When you’re running a small business, one of the hardest parts is consistently finding new customers. Social media is great for visibility, but algorithms change. Paid ads can get expensive. What you need is a reliable way to reach potential customers directly, and that’s where email comes in.
But here’s the challenge: people don’t just give away their email address for nothing. You need to give them a reason. That reason is called a lead magnet.
A lead magnet is something valuable you offer in exchange for someone’s email address. It could be a guide, a discount, or even a checklist. The goal is to attract the right people, build trust, and start relationships that can turn into sales.
In this blog, we’ll cover 10 simple lead magnet ideas you can create this week, and how to actually make them work for your business.
What Makes a Great Lead Magnet?
A great lead magnet doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to do three things well:
Solve a real problem your ideal customer is facing.
Be quick and easy to consume.
Connect directly to the product or service you sell.
For example, if you’re a fitness coach, a “5 Healthy Breakfasts Under 10 Minutes” checklist could be a great choice. It solves a problem (what to eat), is easy to read, and ties back to your fitness programs.
10 Simple Lead Magnet Ideas for Small Businesses
1. Checklist
A checklist is one of the simplest yet most effective lead magnets. People love them because they’re quick, actionable, and give an immediate sense of progress.
Examples:
A real estate agent could share “10 Things to Do Before Selling Your Home.”
A wedding planner could create “The Ultimate Wedding Day Checklist.”
2. Template
Templates save people time and effort by giving them a ready-made structure they can follow. They’re especially powerful if your audience struggles with getting started.
Examples:
A social media manager could share a “7-Day Instagram Caption Template.”
A financial coach could offer a “Monthly Budgeting Template.”
3. Quick Guide or Mini eBook
Guides and eBooks allow you to show your expertise while helping your audience solve a specific problem. Unlike a long book, a mini guide is short, easy to read, and practical.
Examples:
A skincare brand could offer “The Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Right Skincare Routine.”
A bakery could share “The Home Baker’s Guide to Perfect Cupcakes.”
4. Discount Code
Discounts are a classic lead magnet for a reason. They provide instant value and encourage first-time buyers to take action right away.
Examples:
A boutique clothing store could give “10% Off Your First Order.”
A local gym could offer “First Month Free When You Join Today.”
5. Quiz
Quizzes are engaging because they’re fun, interactive, and personalized. They also give you insights into what your audience needs.
Examples:
An interior designer could create “What’s Your Home’s Décor Personality?”
A nutrition coach could build “Find Your Perfect Meal Plan Quiz.”
6. Free Consultation or Discovery Call
Offering your time for free can be a powerful trust-builder. It lets potential clients experience your value before committing to your services.
Examples:
A marketing consultant could offer a “Free 15-Minute Strategy Call.”
A financial advisor could give a “Complimentary Retirement Planning Review.”
7. Resource List or Tools Guide
People want shortcuts, and a curated list of tools or resources saves them hours of searching. This positions you as both helpful and knowledgeable.
Examples:
A freelancer could share “5 Free Tools Every Small Business Owner Should Use.”
A travel agent could create “Top 10 Packing Essentials for Stress-Free Trips.”
8. Worksheet or Planner
These interactive tools help your audience take action immediately, which makes them more likely to see results and remember your business.
Examples:
A nutritionist could create a “Weekly Meal Planning Worksheet.”
A life coach could design a “Daily Productivity Planner.”
9. Video Tutorial or Training
Videos feel personal and are often easier to understand than written content. They’re especially powerful for businesses that demonstrate skills or show results visually.
Examples:
A bakery could share a “5-Minute Video: How to Decorate Cupcakes Like a Pro.”
A fitness coach could create “3 Easy At-Home Workouts for Busy Professionals.”
10. Case Study or Success Story
Case studies prove your expertise by showing real results. They help potential customers picture themselves achieving similar outcomes.
Examples:
A business coach could share “How One Client Doubled Their Sales in 30 Days.”
A cleaning service could showcase “How We Transformed This Office in Just 2 Hours.”
How to Make Your Lead Magnet Work
Creating a lead magnet is only half the battle. To make it truly effective, you need to set it up properly and ensure it works for you around the clock.
Promoting Your Lead Magnet
Your lead magnet only works if people can find it. Promote it everywhere: on your website homepage, in blog posts, across social media, inside your email signature, and even during events. The more visibility it has, the more sign-ups you’ll get.
Keeping the Sign-Up Process Simple
Don’t overcomplicate it. If you ask for too much information up front, people won’t sign up. Keep it to the basics. Usually, just a name and email address are enough. The goal is to reduce friction so it’s easy to say yes.
Following Up with an Email Sequence
The lead magnet is just the start. What matters most is how you follow up. Send a welcome sequence that introduces who you are, explains how you can help, and shares more valuable content. Then, naturally guide your subscribers toward your products or services.
Making Sure It Connects to Your Business
The biggest mistake small business owners make is offering a lead magnet that has nothing to do with what they sell. Your freebie should attract people who are interested in what you actually offer.
For example, if you run a bakery, don’t give away a free guide on digital marketing. Stick to something like recipes or baking tips.
Final Thoughts
Lead magnets are one of the simplest and most effective ways to grow your audience and build lasting relationships with potential customers. You don’t need to spend weeks creating them. With just a bit of effort, you can launch one in a few days and attract the right people to your business.
So, instead of waiting for new customers to stumble upon you, create a lead magnet this week and start building your list.
Need help creating the right lead magnet and setting up your email funnel?Schedule a free consultationwith us today, and let’s make it happen.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/10-Simple-Lead-Magnet-Ideas-Any-Small-Business-Owner-Can-Create-This-Week.png12602240Kathlyn Angeles-Timbolhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles-Timbol2025-09-10 10:40:402025-09-17 15:00:1210 Simple Lead Magnet Ideas Any Small Business Owner Can Create This Week
When sales slow down, many small business owners reach for the easiest lever to pull: discounts. Slash prices, post a “limited-time offer,” and wait for the orders to roll in.
Sure, it works…. Temporarily! But here’s the problem: discounts may give you a short-term bump, but rarely build lasting growth. In fact, they often hurt your brand more than they help.
If you want consistent sales and loyal customers, there’s a better strategy: storytelling.
The Downside of Relying on Discounts
Discounts feel safe because they’re simple. Lower the price, and watch sales spike. But over time, they can hurt your business more than help it.
Here’s why:
They train your customers to wait. If people know you’ll run a sale soon, they’ll hold off until prices drop.
They attract bargain-hunters, not loyal fans. These customers care more about the deal than your brand.
They eat into your profits. You can’t win a long-term price war unless you’re a big brand.
They make you blend in. Competing on price alone makes you just another option. People can easily forget your brand once the discount ends.
Why Storytelling Works Better Than Discounts
Discounts might grab attention in the short term, but they train customers to see your brand as a bargain instead of something valuable. The moment a competitor offers a lower price, you risk losing them.
Storytelling, on the other hand, builds something discounts never can: an emotional bond. People don’t just buy what you sell. They buy into the meaning and the feeling behind it.
A strong story makes your brand memorable. It shows who you are, what you stand for, and why your business matters. When customers connect with that, price becomes less important. They’re not comparing cents; they’re choosing you because your story resonates. And that connection turns one-time buyers into loyal fans who stick around long after the sale.
