Tactics for branding your hospital using Facebook

Try these approaches to networking with your neighbors

Many people have an emotional connection with Facebook.

They use the popular social media site to talk to their family and friends, post pictures and join causes. Your hospital might want to tap into all that enthusiasm and activity.

In a Ragan health care webinar, Ryan Squire, the social media program director at Ohio State University Medical Center, says hospitals have a lot to gain by joining Facebook.

“You’ll have a platform that allows you to start having conversations with the public,” Squire says. “Most hospitals don’t have town hall events, but we consider ourselves members of the community. Facebook gives us a presence.”

Squire offered these tips to help hospital communicators take advantage of Facebook’s popularity:

Getting started

First, make sure your hospital has a solid understanding of Facebook, as well as a Facebook policy.

“Take the policy seriously,” Squire says. “Be at the front of the issue. Tell employees how to use it.”

If you need inspiration, take a look at health care social media guru Ed Bennett’s list of social media policies from medical centers and hospitals.