As healthcare providers, you have an excellent opportunity to reach current and potential patients via social media. According to Forbes, 1 in 10 Americans turns to social media for healthcare information. Why not have a strong online presence that educates, inspires, and entertains with factual information.
One of the best ways to encourage yourself or your team to post regularly is to develop a content calendar. Below is an example of a 3 post a week calendar. As you can see, subject matter rotates throughout the week to keep things fresh on the idea generation and viewer end.
Content Calendar Example
What Type of Content To Post
Team/Office
1. Spotlight Team Members
Some of the most popular posts, no matter the type of business, are Team Members Spotlights. These posts personalize the individuals who provide services to your customers. For employees that are willing to share, have them give you some facts about themselves to use in the spotlight. Educational credentials, unique skills, favorite food, favorite music, quote that they love, etc…
2. Post About Special Events At Your Office
Whether it is a themed dress-up day or volunteer service at a local health fair, people want an inside look at your business. Give followers a peek into the breaks from the ordinary.
Service-Related/Infographic/Informational
The healthcare sector, more than almost any other, is well-positioned to provide information that consumers will welcome. So much disinformation floats around that getting the true facts is a breath of fresh air. These posts can be created in a variety of forms such as infographics, quotes, lists, short videos, or carousels (multiple slides/images) with informative text accompanying them.
Think about the core services that you offer to your patients. What are the reasons that patients need those services? Highlight the benefits. What are the disadvantages of not receiving those services? What are patient pain points and hindrances to care? Address those in your posts. For example, lack of financial resources is a common reason that people avoid treatment. Do you have financing arrangements that you can spotlight?
Poll staff about questions that they most frequently hear from patients or prospective patients. From the front desk to the nurse’s stations and the exam room, the questions may vary. Answer those questions in a straightforward or entertaining manner depending on the subject matter. Also, informational posts are great for dispelling myths and discouraging ill-advised social media challenges that can be dangerous to people’s health.
3. Answer Common Health Care Questions
Some examples questions with some significant search volume for different areas of healthcare include:
Dentist
How do teeth grow?
When do permanent teeth come in?
How many teeth are in your mouth?
What do the early signs of tooth cancer look like?
Hospital
Should you go to the ER to get a Covid test?
Where can I donate blood? What is the universal blood type?
How to become an organ donor?
What is a nurse anesthetist?
OB-GYN
When do cravings start during pregnancy?
What does a pap smear test for?
When to start taking prenatal vitamins?
Orthopedic
Can you rebuild bone density?
How many bones in a child?
Which sports have the most injuries?
How to reduce swelling in the knee quickly?
Urgent Care Center
When to go to urgent care?
What services are provided at urgent care?
Is a virtual doctor’s visit available through urgent care?
4. Spotlight Special Health Care Days
You can also center your informational posts around special months or days throughout the year. Below are some examples below, but a quick Google search will bring up many more.
January
Thyroid Awareness Month
Give Kids A Smile® Day
February
American Heart Month
National Donor Day
March
Save Your Vision Month
National Sleep Awareness Week®
April
Occupational Therapy Month
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
May
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Women’s Health Week
June
World Blood Donor Day
Men’s Health Week
July
UV Safety Awareness Month
National Youth Sports Week
August
National Immunization Awareness Month
Contact Lens Health Week
September
National Yoga Awareness Month
National Preparedness Awareness Month (FEMA)
National Suicide Prevention Week
October
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Depression Screening Day®
November
National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Great American Smokeout
December
National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
National Handwashing Awareness Week
5. Give Humor A Go
Yes, it is okay to inject humor in your posts at times. We all know that health topics can be weighty, but humor, done right, can be both entertaining and informative at the same time. Whether it be a corny joke or an entertaining video snippet, clever and appropriate for all audiences, humor can be well-received.
With the help of the content calendar and post ideas above, now is a great time to establish a regular social media presence for your healthcare business.
