Traditional marketing has been disrupted greatly now thanks to powerful handheld devices such as the iPhone, and Social media, as evidenced by the printed media such as newspapers and journalism. This is a great opportunity for nurse entrepreneurs to directly engage with their desired targeted group of patients or clients.
Social media can be delivered by using a variety of platforms, by utilising the tools and data available, you can ensure you have tapped into the right demographic and platform.
In the past, targeted marketing was slow to develop and was executed carefully due to the expertise, identifying targeted audiences, mediums, time and expense involved. Social media accelerates that process can be delivered more accurately and faster.
Drawing the interested group of patients / clients to you inverts the model, by creating content that resonates and adds value to your patients or clients. The more relevant you can make the content to your patients / clients the more engaged they will be, and likely to share your content within their networks. Social media allows you to market directly to the right audience and gives you ability to measure and test your response to your content.
Social media takes many forms and content can be disseminated in many ways, take the time to choose a medium that plays to your strengths here a just a few platforms,
- if you prefer talking, podcasting may work for you
- vlogging (video blogging) for a more immersive medium
- blogging if you prefer to write
- Twitter to direct people to your website and have short discussions
- Facebook, posting content and linking to your website and engaging in discussion, closed groups, live video
The power of podcasting or video as a medium it allows you to give people a chance to hear how you think and speak and understand your point of view in a way that allows them to get to know you.
People can form a stronger appreciation of your point of view and can develop a relationship you more readily.
Utilising these mediums are terrific to accelerate your brands awareness and the ability of people to understand and identify with you.
People can consume your content whilst doing other activities, such as listen to your podcast or watch your vlog on a commute or whilst they do some exercise.
Expertise exists that can assist you to produce these offerings and allow you to focus on the content creation only and they deal with the technology on your behalf.
Develop and share your expertise on a topic that you are passionate about, and be that resource or destination for that subject, develop an audience of followers you can directly engage with.
Post regularly through your preferred medium, be consistent.
Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your content – is it extending your reach, have you utilised the targeted advertising available, is it attracting the demographic you hoped for?
Have fun engaging and spreading your message, and be you, no one else can – people want to know you.
Social media has disrupted the world in a massive way, from sources of information to accessing people directly and in a meaningful and targeted way. Harness the reach of social media to your advantage, and leverage it to grow your business and reach.
Does social media excite or frighten you?
Image Edho Pratama