Your Social Media Voice

“Myocardial infarction may result in irreversible necrosis of cardiac tissues. Seek immediate medical attention.”

“Our friendly, knowledgeable physicians have years of experience and specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart.”

“Do you have a problem with the ol’ ticker? Want to get it fixed fast and cheap? Come on down to Wild Harry’s Heart Clinic.”

You can communicate the same information in many different ways. Of course, how you say something determines how people might respond to that information. It also affects how people perceive you, your practice, or your business. Do you want to be seen as a cold yet capable doctor with the bedside manner of a robot? Would you like to be recognized as a knowledgeable, professional, and approachable group of doctors? Do you want to be viewed as the cowboy of cardiovascular medicine who specializes in moxie?

Social media is an important tool for those in the field of health and wellness. The things you say on social media – and how you say them – shape your image and how people perceive your business or practice. In other words, social media gives you a lot of control of how current and future patients view you. That’s why it’s crucial to find your social media voice.

What’s a social media voice?

Your voice conveys more information than just the words you use. Your voice is how you express yourself, and it tells your audience how you go about your business. It hints at what magazines you have in the waiting room, and what color paint – or pattern of wallpaper – you chose for the examination room.

Basically, voice indicates to your audience the type of person you are, or how you run your clinic or practice.

How do you develop your voice for social media?

Coordinated efforts work better than a scattershot approach, and consistency is key. If you have lots of people working on your social media, it makes sense to have a clear plan for your social media. Make sure that everyone is on the same page once you’ve decided the image and voice that you want to create. Things to decide:

• Are you an authoritative source of information, or a perky friend?
• What level of vocabulary do you use?
• Are your physicians Dr. Mike, Dr. Bellows, or Mike? What about other team members?
• Do you share behind-the-scenes info about your team?

Getting these decisions in writing is smart, and as always, don’t forget HIPAA.

Many clinics and physicians outsource their social media. It can be time consuming and challenging to keep up with social media on a regular basis, and at the same time make sure that the voice is consistent throughout. Contact Haden Interactive for information on social media services.