With nearly three billion active users worldwide, it’s safe to say that Facebook is not going anywhere. It’s one of the best ways you can market your practice online.

With your Facebook page, you’ll be able to introduce your practice to potential new patients by increasing your clinic’s visibility while also building an online community. You’ll also gain trust with your current and potential patients by presenting helpful information and positioning yourself as an expert in your community.

Let’s look at how you can get started marketing on Facebook or reevaluate your current Facebook page to enhance it and make it more effective.

Create Your Online Presence With Facebook

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to set up your business Facebook page. First, make sure you create a business page with Facebook’s business features, which will be different from your personal page and provide you with more effective tools to help you reach, build, and connect with your online community.

Here are some guidelines and tips to keep in mind as you create your business page on Facebook:

• Add a unique banner or cover photo. This picture takes up almost a quarter of the screen on desktops, so choose an attention-grabbing and memorable image. The dimensions for your cover photo should be 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall for desktops and 640 pixels by 360 for mobile. If you use smaller pictures, they may appear blurry.

• Use a recognisable profile picture. Perhaps this could be a photo of yourself, your team, or your practice logo. Facebook will picture this image at the top of your page, and it’s also the thumbnail image that appears next to all of your updates, so choose your profile picture wisely. Dimensions for this image are 170 pixels by 170.

• Optimise your about section. The about area is one of the first places people go when they visit your Facebook page to find the critical information they need. Facebook uses your ‘short description’ copy to optimise your preview section.

• Choose an appropriate ‘call to action’ (CTA) button. Facebook offers a few choices for your CTA button; however, ‘contact us’ or ‘book now’ is ideal for medical practices because they can link to a homepage, landing page, or contact page that encourages patients to book their appointments.

Now It’s Time to Post

Whether you’ve just created your business Facebook page or you’ve been engaging with your online community for a while, one thing you should make right away is a content calendar. It’s essential to post different types of content regularly to keep your followers and community interested and engaged with your practice and a content calendar will help you do that.

Here a few ideas for exciting and relevant content you can post throughout the month.

Highlight Interesting Facts About Your Practice

Share some history about the beginnings and roots of your clinic. Did you come into a well-established practice with a reputation in the community? What is its history?

Or, perhaps you’re starting your clinic from scratch. Then you can discuss what made you choose your specialty. What features will set your clinic apart from others in the area?

Share Information About Community Events

Do you and your team give back or participate in your local community? You can post information or an invitation to community events relevant to your online followers. Afterwards, highlight the event with pictures and a follow-up recap.

Spotlight Your Physicians or Specialists

Post bios or photos of your partners or other specialists you work with or refer to. This introduces other doctors to your community and helps build trust with them.

 Reveal Interesting and Relevant Facts About Your Specialty

This is a great way to position yourself as an expert that can help your community. Discuss facts and information your patients may not know about your specialty in an interesting way. You could also share articles, news, or informative blogs about your specialty.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. The possibilities are truly endless, so be creative and have some fun with your content. For example, maybe you post a joke each week or a trivia contest for your patients or a funny video featuring team members.

Some Final Thoughts on Facebook

Once your Facebook page is up and running, don’t forget to let your current patients know so they can follow you. This will help you begin to build your community.

Use Facebook Ads to Promote Your Services

Is there an aspect of your practice you’d like to grow? Is there a niche you’re looking to get into?

Facebook ads are an excellent way to highlight specific services you’d like to focus on or reach particular markets you’re looking to target. 

Do You Need Help With Your Marketing Strategies?

Do you have questions about or need help with your marketing strategies? PractiPro can help!