who prefer watching videos. Another option is to segment your blog post and publish it as a series on social media.
Identify the most relevant platforms
So you spent so much time and effort researching and writing your content. You wanted to make sure that your audience would find it helpful and informative. But it won’t matter if no one has seen it.
The key is to identify which platforms your audience spends most of their time in. This can help give your content the best possible chance of being seen.
If most of your audience is on Instagram, start by creating an appealing image that would make users stop their scroll. But don’t just stop there. You should also write compelling captions that create more engagement.
Final thoughts
There is no denying that content marketing strategy works. It can help you reach more patients online, retain current patients, and even improve patient journeys. But for it to work, you need to have a well-defined and carefully thought out strategy. Otherwise, you’d be wasting a lot of time and effort creating content that won’t benefit your practice.
If you need help devising a content marketing strategy and plan or need some fresh ideas to include in your plan, we can help. Schedule a free consultation with us, and we’ll help you generate more traffic and leads for your healthcare practice with content marketing.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/5-Tips-for-Building-a-Content-Marketing-Strategy-for-Your-Healthcare-Practice.png12602240Kathlyn Angeleshttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles2022-03-30 10:46:482022-03-25 11:55:185 Tips for Building a Content Marketing Strategy for Your Healthcare Practice
Millennials might have the spotlight for the time being, but Generation Z has arrived! They’re set to become an influential consumer segment in the years to come.
This group is predicted to make up one-third of the working population by 2025. Gen Z represents a huge opportunity for sustainable growth. And you wouldn’t want to ignore them.
Gen Zs are highly tech-savvy. They’re value-driven and socially conscientious. Unfortunately, using the same marketing strategy for millennials won’t work with this market.
Use these tips to make sure you’re marketing to Gen Z patients the right way.
Meet them where they are
As a generation that is born into a world of the internet and smart devices, these younger patients spend as much time on their phones as the older generations do watching TV. That said, they expect their healthcare experience to be digital too.
According to SproutSocial, 65% of Gen Z have increased their use of social media in the last year. To create meaningful connections with the younger audience, you need to have a solid online presence and make sure that you tailor your message to each social platform.
Go beyond your Facebook page and meet your audience where they are. If your brand’s target audience includes individuals aged 30 and below, you should be on Tiktok right now. You don’t necessarily have to dance or participate in challenges.
If you’re a gynecologist, you can use the platform to share helpful information about sex education. If you’re a dermatologist, you can talk about the importance of sunscreens.
Remember, each platform has its own voice and audience. So make sure that you tailor your message to resonate, not just with Gen Z but with a diverse audience.
Create short but helpful content
Gen Z’s attention span is shorter than millennials. So if you want to engage with them, your focus should be creating snappy but meaningful content.
Gen Z is our most health-conscious generation. But they also like convenience. That said, you can show them how to create healthy meals in 10 minutes. Or maybe feature a 10-minute exercise routine that they can do at home.
Choose influencers with care
Influencer marketing is excellent tool to reach them. In fact, influencers now have even greater appeal than yesterday’s celebrities. Why? Because they’re more relatable and resonate well with the younger audience.
In fact, Gen Zs are nearly twice as likely as millennials to make a purchase based on an influencer’s recommendation.
But remember that this younger demographic values individual expression. If you decide to work with an influencer to increase brand awareness and build trust, make sure that you choose your influencers wisely.
Do some research before reaching out to an influencer. Take a look at their social media pages. Look beyond their follower count and pay attention to their content. \
Be accessible
Gen Zs are more likely to seek advice from social media or their network for answers. These young patients are an impatient bunch and are not willing to wait in line.
Like it or not, they aren’t loyal to their healthcare providers. They prefer easier, more convenient, and accessible healthcare services, so they’re not tied to time or location. This is why many of them would opt for emergency care, walk-in clinics, or concierge centers. Others would just Google their condition and self-medicate.
If you’re looking to capture the attention of Gen Z patients, then you need to be accessible. Remember that most of them are glued to their phones most of the time. You can reach and interact with this group by creating informational but engaging video content.
Also, being accessible via social media or an app can help you capture the attention of Gen Z patients.
Be transparent and honest
Gen Z craves transparency and authenticity in marketing. They are drawn to brands that “keep it real.” This intelligent and informed generation doesn’t hesitate to boycott brands and companies over false advertising and unethical business practices.
There is no better way to show transparency in healthcare than by sharing your patients’ stories. Younger patients are extremely invested in what others say about a service or practice.
Patients themselves are the most effective communicators. Plus, they’re far more effective than images of your facility. Make sure that you get the patient’s consent before posting it online.
