If you have a healthcare practice, you probably have a Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and website for your business.
Or do you? 🤔
If you don’t, how else will people learn about your services or even schedule an appointment? After all, 61% of prospective patients and clients avoid medical care because of over-the-phone scheduling. Missed calls, misunderstandings, lengthy numbered-system voice machines, social anxiety, and the general inconvenience of having to make a phone call is so off-putting that people simply avoid getting the medical care and services they need.
This shows just how serious it is that medical practices, like yours, should offer an online presence–or, online booking at the very least.
Now that you’ve decided to go live online, which platform(s) should you use?
Which Platforms Should You Use?
Every platform you use online works together. Think about it, you usually see Facebook and Instagram links on a company website, right? Even on print materials, like brochures and posters, you'll often see links to the main website and social media. This is because a website and social media integrate so well together.
Don't put it off any longer. Create a Meta business account for Facebook and Instagram, a LinkedIn account, and even an X account! In the private health realm, we’ve learned that Facebook and Instagram seem to get the most interaction, therefore they are the most important platforms to be on. If you’re handling your accounts yourself, get started with Facebook and Instagram first, and add more social accounts later to prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed.
“One platform is enough” is a common misconception. Using multiple platforms, like a WordPress website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook reinforces your authority in your industry by attracting phone-weary patients and establishing your differences from your competitors (as long as you’re actually posting content regularly).
How Should I Use the Platforms?
Once your accounts are created, make sure to keep them active by posting AT LEAST (and we mean bare minimum) once a week. Generally, people don’t trust inactive accounts. Sources aside, you might be able to find this personally true yourself (we do too). The whole point of this social media endeavor is to try to win the phone-weary people by giving them an online option to interact with you, so be sure to meet them there. The content you post on social media should be informative–don’t be afraid to reuse verbiage from your website.
Be sure to use your website link in your social posts often, so people know they have the option to book appointments online.
Now that we’ve talked social, let’s talk about your website:
Unless you decide to keep up with a blog, your website shouldn’t change much, it should be strong from the beginning. Your biggest success here will be providing the option to book appointments online from your website. Now that prospective patients or clients have been able to read information about you from social media, they’re ready to book!
Need an example? Check out our Facebook!
Need an example? Check out our Facebook!
Is This Really Worth It?
The LŪM marketing experts will tell you yes, but we understand the biggest proof is in the results you see yourself.
The best part about investing time and resources into building and maintaining an online presence and community is the ROI you'll see in the metrics. Every platform mentioned above offers free analytics, which is the data that tracks how many people are actually looking at and engaging with your content. Everybody leaves a digital footprint, and with metrics, you’re able to track it to see the results of your efforts.
If it means getting you more business and more people getting the care they need, the answer is simply YES. It’s worth it.
Don’t have the immediate resources on your team to get started? Hire LŪM as an extension of your team to build your online presence!
LŪM Studio is a full-service marketing agency serving the Rocky Mountain region. We work as an extension of your business to save you time, make your marketing dollars count, and illuminate your business from the crowd. Through bold marketing strategies, creative deliverables, timely action, and an unwavering commitment to keeping our word, our collaborative team will lighten your load and light up your marketing. We apply our decades of combined experience in a variety of areas including public relations, marketing, communications, web development, and more in both the public and private landscape.