Last Updated Nov 2012
Did you know Facebook now boasts over 850 million users? As traditional media becomes less effective in reaching targeted audiences, Facebook and other social media networks are proving to be low cost solutions to building awareness of your physical therapy private practice.
If you are not using Facebook, you're not utilizing one of the most valuable online communities that can help build your private practice over time and potentially increase patient referrals to your physical therapy clinic.
Here are 5 tips on using Facebook to build a community around your physical therapy practice:
- Ask questions: Post simple questions to your Facebook Fans that will initiate discussion. This could be in the form of opinion polls, feedback on the quality of your physical therapy services or sharing experiences that they enjoyed while being treated at your clinic.
- Become a trusted resource: This could be sharing blog posts, videos, or organizing a free seminar workshop at your location. Provide something of value to keep your fans coming back for more.
- Become a problem solver: As therapy professionals, we get asked frequently about our opinions on many things involving functional mobility, strengthening, etc. When these questions are asked on your Facebook wall take the time to answer appropriately. Give information within the scope of your physical therapy practice or assist them in the right direction to find the answers they are looking for.
- Have timely interactions with users: When comments or questions are posted on your wall, try to respond in a timely manner - usually within 24 hours. This lets your community on Facebook know you have not abandoned your Facebook page and that there is warm body actually reading their comments.
- Encourage Your Community To Share Your Content: Always encourage your Facebook community to share your blog posts,
videos, etc. This helps grow your community even more and exposes your physical therapy practice to others who may not have known about you.
By leveraging the power of your Facebook community you can slowly build awareness and increase the amount of patient referrals you see coming into your physical therapy practice.
Along with Facebook, PutMeBackTogether is also a great resource for networking and building awareness of your physical therapy private practice. Take advantage of it! Click here to sign up and then join a group or start one of your own here. You can also visit the therapy forums for dozens of fresh, interesting discussions on a variety of career and education related topics or join our Facebook Page.
Resources:
- http://www.experian.com/blogs/hitwise/2013/05/16/15-stats-about-facebook/
About the Author: Samuel Awosolu is a physical therapist, web developer and internet marketer. He blogs at PT Marketing Unleashed, where he writes tips, how to's and resources for physical therapists looking to promote their products and services online. He also consults with physical therapy private practices, CEU instructors and product developers on marketing their services on the web. He can be reached via his website, www.ptmarketingunleashed.com
Click here for more information on and articles by Samuel Awosolu.
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