Final thoughts
Having grown up with social media and smartphones in hand, these digital natives wouldn’t have known life without a touch screen. That said, you also need to adapt your marketing strategies to younger audiences.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/5-Ways-Healthcare-Professionals-Can-Engage-Gen-Z-Patients-1.png12602240Kathlyn Angeleshttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles2022-03-02 10:53:132022-02-25 10:45:145 Ways Healthcare Professionals Can Engage Gen Z Patients
Can you believe we are already in the last month of 2021? It has flown by, and that brings me to my point of this video today. When to hire a digital marketing agency?
When is it time to bring in a company to help with your online marketing? This can be anything from social media to blogging, videos, your overall strategy, website help, landing pages, lead magnets, all of these components equal a big piece of your marketing, and with online marketing, there’s no way around it. You have to be online.
2020 really showed us that as business owners, there are a lot of people that had been in business for years selling some type of a product at events, and they had a very strong following. Once that went away due to the pandemic and shutdowns, they didn’t have the online component to help support them. Another example is if they were a coach, and just had the in-person meetings, and they didn’t have the systems in place to bring their patients online while being HIPAA compliant and being able to set up those different pieces that they needed to maintain their business.
Now coming to the end of 2021, we’ve learned a lot over the past almost two years. What do we need to do? As a business owner, if you don’t have employees, you most likely have independent contractors, maybe you have a bookkeeper, a graphic designer, a virtual assistant, and all of those people play a crucial role and being able to help you move forward every day, every month, and every year. When it’s time to hire a digital marketing agency, and a lot of times people think it’s just too much, I’m never gonna be able to afford that, and there are different companies with different structures, Social Speak has been in business for 14 years, and we work hand-in-hand with our clients of all different sizes, from just solopreneur up to 52, 125 employees and more.
Looking at what projects do you need help with? Having a virtual assistant is absolutely probably one of the best things you’ll be able to invest your money in because they help with those daily tasks, they’re able to make sure that you are staying accountable and that you’re getting things done that need to be done. Whether that is sending out emails, scheduling meetings, maybe even putting together social media posts, if that’s something that they’re comfortable with. When we come into play is when you need help with that overall strategy. If you are a commerce shop and now you’ve started a Shopify store online and your sales are good and you’re growing, but you need help kind of getting to that next level, what does that look like?
Here are some questions you may be asking yourself:
What does that strategy look like?
How do you implement a successful Facebook campaign for ads?
Do boosted Facebook posts work?
Do you get more out of Pinterest?
How can Pinterest drive traffic to your website?
How do you create those images?
These pieces may be outside the skill set of your VA, which is completely fine. That’s where we come in to help bridge that gap. To be able to get you from point A to point B. We like to work in phases, phase one, this is what we want to do, phase two, phase three, etc. We will be working through things together and you’re able to have that support that you need on a technical side. The behind the scenes stuff can get messy and confusing like the Shopify sites, shipping, e-commerce shops on Facebook and Google, running the right ads, creating the right drip campaigns, and even remarketing ads. How are you able to get those ads in front of more people? How are you able to do a remarketing campaign and make sure that the people that have shown interest in that ad are seeing it again? So they finally say, “Fine, I’ll buy… I’ll buy that item.” We all have seen those ads when we click on something on Amazon and then we see them on Facebook, those are remarketing ads, so how do you create campaigns like that to stay in front of your audience? Are you using the correct system for your email marketing? Are you sending out newsletters? Are you growing your email list? Those are all other pieces that where a digital marketing agency’s expertise comes in and can help you streamline your process and your systems and make sure that everything is in line and working the way that you want it to be working.
Whether you are a solopreneur, a coach, or maybe even have a small business, and you’re thinking of, “How can I… BLANK – create a free download, grow my email list, etc. This is where a digital marketing agency comes in to help you navigate this online world and be able to show the best results possible, because that is key, if you have the right processes and systems in place, your success is only gonna continue to grow and you got into the business because you hopefully love what you do.
Maybe you’re creating these products, you’re hand-making them, or you are importing them, but they are… They mean something to you, you have a mission, you have core values that you wanna share to with the world, and this is what you wanna do, but you lack knowledge on that behind the scenes technical side of things, because in online marketing, there’s something new every day, and things are changing constantly, so if you’re not staying up on top of what those changes are and how to rethink this and make sure that people that are buying your products are then into being synced automatically into an email list and that you know where they came from and you’re using the correct coupon codes, and we can go on and on, but it’s important to understand that you have options and there are resources there for you, like Social Speak Network to be able to help you get from this point to this point, and help grow your business.
If you are looking to grow your business in 2022 and being able to look at that strategy, that overall strategy, what are the things that you need to change, what are the things you need to rethink, what are new things you wanna implement. We are here to help you. Please head on over to socialspeaknetwork.com, schedule a free 30-minute consultation. Let’s go over what you have been doing, what’s been working, and some ideas of what you would like to see and how we may be able to help fulfill that strategy and digital marketing agency role for your business to take it to the next level.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/When-is-it-time-to-hire-a-digital-marketing-agency.png7201280Amber Irwinhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngAmber Irwin2021-12-08 06:00:442021-12-07 22:49:12When is it time to hire a digital marketing agency?
