Facebook advertising for doctors is a technique for doctors to gain more online visibility (and new patients) by placing ads on the social media platform. The “sponsored” posts that display on your Facebook wall are recognisable to anyone who uses the social media platform. Companies that are ‘targeting’ you have paid for these. And when we say ‘target,’ we really mean it. Advertisers on Facebook can target certain demographics such as age, gender, geography, and even pages or activities that users have already ‘liked.’
In terms of doctors doing the advertising, the same is also possible. You can pretty much select your ‘ideal’ patient, at least in terms of age, gender, and location. This helps to ensure that your advertising budget is not wasted on a target demographic which is unlikely to require your particular type of healthcare services.
What are the advantages of Facebook Advertising for Doctors?
There are several advantages for doctors who decide to choose Facebook as a place to advertise:
1. Increase your number of patients
Let’s be honest – this is the ultimate goal of any medical advertising: It is to increase your number of patients. Of course, not all Facebook users who see your ads will become patients of yours. In fact, it will be a low percentage. However, even just a few extra patients usually more than cover the cost of a Facebook campaign.
One thing is for sure – if you do not do any marketing or advertising, then fewer people are likely to hear about you. If fewer people hear about you, then fewer people are likely to choose you as their next doctor.
2. Increase your number of Facebook Likes
Many Facebook ads give users the opportunity to ‘like’ your page. This means that from then on, whenever you post something new, it is likely to appear on that user’s wall. This increases ongoing exposure to your practice. The more people who like your page, the more people are being reminded about your practice every time you post something new. In short, building up your online community helps to keep your practice on patients’ radar.
3. Target your ideal patient
As mentioned previously, Facebook advertising allows your ads to be very targeted. You can be very specific for any of the following criteria:
- Age
- Gender
- Location
- Likes / Interests
- Job title
By being specific with your ads, you are able to target your ‘ideal’ patient. Most doctors have their favourite types of patients or conditions which they most like to treat – why not grow this side of your practice?