Real-Life Examples of Storytelling in Action
Take, for example, a local café that shares how it partners with small farmers. They highlight the farmers’ dedication, the care that goes into every bean, and how each cup connects customers to a larger story of community and sustainability. Suddenly, that latte isn’t just a drink; it’s part of something meaningful.
Or think about a fitness coach who shares his story about being bullied as a kid. He grew up overweight and was often teased for his appearance. Until one day, he decided to change. He hit the gym, became obsessed with learning about fitness.
When he tells this story, clients don’t just see a trainer. They see someone who’s walked the same difficult path they’re on. That authenticity creates trust and inspires them to believe, “If he can do it, so can I.” And that emotional connection is far more powerful than any discount on training sessions.
How Small Businesses Can Use Storytelling
The good news? You don’t need a Hollywood scriptwriter to tell stories that sell. Here are a few simple ways to start:
Share your “why.” Why did you start your business? What drives you?
Tell customer success stories. Highlight how your product or service changed someone’s life.
Show behind-the-scenes moments. Introduce your team, your process, or even your struggles.
Tie your brand to values. Whether it’s sustainability, community, or empowerment, show what you stand for.
Use storytelling across platforms. Weave stories into your website, social media posts, emails, and ads.
When Discounts Make Sense
Of course, this isn’t to say discounts never have a place. Strategic discounts can be incredibly effective when used thoughtfully. For example, offering a limited-time promotion to launch a new product can spark curiosity and bring in first-time buyers who might not have discovered your brand otherwise.
Discounts can also work well during seasonal events, holidays, or when you need to clear out inventory to make space for something new.
The key is ensuring your audience understands the “why” behind the discount. It should feel intentional, not desperate.
Final Thoughts
Discounts may grab attention, but stories build relationships. And relationships are what create repeat customers, word-of-mouth referrals, and long-term success.
So, ask yourself: Are you training people to wait for your next sale? Or are you giving them a story worth remembering?
Because people may forget your prices, but they’ll never forget your story.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Blog-Banner.png12602240Kathlyn Angeles-Timbolhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles-Timbol2025-08-15 10:50:562025-08-17 16:51:11Why Storytelling Sells More Than Discounts
It’s a familiar story. And if you’ve ever looked at a competitor’s massive following and wondered, “How are they getting clients?” you’re not alone.
Many small business owners work hard to grow their social media followers, thinking it’s the key to success. But here’s the truth: follower count is just a number. It may look impressive, but if no one’s liking, commenting, clicking, or buying? That big number isn’t doing much for your business.
What moves the needle? Engagement.
In this article, we’ll discuss why engagement matters more than your follower count and how you can start focusing on what truly grows your business online.
Follower Count vs. Engagement: What’s the Real Difference?
Let’s start with a quick breakdown:
Follower Count is the number of people who have hit the “Follow” button on your account.
Engagement includes likes, comments, shares, saves, clicks, direct messages (DMs), and replies to your content.
Here’s the key thing to remember:
Follower count measures reach.
Engagement measures relationships.
One is a vanity metric. The other is a value metric.
You can have 5,000 followers and barely get a like on your posts. Or you can have 500 followers who consistently interact, comment, ask questions, and click your links.
Why Engagement Matters More
1. The Algorithm Rewards Interaction
Social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn use engagement to decide what content gets seen.
If people like, comment, or share your post, the algorithm says, “This is valuable. Let’s show it to more people.”
That means higher engagement = more visibility without spending a dime on ads.
2. Engagement Builds Trust
Trust isn’t built with a single post. It’s built over time through repeated, meaningful interactions.
When people see you show up regularly, answer questions, reply to comments, and genuinely offer value, they begin to trust your brand. And trust is what leads to action.
Engagement Drives Sales
People don’t buy because you have a big following. They buy because you’ve built a relationship with them.
A thoughtful comment or a helpful post can turn into a DM. That DM can turn into a consultation, a booking, or a sale. Engagement is what opens the door.
Engagement Gives You Insights
Engagement is like real-time market research.
It helps you understand:
Which posts spark conversation
Which ones get ignored
Which topics lead to website clicks or replies
Your audience is telling you what they care about if you’re paying attention.
How a Small, Engaged Audience Can Outperform a Massive One
You don’t need to go viral to get results.
Let’s say you have 1,000 followers. If 10% regularly engage with your content, that’s 100 people who are listening, learning, and potentially buying. That’s powerful.
Now, compare that to an account with 10,000 followers, but only 0.5% engagement. That’s just 50 people interacting. It’s half the engagement with ten times the audience.
It’s not about how many people follow you. It’s about who’s actually paying attention and cares about what you do.
How to Improve Engagement (Without Being Online 24/7)
Worried you don’t have the time to “engage all day”? Good news: you don’t need to.
Here are five expert-backed tips to improve your engagement strategically:
1. Create Content Your Audience Cares About
Skip the generic quotes. Focus on your audience’s questions, challenges, and goals. Helpful tips, how-to guides, and behind-the-scenes content work well. Build your content around that.
Quick Tip: Use the “you” test. If your post focuses more on your audience than your business, you’re on the right track.
2. Post Consistently (Not Constantly)
You don’t need to post every day. Even 2–3 well-crafted posts per week can keep your brand top of mind. Set a schedule you can stick to.
3. Ask Questions and Start Conversations
People love sharing their opinions. So instead of just posting about your business or sharing tips, ask them to join the conversation. Use polls, “this or that” posts, or simply ask your audience to weigh in.
4. Be Human, Not Just a Brand
Show your face. Share a behind-the-scenes look. Tell your story.
People connect with people, not perfect brands. And when your content feels more personal, your engagement will naturally increase.
5. Track What’s Working
Look at your analytics. Which posts got the most likes, comments, saves, or clicks?
Keep a list of top-performing posts, and use that data to guide future content.
Don’t Chase Numbers, Build Relationships
A huge follower count might look good on paper, but they don’t pay the bills.
Engagement is what turns followers into fans, and fans into paying customers. So the next time you feel discouraged by slow follower growth, shift your focus.
Remember, you don’t need tens of thousands of followers to grow your business. You need a loyal, engaged audience that trusts you and wants what you offer.
At Social Speak Network, we help small business owners create meaningful content that drives engagement, builds community, and supports their bottom line.
Book a free consultation and let’s build a smarter strategy that works for your business. Let’s turn those likes into leads and those followers into fans.
Have you ever seen a brand campaign that’s so interesting it captured your attention and didn’t feel like an ad at all? It got you hooked from the beginning, leaving you enthralled until you realized they were selling something.
That, my friends, is the power of storytelling in marketing.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, consumers are bombarded with a constant stream of advertisements and promotional content. As a result, it can be challenging to break through the noise and truly connect with your audience.
One such method that has proven to be highly effective is storytelling.
In this blog, we will delve into the art of storytelling in content marketing and explore how it can help businesses effectively engage and connect with their audience.
Why Storytelling Matters in Content Marketing
The Science Behind Storytelling and Its Impact on the Brain
The power of storytelling lies in its ability to tap into the human brain’s natural inclination for narratives.