UPDATED BLOG POST – You’ve heard LinkedIn is important but is it really? The short answer is yes.
LinkedIn is a social networking site that allows professionals and business people, regardless of their industry, to connect. With more than 600 million users in over 200 countries, it is the world’s largest professional network on the internet. Despite its popularity, many people ignore this platform simply because they do not understand how powerful it can be for exposing and growing their business.
Do you have a LinkedIn account? Here are 6 reasons to create one or dust off your long-forgotten one.
Opportunity to network
We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s not what you know, but who you know”. LinkedIn was built with that proposition in mind.
If you’re looking to build a strong network, LinkedIn is the best place to start. It is great for building strong networks with other healthcare professionals. It has a decent search feature that can help you find people in your industry. There are also numerous healthcare groups on LinkedIn that you can join. Use your LinkedIn connections to build a community. It is up to you to decide how much time and energy you want to put into this process.
When you’re an active LinkedIn user, your opportunities to interact with other healthcare professionals are virtually limitless. Professionals who are using the platform are open to networking, connections, and possibly, professional referrals. If you reach out to them in a genuine, non-spammy way, they’d be more than happy to have you in their network.
Demonstrate your knowledge and expertise
LinkedIn is essentially a digital translation of your CV. It is a great place for keeping all your career information. In fact, there is an entire section available devoted to recognitions and awards you’ve won. This could be an excellent way to tell your audience that you’re good at what you do.
Many people have a Linkedin account. The problem is that their profile is incomplete. Remember, your profile is the first professional impression people will have of you. Completing your profile with your experience, skills, and credentials will increase your credibility. Think of it as your online CV. Go ahead and show off your skills, academic accomplishments, and professional successes.
Content sharing
Unlike other social media platforms, where the focus of sharing is generally personal content, LinkedIn is a suitable platform for professional content.
The open publishing format of LinkedIn provides users an opportunity to both teach and learn. Here, you can share content that reflects your line of work and presents your thoughts and ideas to a wider audience. You can share blogs that have the potential to create a buzz around your name, participate in discussions and express your thoughts or views on certain topics.
Publishing high-quality content regularly creates trust with your connections and positions you as an expert in your field. If your post is featured on LinkedIn Pulse, your reach is exponentially increased.
In today’s competitive job market, it is important to stay up-to-date with industry news and trends in order to thrive. With new regulations and technologies affecting the healthcare industry, there are lots of industry news to stay on top of. LinkedIn makes it easier for you to stay relevant in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Joining industry-specific groups allow you to connect and interact with industry peers. From here, you can get the latest news, post, and announcements.
Be found online
Whether you like it or not, people are going to look you up on Google. And it’simportant that your patients, students, and other industry professionals find you online.
The good news is that Linkedin profiles have high authority with Google. That means, if you have a LinkedIn account, it will appear toward the top of the search results page.
LinkedIn is a great tool for managing and controlling your professional digital reputation since you’ll have direct control over how your online identity is presented. Plus, it will be easier for future patients to find you. Your profile will not only appear when they search your name but also when searching for your specialty.
Further your personal branding
Your brand is what people say about you. Try Googling yourself to see what comes up. These are the first impressions people will have of you.
In today’s digital world, first impressions are formed online, and Linkedin is the best place for people to “meet” you. Your profile is a showcase of your skills, experience, and achievements. It is a great way to present your professional experience, tell your story, and the goals you want to achieve. Make sure your profile is 100% complete. Don’t forget to update your profile photo.
Remember, you will never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure that you do it right. Make one that will differentiate you from the competition and reflect who you are.
For most people, Pinterest is nothing but a big visual search engine. It is a platform users turn to when looking for DIY projects to tackle, put-together outfits to wear, or recipes to make. But a lot of people fail to realize that Pinterest also provides a great opportunity, not only for businesses but also for healthcare providers and organizations.
Pinterest isn’t the first platform you’d think of when promoting your practice, but it can introduce your practice to a whole new audience. Plus, it can help you drive traffic to your website, generate leads, and even attract new patients.
So if you’re still not using Pinterest for your healthcare practice, now is the best time to get started. Here are 6 ways to use Pinterest for your healthcare marketing plan.
Create pin-worthy images
Pinterest is an image-sharing platform. It is filled with appealing eye candy. So if you want to get gain some traction on the platform, then you need to create eye-catching and attractive images.
Unlike other social media platforms, Pinterest’s images are tall and vertically-oriented. The ideal image size is 1,000 x 1,500px and an aspect ratio of 2:3. Also, including texts in your images can make a difference. Not only will it make your pins more enticing, it will also help users know exactly what your pin is about at a glance.
