In the 90s, entrepreneurs were still unsure about using the internet to promote their products and services. Fast forward to today and no business venture is complete without, at the very least, a page on social media. But many physical therapy clinics in Upstate New York are still missing out on this powerful tool.
So, if you’re still apprehensive, I’m here to tell you that it’s definitely worth your time. And, to better convince you, let me tell you all about the benefits of social media marketing for PT clinics. Let’s start!
1. Social media makes more people aware of your brand
According to statistics, there are currently 4.48 billion people using social media.
Granted, not all these will fit the profile of your target audience. But, on the other hand, many also do. Social media helps you get in front of the screens of these people. And, in turn, it also helps them realize that you’re an option they should consider.
2. It’s a great way to engage with your audience
At the heart of every social media campaign is creating a more human connection with the people looking at your brand. This includes getting to know what stokes their interests, what they’re ignoring, what provokes their ire, and so on.
On that note, social media is also a great place to let your audience know you’re paying attention. This applies to both the good and bad things they’re saying about your brand.
A good example would be when you’re getting positive and negative reviews. Make sure to be thankful for the positive while also doing your best to rectify whatever bad it is they’re saying.
3. Social media excels at spreading word-of-mouth
To this day, word of mouth is still more powerful than advertising at driving sales. I mean, think about it: You’re more likely to buy something if someone you know pointed you in that direction.
HubSpot even says that 75% of people don’t believe in advertisements anymore but 71% are more likely to buy something through referrals.
In the modern world, social media is one way you can leverage this.
To spark this, ask your customers if they liked your product/service. And, if they do, ask them if they can share what they think on their feed.
4. The chatbot doesn’t sleep! (And so does your brand’s audience)
Many social media messaging apps, such as Facebook messenger, have AI that talks with your audience when you’re not available. Or, you know… sleeping.
Chatbots use software that let them know what your audience is saying and craft responses as it sees fit. The technology isn’t perfect right now but it’s more than useable, especially when you don’t want to leave your customers hanging.
I ran a pizza business once and this was a key for me to turn leads into paying customers. While I was busy tossing dough, the chatbot made sure my curious leads saw my menu.
5. Social media helps make you more credible
One source says that roughly 67% of all small businesses use social media for marketing purposes.
At this point, your potential customers expect you to have a page on one or more platforms. Without it, customers looking for you – and not finding results – would likely just give up, think you’ve closed shop, or find a similar alternative.
Now, I’m not saying you need a blue check (verified badge) on your page. I’m also not saying you have to be on every social media platform you can find. What I’m saying is that by making yourself visible on platforms your audience also uses, you also make it easier for them to trust your brand.
6. Social media is more affordable and energy efficient than traditional marketing
I imagine you know how much it costs to print out fliers and have someone hand them out. I also assume you know how tiring all that is, along with other “traditional” marketing tactics.
Social media is nowhere near as tedious and you can get a return on your investment much faster.
Many times, all you have to do is “boost” your content so more people see it. It doesn’t cost a lot either. You can start with a dollar per day, see what works for you, and go up from there.
Of course, there are many more wrinkles that you can add to your social media strategy but I’ll reserve that topic for another day.
7. Social media augments your content-making efforts
As previously stated, social media helps you get in front of people who are interested in what you have to offer. This hyper-focused targeting instantly makes whatever content you make more successful rather than if you relied solely on SEO.
Not only that but social media also makes it easy to repurpose old content.
For example, let’s say you run a business that sells protein powder and you recorded a video talking about how it’s good for muscle growth. From that one video, you can make memes, infographics, and many other types of content.
8. You can scope out your competition
While social media is generally about captivating your audience, you can also use it to scope out your competition. Many, if not all of them will be on some type of platform and will be doing better than you in some aspects. Use that to your advantage.
See what they’re doing good then replicate it with your twist. If you see a problem that they aren’t addressing, solve that and gain more customers along the way.
Conclusion
If you run a PT clinic, I can’t think of a good reason why you shouldn’t be using social media.
For one, it won’t cost you a lot of money to reach out to a wider audience. Moreover, it can be as straightforward or as complicated as you want it to be.
You can handle your brand’s social platforms on your own. Or, we can take that off of your hands while you reap the benefits. Tell us all about your clinic and we’ll go from there.