Friday, September 7, 2012

How to Integrate Social Media Into Your Medical Practice Marketing

We all know about the big bang that gave birth to the universe. Similarly, the explosion of social media has given birth to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace and many more. In the past few years, we have seen how social media platforms have dominated the marketing campaigns of every business in the world. And results are noteworthy, as businesses who have integrated social media into their marketing strategies have experienced more brand awareness and growth.

If you are planning to take your competitors by marketing your medical service, be sure to include social media and social networking sites. Many healthcare professionals may be hesitant to start with social networking because they think of it as a time waster. In reality, it can save you on that part and empower your patients and staff to communicate effectively. Overall, it contributes to your practice to run smoothly.

Just think of social networking as an eminent source of information to your patients and vice-versa. If your patients are avid internet users and you do an immense work of updating your status, do you realize what impact it would have on your productivity and efficiency? Adding to that, patients can provide critical information to improve your customer service.

You can term social media platforms as "Referral System with a 21st Century Twist." In the previous years, when patients were to find a doctor, they preferred friends and relatives and believed they would not guide them wrong. With the onset of social media networking, the conventional word of mouth marketing has become archaic. Conversely, there are few practical ways to keep in mind before you think of creating a social networking profile.

When you create your Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook page, make sure you are advertising in the similar way that you would with any offline piece of marketing for your practice. To make it easy for the patients to recognize you, use the same logos and punch lines that you have used in newspaper ads, TV commercials or radio spots.

Once you have completed all the formalities related to profile making, it's time now to make the smart move. Promote your Facebook and Twitter account on other mass media marketing materials such as print ads and television commercials. A signboard hanging outside your clinic that advertises "Like on Facebook" and "Follow us on Twitter" will encourage patients to hit "like" sooner rather than later.

Remember: social network marketing is a dangerous weapon that can attack the enemies, but also has the ability to hit back. So much so, for the good news, bad news can also be spread rapidly just like fire in the jungle. If patients are dissatisfied with your services, their comments and interaction on your social media profile can put curtains to your medical practice. That's the reason why you need to be vigilant of what's being written about your practice.

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