How to Use Social Media for Podiatry

Depending on your office’s location, you might be one of several podiatrists in your area. Even if you’re the only option for miles, you still need to remind your patients why you’re the best option. To attract new clients, better communicate with your existing patients, and show them you care, you should consider using social media.

Learn about the best social media platforms for podiatry and get more digital marketing insights from the experts at WebFX today!

Why is social media for podiatry important?

For many patients, health care goes beyond visits to your office. People like to maintain communications with their providers between appointments, whether it be direct updates about a patient’s health journey or more general announcements about when the office will be open and closed. When you establish social media profiles for your podiatry practice, you can better maintain relationships with your patients.

Social media is also a proven, trusted way to market your practice. In fact, more than 250 million Americans are on social media, making it a popular space for all kinds of companies to connect with users. Between posts, ads, and customer service, you can use different platforms to give yourself a leg up on the competition.

Altogether, social media is an effective way to build communication with your patients and raise interest in your practice.

Getting started with social media for podiatry

With so many social media options, you may not know where to begin. However, it’s easy to navigate when you know the right steps to take. Follow these tips to launch your podiatry office on social media.

1. Identify your target audience

As a podiatrist, you treat people of every age. Therefore, your target audience — the people who are most likely to make an appointment with you — will be anyone in your area who have or could have foot concerns. Since you don’t have to target a specific age group, gender, or race, you can be more flexible in your approach.

The best way to tailor your social media strategy to your patients is to learn more about them. Sending them surveys or questionnaires about what they’d like to see from you on social media. When you ask them for help directly, they’ll be more willing to lend some assistance.

2. Select one or two platforms to start

The next step is to look into available social media websites so you can narrow down your options. Since the majority of your patients will be on the most popular websites, like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, they’re a great starting point.

Start with only one or two platforms at first. Down the line, you might consider adding more — but the name of the social media game is to be active and consistent, and too many accounts to keep up with can make that difficult. Remember that trying to connect with everyone might mean missing out on the deeper relationships that matter more in the long run.

Facebook is best for older audiences who like to follow business pages for updates and reviews, Twitter is a spot for younger audiences to interact with trends and brands, and Instagram is based on visual content. When it comes to podiatry, your two best options are likely Facebook and Twitter. Consider all options and how they’ll help you best communicate with your patients.

3. Consider the content you want to post

Depending on the platforms you choose, you’ll want to think about the content that will resonate most with your patients. Most people want their health care providers to be professional, authoritative, and informative, and you have several ways to showcase those characteristics via your posts while keeping things interesting and fun.

Here are a few ideas to consider as you formulate your content strategy:

• Share updates and announcements: The best way to create transparency with your patients is to communicate news about your practice. Use social media to keep them updated on where they can make appointments, new services you might offer, when the practice is open and closed, and other important details. Both new and existing patients will appreciate having quick access to this information.
• Post about your staff: Trust is a significant factor for patients. Allow them to learn more about you and your staff by posting bios and videos showcasing your backgrounds and personalities.
• Offer facts about podiatry: If a patient has never needed a podiatrist, they may have never heard of podiatry in the first place. When you share medical articles and resources about the field, you can better educate your followers.

4. Choose a social media strategist

Next, consider who will run your office’s social media accounts. No matter which one you choose, having a dedicated person — or group of people — to expertly manage your social media approach is crucial.

If you have tech-savvy people in your office, you might want to create a new social media manager role and have interested team members interview for it. This approach will save you hiring costs and ensure someone who’s knowledgeable of your practice and podiatry in general is at the forefront of your social media efforts. However, the downside here is that you’ll have to pay for training to ensure they can produce results for your practice.

The alternative is to hire an external team. Though it might be more of an upfront investment, they’ll have more resources and knowledge to manage your profiles effectively. An external group of strategists will take the time to learn about your specific practice and patients to craft the perfect content for you. Your team will be able to focus on the other important areas of your office.

Consider which option will best suit your situation to ensure your venture into social media is as successful as possible.

Growing your social presence with WebFX is a walk in the park.

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Connect with WebFX for social media help today

Using social media for your podiatry office is a fantastic way to build deeper relationships with your patients and market your practice better. If you’re ready to get started, WebFX has a team of social media experts who can help introduce your office to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other platform that may suit your practice best.

Let us help you drive results — contact us for a free proposal today!

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