Feb 22, 2022
In 2022, you’ll have a hard time finding a company without a social media presence. But simply having a Facebook account doesn’t mean you’re using social media effectively. In healthcare, utilizing your social accounts can increase your patient base and improve your provider recruiting. One study found that 57% of consumers said a hospital’s social media presence would strongly influence their decision of where to go for services.
Simply put, social media provides a platform with which you can make an impression on patients and providers without them ever stepping foot in your facility. While it can be tempting to assign an existing administrator with the task of posting on your social pages, hiring an experienced social media manager is the best way to stay on track. Here’s why.
1. Healthcare presents more legal obstacles than other industries.
There’s a lot you can’t say or do when advertising your healthcare facility. A social media manager will ensure your social accounts stay entertaining and informative while always staying within legal limits.
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- Social media management isn’t as easy as it sounds.**
Choosing what to post on a personal social media account happens in a matter of seconds. But a professional page takes more nuance. Is the content on-brand? Are the posts professional? Even something as simple as choosing hashtags becomes complicated at this level. A social media manager will conduct the necessary research to keep your content and hashtags at a professional level.
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- Content creation is ongoing.**
Sure, an administrator may have the time to post on your social pages a few times. But remaining consistent takes more effort than you may realize. On top of staying consistent, the content needs to be engaging. It isn’t enough to simply share a blog post every few weeks. A social media manager will curate engaging content that keeps your followers interested in what you have to say.
4. Your accounts will change over time and you’ll need to respond.
As your social performance improves, you’ll gain followers. Your social media manager will keep track of the audience and their demographics. As your audience grows and changes, you’ll want your content to evolve with them.
Whether your facility decides to hire a social media manager directly or works with a marketing firm, social media matters. From a recruiting standpoint, your next wave of gen z and millennial providers expect you to have an effective social presence. Read more about what this generation of providers want from your hiring experience here.