Using Social Media to Market Your Practice

Here’s how your medical practice should be using social media.

In today’s world of marketing, you have to stay abreast on all forms of communication. Same is true for medical practitioners. The newest form of marketing is social media. This space is where users and potential patients interact with friends, family, and strangers in new and innovative ways.

Social media platforms are also a way for your practice to interact with patients directly. You’ll be surprised by how much they want to hear from you. The more you become invested in creating a social aspect to your medical practice, the closer you are to acquiring new patients. This form of marketing can also help you maintain your brand’s reputation.

Plenty of doctors find success on social media but it can be a bit intimidating at first. There are several different social platforms to play with, each with its own unique experience. Here are a few ways that you can take advantage of social media and expand your practice’s visibility.

Keep It Simple

The hardest part about social media platforms is staying active. Users follow you to see new content or posts. If your accounts appear inactive, then what reason do people have for following you? The best way to avoid this dilemma is by carefully choosing which social media platforms you are going to use, then sticking to just those. We suggest focusing on Facebook and Twitter. They are simple to use and offer plenty of content to share.

What Social Media Content Should You to Share

As a physician, you have a certain specialty. Work with that. Find news articles about your field. You can share the ones you like or dispute the ones that you feel are misleading. Users are always concerned about their health and well-being. For doctors, social media is a way to educate them and gain their trust. Your knowledge is your best asset.

Engage With Users

Users will potentially ask you questions about certain topics. This can become tricky. You don’t want to give a patient medical advice over Facebook or Twitter. There is no way you can properly access without knowing their medical history or evaluating them in person. For people who want personal questions answered, message them. Do not give them any medical advice. Instead, suggest talking over the phone or making an appointment. Feel free to answer general medical questions. This will engage users and get them talking.

Rules to Follow

In order keep yourself out of trouble, here are a few rules that you can follow. The first is to never talk about a patient online. Your accounts are public and you’ll violate doctor/patient confidentiality. The HIPPA or state medical board will take action and send you a hefty fine. Another rule to remember is to avoid posting photos of your patients. It is an invasion of privacy. The last rule is to always remain professional. You don’t want to get personal or appear unqualified for your position.

If you need a consultation regarding your social media, call MedINFOtech today.