When we hear a story, various regions of our brain light up, including those responsible for emotions, empathy, and memory. This neural response fosters a deeper connection with the content and enhances information retention.
Storytelling releases neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin, giving the audience a positive and memorable experience.
How Stories Evoke Emotions and Create Memorable Experiences
Emotionally charged stories are more likely to resonate with the audience, making the content unforgettable.
They spark something within us, making us feel joy, sadness, excitement, or empathy for the characters involved.
Think about a story that moved you deeply, perhaps a heartwarming tale of friendship or a powerful account of overcoming adversity. Chances are, that story has stayed with you long after you first heard it. This emotional resonance enhances information retention, making the story’s message more likely to stick in your mind.
In marketing, brands that effectively use storytelling to evoke emotions create memorable experiences for their audience. By triggering positive emotions, they forge a positive association with their brand.
Similarly, stories that evoke empathy or address common challenges build a sense of relatability, fostering a deeper connection with the audience.
Differentiating Your Brand Through Storytelling
In today’s competitive business world, standing out is crucial. Storytelling can help your brand do just that. It provides an excellent opportunity for brands to differentiate themselves.
Sharing authentic and compelling narratives helps humanize your brand. It makes you more approachable and relatable to consumers. This authenticity builds trust and credibility.
A well-crafted story that aligns with the brand’s values can leave a lasting impression, ultimately influencing purchasing decisions.
Incorporating Storytelling in Content Marketing
How to Tell Stories Through Written Content
Written content offers a versatile platform for storytelling. When writing blog posts and articles, begin with attention-grabbing openings that pique the reader’s curiosity.
Develop a narrative that engages the audience throughout the content, and end it with a compelling call to action that encourages further interaction.
Videos and Visual Storytelling
Visual storytelling through videos, animations, and infographics enhances the emotional impact of your message.
Use creative visuals to complement the narrative and evoke emotions effectively. Consider incorporating customer testimonials and success stories into videos for a powerful storytelling experience.
Using Real Stories to Build Trust
Real stories from satisfied customers serve as powerful social proof for your brand.
Utilize case studies and customer testimonials to highlight how your products or services have changed your customers’ lives. These stories build trust, assuage doubts, and reinforce the credibility of your brand.
Tips for Crafting Compelling Stories
1. Start Strong with Attention-Grabbing Opening
Hook your audience from the beginning with attention-grabbing openings that spark curiosity and intrigue. A strong start sets the tone for the rest of the story, encouraging readers to continue.
2. Use Conflict and Resolution to Maintain Interest
Incorporate conflict and challenges into your storytelling to maintain the audience’s interest. Ensure that the resolution offers a satisfying conclusion and reinforces the central message.
3. Leverage Emotions and Empathy to Connect Deeply with the Audience
Emotions play a significant role in storytelling. Use empathy and emotional triggers to forge a deeper connection with your audience. Appeal to their emotions, as they are more likely to inspire action and engagement.
Final thoughts
Storytelling is a potent tool for engaging and connecting with your audience in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Incorporating storytelling into various content formats, such as blog posts, videos, and social media, opens up endless possibilities to captivate your audience across diverse platforms.
Remember to align your storytelling with your brand’s unique voice and tone to maintain consistency and reinforce your identity.
Go ahead and tell your story! Let your brand’s narrative unfold to captivate your audience and drive your business toward unprecedented success.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.png00Kathlyn Angeles-Timbolhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngKathlyn Angeles-Timbol2023-07-26 10:16:412023-07-21 17:32:45The Power of Storytelling in Content Marketing: How to Engage and Connect with Your Audience
Introducing Buffalo + Sparrow Yoga Collective with Cole and Rachel.
We founded Buffalo and Sparrow Yoga Collective in 2017 when we realized we both share a passion to make yoga more accessible to people affected by trauma (which we believe is everyone). Yoga, when taught through the lens of trauma sensitivity, can be an important part of a treatment program for individuals with PTSR (Post Traumatic Stress Response) and all individuals benefit from connecting deeply to themselves. Through this perspective. we hope to create yoga environments where individuals feel safe and supported as they witness their trauma symptoms and learn tools within yoga to self-regulate when those symptoms present. Our dream is for everyone experiencing trauma symptoms to have the ability to live life as their whole self… free from trauma symptoms. We believe that yoga, when taught with intentionality around trauma, can support in this journey.
We deeply strive to stay culturally aware, up-to-date on the most current trauma research and yoga findings as well as being as inclusive, aware, informed and sensitive as possible. Our offerings are for everyone! Every background, experience, culture, identity, gender and being is welcome!
We also understand many folks might feel more comfortable in their healing process when learning and sharing space with those in their own affinity groups. If this is the case for you, please head over to our collaborators tab to learn more about where to to go in order to support yourself in the safest way.
In this podcast we review the exact strategy Social Speak uses with their healthcare practices to boost new consultations and build brand loyalty online.
Please view the video at Youtube if you would like to see the screen share – click here to access.
The Social Speak Digital Strategy for Medical Marketing (our Roadmap to Digital Marketing) includes:
If you are looking to increase the ROI from your digital marketing in 2020, please reach out to schedule a consultation today! We can’t wait to learn more about your practice.
Listen to the Podcast
Watch the Video
Read the medical marketing transcript
00:01 Caitlin McDonald: Hello and welcome to the Social Speak Network podcast. My name is Caitlin McDonald and I am one of the co-owners over here at Social Speak. So today, we were gonna wrap up the year talking about SEO as we’re moving into 2020. But I’m kind of pulling an audible and I really want to take the time to share the exact strategy that is working right now for our healthcare clinics. Now, this strategy is one that we’ve been utilizing for quite a while. However, it’s really working right now, so I want to make sure that moving into 2020, you’ll be able to implement this for your healthcare practice. Now, we also are available to help out as well. This is our specialty, managing the marketing campaigns for clinics and hospitals across the country. So if you do wanna schedule a free consultation, we’d love to chat with you, see if we’re a good fit, and I give you a couple of tips and pointers to get you moving in the right direction.
01:08 CM: So this strategy really utilizes a lot of different marketing techniques, but it is pretty straight forward. So I’m gonna be… If you’re on our podcast, I’ll be talking through everything. If you jump over to our YouTube channel, you’ll be able to follow along and I’ll be able to show you some of the tools that we do utilize for our clinics and if you prefer reading, the transcript will be on our blog probably next week.
01:42 CM: So let’s get started. Let me share my screen here. And as I mentioned, the first part of our process really begins with the strategy. So when we’re taking a look at the strategy, we want to focus on a few different things. First and foremost, we do still utilize social media marketing. Social media is there to expand your reach and spread your authentic brand voice online. If you’re targeting younger individuals, older individuals, it really doesn’t matter, you need to prove that you are active online and a legitimate business. One of the ways to do this is by posting to social media accounts.
02:28 CM: So doing this builds brand loyalty by staying true to your values. It also helps you stay top of mind. Yes, your posts won’t necessarily reach everybody who’s following you online. In fact, it’ll probably only reach a couple of people, so we utilize ads to help with this as well. However, if somebody is actively looking for you, most likely your Facebook page will show up high in the search results so you wanna make sure that you are active there. And then, Facebook and social media also help you cultivate relationships and attract clients.
