Question
As a person who isn’t actively involved in personal social media, do you think it is worth it for me to start social media accounts for my business?
Answer
One of the biggest movements that I am seeing in our industry is that successful businesses are shifting to inbound marketing. Practitioners and practices are saying that mass mailers are no longer giving them the strong return on investment that they used to. Inbound marketing puts information on social media, through your website or blogs, and patients are finding you. Consumers are interacting with brands through social media.
You should be aware that 93% of marketers today are using social media as a means to promote their business. If you are not active on social media at the moment, the chances are high that your competitors are. We know that 72% of Internet users are active on some social media platform, whether that is Facebook, Google Plus, or Twitter. The younger age brackets are the most active on social media, but we are seeing trends that older and middle-aged individuals are increasing on social media. This covers not only the ages of most of our patients, but also their children.
If you are not utilizing social media for your practice now, it is something that I would compel you to do. Consumers have greater access to information than ever before. They want it fast. They want it fun. They want to be convinced of what to do – what products to buy and from whom to buy them. With all of these choices, ensure that they come away thinking about you, your unique brand, and your offerings and services.
Make the commitment to open up two or three social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+, and start promoting your brand. Many of the sites are free and easy to set up. Know that you will have some time commitment to making the most of your social media presence, but the more you put yourself out there and promote yourself to everyone, the more that viewership is going to increase. Continue to project your voice and your brand. It will make you more successful.
For more information on using social media in your practice, view the Widex recorded webinar, Strengthen Your Business with Social Media. You may also learn more about Widex at the Widex Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
