Posts tagged Social Media

Creating an Effective Internet Marketing Strategy for your Practice

Oct 4th

Posted by Community Manager in General Information

Medical practitioners usually do not approach the issue of marketing very well. You are either too busy looking for qualified personnel, or keeping up with the latest innovations in medicine. Most believe that good work, honest services and dedication will build your reputation and build a profitable client list, as well. What they do not realize is that in as much as being a doctor is akin to a calling, it is also a business. If it pays your bills and puts bread on the table, it is most definitely an occupation. Like any other skill service, you need to reach out to your target clientele effectively and efficiently. This is even more crucial for those who deal with noninsured medical procedures such as cosmetic surgery.

Get Your Practice in Top Shape

Before you even start planning your marketing strategy, get your practice in order. Clients are more likely to use social media against you, if your practice has even minor flaws. Get a clean waiting room, make sure you have quick and caring support staff, sort out surgery insurance, and give your clients a comforting, personal and yet professional experience. On the medical side, ensure that you are beyond reproach in your practice. The better your medical services, the more effective your marketing strategy will be later on.

Connect with Your Patients

Your blog is a great opportunity to display the personal side of you, something that patients love. Show them that you are also human, with emotions and sometimes struggle with a few real life issues. Do not mistake this with having to put out stories about your personal life. Just ensure that patients know behind your immaculate white coat is a heart that actually beats. If patients see a true person who is a great professional at the same time, they are much more likely to trust you.

Use Quality

Most patients have little knowledge about complex medical issues. They, therefore, judge you by using external factors. While greatly performed medical procedure in a comfortable environment is a must to keep your patients satisfied, to attract new clients you need strong online presence. First thing to ensure is that your site reflects the quality of your services. Create a quality landing site, use advanced graphic tools, and cutting edge technology to create a professional appeal. As intimidating as this task may sound, by use of reliable service or software, specialized in health care marketing, your web site design can reflect the message you want to convey to your potential patients.

Show Your Expertise

Doctors are very busy people. However, everyone in this day and age needs a blog. A professional blog shows your area of expertise. It gives your potential patients insight into your skill set while at the same time providing valuable medical information that they may need. Do not be shy to display your knowledge online. Take a few minutes a day and post some insightful medical knowledge in an easy to understand way. You can start small, with just two or three blog posts per week. The beauty is as you continue to publish your archive grows into a library of knowledge that will have clients satisfied about your level of competency before they even walk through your door. Keeping a blog is also essential marketing tool. With proper use of SEO techniques, information you want to share will rank higher in search engine results, thus reaching wider base of potential patients. When quality of the content matches their expectations, you will turn them in to actual clients on a frequent basis.

Learn to use Social Media

Social media defines our present society. It is much more than just a place for your teenage daughter to hang out; it is a powerful marketing tool. Before you brush it away, note that close to 30% of Facebook users are above the age of 35. That means there are about 300 million users above the age of 35 on Facebook alone, and a lot of them is using social media to find information on their medical conditions or treatments, are looking to connect with people with similar health issues, and tend to respond to their friends? reviews of healthcare services. Social media use in this age category is higher among the group that earns more than $40,000 per year. These form a premium group for high-end medical practitioners.

With such great potential, you need to manage your social media portfolio with high dedication and level of professionalism. Get yourself properly acquainted with social media tools that can help your practice improve its image and get leads. Getting a proper consultant will greatly take off the strain from your learning curve and help you use the best-case practices for your situation. Social media is not as daunting as it seems. A few minutes of your time every day can help create a valuable impression for your practice and well prepared social media campaign can literally skyrocket your business.

Adapting to the Purpose Driven #SocialEra

Oct 1st

Posted by Community Manager in General Information

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By Glen Lubbert, Chief Imaginaut & CEO of Mojo Interactive – creators of PracticeDock Online Marketing Suite. Re-posted from his blog The Thinking Bench.

Money doesn’t bring out the best people, nor does it bring out the best in them. Purpose does.

Of all the ideas presented by Nilofer Merchant in her new ebook 11 Rules for Creating Value in the #SocialEra, I find this concept the most important for all of us pursuing the very most of every part of our lives, especially our vocation. I’d bet it’s why she placed it near the end. As without, we never unleash “the inherently collaborative nature of work” nor do we help realize the best of who we are.

Though, it’s with her 11th and final rule that I start this story. It starts with long hikes and seeing her process of listening, learning, and adapting.