03:03 CM: The second piece of the strategy that we follow is blogging and SEO. Creating content, any content isn’t gonna work anymore, it’s creating the right content at the right time for your target market. So what does this actually mean for you? It means creating timely information so that you are found online, and it helps to build trust with your audience. For a couple of practices, what we are doing is doing physician interviews or interviews with your staff and transcribing those in a Q/A format, so that you are answering the questions that people are actually looking for online in a way that’s easy to digest and where they can really start building trust with the physicians in your practice.
03:55 CM: And then the last way is through lead generation. So with lead generation, really, our goal is to capture prospect information. Yes, you have to be aware of being HIPAA compliant, but we’ll dive into that. So here, you need a strategy to boost your new leads, to shorten the sales cycle, or that cycle for actually getting a prospect in the door, booking a consultation, and then also to increase your recurring revenue. So if you know somebody who typically comes in for one procedure, then ends up coming in for follow-up visits for something else, it might be good to focus on that first procedure and getting leads for that so that you can then share information through email marketing or in the office itself to get them booking those follow-up appointments as well.
04:52 CM: So this is where it gets really fun and it’s actually putting together that plan and diving in to do what you need to be doing for your marketing. So this is our roadmap to digital marketing and really goes through all of the different steps. Today, I’m gonna be focusing mostly on this lead generation piece. So, in lead generation, we’re really reaching people during their patient journey. So, as I mentioned, we’re figuring out what symptoms they have, what problems they’re experiencing and how they want to live their life differently if they come in and see you.
05:33 CM: So when we’re doing this, we’re utilizing Facebook ads for brand awareness and to get leads, Google AdWords for search targeting, and this is a great way to get people when they’re making that decision about who they’re gonna work with, and Facebook ads for re-targeting. So here, Facebook and Google really are the ad networks that we are utilizing for this. So I’m gonna jump on over here and I have up Google AdWords. Most of you probably already have an AdWords account. However, if you call… This is kind of a nice little tip, if you’re just getting started, tipping your toes in the water, you can actually call up this number here in the top of the page and a representative can help you set up your first campaign. If you don’t have someone on staff who knows how to set up AdWords, I do recommend utilizing Google’s own network of consultants who can set that up because it’s complementary. And again, a great way just to get started. Now, as you’re building more in-depth campaign, setting up conversion tracking and things like that, I do recommend working with an expert. Our team has a team of experts on staff who can help out with setting up campaigns, restructuring them from what Google originally sets up or what a previous agency has set up to make sure that they’re actually working for you.
07:08 CM: We oftentimes come into clinics and see that the geographic area isn’t quite right, or maybe a mixture of different services are piled into one ad group. All of these things can be detrimental for your practice. So an example of this, I just did a search for “pediatrician, Marlborough, Mass” and there are three that come up. But if you take a look, there’s no ads here. So if you are a pediatrician around there, it’s a great thing, [chuckle] a great opportunity for you. But what you’ll see is there are oftentimes fewer ads than there are doctors and other listings that come up. So that’s a great way to make sure as you are creating your campaign, that you’re showing up up here at the top. I don’t have Facebook up, but Facebook is very similar as well. Oftentimes, a health clinic will come on in… Or, excuse me, a marketing agency will come on in, they’ll set up a Facebook account and, or even someone on your staff. And one problem that we’ve seen is that oftentimes, these ads aren’t targeted for your audience correctly. So you want to make sure that you are being very specific in your targeting at least at the beginning, so that you can learn who’s responding to your messages and who isn’t.
08:42 CM: For Facebook, for example, let’s say you are working with individuals who have non-healing foot ulcers. Typically, this is caused by diabetes, so you can actually target people who have shown an interest in the National Diabetes Association, for example. They’re not gonna say on their profile that they have a foot ulcer, but they are going to be following, or most likely going to be following or have expressed interest in a national organization or a magazine, or another coach or something like that who has targeted them already. So this is a great way to kind of refine your messaging.
09:26 CM: Additionally, let’s say, your practice focuses on, I had pediatrics before, what you can do is you can target people, potentially, who just got married, or who have a toddler or have a… Or following other parenting pages. And this might be a great way to narrow down your target market there. Now, within those ads themselves, there are a few things that you need to really do in order to see a return on your investment. So one of the first things that we utilize is lead pages. Now, lead pages is not HIPAA compliant, however, you can embed a form on here that is HIPAA compliant so that the leads go into your system, the lead capture system, and the landing pages are just hosted on your website, built by lead pages.
10:30 CM: The reason why we do this is because we want them to be very specific and tailored towards that one service and towards that one target audience. So if you’re targeting a, I don’t know, a family member of somebody, who has somebody else in the family who’s suffering from addiction, you’re running ads to raise awareness about the support and resources that are out there, that landing page is gonna be different than what you want to appear or the language that you want to have that’s geared towards that person who’s suffering themselves. So here, lead pages is just the tool that we utilize. You can build a landing page just through WordPress, but we love lead pages because it is very easy to alter the page style, it allows you to do AB testing, so create two different versions of the same landing page, and have lead pages automatically show which one, whichever one, and then over time, you can tell which one is performing better. It also has great graphs. So typically for healthcare centers, we utilize conversion tracking a few different ways on lead pages itself. We want to optimize the number of people who are clicking on a link.
11:51 CM: Here’s a little example right here to schedule a consultation. That will then open up a pop-up, on that pop-up is the form that you create through that third party. So, on lead pages itself, we can’t tell how many people have then filled out the form, but that’s why we use the Facebook Pixel and Google Tag Manager. So here, lead pages, again, it’s just a great, easy way to set up those landing pages and test them. And have it be where it’s just a single page rather than going to… And I’ll just click on, I don’t know, one of these… So let’s say this is your website, this is the UMass Memorial Health Care Center. So if somebody goes to this page from an ad, there are so many other places to click. So we found that that is not good for increasing your ROI and conversion rates. So having a page that they go to where it’s just that single page with the call to action of scheduling a consultation, it works really well. Then there’s a question of what content should you utilize on that page and in the ads. So we actually have a form on our website, and I’ll put this in the description, socialspeaknetwork.com, work with us, onboarding lead generation.
13:27 CM: And this is geared towards kind of a broader audience than just healthcare centers. But you can fill it out and here you can select free consultation is what you’re trying to get. But then we have questions here that really will help you identify those key concerns, key questions, key fears of your patients, your target patients, and we have the questions so that they lead you through exactly sort of what you need in order to create the ad text as well as the text for the landing page. And so, we help you kind of really identify and nail down your target market and then create a story around it. So, in this story, we often do actually start with a sentence or two that’s somebody’s story. It could be your own story, a patient testimonial, or even just a made-up story that fits in with the benefits that you can provide for your clients, for your patients. From there, we go into the benefits of actually coming in to see your practice, and finally, the call to action to schedule a consultation. Creating a doctor video around this as well is also a great way to increase brand awareness.
