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Social media has well and truly taken off over the past few years. It is now viewed as a major advertising tool, platform for news and information, customer service avenue, and much, much more. No matter what industry you operate in, it is a big mistake to ignore social media and what it has to offer. This is the reason why we are going to take a look at the influence social media has had on the health care industry in further detail.
Some Interesting Facts
Let’s begin by taking a look at some interesting facts, which really help to illustrate how popular and influential social media is at present.
On average, physicians spend three hours every week watching online videos for professional reasons.
Facebook is reported as the fourth most popular source of health information.
Physicians spend double the amount of time on the web compared to print when making clinical decisions.
Information for Patients
You would be shocked to discover the number of people that look on social media platforms for health advice. More than 70 per cent of patients look for information online before they visit a doctor. Many people exchange their medical experiences on their social media accounts and this offers a way for patients to engage with each other, as well as professionals in the industry. Research from Nortec HER indicates that every six in ten people turn towards social media if they have a health-related issue, whilst 15 per cent of people use social media when they want to share information about medical issues. Twitter is a platform that offers a great outlet for putting out breaking news stories relating to the health industry, whereas people often use Facebook to ask their friends for advice, whether it is about live-in care or a specific health concern.
Recruiting Talent
A lot of businesses and recruitment agencies are using social media channels as an effective way of recruiting staff. This includes direct advertising through professional networking websites, such as LinkedIn, as well as indirect advertising, i.e. linking to a blog via Twitter or a focused website through Facebook.
Customer Feedback
One of the key reasons why social media has proved to be such a great tool for the health care industry is because it is a platform that encourages feedback. Whether you run a GP surgery, a fitness business, an international health insurance company, or something different, social media provides a way for you to see what your customers are saying. This ensures that your business has a thorough understanding of existing pain points, as well as any unique requirements from your clients.
Brand Management
A lot of companies nowadays use the feedback that is provided via social media to monitor and manage the performance of their brand. This is something that is yet to dominate in the health care industry, yet it is likely to be the case. Health businesses will be able to keep a track of what their customers are talking about in order to improve their offering and their brand identity.
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