SOCIAL MEDIA
This activity is almost on the essential list however we are recognising that not all practices will have the capabilities in-house to run this activity consistently. If this is the case and they cannot outsource the activity, it should not be set up and left unattended. Otherwise it would have a negative impact on the practice with comments and questions left unanswered and the ‘latest information’ dating back years.
Having said that, it is worth taking the time to learn about and incorporate at least one social media platform as it can provide unparalleled access to your potential audience.
There are many Psychotherapists present on social media, using platforms to demonstrate their expertise and connect with those who need their services.
Many use theses platforms to de-mystify, de-stigmatise and raise awareness around issues and conditions that have been kept in the shadows or unfairly represented in the past. We only have to see how younger generations are much more comfortable discussing mental health both broadly and personally.
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They have done this by creating a space that delivers mental health information in an interesting and accessible way - allowing the masses to understand it immediately.
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There are many Irish based Psychotherapists present on Instagram and Facebook, and there are also many opportunities for more.
At the time of writing, there are only two Psychotherapist accounts listed under a search for ‘Psychotherapist Dublin’ yet a large proportion of internet users are using social media to research services.
This is an opportunity to connect to new audiences where they are comfortable.
PLATFORM SELECTION
For a Psychotherapy practice, we are focuing on the platforms that reach the majority of your target audience / decision makers, Facebook and Instagram.
MOST-USED SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IRELAND 2022
DATAREPORTAL (internet users aged 16-64)
Facebook 73.9%
Instagram 66.2%
FB Messenger 60.8 %
Tiktok 42.9%
X (Twitter) 42.8%
Snapchat 37.7%
LinkedIn 32.5%
We will cover all you need to know from setting up your social media accounts, what to post, a full year’s content bank, creating your profiles, growing your followers and more. There are additional significant benefits with these platforms when it comes to advertising - there is a separate section further on covering this.
If you are developing video content, it is a great idea to place it on Youtube for additional reach however you do not need to approach profile development in the same way.
We will not be including Snapchat or Tiktok as options for Psychotherapist practices as they skew to a younger audience. You will have some decision makers in this audience but unless you have the time to cover all, we recommend that you focus on the platforms that capture the majority.
Some practices find having a presence on Twitter and LinkedIn are great for networking and business community liaison, so if you have time, by all means forge ahead with them. If you are using other platforms, you can apply most of the same strategies, content and design principles.
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SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY REVIEW
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Before moving into the next section, we will ascertain what your current social media status is.
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Click here to download the Social Media Activity Review Tool. It will help to identify areas you can change and improve on.
