The social media buzz continues… There are uncounted articles, webinars, & discussions out there on How to get the most from it, Is it worth it, Social Media Sins, etc…
I agree that social media takes time and effort, but you get out what you put in… You don’t have to be a zealot, but it is important to know about it & pay attention to what is going on!
I feel it is most important on two fronts:
- To monitor what others are saying about you so you can address any issues good or bad
- As one of the “touches” a client needs before contacting a provider.
It takes a little bit of time to set-up Google alerts or similar to watch for mentions of your company and keywords, but isn’t it worth it to know right away & be able to comment when someone mentions your community or business? This is one step well worth the time & effort. Talk to your IT people or an intern if you need help.
As we continually remind you, research now shows that it takes 7 touches before someone will reach out to a provider. Maybe some or most of your clientele is not into social media, but if they aren’t, their kids are, and I guarantee, they are researching online! I was recently tasked with finding a hospice & home care provider in an area I was not familiar with and had no industry contacts. So after searching our site, I reached out thru LinkedIn to get some recommendations, and then searched online for testimonials, ratings, etc… I was very disappointed to find very little out there. I’m not sure if it was more an industry issue (after reading a recent post that social media is not working for home care providers), or more part of geography, as I consider it a less competitive, non-metropolitan area. Either way, I can only suggest that you have some presence on social media as another point of information. Post testimonials & encourage your clients & their family to post their thoughts as well! There are so many sites out there that allow recommendations & ratings. If you receive a positive review, direct them to a site where they can voice their opinion!
There are so many other ways you can impress & inform thru social media with stories thru blogs, discussions on a forum, pictures of event, bios on your caretakers and more! There is nothing saying you have to do it all, but I have found that you will reap what you sow online!
Good luck!