Educate your audience
According to Hootsuite, two-thirds of Pinterest users are women, and the majority of them are mothers. As moms, they are always looking for new ways to keep their kids healthy. If you’re a pediatrician, you can use the platform to educate them and promote healthy eating. You can share kid-friendly recipes, suggestions for making living a healthy lifestyle fun, or help moms identify health concerns in kids.
If you’re an OB/GYN, you can promote good breast health with pictures of what to expect during a mammogram. Or if you’re a cardiologist, you can create a pin on the importance of a stress test, and how to prepare for the said test. Simple pins like these can help take some of the anxiety out of such tests and would help your audience understand the importance of these tests.
Create boards centered around your specialty
Pinterest isn’t just about sharing your content and images. It’s an excellent platform where you can expand the idea of what your brand is.
Create boards that are centered around your specialty and make sure that it resonates with your audience. If you’re an OB/GYN, you could pin educational resources related to prenatal care, fertility tips, and gynecology information. If you’re a yoga instructor, you can create boards about yoga poses, yoga outfits, meditation, and healthy recipes.
The key is to create boards that interest your target audience. The more users engage with your content, the more likely will Pinterest see you as a great pinner. As a result, your content will be more visible in searches. Win-win.
Drive more traffic to your blog
Do you have an updated blog that you post content to? Pin your posts! Doing so can help drive traffic to your blog.
To capture the attention of your audience, the visuals need to stand out. It’s a great way to entice readers to click through your blog post. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t need to pin every blog post on Pinterest. Consider pinning blogs on topics that already have an audience on Pinterest.
To really maximize your pin’s potential, you also have to focus on your copy description. Provide enough information to entice a pinner to click through your blog.
The main goal is to draw people’s attention to your boards, get people to share your posts, and attract clients who are looking for your services. Keep these tips in mind when creating content for Pinterest. It won’t be long before you start seeing them coming to your website to find out more about what you offer.
See what topics are trending
One of the best things about Pinterest is that it gives you an opportunity to see and understand topics that are trending at the moment.
Pinterest acts as a search engine all on its own. Simply type in the keywords on the search bar to see what’s showing up on Pinterest already. Before you start creating pins and driving traffic to your website, it’s a good idea to look around on the platform to see what shows up. You can also check what your competitors are doing in the space.
According to Entrepreneur.com, pins related to trending topics see an average of 94% increase in click-throughs. Use the platform to find trending topics and use the information you gathered to position your products and services.
Promote your event
Pinterest might not get as much attention as compared to other social media channels. However, it remains to be a powerful platform for getting your content discovered and connecting with your audience. That said, this image-centric platform would be a great place for promoting upcoming events.
You can do this by creating boards specifically for your event. Make sure to include all relevant information, including the venue, behind-the-scenes photos, freebies, etc. Also, keep in mind that pinners are planners. In fact, 75% of pins are saved 1 to 2 months before an event. So make sure that you start pinning your event-related content months before the big day.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/6-Ways-to-Use-Pinterest-for-Your-Healthcare-Marketing-Plan-blog.png1200800Kathlyn Angeleshttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles2021-03-03 10:46:582021-03-01 14:32:266 Ways to Use Pinterest for Your Healthcare Marketing Plan
We are always talking to you about planning out your content, the importance of having a content calendar, researching your keywords, and it all comes down to consistency. With digital marketing, consistency is king, and this goes hand-in-hand with your social media posts. If you are trying to grow your social networks and you Google how to increase, or how to grow your Instagram followers or your Facebook likes, one of the first things that come up is consistency.
Social Media Consistency
Consistency can look different for each company, that could be maybe two posts per week, three posts per week, or a post every day, and you have to really decide what’s gonna be the best for your business, and if you’re just getting started, maybe starting out with only two or three posts per week, and as your followers grow, increasing that to maybe four or five posts per week. You also need to look at your audience to see when are they engaging with you? So what days of the week? Maybe Mondays are really not high engagement, but Saturdays are or Sundays, so maybe the weekdays are really when you want that engagement going on.
Also, think of is when your office is open. If your office is open Monday through Friday, it may make sense to just be posting Monday through Friday, and not the weekends, if somebody is not there to be able to monitor that activity. But you really need to have that content consistency with each social media platform. We always tell our clients to make sure that starting with, if you’re new to social media or you’ve had accounts but you haven’t really been actively using them, look at the ones where your clients are first. So if your patients or clients are on Facebook and Instagram, start there, and then maybe grow into LinkedIn, if you think Twitter would be the right fit, Pinterest. You don’t have to do them all, but you need to do the ones that you are managing the right way and have that consistency with your social media posts.
