Connecting with Patients Through Social Media

Medical professionals face unique marketing challenges. While there's a need to attract new patients, it's just as important to maintain a solid reputation. A skillfully managed social media marketing campaign can accomplish both goals for Atlanta doctors, surgeons, dentists, chiropractors and other specialists.

Forming Meaningful Social Media Connections

More than 40 percent of consumers look up health-related reviews, treatments, providers, or products online. Conversely, nearly a quarter of all physicians use social media at least once a day. This shows there is a mutual desire to form meaningful connections with patients, which is best done by selecting social media platforms that would encourage productive conversations.

Effectively Engaging with Atlanta Patients

Websites tend to be a reliable source of information for patients as far what a practice offers. Social media, on the other hand, tends to be more effective for patient engagement that can include:

• Contributing advice related to timely medical concerns (seasonal flu shots, back-to-school vaccinations)
• Providing links to informative articles or videos on relevant medical topics
• Responding to positive feedback (and appropriately responding to negative feedback)
• Developing a solid reputation as a trusted source of information (by providing reliable responses or sharing informative posts)

As with any marketing effort, success depends on how well all platforms are managed. An effective social media marketing plan for Atlanta medical professionals will include ways to start productive conversations, effectively minimize negative reviews or comments (especially those that are untrue or misleading) and track social media activity.