Nilofer loves hiking through the beautiful hillside overlooking the old orchard fields that once filled the heart of Silicon Valley. For her and I, it’s meeting for coffee that feels inauthentic. Now a hike together, now that opens the mind to thinking and listening, feeling the burst of positive neurons that makes sharing feel so right. It’s along those trails her “skills, passion, and purpose” shine. It’s those moments of flow for a person she describes as “onlyness.”

Without purpose, we never unleash “the inherently collaborative nature of work” nor do we help realize the best of who we are. - Nilofer Merchant

While hiking with Nilofer this past year, I’ve been fortunate to participate in the collaboration of ideas as they grew into the insight for this book. It’s remarkable to witness a writer in the process of her best creation, and I am thankful for the experience.

I was by far not the only one participating. She collaborated with anyone listening as she bounced her ideas off Twitter daily. The networked power of community felt this business shift toward openness & purpose and expressed it back to her.

We all became co-creators, Nilofer our voice as she listened, learned, and adapted. The very construct of this ebook is the embodiment of creating value by “starting with the single unit of a connected human. That shift in focus has profound implications for business, and those implications are the subject of this book.”

As rapidly as we must adapt in the Social Era, it’s her echo of the ageless truth of our undeniable human need to trust that inspires us to be present in the moment; it’s how we forge the most robust relationships.

She hikes with this presence and delivers a book that succinctly captures this changing climate of the Social Era.

For those in the workforce looking to navigate this shift and identify organizations that will create value in the marketplace by bringing out the best of you, this book is for you. As a life-long entrepreneur, I see this as a vital strategy guide.

It’s a quick read, packed with insight in a way only a TED speaker could deliver - which she actually did at TEDGlobal this year. After reading it a couple times, I want to add an addendum to one of to those 11 Social Era Rules, to be grateful and by virtue create the intangible energy where purpose becomes joyful. It’s with such gratitude and joy that I feel a small part of Nilofer’s conversation that spawned the 11 Rules for Creating Value in the #SocialEra.

It’s a conversation worth continuing. Join me by downloading your copy of the ebook for Amazon Kindle and share your thoughts on how you and your work are adapting in the Social Era.

Read more reviews about the book:

Fast Company Magazine – “Leadership changes at many levels. The most obvious one is you have to invite everyone to play.”
Forbes – “Ms. Merchant’s new work provides a provocative vision of the future of both what organizations and what work might look like, yet grounded in real businesses today.“
Harvard Business Review – “Social is and can be more than media.”

About Nilofer Merchant

#SocialEra, Nilofer Merchant, Silicon Valley, Social Media, Ted Speaker, Twitter

How Social Media is Changing Patient Behavior

Aug 16th

Posted by Sabah Karimi in Online Marketing

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According to 2011 data compiled by Frost and Sullivan and QuantiaMD, approximately 87% to 90% of physicians used at least one social media site for personal reasons and approximately 67% to 75% were posting for professional reasons on sites including Facebook, Twitter, a personal blog, and even YouTube. An increasing number of patients and doctors are accounting for the high numbers of social media engagement, and this form of communication could be affecting how patients interact with your office, how they find you online, and even what decisions they make.

Here are some of the most significant ways that social media is changing patient behavior:

Finding more information with ease. Sharing your blog posts, links of interest, or even some of your personal insights on industry topics makes it easier for patients to find what they are looking for – and head back to your website for more information or contact details. Patients are using social media sites to seek out information they need to make important decisions.
Improved patient-doctor interaction. Outside of the office, patients have access to their doctor through a social media platform where they can ask simple questions, or just click through to various resources provided by the practice.
Increased trust in the patient-doctor relationship. Doctors who are active on social media sites are creating an online presence which makes them more approachable and encourages more communication. Providing informative blog posts, answering questions in a public space like Facebook, and highlighting the latest industry trends can help to improve the doctor-patient relationship by building trust.
Reducing anxiety about a procedure. As more patients share their experiences about different procedures or after working with a specific doctor on Facebook, review sites, and other social media sites, some patients may experience less anxiety about their own treatment.
More support. Not only can patients now interact with their doctors in a new way, but they can also find other patients who may have gone through a similar procedure process. They can connect with these patients to ask specific questions about different procedures.

Learn more about how your practice can engage patients using social media by talking to one of our PracticeDock online marketing specialists today!

Best Practices for Attracting Patients Using Pinterest

May 21st

Posted by Sabah Karimi in Lead Generation Tips

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Pinterest is one of the fastest growing social networking sites out there and it’s likely that many of your ideal patients are already on it. While it is designed for hobbyists looking to connect with other people with similar interests and discover new things, it can also serve as a place for doctors and practices who want to connect with patients in a whole new way.

Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest is based around images – you “pin” different images and links on a themed board and attract followers, “likes”, and comments. Over time, you can build your own following and also increase your online presence. Another perk? Pinterest’s own search engines can put some of your content in front of prospective patients.

Here are some best practices to follow when attracting patients on Pinterest:

1. Optimize your images. Post images like before and after pictures of popular procedures and make sure you save the image with a keyword-rich file name and write a brief, relevant description. The key is to optimize this text so that it can be indexed quickly in the main Pinterest search.

2. Remember your audience. The majority of Pinterest users are women in the 25 to 44 age group. Think about the procedures that women in this demographic group typically come to your practice for. From breast implants, mommy makeovers, rhinoplasty, or liposuction, pick out some great pictures on your site and relevant information that this particular age group would be interested in.

3. Be social. Pinterest has an anti-spam policy so if it’s obvious that you are only ‘pinning’ your own content, you could be banned from the site. Play fair by pinning other people’s pins to your own pin boards and interact with other users when you can. Follow interesting people, “like” and comment on other posts, and be consistent with your activity to generate some results.

4. Integrate your boards with Facebook and Twitter. You can include your pins on both of these sites to further your reach. The Pinterest Facebook app, for example, updates your Facebook followers with information about what you’ve pinned recently or what boards you’ve created.

5. Be creative with your pins. Before and after photos are a great opportunity for doctors and practices to share their work on Pinterest, but don’t overlook some other options. You can link to blog posts with a relevant image, share infographics related to your industry, or even just share event photos. Be creative so that you can engage the largest possible audience.

Need help with your social media and online marketing campaigns? Talk to a PracticeDock online marketing specialist today!

Tips for Running a Successful Social Media Contest

Apr 6th

Posted by Sabah Karimi in Lead Generation Tips

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If you’re using social media tools like Twitter and Facebook to connect with your patients, make sure you’ve taken the time to engage your current and prospective patients in a fun way. Social media promotions can be a great way to build a strong following and interact with patients. Promotions can also be the “push” many patients need to go ahead and book that consultation or schedule a service at your practice.

Here are some essential tips for running a successful social media contest:

Set some realistic goals and expectations. What do you expect to get from this type of campaign? What type of response rate are you looking for and is that a realistic goal? Do you want to build a following, book more consultations, or book appointments for a specific service or procedure? Be very clear and realistic about your goals and expectations so you can map out a plan that will actually get you the results you want.
Establish a budget. Social media contest and promotions may not take much to set up but it’s the administrative time that ends up costing you. Consider how much time you want to invest in this type of project and set a budget. This is the only way you’ll really be able to see whether a certain promotion or giveaway is a worthwhile investment.
Consider the level of consumer engagement with different strategies. The amount of work required by entrants varies by the type of contest or sweepstakes you’re running. For example, a video contest usually has a very high level of consumer engagement but also a higher barrier to entry — not everyone who hears about the promotion will be inclined to participate. A basic sweepstakes where the entrant just has to fill out a form has a very low barrier of entry — anyone can do it. However, this type of contest doesn’t engage the consumer beyond filling out the forma and waiting to see if they won. Think of a creative and unique promotion that will spark a lot of interest and encourage patients to share with friends.
Get the word out. Make sure you’re talking about your contest on your blog, on all your social media accounts, or sending out a newsletter that highlights the contest or promotion. Make it simple for people to register or find more information. Make sure you have some sort of marketing strategy that will promote your campaign.
Make it easy to share. A great social medial contest is easy to enter and also easy to share with friends and contacts. Make sure yours is set up to go viral — even if it doesn’t. Include social “share” buttons wherever you can and encourage people to share their entries or votes with others.

Need help with your practice’s online marketing strategy? Talk to a PracticeDock online marketing specialist today!

How to Grow Social Media Leads: New Research Findings

Sep 8th

Posted by Sabah Karimi in Lead Generation Tips

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Have you ever wondered whether you should start a blog or jump onto Twitter or Facebook to promote your practice?

Social media channels can be effective tools for promoting your practice and services, and for generating interest in the services you have to offer. Two new studies by HubSpot and Edison Research tell us that social media can be a very effective way to engage your target market and drive leads.