Blogging Consistency
A few years ago, even a year ago, having those cornerstone blogs were really important, and these cornerstone blogs could be 3000 to 5000 words, and not saying that blog content would be great on your website, but we were finding it was harder for our clients and us to put together such a big blog post, and it was taking up a lot more time where we weren’t having that consistency with these blogs. SEO is always changing and growing, and we really do follow Neil Patel and the foundation he has built. And so one of the strategies he has mentioned is doing smaller blog posts, so what we call micro-blogs. And this can be if you’re doing an Instagram post and you’re writing a long Instagram post already, you can just add to that and create a blog post. And again, that consistency is huge, because you’ve spent all this time, money, and energy on building this amazing website, and if you’re not feeding it, Google is not gonna see it. So these blog posts at that organic SEO to your website, and each time you are updating that blog post, Google is indexing that content.
Really work on what that micro-blog can be about, maybe you have one overarching content topic that you wanna talk about, and then you’re gonna write three or four or five little blogs that can be 750 words or even 500 words they can be short, sweet to the point. Maybe even thinking of asking a question. What questions are you being asked in your practice and addressing that one question? Go to Google just to search, start typing in that question and seeing what Google suggests, and then write your blog post based on that question, because people are clearly searching for that. So the more clear and niche you are on this micro-blogs, and if you did one per week or two per month, again, having that schedule that works for you, that you can stick to it. That is key.
Video Consistency
This also goes into our video marketing. Videos are huge. We have a podcast coming out with a videographer and his crew in LA, and it is really important, and I know you know this because if you listen to us, you know that we’ve been talking about video marketing, but it’s easy to do one video and then say, “Okay, I’ll do another one.” And a week goes by, two weeks go by, and you haven’t recorded the other video. So having that plan and being able to… If you’re doing these blog posts, add a video to the blog. Your social media strategy, have one video per week. Be consistent, and if it’s easier to take one hour a month and have a couple of different change of outfits and record six videos. These videos don’t need to belong, they can be a variation of one-minute videos to five-minute videos, maybe up to 10-minute videos, depending on the topic you’re talking about, and really just put them all together so you have them. You’re able to put them into your blog post, you’re able to use them on social media, put them on to YouTube, and there’s that consistency.
Start small, start with one per week and work your way up. Then this also goes into all this hard work you’re doing on the digital front, you want to make sure that you are having something where you’re collecting names and emails. In your ads, are you providing a freebie for your audience, are you collecting their name and email, and in return, they’re getting a handout that you’ve put together, maybe it is 10 easy ways to naturally lose weight, or if you are a pediatrician, maybe it is 10 healthy snacks or five healthy snacks for children under the age of 10, something along those lines. Think of these conversations that you’ve had with your patients and with your audience and what do they need and put together something that you can market to them.
Newsletter Consistency
You’re providing a value to them, but then you’re also being able to collect their name and email, be consistent with that newsletter, so they get a welcome email, and then once a month they’re getting a newsletter email from you, so you’re staying top of mind, and in that newsletter, you’re putting valuable content. In that newsletter, you can reuse some of the blog posts, you can do a customized video that’s introducing you and your staff to them if they’re new, so they have an idea, they really feel like they are building this know-like trust factor with you. So they feel comfortable when they’re coming in the door, and especially now with the pandemic going on and still having to take those protocols, video is more important now than ever because people aren’t just coming in, they’re doing their research, they’re trying to figure out where they really wanna go. So having that consistency with the newsletter is really important.
Podcast Consistency
If you’re taking it one step further and you have any podcasts. Again, all of these tools are a great way to get in front of your audience and grow your client base. That’s all digital marketing is. Building those relationships, nourishing those relationships and turning those relationships into paying patients or clients, and all of these tools have a specific way to help do that, and so it’s important to make sure you know how to use them for your advantage, but that you’re not overwhelming yourself either.
If you need help really honing in on this digital marketing strategy and what that consistency looks like for you in your practice, we would love to sit down with you on a video chat and go over what are you guys currently doing, how can we implement new things and help with building that consistency to make sure that your efforts online are working for you?
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Content-Consistency-is-KING-1.png7201280Amber Irwinhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngAmber Irwin2021-02-24 07:00:472021-04-16 12:59:14Content Consistency is KING
Tiktok is a video-based social network that allows users to create and publish short videos. The app has been downloaded more than a billion times worldwide and is now considered the trendiest social media platform.
Some of you might be rolling your eyes right now, thinking it’s not suited for you. Sure, it isn’t a serious platform. But as of now, it’s the social media platform with the most opportunities to go “viral”. It provides a great opportunity for you to build a solid online presence and position yourself as an industry expert.
Here are some tips for marketing your practice on Tiktok.
Choose a username that reflects your practice
Your username is one of the most important aspects of your social media account. When you create a profile, make sure that your username is catchy and easy to remember. If possible, try to drop subtle hints about what you do.
Dr. Kim Chronister, a licensed clinical psychologist in Beverly Hills, is a great example of a healthcare professional who’s also an influencer on Tiktok. She’s known as @drkimchronister on the platform. She’s killing the keyword game by making it obvious of her expertise.
