If you’re a medical professional who’s trying to build your brand or the brand of your clinic, you can’t ignore social media. And as far as social media is concerned, Twitter is one of the largest and most significant players. If you’re trying to build your practice, Twitter can help you. However, if you choose to ignore it, then you can be sure that you have competitors who will be actively using Twitter themselves. So don’t allow yourself to get left behind.
Some medical professionals shy away from social media, because they fear that the process is too complex. You need to know that this doesn’t have to be the case. If you have some hesitation about getting started with Twitter, you can start out slow. Here are some tips that you can keep in mind when using Twitter to build your brand.
Tip #1: Choose a good Twitter username
One of the first things that you’re going to have to decide on is your Twitter username. It pays to make a good choice at this stage because as you go about using Twitter, your username is going to be at the front and center. Your followers are going to see it. You’re going to be referred to, generally using your username. Also, if you choose something catchy and memorable, this can help your brand to stick in the minds of your audience as well. So this is a fairly basic tip, but it’s a reminder to give this the attention that it deserves.
Tip #2: Take the time to personalize the look of your profile
Too many people on Twitter still use the basic egg profile photo, or something similarly uninspiring. Similar to the first tip, this is another area where you should take the time to do it right. Don’t just go with any photo. Choose one that highlights the qualities you want to focus on. If you want to emphasize that your services are professional, choose a photo where you look the part. If your practice has more of a fun and approachable vibe, then choose an appropriate photo also. And don’t forget to personalize the header photo as well. These are some of the first things to catch a person’s eye when they visit your profile, so it pays to make a good and helpful first impression.
Tip #3: Get involved in constructive conversations
Social media is about conversations, so you need to make sure that you’re building your brand by participating. Now, this can be a double edged sword. If you communicate with your followers or other users, but you do so in a way that’s abrasive, unprofessional, unduly sarcastic, or in a similarly negative manner, then your reputation won’t be improving. You want to make sure that you project the image and feel of a great medical professional in everything you say online and on Twitter. So think carefully before you tweet. The same thing is true for retweets. People may think that your retweet equals a recommendation, so make sure to pick and choose what you echo.
Tip #4: Have a plan
It’s easy to get lost in social media, following new people, responding to followers, checking out trending hashtags, and the like. If you do this on Twitter from day to day, it’s easy to lose the plot. Always remind yourself that, while you’d like to have fun, you’re using Twitter for a reason, namely to enhance your reputation and brand. So you need to create and evolve a strategy for doing just that. You need to be strategic about what you say and what you do. You need to find ways to generate value for your followers, while at the same time, enhancing your own practice and career.