14:56 CM: So again, work with us, onboarding lead generation, the link is down below. But you can just go through this exercise, and at the end, I believe that we do have, even go through an email sequence that you can utilize at the end, when you click submit, we will send you in an email those answers that you put in there so that you can then copy and paste or utilize them, you could also print out that form if you don’t wanna submit the information. However, we’re happy to chat with you about the process as well. So those story ads work really well on Facebook. And then, on Google, we’re utilizing headlines and short calls to action to contact you.
15:52 CM: Now, once somebody clicks on an ad, they go to lead pages, then what happens to them? If you don’t have to be HIPAA compliant, we recommend utilizing MailChimp. It’s very cost-effective, it’s a great way to get started, and it has wonderful bells and whistles that a lot of the big boys have. So it’s a great way to create those welcome series, as well as quick follow-up emails and everything.
16:22 CM: Now, if you are HIPAA complaint, we highly recommend utilizing Influx MD. It looks like not all the images have loaded on here, however, we have a great relationship with them. And so, a lot of our clients utilize us to help facilitate the creation of emails and everything, and basically, Influx MD takes somebody from being a prospect to scheduling their first consult. From there we’re really able to track the ROI. Influx MD is able to tell through our tracking where the patient or the prospect originally came from. It can automate and systematize the process of sending those initial questionnaires and forms that somebody needs to fill out. And then it can directly sync up with your patient management system. We really like it, just because it helps with the customer relationship as well as the lead management and then it has that sales and email marketing automation as well. So it really reduces the burden on your staff and helps prove how effective the marketing is. So, we utilize this a lot. We utilize Google analytics and we utilize Facebook Pixels as well, just to see where leads are coming from, see the cost per lead and everything like that. So, let me just jump back over here, see if there was anything else. Okay, and this is… It’s actually just a health coach, but it kind of shows you that process with the landing page, they click the button, here’s the form, and then they get a drip sequence of emails.
18:13 CM: So if you have been wondering if your marketing is working for your healthcare practice, maybe you didn’t quite have as good of a year in 2019 as you had projected and hoped. This process is really what we’re seeing to work right now. So we start with the Facebook just having information going out to your accounts to build trust in your brand, then we utilize blogging as one piece, and a physician interviews as another piece of your SEO strategy. What we’ve really been seeing work well for SEO is building back links. And so, submitting your website to different directories, different websites to have the link added to content. We have a whole team that’s working on that. It is a very manual process, but we have seen tremendous results there because you do wanna make sure your organic listing or your website is showing up organically as well as the ads and the map listing and everything. And another piece of that SEO is building reviews on Google and on Facebook, just so that you can have that social proof. So those reviews work really well to make sure that your map listing is showing up higher, as well as social proof.
19:42 CM: And then, it’s running the ads. So we run ads based on interest targeting on Facebook, keywords on Google, and then retargeting ads on both Facebook and Google, to make sure that if we’ve already paid for somebody to get to the site or landing page, we are recouping some of that cost by showing them repeat ads. Of course, we haven’t collected any information about them, it’s just based on the cookie on their website, that Facebook and Google are in charge of. [chuckle]
20:16 CM: From here, we utilize or we recommend utilizing a tool like Influx MD to make sure that you are remaining HIPAA compliant as you are emailing and creating relationships with these prospects who have become leads. And throughout this whole process make sure that you have the Google Webmaster tool… Excuse me, Google Tag Manager, so that you can track conversions, as well as clicks for phone numbers, or map clicks. And the Facebook Pixel installed on your site so that you can really track the ROI from Facebook ads.
20:53 CM: So I hope that this has been helpful leading through the actual techniques and strategies that we utilize for our clients. If you do want to schedule a consultation, we are more than happy to schedule a time for you. And we’d love to learn more about your practice, your target market and what you’re currently working on and struggling with right now. Thank you so much for tuning in and we will see you in the New Year on the Social Speak Network podcast
According to a report in the Annals of Family Medicine, 45% of physicians receive new patients through referrals. Like any medical practitioner, you want to make sure that your practice is supported by your referral partners and your community.
We know that you are doing your part in referring patients to other physicians whom you feel are the best. But are they returning the favor of referring their patients to you?
If you’re looking for ways to get more referrals, keep reading. Let’s take a look at some of the best practices your office should maintain to maximize the potential of your patient referral program.
Get out of the office
In a fast-paced hospital setting, it can be especially hard to connect with colleagues. If you want to bolster your referral network and keep your business thriving, then you need to make the decision to get out of the office, even if it’s just once a month.
Meet new physicians and healthcare leaders in your community. Reach out to existing providers who you refer to and who refer to you.
Identify physicians you want to partner with. You’ll want someone who is a good match for your practice, share your values and hold themselves to a high ethical standard.
Build a relationship
The best way to grow your referrals is to build, maintain, and improve your relationships with referring providers.
Professional referrals are based squarely on sound relationships and expertise. Doctors and their staff will only refer their patients to people they trust, like, and feel are competent.
Make a continual effort to show your referring doctors that you value their partnership. You can call them up just to see how they and their families are doing, drop by with a frappuccino for them or take them out for lunch.
In most cases, it is not the doctor, but a key staff person who actually handles the referral mechanics. If you want to grow your referral base, then you should take the initiative to get to know not only the physician but also their staff. Be certain to identify and include the key gatekeepers. Capitalize on those connections and they will be more likely to pass your business card on.
Simplify the referral process
Most doctors would simply advise their patients to book an appointment with a certain doctor.
Unfortunately, 50% of professional referrals never result in a doctor’s visit. The referral process should be quick and simple.
Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on a big slice of the referral pie. Even if the referring physician and their staff adore you, they’re not going to send patients your way if your referral process is frustrating, time-consuming, and just plain clunky.
Simplify the referral process by investing in a secure online referral portal, where they can send you the patient’s information, including contact information, suspected diagnosis, and reason for referral.
Since you already have the necessary information, it will be easier for you to decide the course of action and how quickly the patient needs to be seen. As a result, you’ll be able to serve both the referring physician and the patient better.
Make referring physician look good
When doctors refer their patients to you, it means that they trust you. Your office will serve as an extension of theirs, so they are counting on you to provide patients with excellent service.
Often, patients report back to their primary physicians about their experience. Make a special effort to accommodate the referred patient as soon as possible. Also, make sure that you take good care of the patients and treat them right.
Ensure the referring physician that there will always be room for their patients at your practice.
Be grateful
We grow up learning the importance of good manners, and that usually starts with saying “thank you”.
If a patient is referred to you, take the time to call the referring physician to thank him/her for the trust and confidence. You can also send a hand-written note if that’s your style. Let the referring practice know that you appreciate the referral.
Stay in touch with the referring physician
When a patient is referred to you, it is always vital to follow up. This is a crucial step that many physicians do not do.
One study suggests that 40% of patients that follow through with a referral never went back to their primary physician after the care is initially provided. Always send the patient back to the referring physician. The last thing you want is for the referring doctor to feel that their generous referral has cost them a patient.
Let the referring practice know that the patient has already been scheduled and that you will continue to communicate about what transpires. You want to assure the referring doctor that you’re invested in their patients’ health and that the patient will be receiving the best care possible.
Today we’re going to be talking about Lead generation. We’ve already discussed Facebook advertising and social media marketing and lead generation ties into this as well as your Patient Journey very closely.