Create content that drives traffic
The key to going viral on Tiktok is to create content that your audience finds valuable. So ask yourself, “What are the problems your target audience is looking to solve?”. Now create video content that would help them solve that problem.
You can leverage the platform to attract new people to your Facebook group, get more Youtube subscribers, revive your Instagram account, or drive traffic to your website. You can say something like, “if you want to learn more about this, check out my Instagram or visit my website.”
Engage with your audience, especially the younger ones
Once people learn about your profession, they’ll start asking you health-related questions. Some will even ask for tips and advice. You can use the platform to answer these questions and provide solutions to their problems.
Dr. Jones, known as @MamaDoctorJones on Tiktok, is a gynecologist who uses the platform to educate teens about sex education. Her contents are engaging, and her willingness to be a bit silly on the app helps her get her message across.
In one of her popular videos, she talked about what you should do if a condom breaks during sex. The video has racked up over 11 million views. If the teen demographic doesn’t get adequate education about sex, then you can use the platform to provide reliable information.
Keep the “duet” feature in mind
While scrolling on Tiktok, you might notice two videos appearing side-by-side on the screen. It’s called a “duet”.
Duets allow users to collaborate, respond, or interact with other’s videos. You can create a video with a colleague or an influencer. Or better yet, invite your audience to join you on screen. This is a great strategy if you’re looking to grow your following.
Address misinformation
Living in the digital world, we have access to a wide range of information. Unfortunately, not all of this information is reliable.
With so much information available online, it can be difficult to separate the facts from fallacies. Tiktok is a great way for doctors and other health professionals to reach their younger audience. Use it to educate people about illnesses, general health, and much more.
Rose Marie Leslie, a medical resident better known as @drleslie on Tiktok, shares valuable information about vaping or birth control on the platform. With studies showing that vape use is at an all-time high with teens, Dr. Leslie often talks about vaping and vaping-related illnesses.
In one of her videos, she showed the chest x-ray from a patient with vape-related lung injuries. Dr. Leslie said that she’s been receiving tons of messages from teens who have stopped vaping after watching her video.
In another video, she debunks douching and other scented vaginal products as “a load of medical bologna”. She emphasized that these products can actually increase the likelihood of yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis.
Use Tiktok to humanize your brand
Many of the content on the platform is funny and entertaining. This is why a lot of professionals are hesitant to create an account on Tiktok. But you don’t necessarily have to dance or crack jokes to capture the attention of your audience. You just have to show them your human side.
Remember that your audience are humans and they want to speak with real humans too. People are more likely to trust you if they can connect with you on a more personal level. Make an effort to talk to them as you would with a friend.
By letting your personality shine through your videos, you become more approachable and relatable in the eyes of your audience.
Final thoughts
More and more healthcare professionals are flocking to Tiktok to teach teens and young adults about health issues that matter to them.
As of now, there is very little competition on the platform. This presents a massive opportunity for you to reach a wider audience at a relatively low cost. So if you’re looking to build a solid online presence on the platform, now would be a great time to start.
In today’s blog, we’re going to dive into a digital marketing strategy for a family practice.
Be a resource.
It’s really important to make sure that you are sharing valuable content that your patients and potential patients want to know about, and this can be through social media, blogging, and curated content. When you’re using social media to be a resource, you wanna make sure that you are sharing different kinds of content. Think of what your patients are into, what questions they’re asking. If they’re asking you questions about the pandemic, about kids with COVID, answer those questions. You can do that by, creating an image on Canva and then writing content around it. You can do it by a quick little five-minute video answering some questions that your patients have been asking utilizing social media to be in front of your audience and with social media.
Social Media Ideas
We mentioned videos, also talk about patient stories, ask your patients if they’re willing to share their story if they’ve been coming to you for one condition and they are healing and getting better, and they want to share that story, or maybe they brought their child into your family practice with something and you helped them. Get those patients’ stories. How have you been able to change their lives and get them back to the life they had before they had come into your office? The other one is being able to highlight your employees and your staff, your nurses, your front desk, your doctors, and I think that this is really a turning point for Family Practice marketing, because when your patients, especially now with telehealth, they wanna know who they’re going to see, and they wanna know if they’re coming into the office, that they’re gonna be safe, and especially during these times, reiterating to them that you are taking the right protocols to make sure that they remain safe and you and your staff remain safe.
Highlighting the staff is great because they can see who they are and learn more about their personal life. Do they have kids? Do they have pets? Who are the nurses? Who are the doctors? Highlight somebody every week, and you can do that again just by making a little collage of images, maybe just one of them at the front desk, one of them with their family or their pets. What do they like to do outside of work? Allow those relationships to really start being built by highlighting them on social media. You could also have them do a quick one-minute video. It’s great like this is a great way to utilize social media to really highlight what you guys are or what you guys do and who you are.