The latest research findings suggest the following:

Frequent blog posts can generate more traffic and drive leads. Even though many doctors post randomly or just once a month, they aren’t making the most of their efforts with an occasional blog post. Frequency matters when it comes to posting to your blog but you do need to really understand what matters to your audience.
More Twitter followers can translate to more leads. Growing your following can make it easier to book more appointments and generate referrals. According to Edison Research studies, about 10 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 are on Twitter and likely to influence public opinion.
Facebook Fans can also drive leads. Building a Facebook fan base can help to drive more traffic to your website and also influence the customer’s buying decisions. Making an effort to grow a strong and active fan base can help you generate more leads throughout the year.
More people are now engaged with social media. The Edison Research study results show that more than have of Americans now have a profile on one or more social networking sites. People are becoming more comfortable sharing and networking on these sites. Join the conversation happening online and you could tap in to a whole new segment of your target market.

When you share before and after photos in your doctor gallery and promote your practice with an online video package, PracticeDock will push out any new videos and gallery posts onto several social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so that you’ll reach a wider audience. We can help you get started with a social media campaign and promote your content through our own established channels.

Talk to a PracticeDock specialist about some of today’s most effective social media marketing and lead generation methods.

Reputation Management and Social Media for Medical Practices

Jul 7th

Posted by Sabah Karimi in General Information

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Even though many of your patients are satisfied with your services and have established a positive relationship with you, there may be a time when your practice becomes the target of an online attack by Internet “trolls” or people who simply want to see your business fail.

Social media communication channels such as Facebook and Twitter make it very easy for people to post positive reviews about your practice, commend you for your work or share information about your practice with friends and associates. Unfortunately, there is also a dark side to social media and all medical practices must know how to manage their reputation online.

We talked about some free tools that can help you manage your online reputation earlier this year. Tools such as Google Alerts, BoardTrackers.com and Backtype can help you find out who is posting negative comments about your practice so that you can follow up or take action accordingly. Keeping up with the information that is being posted about your practice around the web is crucial for your practice’s success. If you don’t have a reputation management plan in place, prospective patients could be going straight to the competition.

Being proactive by monitoring blogs, Twitter updates and your Facebook Page will help you protect your online reputation and alert you of any potentially damaging issues that may arise. In the event that you are dealing with negativity that could severely damage your reputation, it is in your best interest to consult with an attorney. Attorneys may be able to represent you on the grounds of defamation, and you will be able to file a lawsuit accordingly.

Work hard to post positive testimonials, reviews and comments from satisfied patients whenever possible. Take the time to seek out testimonials or reviews from patients, elicit responses from your Facebook page, or conduct a survey to gather some data. Positive buzz in the form of online reviews, high ratings on various sites and testimonials can help to improve your online reputation and negate the value of any negative posts that are out on the web and out of your control.

Talk to a PracticeDock specialist today for help with your online marketing efforts.

Related content you may be interested in:

practice marketing, practice marketing tips, reputation management, Social Media

Best Practices for Promoting Your Services on Twitter

Jul 14th

Posted by Sabah Karimi in Online Marketing

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If you’re one of the hundreds of physicians, dentists or medical professionals with a Twitter account, you may already have found effective ways to reach out to your patients and prospective clients. Twitter is a popular micro-blogging tool that allows you to post short updates called “tweets” and attract “Followers” who are interested in keeping up with your latest posts.

Businesses across all industries are now able to market to their target market in a fresh new way, but it’s important that you understand how Twitter works, and what your patients are expecting, before you post. Here are just some best practices when promoting your services on Twitter:

1. Make sure your profile description is thorough and complete. Be sure to fill in all the fields available with your website URL, and a brief description of your practice or services. If your Twitter account is public, many people will be able to find you simply based on the words you use in your profile description.

2. Stay active to attract more followers. In order to attract followers that could become patients, you need to understand the dynamics of the Twitter relationship. People who follow your updates on Twitter will pay attention to you when you are posting timely, relevant and unique posts and links. Avoid “spamming” your followers with specials on services. Focus on providing important information, links about different treatments available, and a special offer here and there for balance.

3. Promote your Twitter account on your own marketing materials. Encourage current and future patients to follow you on Twitter by attaching your Twitter handle to your e-mail signature, posting a link on your website, and dropping your Twitter handle in any blog posts or online discussion groups you participate in. This will make it much easier for people to track you down on Twitter and follow you automatically.

Online Marketing, practice marketing, Social Media

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Without purpose, we never unleash “the inherently collaborative nature of work” nor do we help realize the best of who we are. - Nilofer Merchant

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