Now as we dive into lead generation, there are some basic components that we are going to discuss. The first is having a clear understanding of what your ideal patient is looking for online, then it includes creating the messaging that’s going to bring this person into the door and get them interested in learning more, followed by the technical aspects of creating a landing page a welcome email and a thank you page. as we discussed these items were going to dive into the hero’s journey and what this means for creating advertising copy that captures the attention, build trust, and books initial consultations with your patients.
Often times we see health clinics run ads that direct people to a page on their website. While this is great for building website traffic we have found that these campaigns lead to nearly zero results and a negative return on investment for health care centers. While you want to make sure that you are helping those in your community, you also need to make sure that you are understanding how the money you spend in your advertising actually relates to an increase in revenue of your bottom line.
Please – if you know that your ads just run to a page on your website, jump into your account and pause them now and don’t hesitate to contact us for a marketing consultation.
Let’s start first with the needs of your ideal patient we’ve been talking about this over the past couple of months. You should already understand your patient Journey. What brings these patients in the door? What makes them look for your services? And how can you position the benefits of coming in to see your doctors so that it answers the key questions that you are prospects have.
Watch Lead Generation Strategy
Listen to the Lead Generation Strategy on our Marketing Podcast
Transcript of Healthcare Marketing Podcast on Medical Lead Generation
00:01 Caitlin McDonald: Hello and welcome to the Social Speak Network podcast. I’m Caitlin McDonald, the co-founder over here at Social Speak, and today we’re gonna be talking about lead generation for your healthcare practice. So, we’ve already discussed Facebook advertising and social media marketing, and lead generation really ties into these as well as your patient journey which we’ve been discussing all throughout very closely. So, as we dive into lead generation, there’s some basic components that we’re going to discuss. The first is having a clear understanding of what your ideal patient is looking for online. So, then, this dives into creating the messaging that’s going to bring this person into the door and get them interested in learning more. You follow this by the technical aspects of creating a landing page, and a welcome email, and a thank you page.
01:05 CM: And so, as we discuss these items, we’re going to dive into the hero’s journey, and what this means for creating advertising copy that captures the attention, builds trust, and books initial consultations with patients. So, oftentimes, we see healthcare clinics and different clinics run ads that direct people just to a page on their website, and maybe there’s a schedule, your appointment form there. Well, this is great for building traffic to your website, we’ve found that these campaigns really don’t lead to a return on your investment. Yes, you might get a few people booking appointments. However, there’s a much better way to run your lead generation campaigns, so that you have a higher chance of getting people filling out that initial form. And so we’ll be diving into that today.
02:02 CM: So, while you wanna make sure that you’re helping those in your community, you also need to make sure that the money that you’re spending on getting people through a funnel is actually increasing the revenue to your bottom line. So if you know that your ads run to a page of your website on your website, please jump into those accounts, pause them now, pick up your phone, give us call, we are here to help you. Again, this is the number one mistake that we see health care centers and clinics make. So, again, yes, it’s awesome that you’re getting website traffic there, but are they actually been converting into patients for your clinic?
02:51 CM: So, taking a step back, let’s first talk about the needs of your ideal patient. And we’ve been talking about this for the past month or so, maybe two months, and you should already have a sense of your patient journey. So this includes what brings the patients into the door, what makes them look for your services, and how can you position the benefits of coming in to see your doctors so that it answers the key questions, concerns, and fears that your prospects have? So take the time to review your patient journey again. And, again, this can be multiple patient journeys. I just want you to think about one of them. Once you have that patient journey at the forefront of your mind, you can begin to understand how you can position the answers to these common questions and solutions to these common fears as part of the hero’s journey framework.
03:51 CM: So let’s quickly talk about the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey originates from Joseph Campbell, and really can be a framework that we can utilize in our marketing messaging. I’m not gonna go through step-by-step about what Joseph Campbell says, but more about how we can use it in your marketing language. So we actually follow this process when we are writing Facebook ads for our healthcare centers. So, the step one, first step is create an emotion. And this is really getting people involved and getting them to have a connection to the story that you are telling. Then the next thing is to determine a theme. This is an idea of how we should live our lives. Are you finding peace in your life, or are you living a life of greater success? Are you living on your own terms, and things like that? Then you can talk about the hero’s journey. So, what was their life before they started on this journey? What was the background?
05:09 CM: Then, what did you long for, what did this person long for? So, for example, if it’s somebody who has knee pain, their life before is that they could hardly get off of the couch, they couldn’t go out and enjoy the activities that they used to, they longed to dance at their daughter’s wedding and have that first dance, but they were just in pain. So you need to create empathy for the hero in your content. And so you can talk about this individual either in the third person or in the first person. We found for a lot of smaller solo practitioners, health coaches that talking about this in the first person works really well. And for larger health care clinics oftentimes having an individual tell their story works really well.
06:00 CM: So you want to show how misfortune has affected the character as a way to develop that sympathy. And you also want to make the hero likable. You can’t have a villain as that hero especially in these ads. So, the next thing is you need to present an opportunity that this main character, the main hero has faced. And so this can be an event that’s never happened to them before. So they learned a secret. They heard about a specialist in the area, they heard about one of your physicians and the services that you offer. And so the hero then takes action. And, as it transitions into this new situation, what’s at stake? What are those big questions that they have? And now it’s a chance to show how they actually pursued their goal of being able to dance at their daughter’s wedding.
07:10 CM: They took action and they accomplished their goal by coming in to see your specialist. By booking that first appointment, they were able to put their fears aside and to understand how knee replacement surgery has come a long way. And so you want to make sure that you are building up a climax and showing how this hero has taken their pain and found a solution and then actually acted on it. And then here is when you show the transformation. So you’re telling about what life was like after. You start with before, how bad everything was. They find the solution, they take action and then you have the transformation. We’ve been finding that having a testimonial within this transformation piece can work really well to provide social proof that the transformation actually worked. And if you are an expert, you are the specialist that you say you are able to help people, I’m sure you will be able to find one of those testimonials.
08:17 CM: So we really enjoy following this… Enjoy… [chuckle] We found a lot of success following this hero’s journey as we’re putting together the language that we use in the Facebook ad. So then I mentioned rather than sending somebody directly to a website that just is part of your site as a whole, really directing them to a landing page. So we take some of those key benefits that we’re identifying within this Hero’s Journey of all the things that they could accomplish after that transformation and we put those benefits onto the landing page. We can also put a video of the specialist that actually allowed that transformation to happen. And so you can do a quick video of one of your physicians, one of your doctors, or even yourself in there, just to build trust, get people to know, like, and trust your brand and to allow people to come face-to-face with who they would be meeting at your practice.
09:21 CM: From here we have that schedule appointment now. For smaller solopreneurs you could have an e-book or a checklist to grow your email list. We also do recommend that for healthcare centers. But if you really wanna see that immediate return, scheduling the appointments, having this here is a great idea. So, to build your landing page, we utilize a tool, Lead Pages. It’s just leadpages.com, you can sign up for an account there, and we build basically all of our landing pages through here, and they’re just very simple layouts. So, as I mentioned, we take the benefits, we put them on one side, we have a video, and we have the schedule now, and a headline up at the top with maybe your logo.
