Life today gravitates towards technology. Computers, cell phones and the internet – they are now some of the leading ways to communicate with friends, family and, essentially, the world.  When welcomed and utilized as a tool in the workplace, communicative media can help a practice grow tremendously.

Uses of Social Media

Social media is everywhere. Often simply used as a method for exchanging information, sharing stories and renewing lost friendships, practices who develop and implement a layer of social media tools find benefit in:

• Advertisement use to promote business
• Exchange of information
• Identifying and reaching out to new clients
• Obtaining feedback on services and products
• Making new business contacts
• Renewing lost clients
• Sharing of upcoming events.

Types of Social Media

Utilizing the following three tools can provide great benefits to a practice:

• Social Media
• This type of communicative media allows a practice to reach out in a cost-effective way to target its audience. Examples include:
• Blogging
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Google+
• Twitter

2. Professional Media

• This type of communicative media offers a way to reach out to other practices while promoting your profession. The following are examples of professional social networking sites:
• LinkedIn
• Biznik

3. Photo and Video Sharing Media

• Posting photos and videos that show relevance to your practice has helped promote growth to both the private and business sector, for example:
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Flickr

Discovering the Uses for Social Media

Communicative media allows for quick and easy access to a potential and an existing client base. It offers insight into other practices to see how they are developing their business, as well as show how they are promoting their products and services. Using this information can also help a practice to pinpoint new growth targets or unrealized areas of weakness or strength.

Methods for Using Social Media

Because social media allows for direct interaction with clients and prospects, one of the best pieces of advice for finding the benefits of using social media within a practice focuses on its staff.
Educate staff

• Most staff members and clients carry a number of mobile devices with them at all times.  Educating staff on methods to promote the practice while they interface with the company’s social media is vital.
• Tapping into this technology use on a daily basis will provide a definite advantage when staff are trained to watch for and appropriately respond to both positive and negative online reviews of the practice in a timely fashion.
• Staff trained to communicate directly with follower questions, requests or comments will promote not only a professional connection, but also one that is on a personal level.
• Incorporating online resources for client pet needs will also foster good will, keeping current clients happy while attracting new clients to the practice.

Using social media as a communications tool for your practice will help to attract new clients and promote the business, all while maintaining a connection with its current client base.

Ask your Covetrus representative today about how you can incorporate social media into your strategy to grow your business!