“Why would anyone follow their healthcare providers on Facebook?”
For practices trying to determine how much to invest in their social media presence, it’s a valid question. On the surface, healthcare might not seem like one of the fun and lighthearted topics people want to engage with on social media. But the best strategies for creating engaging Facebook posts for your practice apply here just as much as anywhere else: make it relevant, personal, useful and fun!
When you consistently provide social media content that makes your practice worth following, you grow your online presence and strengthen relationships — helping you not only increase your visibility with potential patients, but also increase current patient retention and referrals.
Here are five quick and easy ideas for fun Facebook posts you can try this week on your practice’s page:
1. Post a Team PhotoA great way to kickstart engagement with your practice’s Facebook posts is to include photos of your team! It gives fans and potential patients a look into your practice culture and helps them connect with you on a personal level. Grab some props from around the office and snap a group photo, then tag your team members in the photo and share it on Facebook!
When patients become familiar with your team and are engaged on a personal level in return, you strengthen the relationships that allow your practice to thrive.
2. Highlight a Charity Your Practice Participates In
Show patients, fans and prospective patients that you’re a practice that sees the bigger picture and knows the importance of community involvement. Explain in a few sentences how you participate in your charity, and include one of their articles or videos.
3. Tell a Joke
One of the main reasons people go on social media is to have fun. Don’t be afraid to show some humor on your Facebook page — it’s not a medical journal. You can provide value to your patients and fans just by making them smile!
4. Choose a Patient of the Day
Make a patient the star of your practice for the day by snapping and sharing a photo with them! It’s a small, simple way to show that your team is focused on building lifelong healthcare relationships and going the extra mile for your patients. Before posting a patient photo to your page, make sure to obtain a written HIPAA release from them.
5. Do a Live Q&A
The Facebook Live feature on the Facebook app is an easy way to produce live video broadcasts that areposted automatically to your page afterwards. A week or so before your live broadcast, ask your patients and fans online and in-office what questions they have about your practice, preventative care, or even about you personally. Then, answer the questions on a live “Ask the Doc” broadcast!
Being active on Facebook is one of the best ways to keep in touch and strengthen relationships with patients after they’ve walked out your door. Don’t overthink yourself out of posting something to your practice’s Facebook page every day. Keep in mind that people like doing business with people they know personally, so share simple things about yourselves and why you love serving patients — with just the right dash of healthcare-related content mixed in.
Want more tips for connecting with patients online? Read our free guide, "The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Looking Awesome Online."
