Social Media for Health Centers

Social media is a great way for health centers to share their story, communicate their value, and connect with many different audiences–including patients, advocates, staff, lawmakers, the press, and members of the local community–on important issues. Unlike traditional media, social media gives organizations the ability to engage audiences with unfiltered messages that can foster relationships, reinforce the organization’s mission and amplify reach.

Why Use Social Media?

Social media offers a direct communication channel with a wide audience of patients, staff, peers, state and local representatives and more.
Social media is a way to build and foster relationships through conversation.
To build/reinforce health center brand and image.
Social media is the best kind of advertising—free and word-of-mouth.

Social Media Tips

THINK Connect with people. Don’t be afraid to show some personality. Have conversations, be transparent, use humor and engage others as an individual.

Be active where your target audiences are active. Your health center should not have a presence on every social media platform. Consider where your primary audiences are active and put effort into those channels. Consult the latest research on social media use to help you decide which platforms make sense for your strategy.

Post content of interest to your followers. There is a reason your followers follow you. They appreciate the information you share. It is of interest to them. To keep them coming back make sure to not to stray too far from the topics that brought them to your page in the first place.

Post quality content. Make sure the information you post comes from reliable sources. Regularly post meaningful content and use hashtags related to the topics you cover. NACHC uses #FQHC, #ValueCHCs and #CHCsInnovate. Sharing reliable information will establish your credibility as a resource of information.

Engage. Be a part of the conversations happening on your social media pages. Follow similar and industry organizations and thought leaders. Like, share and comment on other organizations’ and peoples’ posts.

Resources:

NACHC has curated the following resources to help you coordinate social media for your health center:

Social Media Use in 2021 (Pew Research)

Electronic Communications: For Your (and Your Patients’) Eyes Only (Community Health Forum article)

Protecting Your (and Your Employer’s) Professional Reputation Online (Community Health Forum article)

My Patient Wants to Friend Me on Facebook! (Community Health Forum article)

Anything You Post Can, and May, Be Used Against You (Community Health Forum article)

Developing a Communications Strategy

Create Your Elevator Pitch

Facebook Tips

Twitter Tips

Instagram Tips