By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The Hidden Epidemic of Nursing Home Abuse
    February 16, 2021
    Smiles Make the World Go Around
    August 25, 2017
    Those Pesky Tension Headaches
    September 12, 2017
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 20, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 20, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 20, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 9 Success Keys: How to Make Your Social Media Truly Engaging
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > 9 Success Keys: How to Make Your Social Media Truly Engaging
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

9 Success Keys: How to Make Your Social Media Truly Engaging

Stewart Gandolf
Stewart Gandolf
Share
4 Min Read
chat bubble
SHARE

chat bubbleThe words “social media” and “engagement” seem to be joined at the hip. In healthcare marketing—including outreach from a medical practice, or a hospital—social media (SM) is broadly understood to simply mean your choice of tools. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google Plus are most popular and important. That part is easy.

chat bubbleThe words “social media” and “engagement” seem to be joined at the hip. In healthcare marketing—including outreach from a medical practice, or a hospital—social media (SM) is broadly understood to simply mean your choice of tools. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google Plus are most popular and important. That part is easy.

But curiously, the meaning of social media’s companion buzzword, engagement, is often fuzzy. We all agree that it’s important, and we all seem to know it when we see it (or think we do). But its definition wanders around a bit, depending on the SM tool in use, the brand, context, goals, target audience, etc.

One definition that helps pin it down comes from Taylor Ellwood, author of Understanding the Social in Social Media. He writes:

More Read

mitigating-risk-II-e1383041558507
Eliminating Risk with Independent Review Organizations & External Reviews
Social Health Sites to Keep an Eye On
Stem Cells Extracted from Fat Save Patient from Amputation – Video
Following the Prevention Fund Cut Trail…
Newport Beach Doctors and Affiliates Arrested & Accused of Medical Insurance Fraud

“When I think about engagement in social media, I think of it as an activity where a person is purposefully choosing to interact with other people. S/he is actively interested in participating in the online community and is also actively interested in helping others out. Engagement then really means developing relationships, sustaining them, and consequently creating an environment where people can trust you enough to want to do business with you.”

The compelling marketing value of social media—particularly in the highly personal world of health care—is engagement; the deliberate interaction with, and participation among, people who share a common interest. What’s more, without “engagement,” social media isn’t really social, and it’s not particularly effective.

The over-arching concept behind social media content is that it delivers value to participants, and that it be presented in an interesting way. With great content in mind, here are nine key concepts that help fuel the all-important engagement side of social media:

Conversation: A monolog or a lecture might be instructive or informative, but there’s no opportunity for discussion. Converse with people as part of a dialog.

Credibility: Society gives health care providers a head start as authoritative, trained professionals. Share information that is trustworthy and believable.

Emotion: Cold (bland) facts, no matter how authoritative, are far less engaging than information that touches people’s feelings.

Enthusiasm: Share your passion and energy. It’s contagious.

It’s about them: Meaningful relationships are grounded in mutual interests. Traction begins with what the audience needs and wants, and not necessarily with what you want to say.

Listen: You know…the “two ears and one mouth” thing. Regularly monitor what’s being discussed and contribute ideas that are relevant and timely.

One-to-one: Individuals read social media, even within a group. Talk to a person.

Shareable: Not everything “goes viral,” but useful information or actionable ideas inspire people to forward or participate with others.

Visual: It wasn’t always the case, but most social media platforms now accommodate pictures, drawings, charts and even videos. I can write about my cute puppy or I can post an adorable picture; which is faster?

What would you add to this list?

Social media is a valuable and economical tool for healthcare marketing. But its purpose is to reach, inspire and engage a community of like-minded individuals. Our list is a springboard, and we’d like to hear your ideas. What would you add to this list?

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Doctors and Their Patients: Commitments to Caring

January 12, 2015

Nominate a Young Health Care Leader For a $40,000 Prize

June 2, 2012

HHS Reform Timelines…Wiggle Room In Sight?

December 3, 2011
Image
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

Beyond the Buzz: 10 Questions to Ask Before Setting Up Healthcare Social Media

July 19, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?