Blogging
The other part of being a good resource is having a blog. Blogging is so important, and again, as a family practice, you can cover so many different topics if you just listen to your patients. What are they dealing with? You could have different categories for your blog to be a resource. Once you have that written blog post on your website, that’s social media content that you can then share, your video or your blog post can also be a video, and so think about if it’s easier for you to sit in front of your computer and record a blog. You can also give a transcription ordered of that video, so you have the written content and the video content.
We do this a lot for ourselves and also our clients because you’re killing two birds with one stone. It makes so much sense. If you’re not naturally a writer or you simply don’t have the time, and if you are not hiring a digital marketing agency like ours, sometimes it’s just easier to sit down in front of the computer record and get it done with, and you don’t even have to use a video, you can just use the transcription if you want to. So under being a resource, social media, blogging.
Curated Content.
This is sharing content from sources that you know, like, and trust, so this can be… If you are looking at WebMD, this could be the CDC website with all of the new information that’s coming out on COVID, maybe talking about the vaccines of your area is one of the areas that’s providing them, or you have news tips being able to provide information outside of your original content. This can also be local news. So you are, as a family practice, in this geographical area that maybe you may reach 25-mile radius, so you wanna show that you are involved in the community. So you may wanna highlight if there are new things in your area that are opening or fun safe family activities to do on the weekends, just letting, again, letting your audience know that you’re a resource.
Be Found Online
The second big tip for your digital marketing strategy is being found online. Now, this is really important. We’ve talked about this a few times, making sure that you have claimed your directory listings.
Directory Listings
This can be your WebMD listing, your vitals, your health grades, Google My Business, also just making sure your social media links are all updated that you have one account per social media platform, and also making sure that your website content is updated as well and that contact information is correct. Sometimes we change a phone number or we change something that we forget to then update it everywhere and especially, if you don’t utilize that social platform as much and especially Google My Business if you’re not using that and you haven’t updated it, make sure you take a look and do your due diligence of making sure everything that’s reflecting your practice is updated online.
SEO Strategy
This also ties into your SEO strategy. Making sure you have a strong website presence and that you do have a strong SEO team that’s building that back-end because your audience is going to Google, they’re searching, and so you wanna make sure that you are pulling up for those keywords.
Email Marketing
Number three, the big next digital marketing strategy is email marketing. Email marketing is not dead. This is still a great way to stay top of mind with your current patients because again, they may not come in on a regular checkup, they just may come in if something’s wrong, but you can keep them up-to-date with things that are outside of what you’re posting on social media.
Newsletters
You can do an exclusive doctor interview or FAQ video, and put that just in your newsletter. You can also have an email signup on your newsletter, maybe even offer depending on the season.
Updates and Freebies
You could offer a freebie for them to download, maybe top five remedies for allergy season or 10 healthy snacks for kids age five and over, something along those lines where your audience wants to sign up, they get that freebie, you’re collecting those names and emails. This can be, if you’re giving away a freebie, this could be a lead generation, which we’ll get into, but you’re collecting those names and emails for them to go on to your email list, you have a consistent plan of sending them a monthly newsletter, and then they say oh, I need a new physician. I know where to go, I get their newsletters, I love them. I feel like I already know them. And in the door, they come.
Website Functionality
The fourth digital marketing strategy tip is your website. So it is really, really important that you make sure you have a user-friendly, up-to-date website. It is 2021 and in 2020, we learned a lot about the pandemic and making sure that we had the telehealth implemented into your strategy, that your website is… Your patients can go on there and book an appointment, whether they come in or it’s a telehealth consultation, they… On there, there’s a patient portal, so it’s easy for them to use, to go in and they feel safe to type in all of their information, it’s a secure site that it’s HIPAA compliant, and especially, you may still have, in your patient portal, the new client paperwork, it could still have an option to be printed if you have the older demographics that may not be tech-savvy to fill that out online, but being able to have the option to fill it out online or they can print it and bring it into you.
Have your website looked over by a website expert, see how you can improve your site, making sure you have your blog on there, your social media, about us, you’re highlighting your doctors, you have a strong back-end with SEO, and that when patients come to the site, they understand where to go, that is key. A lot of times and if you’re monitoring your website traffic with Google Analytics, if your bounce rate is really high, over 80%, that means people are coming to your site and leaving quickly because they’re not finding what they need. With Google Analytics, you can also monitor where people are coming from, but also how long are they spending on your website. Are they reading the blog, are they looking at your… If you treat certain conditions and each condition has a page, what page are they staying on and where are they going, making sure that you do have a Contact Us area and that you monitor that.
Patients may be putting in information there, and if you don’t have that right system in place to know where those emails are going, you could be missing out on, not only your current patients and building that relationship with them, but potential patients as well, so just doing that website overview and making sure that is up-to-date is huge.
