If you’re new to blogging and not quite sure how to grab the attention of new readers, then I recommend that you start leveraging the power of social media networks like Facebook and Twitter.
As I’ve mentioned before, there are many methods chiropractors can use to get their chiropractic blog noticed. For example, tools like Twitterfeed, Google Socialize, Ping.fm, and TubeMogul are just a few.
But, before you start broadcasting your message, make sure your presence on Facebook and Twitter have been established.
For Facebook, at least create a fan page. If you don’t know how, see my last post titled How to Create a Facebook Fan Page for Your Chiropractic Practice.
If you feel more adventurous, go ahead and build a landing page as well. Just remember, it needs to be specifically designed to capture new fans and guests. And, if you don’t know how, please see How to Build a Facebook Landing Page for Your Chiropractic Practice.
For Twitter, upload either your professional photo or your practice’s logo into your Twitter profile, change the default background, and select “Save”. For more tips on how to successfully get started with Twitter, please see 10 Twitter Tips that will Transform Your Chiropractic Tweets.
Once the above has been completed, then I recommend installing the NetworkedBlogs app that’s freely available to all Facebook members.
While you’re at it, please follow Next Generation Chiropractor through NetworkedBlogs. I’d greatly appreciate it!
To get started, login to Facebook and search for NetworkedBlogs.
Once found, click on View Application:
Next, click on Wall:
Then, click on Go to Application:
Then, click on Allow:
After giving NetworkedBlogs permission to add their application to your account, you’ll be allowed to add your blog to the NetworkedBlogs directory.
To do so, click on Profile:
Then, click on Add your blog:
On the next page, fill out your blog’s profile and click Next.
You’ll then be asked if you’re the author of your blog. Click Yes.
To verify ownership, you can either ask friends or use NetworkedBlogs widget. To keep things simple, I recommend you Ask friends to verify you:
Once a few friends verify you, NetworkedBlogs will activate your chiropractic blog within their directory.
In closing, a properly setup chiropractic blog may have keyword-rich, niche-specific content that fulfills the wants, needs, and desires of its targeted prospects, but if it isn’t being found, then it’ll never convert prospects to patients.
So, instead of waiting for prospects to find you via organic search, why not take things into your own hands by finding them. And, with hundreds of millions of users already on Facebook, your task becomes that much easier.
Question: What other Facebook apps have you used to connect with prospects?
Let us know in the {comments} section below.
Great post Doc!
When I first set up my Facebook Fan Page, I like many others used the ‘notes’ application to automatically post my blog’s RSS feed to the Fan Page. However, while this allowed my fans to read my content, it also allowed them to read the entire post without actually going to the site itself, so they were missing out on the ability to engage me in conversation on the blog itself. Which as you point out often is the whole point of blogging!
But, with the Networked Blogs application, they now only get an short excerpt of the beginning of post’s content with a see more option which will take them to the actual blog itself and allow them to further engage me via the comment section and or the contact page.
And thanks by the way for verifying me as the author of my blog! I really appreciate it.
And may I suggest to all your readers that not only should they follow your blog via Networked Blogs but ALL the blogs under the tag ‘Chiropractic’ that way we ALL can help each other out.
Thanks for sharing, Dr. Heins, and explaining why using “notes” isn’t the best option. By leveraging the power of Facebook, chiropractors can drive prospects and patients to their blog to further the conversation, build relationships, build trust, and win business.
And, if Facebook died off like MySpace has recently, at least YOU are still in control of your content since it’s hosted on YOUR server not Facebook’s.
As mentioned in previous posts, social media sites are tools to be used whereas blogs and websites are assets to be owned and grown.
I recently began using Networked Blogs. It seems like a great idea but it took 36 hours for it to post my blog update, so the verdict is still out on this one for me.
Thanks for your comment, Dr. Wimmer.
Fortunately, I’ve never experienced the problem you stated with NetworkedBlogs. And, I’ve installed it on many Facebook Pages since I administer other chiropractors’ accounts via my Chiropractic Blog Designs’ services. Once posts are published, they instantaneously show up on their respective Facebook Page walls.
Nevertheless, there are multiple things that could’ve caused your problem. For example, it may have been a RSS feed glitch between your Blogspot account and NetworkedBlogs.
By the way, I commend you on using a blog to promote your services. However, I’d highly encourage you to move away from free blogging services like Blogspot.
Your best choice is a self-hosted blog built within WordPress. There are many reasons why but the primary one has to do with ownership of content. Currently, you do not own the content you’re publishing through Blogspot — Google does.
So if you truly want to build a solid web presence through a blog, it’s time to seriously consider a self-hosted blog.
Let me know if you need help with the aforementioned.