How to Succeed in Infertility Social Media Without Really Trying (LOL!)
Facebook Must-do’s:
• Create a fan page.
• Customize the Welcome page with an individualized design, i.e., FaceIt, PageModo.
• Set-up individual “professional” Facebook pages for designated staff members.
• Publicize your Facebook fan page: add Facebook badges and links to your Web site, email signature, email blasts, etc. Promote with a poster in the waiting room. Encourage “alumni” patients to “friend” and “follow” your fan page.
• Post daily and often: morning, noon and night.
• Link to infertility news and events and add customized commentary.
• Ask questions and encourage discussion and sharing.
• Share videos from your organization and from other groups.
• Add blog posts and write Facebook notes.
• Encourage fans to post comments and questions and to participate.
Twitter Must-do’s:
• Use a memorable Twitter name, also known as a Twitter handle.
• Customize the Twitter background so potential followers know what you do.
• To save time, use posting and information tools like Tweet Deck or Hoote Suite and synchronize Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn postings.
• Tweet several times a day; some experts suggest eight times, accounting for various time zones and viewing habits.
• Conduct searches for various terms, i.e., #infertility, #IVF, to see who is posting about them.
• Start following tweeters who are posting about infertility; professionals, patients, bloggers; and people/groups your followers follow.
• Have organizational twitter accounts, as well as individual employee accounts.
• Retweet relevant information; drive followers to blog or Web site; monitor complaints; promote events.
• Start #FF, i.e., FollowFridays, Twitter’s equivalent of “like.”
Blogging Must-do’s:
• Establish your vision, point of view and brand.
• Create a memorable, SEO-sensitive blog name.
• Use blogging platforms like Word Press or have a Web designer integrate a blog into your Web site.
• Have one or two main bloggers, but share blogging responsibilities throughout the organization.
• Blog at least once or twice per week.
• Use guest bloggers from other organizations to lessen the load and to strengthen connections.
• Tag each blog with pertinent keywords.
• Create a blog roll of your favorite bloggers.
• Use Facebook, Twitter and the News section of your Web site to promote your blog.
• Add your blog to blog lists.