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As our healthcare systems move toward branding our hospitals and medical practices, it is crucial that we are clear about our business objectives. We must clarify our objectives; we must connect with our communities; we must provide valuable content. This article goes on to clarify all “6-C’s” and how to achieve them!

Here are Hilary’s top tips for healthcare social media engagment:

Customer Service is Key – Social networking is about creating good customer service and providing your patients with valuable information to enable them to become better acquainted with their illness.  Make sure to respond to comments, inquiries and requests in a timely manner. The more you tailor your page to meeting the demands of your patients/users, the better.

Engage Your Audience – Engagement with your community is very important. Be sure to ask questions, offer your opinions and welcome conversations/feedback.  The more engaged you are with your community, the more business for you!

Post Interesting Medical Facts – Many pharmaceutical companies are posting interesting facts about their medications utilizing scientific studies to enable their consumers to become more educated about potential side effects. This is a great way to inform and become a valuable resource to your online community.

Consider Blogging -Many health care providers are turning to blogs to educate their community as well. They then share their blog or blog entry on their social networking sites to garner more visibility. Also, offer well-known or already established health care bloggers an article written specifically for their blog. Guest blogging is a great way to get added exposure. In addition, consider appearing on a Blogtalk Radio Show. This will help you build your community and increase your presence on the Internet.

Use YouTube – Many physicians are using YouTube as a way to connect and inform their community about their particular area of expertise. This medium allows the physician to relate to the patient in a more intimate and personal way – “face-to-face.”

Conduct Surveys – Use survey monkey or other free surveys online to ask your community what they want to hear and know about.  Then, use the information gathered and deliver what your community is asking for!

Remember Keywords – If you have a blog or post regularly on social networking sites, remember to use keywords so that your health organization will rise to the top of the search engines.

As a healthcare provider, how should you attract new patients and increase patient satisfaction? How do you think about online brand-building and content creation? Should you engage with patients through social media? Can negative reviews online harm your reputation (and if so, what should you do about them)?

I am looking forward to downloading this white paper for a closer read:

http://www.thedoctorblog.com/whitepaper/marketing-for-doctors-healthcare-providers/

Hospitals are inherently conservative institutions and, as such, have been relative latecomers to adopt social media, which are broadly defined as digital channels that can facilitate timely, collaborative and interactive communication.

As they enter the social media fray, hospitals face a host of challenges and decisions. These range from basic upkeep—nothing is more frustrating to a potential user than a neglected or stale-dated facebook or Twitter account—to deciding how interactive to be with patients, and what staff should be trained and involved in social media use.

This is a fascinating and growing area of research and one that I am excited to be part of. An increasing number of cancer survivors are using online media to engage in health-related social networking not only as a channel for personal thoughts and feelings, but also as a forum for on-going discussion and information sharing. Social media in this way provides healthcare researchers and practitioners with a framework for a richer understanding of the lived experience of cancer survivorship, and how it evolves over time and at key life stages.