Asheville, NC Chiropractor Uses Social Networking to Connect with Clients

In his book, "The New Rules of Marketing and PR," David Meerman Scott explains how the Internet has changed the way businesses reach prospective clients and to communicate with their existing ones.
"Prior to the Web, organizations had only two significant choices to attract attention: Buy expensive advertising; or get third-party ink from the media. Organizations that understand ‘The New Rules of Marketing and PR' develop relationships directly with consumers."

Connecting with Clients

Asheville, NC chiropractor, Dr. David Nygaard, agrees that using social networking media like Facebook is an effective way to embrace current patient relationships and encourage new ones.
"Social networking is a great way to gain exposure for your business at no cost," Nygaard says. "Our clients have turned into "fans" and have responded positively; they enjoy following the posts."
Dr. Nygaard's Atlas Family Chiropractic Facebook fan page offers people the chance to interact with him and his staff on a personal level. For instance, a January post communicated to fans about the celebration of Levi's 11th birthday; Levi is Dr. Nygaard's faithful Golden Retriever in addition to being the office mascot at Atlas Family Chiropractic.
This post, and one congratulating a staff member for acquiring a new certification, helps to create a human connection that makes people more comfortable.
Dr. Nygaard also talks about the importance of building relationships with clients.
"The ability to connect with people and to interact with them builds a sense of community. People feel more comfortable when they get to know you better. It helps to build and maintain strong doctor-patient relationships."

Promoting Chiropractic Care through Social Networking Media

In addition to giving "fans" or prospective clients a point of contact for his business, Dr. Nygaard, and other savvy business owners, are using social media to help promote their businesses.
Atlas Family Chiropractic runs specials on their page; over the holidays they posted a message promoting their "Toys for Tots" program. Individuals who donated a toy received a complimentary consultation and x-rays.
Again, this reinforces community; and this promotion is essentially free advertising that gives Atlas Family Chiropractic exposure to potential clients.

Information Creates Value and Expertise Creates Exposure

Traditionally, advertising is designed to grab peoples' attention and to deliver a message. Now, with the Internet, more consumers are using the Web to find the goods and services they are looking for. When making a decision about which product or service to choose, people want information, not a pitch. They will continue searching until they find the information they want. The value of any Web site can therefore be measured by the quality of the information it provides.
Atlas Family Chiropractic's Facebook page serves as a forum for the discussion of all things related to chiropractic care and related health issues. One of Atlas' fans posted an article on the relation of chiropractic care and yoga that she found interesting for others to enjoy. This creates dialogue between people and keeps them interested in and thinking about chiropractic care.
Dr. Nygaard also posts informative articles and links to his Web site where people can find a large amount of information about Atlas chiropractic care and different conditions that may be aided through chiropractic treatment.
By providing quality information on a variety of subjects from hypertension to sciatica, Dr. Nygaard has established himself as reputable source on health-related issues.

Useful Applications

Another way for businesses to create additional buzz for their social networking pages is to create applications. Useful applications can become popular and "go viral" exposing your business to thousands of people daily. Applications provide the user with some service. Popular applications include: news feeds, quotes of the day, calendars, horoscopes and games.
Doctors can have fans sign up for weekly health tips or create appointment calendar applications to remind patients of their treatment schedule. Clients often enjoy sharing success stories on these sites, creating additional positive PR.
So, instead of spending big bucks on advertising, a little time and effort goes a long way in reaching clients where they already are - chatting online.
For more information visit:
http://atlasfamilychiropractic.net