By: Brittany Steelman

Account Manager

Cardinal Web Solutions

You see your friends post on Instagram every day, but probably don’t think too

much about how the healthcare industry can use this useful app for it’s social

media marketing campaigns.

Instagram’s popularity among users has risen by 25 percent since December

2013, and it is a great way to reach the younger demographic. Companies

are seeing a higher user interaction rate on Instagram than Facebook or

Twitter, and it has become the favored platform for information distribution.

1. Set up Your AccountA. Choose a relevant and professional

profile picture.

B. List your website and a short

description of your practice.

* Leaving these small details out could

make a big difference in gaining a new

follower or potential new patient! *

Also, make sure you set your profile to

public so that everyone can see it. You

want to make the profile easy for

potential patients to access in order to

learn about your practice.

2. Make it Fun! People love taking pictures of things they love and that follower’s love viewing.

Pictures are expressive and can be a great way to give a visual when words

alone can’t do it justice.

The more unique and fun the posts are, the more likes and interest you will

receive, therefore increasing your followers and practice awareness.

3. Brand YourselfEvery picture posted should be a

positive representation of your

practice and portray the image for

which you are going.

However, not all posts have to be a

direct picture of your practice,

service or employee.

Let the world know you are

relatable, but always tie whatever

you’re posting back to the

practice in some way, shape or

form.

For example, post an artsy pic of your

morning coffee and caption it: “Looking

forward to seeing our patients today, let’s

get everyone healthy!”

4. PracticeAdvertise, Advertise, Advertise!

That is what this is all about, right?

Take advantage of situations where

your practice can be seen in unique

and exciting ways.

Think outside the box and post in settings

that will grab the user’s attention.

Texas Children’s Hospital showed their

creativity by taking a picture of their

building while the Superhero Window

Washers were working and asked it’s

audience, “Who’s your favorite

superhero?”

5. VideoVideos are a great way to educate

your audience!

Want to share an important event

with your patients or show off a

new wing of the hospital?

Bingo! Take a video and show

the world.

Videos have more views in the

“off hours” (9 p.m. – 8 a.m.

EST), so make sure you are

posting them during the optimal

times as well.

6. Hashtags Be creative and make sure they are actually relevant to your post.

Multiple hashtags are fine, but don’t overuse them either (more than 10

is unnecessary).

Hashtags increase visibility among people who might not even know

your practice and weren’t looking for your service.

Over-hashtagging can appear spammy and lead people to unfollow your

account because you might not look like you have authority or that

you’re going to post anything valuable to them.

6. Hashtags

Put your hashtags in your first

comment as opposed to your

caption and immediately after

posting your picture, comment

on your own photo.

By doing so, all of the

comments you’ll get from

others will go hidden and your

initial comment with your

hashtags will still be visible.

7. Don’t be a GhostRespond to comments and users, making sure to tag them with your text or

they won’t be notified that you responded.

Interaction will show your involvement and interest in your patients.

The more you respond, the more people

will realize you are a practice on which they can rely.

8. Ensure Your Hard Work is Paying Off

You can monitor your account and get keys metrics at iconosquare.com.

Make it part of your routine to check out how things are doing.

You can view your history, growth and community involvement.

This will give you good insight into what you are doing well and tips on what

you can do better.

Looking for more ways to enhance your

social media marketing? Check out our

Ebook, “25 tips for social media

marketing.”