A WORD FROM OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR
I love to use social media to keep up with my friends, family, and neighbors. It seems as though everyone uses it in some way. Some of you probably use it to help advertise your practice. If you're not using it, you're missing out on a powerful tool, a tool which can get your practice noticed, and build your business.
Here are some tips, if you're just getting started; and if you're already an old hand at social media, maybe you can find something here to suggest a new direction.
First, consider what kind of social media you need to use. Do a little research. Who's your target audience? Take note that Millennials use Facebook more than any other age group, even Boomers. Gen Xers tend to use it less, though still more than Boomers. Younger people—Gen Zers for example—tend to use Instagram and Snapchat much more than Facebook.
Remember than social media is strongly visual. You'll need interesting pictures, the kind that grab attention. Usually you can find interesting pictures just by clicking around on Google, but it's possible to violate copyright if you're not careful. Consider a service like Shutterstock that have enormous libraries of beautiful photos and other illustrations, and the fees are nominal: less than $50 annually, and you won't have to worry about copyright.
Make a plan to help guide what you post, and when you post it. Some people publish business posts daily (at the same time every day), some weekly, some less often. A service like Hootsuite can manage your entire social media presence from one simple dashboard, and will let you schedule the posts. For example you can write a week's worth of tweets, and Hootsuite will post them automatically, one at a time, on the days and times you specify. This frees you from having to write new content every day. Hootsuite has a free option, and a small subscription fee unlocks its advanced features.
Pay attention to your social media accounts. This is the most crucial point. If a reader comments on a post, respond. Be willing to engage in conversations with potential customers. This is where the effort will pay off—when readers turn into clients, because they have a relationship with you.
Social media needs work, just as anything that grows your business. But with a little care and attention, it can get you noticed!
Sincerely,
Marina L. Martin, EA, MBA, NTPI
Chair, Social Media Committee 2020-2021