Lead Generation
Number five for our digital marketing strategy tips is lead generation. So everything that we’ve talked about has really been organic. Social media, you’re creating the content, you’re creating the videos unless you pay for a digital marketing agency to do that, all of these things are things you’re gonna be doing in-house for organic reach. One way to increase and step up your game from your efforts is doing some paid advertising on Facebook and on Google AdWords.
Google AdWords are great for that search engine optimization. So as you do your keyword analysis, then you would make sure that you’re ranking for those keywords, so when somebody types in family physician near me, your ads would show up, your Google My Business listings would show up, so making sure you have that strong Google AdWord campaign running and also Facebook ads. Again, that kinda goes back to number three of email marketing. If you have that freebie, we call that a lead generation tool, that’s something that we can create a landing page for. We can promote on social media, and we’re going to collect names and emails of people that are interested in that freebie, then we’re allowed to market towards them and they’re able to… They see oh, they’re a family physician, this is what they do, and they get the freebie and we stay top of mind with them.
With Facebook ads, it’s also important to run a like campaign to make sure that you’re reaching more people in your demographic, that… And especially in your geographical location, because again, if you have multiple practices, you want a campaign running for each practice or each area, because you wanna make sure that you’re reaching those people within a 25-mile radius, and so lead generation is a really important piece. I wouldn’t start there if you don’t have these other things in place first. Lead generation is kind of the cherry on top, and you wanna make sure you have built that foundation and all these other things are working together before you start your lead generation.
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You probably belong to at least 3 Facebook groups, right? But have you ever considered creating one for your practice? If not, then you should.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to leverage Facebook groups for your medical practice. Read on to discover how to use Facebook groups to support and grow your practice.
Build a community
Your practice or organization most likely has a Facebook Business Page. We highly recommend that you create a Facebook group in addition to your page as a way to engage with your audience on a more personal level.
People who will join your group are likely your most loyal patients and followers. They’re spending their free time reading your posts and sharing them with their family and friends. With Facebook groups, you have an opportunity to engage with them directly and show them that you care.
Establish authority as a thought leader
If you want to build authority as a thought leader, a Facebook group is a great way to get serious.
The key to building thought leadership is to blog regularly. Make sure, though, that your blogs are relevant to the industry and add value to the reader’s lives. Your Facebook group is an excellent place to share your blog posts as well as articles on trends and issues that impact your industry.
Thought leadership also requires staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends. Is there a newsworthy topic or a new law affecting the industry? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinion within the group.
Beat Facebook algorithm
It’s no secret that Facebook rewards engagement. In fact, Facebook pushes the post back up to the top every time someone reacts or comments on the post. The more people in your group are posting and interacting, the further your reach in the newsfeed will be.
To keep the flow of content going, regularly post things that will spark interaction among group members. Another idea is to ask open-ended questions. If they’re a really chatty bunch, let them dictate where the conversation is going. Ideally, you’re a benevolent leader who chimes in with support or wisdom when needed.
Provide value to the community
Most people turn to the internet for medical information. Some would visit health sites, while others would go around asking people for advice.
Suppose someone in your group asks specific questions about their condition and treatment, the best thing to do is to send this person a private message and invite him/her to your practice to discuss their question in person. This will help keep their information safe and ensure that you do not violate HIPAA.
Of course, you can still answer to the best of your understanding without sharing or asking for additional private information. You can also share some health tips, advice, as well as some helpful articles to further educate them.
It is a good idea to have rules in place about what is and isn’t appropriate to post. You want to keep the patient’s information private, while still fostering a sense of community and belongingness.
Create a sense of exclusiveness
Everyone wants to feel special, right? Private Facebook groups can provide just that. You have the option to keep the group private and hidden to emphasize exclusivity, keep the community tight-knit, and to keep the quality of discussions high.
You can create a group that is dedicated to your email subscribers. Each subscriber gets a link once they opt-in, so they can join the group. And since it’s a private group, only those who are inside the group can see who’s in the group, the posts, etc.
People can request to join, but you’ll have to screen them first before they can enter. Having some sort of fo qualification for admittance to the group naturally builds a stronger community. People feel like they’re a part of a special club.
Patient support group
People who are dealing with chronic illness, mental health issues, and other conditions can benefit from a support group.
By meeting and talking to people with the same condition as them, they will realize that they are not alone. That they aren’t the only person in the world who is experiencing the same problem. Plus, it gives them hope, seeing others in the group who are further along their road to recovery.
A support group can be their safe haven. Here, they are free to share their feelings and life circumstances within a safe and supportive environment.
As a healthcare professional, you are free to offer tips and advice to help patients deal with certain issues. You can also recommend some books and other resources that will further educate them.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Facebook-groups-blog-1.png12602240Kathlyn Angeleshttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles2021-01-20 12:51:562021-03-12 10:06:16How to Leverage Facebook Groups for Your Medical Practice