10:20 CM: And so it’s just very clear and crisp and has one call to action. They don’t then see all of the links at the top of the website, and start clicking around to learn more and forget that they were even there to book an appointment. This is to get people to take action immediately. From here we have lead pages actually send out an initial email to anybody who signs up for the consultation or to download a resource from you. And we have lead pages also host the “Thank You” page. So on the “Thank You” page is where you can provide even more information about the clinic, link to the website, and things like that. Sometimes we even build that “Thank You” page directly onto the website so that they can then start poking around and learning more about your practice.
11:17 CM: And how this works if somebody clicks on the Facebook ad. You’re targeting them based on interests, geographic location. Maybe there are people who have been to your website, and because you have the pixel installed on your website, or in a different landing page, you can re-market to them. Potentially you have an email list, and you can create a lookalike audience for that email list. And so you have this audience, you direct them to the landing page. After that landing page which we build on lead pages, we put the code directly onto your website, so it could be a WordPress website, you just use a plugin, it’s super simple. Other websites, you can take the HTML code from lead pages, plug it into a page on your website for more control and flexibility. Lead Pages does A/B testing, kinda just built in so you can try different designs, you could try having a video, not having a video, changing colors or language, and it will all automatically process for you.
12:25 CM: So they get to the landing page, they fill out the information, they got sent a welcome email as well as redirected to a thank you page where they can learn more about your practice. And the reason why we do this is because we really feel as though if you want to help the folks in your community who are struggling and who need your clinics support and expertise, that you need to create a system and a messaging that’s going to make it as simple as possible for them to move forward and take that next step. We have just found such great success with this process. Typically, you might start out and you might get the messaging wrong, and that’s okay, at least you’re getting the information and the data to then make a new decision in the future.
13:27 CM: So, as I mentioned before, if you are currently running ads and you don’t know how well they’re converting, or you think that they’re just going to a page on your website that may or may not have a little form on the side of the page, please reach out to us. We would love to chat, love to dive into what you do have going on, just for a free consultation where we can tell you the steps that you can take in order to optimize that advertising campaign. Of course we do also work as your external marketing department, and we can help manage those lead funnels as well. So, again, my name is Caitlin McDonald, I am the co-founder of Social Speak Network, you’ve been listening to the Social Speak Network podcast. Thanks so much for tuning in and we will see you next week.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Blog-to-grow-practice.png7201280Caitlin McDonaldhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngCaitlin McDonald2019-10-02 12:26:042019-10-02 12:26:04Lead Generation for Medical Practices
Today’s podcast is about Facebook groups and how to utilize Facebook groups to get in front of prospects, to build a community around your services, and really create that brand image where you are sharing valuable information and building conversations with your target market. So Facebook groups really have a few different purposes.
You can view them as a forum on Facebook, you can view them as a way for people to connect with a community around a certain topic or even in a specific location. And we have seen great success for wellness coaches, dietitians, nutritionists, wellness centers, healthcare organizations, creating groups were their own prospects and members as a way to make sure that they have more consistent communication with those individuals.
Listen to the Podcast on Facebook Groups for Health Care
Watch the Video about Facebook Groups in Health and Wellness Marketing
Read the Transcript
00:00 Speaker 1: Hello everybody, and welcome to this week’s episode of The Social Speak Network podcast. I’m your host, the sweet Caitlin McDonald, the founder over here at the Social Speak Network, and over the past couple of weeks, and moving forward into the next, maybe even a couple of months, we’re going to be talking about the top 10 things that your wellness practice Health Care Center can do on digital marketing to see a return from their investment. And so today, I’m going to be talking about Facebook groups and how to utilize Facebook groups to get in front of prospects, to build a community around your services, and really create that brand image where you are sharing valuable information and building conversations with your target market. So Facebook groups really have a few different purposes. You can view them as a forum on Facebook, you can view them as a way for people to connect with a community around a certain topic or even in a specific location. And we have seen great success for wellness coaches, dieticians, nutritionists, wellness centers, healthcare organizations, creating groups were their own prospects and members as a way to make sure that they have more consistent communication with those individuals.
01:42 S1: Now, in order to make this happen, you have to really make sure that you’re not making the group about you. The group has to be about fostering a community, fostering conversations, and relationships and making sure that you’re not just talking about your own services and your own business. Yes, it’s a great way to share content that you create, but that content that you create, as we’ve said over and over again, really needs to be educational information that your target market and your prospects can take and run with. So for example, let’s say you are a health coach and you have new programs that are coming out. And so these programs, you really wanna share to your community. Now, you could go ahead and share them to your Facebook group. But rather than doing that, I would recommend creating a behind-the-scenes information that somebody might be able to find more expansive version of within the group, excuse me, within the program itself. However, you’re sharing just enough to get them started on the right path. This allows people to do it themselves if they want to, or to understand your expertise, so that they can turn to you for help with guidance down the road.
03:09 S1: Now you don’t wanna just be in there, posting about the group, excuse me, posting about your services individually, because this turns people away, it’s not interactive. Instead of doing that, post questions, answer questions, hop on Facebook live just in front of your group members and really try to foster that, those conversations. Now, it is important to note that right here, I’m talking about a group that is specifically to build a community around your services, and your practice. However, there are a lot of other more broad groups that already exists on Facebook. So, before you create that next group on diabetes, let’s say, make sure that there aren’t groups already out there that are doing a great job. If you’re trying to recreate something that’s already out there, it’s going to take a lot more time and effort to get people to join your group, because they’re already invested in these other groups. Now, I’m not saying don’t do it [chuckle] Facebook Groups are great thing to create, for your practice, but it does definitely take more time if it’s already existing in your space and in your specialties.
04:33 S1: Now, what you could do, if there is a group already made in your area of expertise, is go ahead and join that group. Offer guidance and ask questions, comment on other people’s posts and really start positioning yourself as an expert in that space, and as someone who is trustworthy or as an organization that’s trustworthy. And doing this helps you get that brand recognition, but again, you can’t talk about your services in somebody else’s group. Typically, there are guidelines about this, and it’s just not very professional behavior. We call this in, I mean in most industries, coaching clients from somebody else. And yes, a lot of times, your clients may have worked with somebody else in the past, but you don’t wanna be too salesy as you are trying to build that trust, and really come across as a figure in the space. Then the next tip about utilizing Facebook groups, and this is going back to creating a group yourself, is to be really specific about the purpose and to recognize that it’s going to be difficult to manage the group by yourself.
05:51 S1: And so in terms of understanding and being specific about the group’s purpose, this really helps set the expectations for your group members as they’re joining the group, what they’re going to see, what type of content they’re going to see, and how they can utilize the group to help further their own knowledge, education, and health. And so you want to, if you have a specific purpose and you’ve written the guidelines for the group, it’s important to actually stick to those. So somebody joins, they see the guidelines, maybe they answer a few questions before being approved, then you have to make sure that you are really sticking to those guidelines and being truthful yourself as well as holding other people accountable. Then the second piece there, was [chuckle] inviting other admins and managers to the group. So, in a group, you can have multiple managers. We recommend not just having one person in charge of the group. This really makes it so that there’s less… What we’ve seen in our experience is that there’s less interactions if there’s only one manager. When there are more managers you can even help foster discussions between one another, and people always can have their questions answered more quickly.
