By Jesi Tassava, Executive Assistant
Many businesses are using social media everyday to connect with their audience and market their products and expertise. Veterinary practices can do the same! By engaging with clients via Facebook posts, Instagram photos, YouTube videos and more, your veterinary practice can increase website traffic, clientele and community involvement.
Why You Should Use Social Media to Market Your Practice
Social media is a huge part of people’s lives. Think about how many times per week or per day you scroll Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Since so many people use social media on a daily basis, it is important to use it as a marketing tool for your veterinary practice. Having social media accounts for your practice can help drive traffic to your website, boost communication with your clients, and educate the public. Your veterinary practice can connect with your clients and potential clients in an intimate and familiar way that is only possible through social media. According to the Pew Research Center, 68% of adults use Facebook and 35% of adults use Instagram. By being active on social media you will not only be readily available to your clients, but you will also stay relevant in their eyes.
What to Post on Social Media
You may be thinking to yourself, “Well I know that I need to use social media for my practice, but I’m just not sure what to post or how to keep up with it.” VetSupport’s newest product can help! The VetSupport Social Team Planner is a great tool to help you and your team plan what to post on social media, when to post, and which platforms to post on.
First, it can be beneficial to have a theme for each month, in which the majority of your social media posts and blog posts all pertain to the same theme. For example, Halloween falls in October, so your posts during this month can all have something to do with Halloween. The importance of keeping Halloween candy away from your animals and pictures of dogs in Halloween costumes are two great examples. The VetSupport Social Team Planner includes a detailed list of theme ideas for each month of the year!
Next, it is important to understand the types of posts that are appropriate for each different platform. Instagram is wonderful for pictures, but is not a good place to post links to your blog posts. However, Facebook is a wonderful place to draw attention to any recent blog posts, or any helpful articles you may find online! You can post brief videos on Instagram, but should save the longer videos for YouTube. Then be sure to post links to your YouTube videos on Facebook!
Blog posts are a great way to connect with you client base and educate them at the same time. Allow doctors and staff members to write a blog on a topic they are interested in. This will allow them to share their excitement and expertise. Many clients will enjoy being able to read articles from your staff’s perspective, and will enjoy being able to start discussions and interact with your practice via social media.
Lastly, be sure to involve your staff in the management of your social media platforms. Not only will this take some duties off of your plate, but it will also empower the staff. Use your millennial staff to your advantage, by allowing them to use their social media expertise in their daily routine at work.
Be sure to check out The VetSupport Social Team Planner on the VetSupport Store to get your team started on a structured, easy-to-follow plan towards social media success!