Keep Patients Engaged with Social Media

Healthcare, like virtually all industries, wants to seize the benefits of social media for marketing efforts. It can help boost the visibility of your hospital or private practice, enhance brand management, and increase patient engagement. The options are seemingly endless.

Yet, healthcare organizations might be more reluctant to explore social media marketing. Given the differences between healthcare and other industries, it can be hard to determine the best ways to leverage social media. That’s why AMNY Health Marketing offers insights on how to use social media to boost patient engagement.

Increase Visibility with Timely Patient Education

Communities look toward local hospitals and practices for answers to questions about public health. Your organization might invest in infographics in hallways, billboards on local roadways, or television advertisements. These are all valuable ways to educate communities, but social media can reach more eyeballs.

An article from Forbes cites research into how often Americans use social media daily. The article indicates various findings, but it’s clear – people spend significant time on social media. So, healthcare organizations have an opportunity to improve education by leveraging these platforms.

This information should be timely, coming to patients before they realize they need it. For instance, you want to draft content for cold and flu season before the fall to disseminate as patients begin experiencing these symptoms. Perhaps a heat wave is coming – you might draft branded resources explaining how to stay cool and protect yourself from UV rays.

This use of social media isn’t only important for community-wide patient education. It also enhances the visibility of your organization and patient trust. When patients require a hospital or doctor’s office visit, they know where to turn.

Boost Trust by Combatting Misinformation

The COVID-19 pandemic. The efficacy of vaccinations. Holistic and alternative medicines that aren’t evidence-based. These are just a handful of recent public health issues where misinformation has spread rapidly on social media. Just as using social media to enhance patient education builds trust, so will leveraging it as a beacon of light against misinformation.

When hospitals and practices take to social media, it helps counteract the misinformation spread by individuals whose expertise is faulty. More so, it indicates to patients there is a voice in their community they can trust. This extends beyond public health crises to instances when they need care.

Show How Much You Care with Patient Testimonials

For many patients, the difference between a provider they trust and one they won’t visit again is compassion. Does this provider care about me? Of course, patients you’ve yet to secure don’t know that. However, social media offers the chance to resonate with your target audience more personally.

Think of the many patients whose lives you’ve touched through life-saving care. Some patients have incredible stories. Sharing their stories via social media can show your commitment to each person who needs care. You might post an image with a caption and link, directing browsers to an interview or blog. A video story can be more engaging, and you can post it across several platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Patient testimonials are among the most effective ways to enhance engagement, but remember to follow HIPAA compliance. Anytime you want to share a patient’s story or photo, first get written consent.

Recreate the Patient Experience

Patient experience is critical to their satisfaction. Because each patient has a different experience, conveying this in marketing is often challenging. Yet, social media offers an immersive way to highlight the day-to-day activities of your organization.

Videos are highly effective at giving patients a glimpse into your hospital or practice. These videos might show doctors and nurses in the middle of their daily schedules. They might give tours of exam rooms, waiting rooms, and cafeterias. Others may showcase a new wing of the hospital. Overall, the point of these videos – which you may share across social media platforms – is to simulate the experience so patients know what to expect. It can help them feel more confident choosing you when they need care.

Social Media Marketing and More with AMNY Health Marketing  

Platforms come and go, and some evolve, but social media isn’t going anywhere. If you want to boost customer engagement and earn their trust, you need to consider using social media in your marketing. If you’re not sure where to start, turn to the healthcare marketing strategists at AMNY Health Marketing. We leverage a range of capabilities to devise strategies backed by reliable healthcare market data. We’ll help you tell your unique story and convey your expertise to acquire new patients and increase referrals. Contact us today to see how AMNY Health Marketing can help you achieve marketing success.