07:13 S1: So you can either divide the management based on your own expertise and what topics you are comfortable talking about. Or you can divide it by day of the week, or even time of day. Depending on how active your group is, you might even need somebody on call over the weekend to make sure that those questions are being answered. If somebody’s posting something in the group, and nobody is commenting back in replying, people are going to stop writing back. Now, having multiple group member, or excuse me group admin also makes it easier to keep new conversations forming in the group. So by this I mean, let’s say it’s been a quiet week and no members are really posting anything. As a manager of the group, you can then go in and post something to start spurring the conversation. Maybe you have the first week of the month, you have a standard question that goes out and you see how it changes over time. Maybe it’s asking people for their favorite exercise routine or their favorite activity of the season with their family. Potentially, it’s posting recipes that have to do with a single ingredient that’s timely or seasonal. So all of these things are things that you can do to help boost that engagement on the group, and because you are managing the group, that helps you prove your own expertise and position within the space.
08:47 S1: One other thing I recommend is having individuals introduce themselves when they join the group, and by doing this, you are getting people one, committed, two, participating in the group. If the first thing they do once they join is they start posting in the group, typically they’ll keep on doing it. If you don’t ask them to introduce themselves, oftentimes, they’re not going to. And then another thing that you can do is make sure that when somebody’s requesting to join you ask them questions prior to joining. So you can ask them what topics they’re most interested in, so that you talk about those topics, and for their email address. Now, this email address, if you have a disclosure there, you can mostly add that to your newsletter as well, or you can check to make sure that they’re already on your newsletter and they have to be part of on your newsletter in order to then join your group. So it’s a great way just to build your email list as well.
09:53 S1: So above all, the biggest takeaway when it comes to Facebook groups is really making sure that you are being considerate of others. You aren’t selling yourself too much and that your really, your main goal is to build that community and those relationships with the members of your group. So again, my name’s Caitlin McDonald. I’m the co-founder over here at the Social Speak Network. And thank you so much for tuning into our podcast on Digital Marketing for Health and Wellness Practices. Next week, Amber is going to be diving into utilizing on some tools for social media. So be sure to stick around there. You can download and subscribe to, our podcast on iTunes as well as Podbean and it’s also over on our website, the socialspeaknetwork.com. Thanks so much, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Podcast-Youtube-Image-fb-groups-healthwellness.png7201280Caitlin McDonaldhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngCaitlin McDonald2019-08-28 13:13:112019-08-28 13:13:11How to Use Facebook Groups to Grow a Health and Wellness Practice
From the moment a patient seeks medical care for an injury or makes an appointment with their family doctor to determine the cause of their recent symptoms, the patient has begun a journey during which multiple people may be involved.
Hospitals, physicians, nurses, and other providers, may all be, at one point or another, involved in this patient journey.
When we start to think of the “Patient Journey” we need to think of these things:
What they are going through?
What are their pain points before they get to you?
What are they experiencing and struggling with?
By identifying these things this helps you as a business owner be able to provide the right resources they are looking for.
In today’s healthcare landscape, consumers have more options, choices, and resources when it comes to the direction of their own care. This ecosystem shift slab that the patient transportation is not a linear one, but rather a multi-stage clause with many different channels and touch points along with the media (much like a tree with dozens of different branches).
A few stages of the “Patient Journey” –
Awareness: Self-assessment of barrier and symptoms, leading to online research and education, consequence problem on social media, etc. This is the start id their journey, they have recognized that something is not right with their body, or how they feel. Most people will become aware of their issue and then start the research process.
This is where they will spend hours online on different tools like Google, Pinterest, Facebook, WedMd, etc. to try to identify what they are going through.
Help: At this point, the patient understands they need help with their symptoms and are looking for the correct place to go. This is where your resource marketing comes into handy because you have been building a rapport with your patients, they trust you and know you are the right person to start with.
Care: This piece is where the “know, like, trust” factor comes in. When a patient chooses you to be their caretaker and help them with their issues or symptoms this is a really big deal. most people just think I am a doctor and this is what I am supposed to do, but you are doing so much more. You are becoming a large resource mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Treatment: You may be on the journey with these patients for a while, or just a couple visits. It’s important to take note of their treatment so you can use that data to help other patients like them. Treatment can be anything from home remedies, physical therapy, chemo, counseling, whether it be large or small treatment it will be a world of difference to your patient if they are no longer in pain.
Behavioral/Lifestyle Change: Changes to reduce readmissions and promote proactive health. How has your care and treatment helped them to live a better life? This piece right here is the end goal, this is what people are looking for.
Do they want to be able to walk with ease again?
Be able to live to see their family grow?
Be able to overcome their fears?
Whatever that lifestyle is for them that they will be able to achieve when they are doing work with you and your practice is the first step to your digital marketing. They are wanting something better in their life, they became aware of their problem, sought help, got treatment, and now ready to live their life again.
Ongoing Care/Proactive Health: What is the call-to-action? Do they need to come for follow-up appointments, exercises at home, home remedies, physical therapy, etc.? What do they need to do to continue their lifestyle and be proactive from here on out?
It’s important for the patient to understand their journey and continue to improve.
WHAT IS PATIENT JOURNEY MAPPING?
Patient route mapping in the healthcare industry is a data-driven, patient-centric approach to planning marketing activity, communications, and (to some degree) even delivery care. It’s a way to gather the facts, discover the anticipation of your patient, and then line-up that information to deliver an exemplary healthcare experience.
What testament a patient excerpt map do for you?
In short, patient section maps give you a clear guide for how to improve retention and acquisition through customer satisfaction. Exceeding patient expectation benefits your saps relation convenience twofold:
It increases retention rates through patient satisfaction
It increases new patient acquisition through evangelism
Word of mouth is still, and most likely always will be the best form of marketing, but if you can really connect with your patient’s on a much deeper level and be able to provide information, be a resource for them and their family. This allows you to take your digital marketing to the next level and reach more people.
Conclusion
Active listening and putting systems in place is key! You will always want a steady flow of patient’s, and as their lives change maybe they move or find a different doctor or maybe your services are no longer needed, it’s important to keep that pipeline full with new and potential patient’s that need your services.
Digital marketing is a great way to connect with a potential patient’s in your community and be more than just a provider, but a resource. Once people feel they can trust your practice and get their questions answered, that’s when the magic happens. They start talking about you online and referring you more and more.
A few things to do when you get a new patient:
Collect their email address – don’t just leave this in your system and not do anything with it, add it to your CRM like MailChimp, InfusionSoft, SalesForce, MyEmma, Constant Contact, etc. an email software so you can send them monthly newsletters with valuable information.
Ask them to like you on Facebook or Instagram
Invite them to leave a positive review on Google and/or Facebook once they are satisfied with their treatment
Then have a strong social media presence to continue to stay top of mind
Remember, you are an important piece of your patient’s journey!
https://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Copy-of-www.SocialSpeakNetwork.com_.png800800Amber Irwinhttps://socialspeaknetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialSpeak-Logo.pngAmber Irwin2019-06-19 09:00:092019-06-18 18:23:06Understanding your patient's journey and How to market to them online
