One of our continuing goals at VNN is to make sure that you stay up-to-date with changes that happen in media. And the changes are HUGE!  As we have been saying for almost two years now, social media is revolutionizing the way that businesses market and how clients search for information and services.

So...what does this mean to you as busy veterinarians? 

 

When are you going to have time to "tweet" in between your surgeries, emergencies, staff training and inventory control?  More importantly, how can websites devoted to social interactions help your business?

 

 

Take a look at this group on Facebook...If 1 Million People Join My Dad Will Not Put Our Dog to Sleep.  This page was created on 12/23/09 and in a single week 994,124 people had joined the page.  That's almost 100 people every single minute since the page was created.   While this may be a created story, the broader picture is that one person reached almost 1 million people in a very short time frame!  THIS IS THE REACH AND POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA!!

 

 

Several years ago, a student in New York set up a website called SaveToby.com.  He told the story of a rabbit he found and made into a pet, but unless he received $50,000 in donations, he was planning on killing Toby and eating him.   Amazingly, this guy received almost $30,000 in donations prior to giving up his website and he even got a book deal out of it!  His story made the NBC Nightly News in 2006.  And, this amazing reach was before the huge impact of the major social networks.  Think what would happen if he waited until Twitter made its presence known...

 

Every day at your practice you have incredible opportunities to educate, inform and even entertain people.  But first, ask yourself this very important question:  Are you (and your hospital) ready to have a two-way conversation with your clients?  If the answer is yes, consider these guidelines for taking your first steps:

 

 

If you answered that you are not ready to enter into this type of conversation yet, maybe there is someone in your hospital who already maintains a social network presence and could start adding animal health stories to their content.  Also, poll your employees for their ideas on social media.  Ask how they are finding out about pet news when they are away from the workplace.

 

This activity is no different than going to Chamber of Commerce meeting or community events in order to gain recognition for your hospital.  Frankly it's faster and has more reach. The only change is that you are doing this electronically and globally instead of in person at a local meeting place.  And you can still do both - put your Facebook page / Twitter and Linkedin address on your business cards and web site. 

 

2010 will be a year of continuing innovations and advances in mobile technology, Internet marketing and social media growth.  ASVJ has begun to make available to you many resources that will improve your journalism skills - especially those in the exploding area of Social Media. 

 

Clearly you have an interest in Journalism and in teaching to make a difference.  Old fashioned frustrations with editors and producers are mostly a thing of the past.  YOU are the editor / writer / producer today and you can broadcast direct to the audience.  Make it your 2010 resolution to be part of this phenomenon!