Are you desperate for ideas when it comes to branding your practice on Social Media? Have you ever reached a point where there are so many things to talk about you aren’t sure which topic to start? Or maybe nothing seems to spark an interest or every idea seems lame! Yep, I think we can all relate to one or possibly all of these items. And what is the magic button to press to get these fans and followers to actually make that connection and conversion to booking out time on your table?
No worries, it’s a common questions asked every day from hundreds of business owners just like you. I pulled together 5 “No-Brainer” tactics to help.
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Shhhhh… Listen!
It’s a social network and before you pound away sharing stuff on social media, first practice listening and interacting with others. This should be your TOP priority in the first few months of building a following of your tribe. Even if you have been using the platform for weeks/months/years, if your engagement and interaction and dare I say bookings have dropped, then it’s time to take a step back and evaluate with an objective eye how your message and updates are being received. In order to listen, we have to have something to listen to, right? If no one is talking on your page (by that I mean making comments) then one good way to get them talking is to ask questions. And don’t ask questions that require a 4 page written response. Keep it simple. Ask their opinion, ask yes or no questions, ask 3 words they would use to describe their week, start by asking them questions. If you haven’t got a HUGE following or you find yourself asking the questions and all you hear is crickets… then you may have to create a little fun atmosphere to help them want to start talking. Run a contest. Make it about them, ask them what are their favorite smoothie recipes and the favorite will be made and shared at the next customer appreciation night. Ask them to share photos of their pets relaxing. If you are a reflexologist maybe run a contest for them to upload photos of their feet in their favorite summer shoes or flip flops and the most creative photo will win a 10 minute foot soak on their next appointment. People are looking to have FUN! Add some life into the mix. Fans ALWAYS come first! It’s all about them. The relationships you create during the next few months will serve as a strong foundation for years to come. If you skip this step, most likely you won’t be able to build a dynamic tribe of loyal followers that will book, comment, and refer others to you.
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We buy with our eyes first!
First impressions count, whether it’s a first time client showing up to your home, or you are making an out call, or they arrive at your clinic, we always want to make every experience count, but especially the first impression, right?! That saying comes to mind “the devil is in the details” and they will trip you up every time as far as I’m concerned. The shelf-life of social media content is soooo short-lived that we only have 6-20 seconds to make that first impression count. That means pay attention and brand every aspect of your social pages. Meaning the header photos and the profile photos should match and tell a story while allowing every visitor to connect with the real you! Stop using the puppies, stars and kittens and kids, and flowers and stones and water, and obscure photos of things that you can’t figure out what they are in your profile photos! Knock it off! Most likely you have a really good option on your phone to take a selfie (headshot), if you don’t, ask your kids, they can help you. Don’t use the “Glamour Shots” or your high school photo, because that isn’t YOU. People buy YOU! They choose to book appointments with YOU not your massage practice! Keep your visuals fresh and update them often.
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Plan it out!
Your posting strategy is next. Most importantly: HAVE A STRATEGY. Create posts that reinforce your brand and appeals to your followers. We have all seen the inspiring quote or funny meme get like a bazillion likes right? Why, because people love having fun. But here is the tactic. Don’t post inspiring quotes or funny memes just because they may get you more likes, comments, shares, or follows. Instead, stick to updates that bolster your practice and what you want your practice to represent. Establishing a strong posting strategy takes time – but it’s sooo worth it! A good rule of thumb about sharing content to keep you in check: use the 80/20 Rule. Eighty percent of the time, share purposeful or personal content, and twenty percent of the time promotional opportunities.
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Show off your work and expertise!
Don’t be afraid to brag a little bit on social platforms. Everybody does! Heck, that’s part of the reason you even have a business page is to boast what great work you do! And here’s a little secret… your followers actually expect you to brag a little bit of the time, just don’t go overboard about it. All too often, practitioners hold back and don’t like to boast about their successes. You can boast about your successes and still be HIPAA compliant. When you first start, don’t worry about sounding too promotional. Practice certainly makes perfect. The right mix of content will fix that every time.
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Add your logo to it!
You are a business and you should add your logo or your face or your company name every chance you get. Powerful visuals are some of the best ways to do this. If you are going to share photos of your reception area or treatment room, use cool easy to use photo tools like Canva or PicMonkey and add your photo, website address, logo, or business name in the bottom right corner. Remember, you need to own the rights to images if you want to add your logo to them and adding those items is soooo super easy and fast it only takes a few seconds. Keep it simple. It shouldn’t be hard to maintain your authentic personality – just be YOU!
What’s the big takeway? The best parts of social media are fueled by conversations. Listening and responding should be top priorities before you start aggressively dominating the conversation about your practice. Having a strategy and following it will make your social experience more productive and keepin’ it real makes everyone feel comfortable and connected to you.
What’s YOUR no-brainer tactic for social success?
Stephanie Beck, Owner of SRB Solutions, is an Educator and Advocate for the online marketing success of health and wellness practitioners for over a decade. Stephanie has served as a published columnist since 2003 and is a THREE time Best Selling author of Social Trigger Points, Business Trendsetters Volume 2 and Social MisAlignments. She has been featured in over 230 national media publications and consulted with some of the TOP names in the Massage and Chiropractic Profession. Stephanie is creator of Social Media Laptop Workshops, Social Content Creator for Chiropractors and is renowned for creating social synergy specifically for health and wellness practices.
[Image courtesy of GraphicStock.com.]