Social Media is receiving much buzz lately. You see mentions in chiropractic journals, receive emails promoting how to ‘post this’ or ‘tweet that’. Practically every business is dipping into social networking and wanting you to like them, become a fan, give them the thumbs up or check in.
Recently Dr. Lechner, an Asheville chiropractor asked ‘Do I tweet or retweet?’
While trying to fit all the pieces together, what you really want to know is…
”How can I, as a chiropractor, grow my practice through the use of social media and social networking.”
The following comparison will help explain what social media forums have to offer and how it can relate to your practice.
Blogging. Think about a blog as the meeting room of your practice. This is where everyone gets together to talk about what is going on, to share and relay information. It’s not a formal suit and tie meeting room,
but more the Friday business casual atmosphere. There are only minor rules for this meeting room (your blog). And that is to share relevant or news worthy information. And to relay how the information (blog posts) you are sharing can benefit the people present in the meeting (the blog reader). When a blog reader can take what they have just read and apply into a part of their personal life they will revisit your blog over again to pick up more tidbits. YouTube is the video version of a blog, providing an alternate resource to share and relay information.
LinkedIn. Is more of the chamber of commerce for your practice. LinkedIn offers the outlet to share professional information about you and your practice. Post your education, credentials, awards and achievements. Tout about the value you bring to your profession and your community. This social networking forum allows you to provide information as to why you are the leading chiropractic choice in your community.
Facebook. We can equivocate Facebook to the cafeteria or lunch room. You want your lunch table to be full of fans. This social networking atmosphere is more casual. There isn’t any deep, integral conversation going on here. This is where you can show the more personal side of you and your practice. Make posts about upcoming events in your office or community, change in hours, interesting health related articles you have read, new content added to your practice website or just what’s on your mind.
You can also post pictures of your Patient Appreciation Days, Health Events, the office staff in their Halloween costumes, etc. Facebook allows you to promote chiropractic care, wellness, natural healthcare and a healthy lifestyle in a casual, welcoming forum. Friends of friends will see your posts and will be enticed to find out more. This is how your Fan base (new patients) will grow.
Twitter. This is the bulletin board. You broadcast (tweet) the new information you add to your blog or post on Facebook or announce professional accolades. Tweets are short, sweet and to the point. Tweets trigger the receiver to investigate the details (Internet traffic). An additional benefit is in retweets of your original message to their Twitter followers (more traffic).
Create your own social buzz. So go ahead blog, post, link, tweet and yes of course – retweet. This is the time you want everyone talking about you.
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