The health and wellness industry has been booming which is amazing! Companies and people are finally taking their health seriously and are looking for reliable resources to guide them and their staff to a more healthier lifestyle. Though that is great, it does mean that we are seeing more and more health and wellness companies pop up. So the question is, how do you become the “go-to” resource for your community?
Networking
Networking within your community is the best way to self-promote, create relationships, and see what your community is looking for in terms of a health and wellness resource. There are many great ways to connect through local networking:
- Lunch and Learns– Set up times with local businesses to come in during lunch hours and present on a topic or provide demonstrations. Corporate health has been on the rise and companies are paying more for preventative care now more than ever. With you demonstrating what your services are or presenting on a common health issue that the company may address, the employees and upper management will start to see you as their resource and will most likely come to you for future needs.
- Community workshops/events– These are great events to showcase what you offer and what your specialty is. It’s also a way to see what the local needs are in terms of services or topics they are interested in. The more you are seen in your community, answering questions and presenting on topics, the more people will remember you as the health and wellness person.
- Webinars– Webinars can connect you to the people in your community who may not have the option to meet you one on one or attend an event you are at. They are can download the webinar and watch it when it’s convenient for them so you can reach a larger population and they can refer back to it anytime. Another great thing about webinars is that you can link them to your site and social media pages from the video to help drive traffic to your sites right away.
Content Upgrades
Content upgrades can give your local community a sample of what you offer. These can work for multiple types of health businesses from health coaches to clinics through different types of content upgrades:
- Resource Guide to your Niche- This guide can show off some of the services you offer by offering information or a go-to guide on specific topics. People can download it and have material that will drive traffic back to your site for more information.
- Cheatsheets, Challenges, and Checklists, Oh my! – All of these are great action-based materials. That means it gives your community something to follow up with or physically try. Challenges get people motivated, excited, and talking about your content and business. Checklists can be referenced over and over again. They are also easily updated to accommodate multiple topics. And who doesn’t like a cheat sheet that can help make their health journey a tad bit easier? Add items such any numbers, conversions, quick reference points for a health topic, etc.
- Free Trial– Get people using your services with a trial run. This can give them a snapshot of what you do in your business and can spark interest.
- Case Study– For more clinical businesses or businesses that want to show scientific benefits, case studies can be used as content upgrades. They give your community facts about the types of services you are offering, but, always make sure that you site the case study and check that it’s from a reputable source.
Social Media Content
We are living in a social media time. Most people, once they meet you, will look you up on social media. The content you post can have a huge impact on their impression of you and your business. Create an engaging and education-heavy environment through your media content:
- Engaging Instagram stories– Using Instagram and Instagram stories can be an amazing way to engage your community. You can utilize IG Stories to post personal messages, ask questions, and create a buildup to an event. Followers can comment on your stories or you can respond in real-time when doing a Q&A session. To see how to use IG Stories more in depth, check out our previous blog: Using Instagram Story Tools to Engage your Viewers
- Tagging other Resources– A great resource knows other resources in the area and since we can’t be an expert on everything, we need to work on gaining other reliable resources. You can tag them and lead your followers to other reputable resources in the area which builds relationships with residents as well as local businesses.
- Videos to showcase your specialty– Social media videos can connect you with your followers through your work. You can post demos of what you do, testimonials of successful past customers, or anything that aligns with your specialty and what you are trying to accomplish through your business.
Professional Networking
Building relationships through community events is very beneficial but there is a whole other community you may be missing- the professional networking community. Corporate health and reaching the working community can open other doors for your business. There are also really fun ways to network with local businesses:
- Trade Shows– These events can give you an insight into what the needs may be based on questions asked. It’s also an opportunity for you to meet locals and other business owners and while building relationships.
- Hosting a Lecture Series– Hosting a lecture series for local businesses can give you a way to present what your business can offer their employees and why you should be their contact for all things health related. By setting up a series, you can display what you offer and continue to bring in new topics of interest when you come back. As a health resource, people will probably have many questions so following up the series with a Q&A can have a great impact on how you are received as an expert in your field.
- Industry Happy Hours– These are fun ways to get business owners out in the town and be able to connect outside of work. These are great events to build relationships, see what the needs of businesses are, and have a little fun while doing it. They are low-pressure but be sure to have business cards or samples of what you do.
- Join Organizations– By joining local organizations, you are showing the neighborhood that you are invested in the community and care about what happens in it. You will also get opportunities to be more involved in the local events. The more you can get out into the neighborhood, the more people will get to know your face and what your business stands for.
These are just some of the ways to that you can build up relationships, get involved in your community, and support the local people in their health journey. Relate to where your business is and fulfill a need. Once people start to see you around more, see that you are invested in the community, and see your passion/knowledge of what you do, you will start to become the first person they think of when they think of health topics.
