Turns out that is really is a popularity contest. It’s no longer enough to be a skilled plastic surgeon, you also have to be visible on social media.
A new study puts some data behind something that those of us in the aesthetic marketing business kind of already knew— having a strong social media following is what drives patients into plastic surgeons’ offices.
This is the main message from a new study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, and the findings are a bit disheartening, to say the least.
Patients now find plastic surgeons on Google, and the total number of social media followers is associated with Google first-page rankings, while education and years in practice is not.
“Google’s current algorithms are fueling the transition to this new business model, which means that patients believe a first-page ranking on Google is more important than a physician’s experience, expertise, and ability,” says Clark F. Schierle, MD, PhD, FACS, a Chicago plastic surgeon and an author of the study, in a news release.
It is not hopeless, and all of the time and effort you put into your education and building your practice does matter. Of course how many followers you have on Instagram doesn’t hold a candle to your education and experience, but it may be what draws prospective patients to your website and to ultimately into your practice where you can ‘wow’ them with your credentials.
As I have been saying on the podium, in webinars, and in my most recent book “Aesthetic Clinic Marketing in the Digital Age,” social media matters … a lot. (Yet 19.6 percent of plastic surgery practices in the study cohort still had no social media accounts…)
Every aesthetic practice should have a social media presence that makes sense for them. This is the best way to connect with consumers and differentiate your practice from the fray.
You can’t be everything to everyone. Reaching your target audience is key to generating leads that convert into real patients and real surgeries. Focus your efforts on the sites where your patients spend their time. Facebook skews older than Instagram, so if you want millennials and gen xers, Insta is the platform of choice. It you cater more to baby boomers, Facebook is a solid choice. Both are mandatory in today’s marketing sphere.
Creating content that will resonate with your target audiences will help build a robust following. Take it seriously. Use a calendar and make sure your your content is a mix of educational, inspirational, aspirational and promotional messages, and always use images to liven up text. Make sure your social handles are on all of your marketing materials so your patients can find and follow you with ease.
Encourage positive reviews from happy patients and showcase these on social media as is a nice way to marry your expertise and your online popularity.
Need help with your social strategy? Reach out to us
Anne@wendylewisco.com
