Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Social Network Chiropractic Video Marketing Secrets

By Matthew Loop, DC

No one saw it coming; the phenomenal success of web 2.0 sites like YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook is unheard of. Back in 2005, I began to sense the use of web 2.0 for chiropractic marketing, and had humble expectations for the results I'd get. Little did I know the remarkable power of web 2.0 and video marketing would propel my chiropractic practice and other ventures into the stratosphere.

And that wasn't the end of it either. I was able to save a remarkable amount of time by leveraging tasks, and was able to use web 2.0 and all its services at absolutely no cost. No wonder expensive marketing firms are working like crazy to find new clients to charge loads of money. They sense the end is near, because the real power of SEO and web 2.0 can be unleashed on your own! When I started to introduce myself to my community three years ago using MySpace, I was meeting nearly 50 people a day online. The traffic this drew to my website was unheard of. Soon enough, calls from potential patients starting coming in.

Within 24 hours of implementing my self-sufficient marketing tactics, I was successfully able to brand myself in the online community. I was able to send out information to subscribers weekly; material they chose to watch like informative videos and blogs. These people remained aware of my practice and what I was doing all the time. When you meet people online this way and keep them informed about your practice and chiropractics in general, you become the go-to chiropractor in your community. That's just the beginning of the success you'll unleash.

One of the things that I was able to capitalize on very early in my social network endeavors was simple chiropractic video marketing. Making videos and uploading them is a fairly simple, quick process yet so few chiropractors have even thought to marketing to their community this way. A word of advice, though. After you shoot your video from a video camera or digital camera, many times you will need to compress the actual file using Windows Movie Maker (if you have a PC) or iMovie (if you have a MAC). Then, you will be able to edit or upload to a video sharing website like YouTube.

I first noticed years ago that videos were getting a wonderful index status on the major search engines. We are visual creatures, and people respond more to watching videos online than they do to articles and blogs. When someone can see your face and hear your message, they automatically feel like they know you and can trust you. This is pure gold for your credibility in your community and in the chiropractic world. These videos are available to be viewed 24/7, so you know the internet is working for you, even when you're sleeping! I carry my camera and tripod everywhere I go so that when I'm inspired to make an informative video, I can just do it. Some of the best I've made used the ocean or beautiful mountains as a background.

Now is the time to learn the power that chiropractic video marketing can have on your practice. Nearly 52% of online content today is video! When people go online to look for solutions to back pain and neck aches, they want to ideally find videos for "one on one" instruction and information online. The more videos and material you have online, the more they trust what you have to say and believe your credibility in the business. There is no better way to literally stifle the competition.

Take people on a journey with you through your office and in many different locations. I always bring my video camera and tripod with me wherever I go because I never know when I'm going to have a great idea for an educational or promotion video for my chiropractic practice or other business ventures. I've shot videos at the office, at home, in Costa Rica, at the golf course, in the mountains, on the ocean, and many other locations. Viewers love to tag-along with you on your journey and see a change of scenery. Also, in my opinion, natural light is the best and most flattering.

It's important that you put out 1-2 videos a month as a minimum. This is how you can canvas the search engines and come up in multiple places. You must keep pumping out material so that your position stays strong in search engines. There's no need to outsource your videos because it will cost a lot of money and it's so easy to do yourself.

It's so important to have a good time when you're making these videos. If you're relaxed, having fun, and educating people, then you're putting yourself in the best possible light, and that will mean that people will see you as someone they want to turn to when they need a chiropractor. When you continuously put out information that people enjoy hearing and want to learn from, then your power in the community rapidly expands.

You truly do need a good chiropractic coach that understands the current marketing climate, and how modern technology and communications function for chiropractors today. Find a coach that specializes in chiropractic marketing utilizing web 2.0 and social media sharing sites. There's no use finding someone who specializes in anything else. Once you find the right mentor, fasten your seat belt because your practice is about to explode on the internet! - 15431

About the Author: