March 2013
Posted on March 7, 2013 in Surgeons
The 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) is set to take place from March 19-23 in Chicago, IL, and our team of search marketing consultants will be there. As the modern version of the traditional ad agency, our reps will be at the meeting to discuss the proven online advertising strategies that have helped our clients find new patients, and increase loyalty among their current patients.
The consulting team can be found at booth #5416, in McCormick Place, in the Practice and Productivity Exhibits space. If you are interested in how the latest trends in search marketing and medical website design can impact your orthopaedic practice, our reps have all the information you’ll need, including the following topics to name a few:
- Responsive Design and Mobile Marketing
- Search Engine Marketing and Optimization
- Social Media Marketing and Optimization
- Patient Reviews and Online Reputation Management
Check out what our team of designers, developers and writers have done for other practices in our orthopaedic surgery website design gallery.
What the AAOS Meeting Means to Rosemont Media
This visit marks the inaugural trip to the annual AAOS meeting for Rosemont Media, and CEO Keith Humes says the entire consulting team is abuzz with excitement for the upcoming trade show. He adds that he believes the objectives of the AAOS meeting are well aligned with the goals Rosemont Media strives to achieve for each and every client.
“The AAOS is concerned with the presence of their member surgeons and their practices, whether we’re talking about their physical offices or their practice websites. We have a similar concern for our clients, and strive to provide an all-in-one solution for our clients’ sites and search marketing campaigns.”
Who’s Coming With Us?
If you plan to be at the AAOS show, stop by the Rosemont Media Facebook page and leave us a comment, tell us to be on the lookout, or let us know what part of the show you’re most excited about. If you are scheduled to lead a discussion or deliver a lecture at AAOS 2013, let us know where you’ll be and when.
See you in Chicago!
Posted on February 27, 2013 in Surgeons
The 30th Annual Dallas Rhinoplasty Symposium will take place from March 8-10, 2013, and the Rosemont Media team will be in attendance. Be sure to stop by our booth in the Westin Galleria if you plan to attend and say hi to Keith, Kim, and Brandon.
The Role of Search and Social Marketing in Your Practice
Keith will also be participating in a panel discussion titled, “Search Engine Marketing: Social Marketing and Beyond.” The special event will take place in the Westin Galleria on Friday, March 8, 2013 from 5-7:30 pm. The goal of the presentation will be to help attendees establish priorities when defining their online marketing goals and expectations.
To help plastic surgeons determine how to tackle the often daunting task of implementing online advertising campaigns, the members of the panel have defined the following areas of interest:
- How to assess current needs for search marketing and website design
- Best practices for defining social media marketing and optimization
- How to enhance online reputation efforts
- Why the cosmetic practice needs to embrace Local Search Engine Optimization
- How to take full advantage of online patient reviews
Responsive Design on the Top of Your Mind?
While design is often thought of as something static, new responsive web design capabilities are creating a more dynamic online experience for current and potential patients, which in turn increases the demands for a more dynamic mobile marketing strategy. As Keith prepares for the event, he says the ability to reach more users through their phones is quickly becoming a topic of excitement:
“Popular questions we’d run into at events in the past used to be, ‘Do I need a website?’ or ‘Do I need to be active in social media?’ Now, surgeons in our industries are concerned with mobile campaigns. Our reps look forward to discussing the latest advancements in mobile, including the latest developments and products in responsive web design.”
A Must Attend Event for Plastic Surgeons
Don’t miss Keith’s talk on the evening of March 8th at 5-7:30 pm. And be sure to stop by the booth to say hi and ask our team any questions you may have.
Contact us with any questions you have about medical website design, search marketing, or the upcoming Dallas Rhinoplasty Symposium. Safe travels!
Posted on February 5, 2013 in Surgeons
The 47th Annual Baker Gordon Symposium will take place in Miami, FL from February 14-16, 2013. Our team of medical website design and search marketing consultants will be in Booth 74 in Ashe Auditorium in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The entire Rosemont Media team is buzzing with excitement as they prepare for the first tradeshow of the year.
CEO Keith Humes says he is excited to kick off a busy year.
“We’ve been going to Baker Gordon as a company since 2009, and I’ve been since 1999. It’s always nice to start the tradeshow season with this prestigious conference. We get to reconnect with some clients and catch up on the latest happenings in the plastic surgery industry. We’re sending our team all over the globe this year, including the Australian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery conference, and our two mainstays with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.”
With all the changes in the last year in the online advertising and website design arena, Humes says he and his team will have a lot to talk about with both current and prospective clients. Whether they are curious about changes to the mobile landscape and how to be found there by patients, or impending updates to Google’s search algorithm, Humes says the Rosemont Media consultants are well-versed in all things plastic surgery marketing, and look forward to educating anyone interested in the products, services, and philosophies of the agency:
“We’ve always focused on building quality, custom websites for our clients that take the latest and most effective technology into account. We’re careful to strategize and quick to adapt when the right technology comes around, and we’re looking forward to discussing these possibilities at Baker Gordon.”
Come stop by Booth 74 anytime during the 47th Annual Baker Gordon Symposium. Bring any questions you have about online advertising, search marketing, social media, online reputation management… anything you’ve encountered while working on your practice’s virtual representation and positioning in the search rankings.
Posted on January 25, 2013 in RM New's & Keith's Corner
On this day 5 years ago, Rosemont Media opened its door and branched out into the plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry industries. Today, our list of clients not only includes plastic surgeons and dentists, but also bariatric surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, dermatologists and otolaryngologists.
To celebrate this significant anniversary, the Rosemont Review sat down with some of Rosemont Media’s earliest settlers, and asked them about the last 5 years, and the next 5.
The RM Braintrust Reflects on this Milestone
Keith Humes, Rosemont Media CEO and Co-Founder
Rosemont Review: What does the five year anniversary mean to you? Is it more significant than the others?
Keith: Our five years in the biz has established us as a long term player in the market and has given us the ability to really grow out our infrastructure and have resources that were not feasible to us as a start-up company. I feel like the last five years the landscape has evolved exponentially quicker than the first ten in this industry.
RR: What are some of your favorite memories from the first five years?
KH: I have really enjoyed watching our team mature in many ways. It has been great that we have grown over the years, but beyond that, the majority of our original employees are still here. There has also been a lot of great new employees that we have added to the team recently and they have had a tremendous impact.
But really, seeing our employees getting married, starting and growing families, that’s what it’s all about because I feel like we are one big extended family.
RR: What’s the biggest difference in RM now compared to when you started? What changes do the next 5 years hold?
KH: The biggest difference in RM now is the focus and drive to continually innovate and keep our clients moving forward at a much more accelerated pace. As for the future, with more opportunities showing up daily it seems, our job is not how to implement all of these strategies, but to determine what is right for each client, while maintaining our overall plan of attack. We have to keep asking ourselves whether this new thing is a viable strategy, if this new shiny thing really complements our main goals. And then, once we’ve made this decision, adapting and innovating from there.
RR: What are you most proud of accomplishing in the first five years?
KH: I believe we’ve established ourselves as the premier website design company in this space. A big part of that is bringing our clients into the mobile atmosphere ahead of the curve.
RR: Name something about RM our community may not know, but should.
KH: I think the diversification of characters and skill sets of our team is amazing; from artists to writers to programmers, dreamers to planners to entrepreneurs, we are all innovators in our own way. Despite all of that, at the end of the day, our team really just cares about the success of our clients. That’s always been goal one for everyone here.
Courtney Humes, Production Manager and Co-Founder
Rosemont Review: What does the 5th anniversary mean to you? Is it more significant than the others?
Courtney: I don’t know that it’s any more significant; each anniversary, it’s fun to look back at our accomplishments over the past years and lay out goals for the new year. What is hard to believe is how lightning quick these five years have gone by. From our humble beginnings at a single desk in a home office, to the dream team we’ve established in our new office. It’s just amazing to think all of this has happened in five short years. The adage “time flies when you’re having fun” couldn’t ring more true for me.
RR: Name something about RM our community may not know about, but should
CH: For me, would be that there is a strong family-atmosphere or feel to our office. Wo joke together, fight together, play together, and happen to work together. I think it’s the openness we have with one another that allows us to do such a great job.
RR: What are you most proud of accomplishing in the first five years?
CH: Well beyond building the idea of RM into the company we are today, I am most proud of the relationships we’ve been able to build with our clients. From our consultants, to our designers and production team, to our writers and everyone in between, we all have a desire to offer the most personalized products and services possible.
So I guess what I’m most proud of is staying true to a customized approach because our relationships with our clients are so important to us. We’ve been able to maintain quality and personalization and grow at a healthy rate. Also, our team’s commitment to excellence. Cutting corners is never an option; we all feel strongly about doing things the right way, even if that means it’s not the easiest way. Always feeling like we are taking ownership in our work and being proud to hang our name, and our clients’ names, on our sites.
RR: What are you looking forward to in the next five years?
CH: We’re not a start-up company anymore. I see us as a respected leader in our field. So, clients should expect that our products and services get even better with time. I’m excited about some of the development projects we have up our collective sleeves, wink wink.
Chris Brown, National Dental Sales Rep
Rosemont Review: What’s the biggest difference in RM now compared to when you started?
Chris: I’ll go with the obvious one: we’ve really grown in size. I think that’s a testament to our goal of perfecting the art of building websites and performing search engine marketing. The internet is always evolving, and the tools we’ve developed have allowed us to evolve with it. The strategies that were so important to us early on have really paid off and we’ve been able to continue to hone those search marketing skills and stay on top of the latest changes and developing trends.
RR: What are some of your favorite memories from your time here?
CB: Tradeshow events and getting to spend time with our team and getting to know everyone is at the top of my list. Through the various events like the Christmas Party and Annual Summer Fishing Trip, getting all the families together has been a lot of fun over the years.
Great feedback always helps too, keeps us inspired and pushing to stay on top. I’ve loved hearing about how we’ve helped our clients’ practices and how pleased they are with the job we’re doing.
RR: Name something about RM our community may not know about, but should.
CB: Well it’s a simple answer so I don’t know if this is what you’re looking for. We’re all here, in one office, working hard everyday to make sure our clients get the best of what Rosemont Media has to offer. Nothing we do is outsourced. I know I’m a little biased, but I’ve always liked that about the company.
RR: You’re going to be on the road with tradeshows more this year than any other, why are these important to you?
CB: Tradeshows are always crazy, but super important because we really get to spend some quality time face-to-face with our doctors and their teams. Always good to get out there and see what’s happening on the ground level of these events and in the industries our clients are practicing in. We see a ton of different dental offices and new techniques or products, so to get in front of these advancements and different approaches, see them and hold them and interact with them, is something I place a lot of value in.
RR: What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time here?
CB: I’m really proud of growing the dental division, building a dental team and continuing to do a good job for our clients. I enjoy contributing to the formation of the systems and strategies we rely on as a company and base a lot of our success and the success of our clients on, this is important to me too. Being here early on in the RM adventure, I think seeing the growth of the company, while maintaining the quality of the products and services we offer, is what I’m most proud of.
Matt Grimes, Lead Developer
Rosemont Review: As the lead developer, how has your work changed over the years?
Matt: In the beginning there was a lot to do. Lots of ideas, lots of work, and a lot to do to establish a working system. Now that we have a working system, although organic and growing, we are just left with lots of ideas, and a lot to do to implement these ideas. Everyday something new happens, some new idea gets put into place, things are constantly moving forward, in a cool way.
RR: Is there one innovation or change that may account for this growth?
MG: I can’t stress enough how the mobile market has changed the landscape. As we push forward through ways to better serve the mobile community, nothing has had as much impact and has been as much fun as responsive websites. These guys are the future. Exciting times lie ahead for RM’s clients. Keep an eye on your phones, tablets, and holo watches!
RR: What are some of your favorite memories from your time here?
MG: Nothing gives me more pleasure than a good ol BBQ. Watching our little family bring in their own special dishes, from vegan meals and side dishes, salads, burgers, and my contribution of chicken wings. That’s right, West Coasters can wing it up! The RM BBQs are truly a great joy and a tasty reminder of good vibes.
RR: Name something about RM our community may not know about, but should.
MG: I would say our quest to utilize local businesses. From copy machines, to IT assistance, to lunch, catered events, printing shirts and pads of paper. We keep it local. Not because we have to, but because we want to. Small businesses helping one another is a great thing, and something that will become more important in the years to come.
RR: What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time here?
MG: Our network, although I had a lot of help putting it together, it was one of the most insomnia-inducing tasks I have ever had to work through. But once that pup was up and running, it has been really sweet. It’s all Apple based and has over 30 TB of storage: its a sports car and a hummer all mashed into one! It sits in a beautiful server room that is a great place to hang out when it gets hot outside. It’s always as cool as can be in there. Now it runs itself, knock on wood.
Seth McKinney, Lead Designer
Rosemont Review: As the lead designer, how has your work changed since the beginning? Is there one innovation or advancement you can pinpoint?
Seth: I think our designs have come a long way since the beginning. Our increased staff and stability have really allowed us to focus intently on each site design and create more custom layouts for our clients. We also put a lot more time into detailing the full site when in the past we focused more on the homepage first. The main difference I would say is just the growth as a team and improved ability to bring a client’s vision to life, while creating a seamless experience from homepage to procedural page, to custom headers and graphics.
RR: What are some of your favorite memories from your time here?
SM: Just the day to day banter that goes on between the design and development teams. These people crack me up everyday.
RR: What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time here?
SM: Everything really, the whole robust package we create with each project. I think we stand out with our quality of design and the innovation of our development team. I mean, honestly, no one is doing the responsive websites like we do.
Tom Hall, Senior Writer
Rosemont Review: As the Senior writer, how has the work changed since you began?
Tom: I began at Rosemont Media in its very first year, and I was hired on as its first full-time writer. The work has definitely changed and grown since the beginning. We now have a team of wonderful writers, each taking on new tasks and challenges every day. One of the best parts of this job has always been the fact that there is rarely if ever any monotony: every day brings a new type of assignment, with its own set of challenges. For a writer, that is vital. It keeps us honing our skills, sharpening our tools, and being creative. That’s great for our clients and great for us as a growing company.
RR: What are some of your favorite memories from your time here?
TH: One of my favorite memories here at Rosemont, and there are many, is the morning we all gathered on the top of Soledad Mountain – one of the most beautiful places in San Diego – to take our company photo. It’s days like that, everyone from every department gathering together, when you realize just how far we’ve come.
RR: Name something about RM our community may not know about, but should.
TH: I would say what people may not know is that, we are pretty much the opposite of a “Mad Men”-like atmosphere here. We all work very hard, but in a work environment that is very open and relaxed. We have holiday parties and get-togethers, and there is a very eclectic, wonderfully diverse group of people here with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. Plus, we appreciate each others’ little quirks and idiosyncrasies. For instance, I’ve had a Buffy the Vampire Slayer coffee mug on my desk since I’ve been here and I haven’t been made fun of… yet.
RR: With an intimate knowledge of all the latest technology in our industries, what are some of the most significant innovations you’ve seen in the last few years?
TH: I have to say that one of the most significant innovations I’ve seen in our industry is the rapid move from actual desktop to mobile desktop. I’m kind of a Star Trek geek (not a Trekker yet, but getting there!) and I marvel at the fact that tablet computers and smartphones – devices much like the PADD’s that have been ubiquitous in the Star Trek universe for decades – are even possible, much less the norm as they are now. Mobile websites, comprehensive operating systems, and the “cool gadget” factor of being able to access just about any information you want, at any time, in the palm of your hand is definitely science-fiction-meets-reality.
RR: What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time here?
TH: As far as my proudest accomplishment since I’ve been here, I guess I’d have to say it would be the overall establishment of our writing department and the general approach to how we write content for clients. Although that’s really more of a collaborative accomplishment between me, our management team and consultants, and the other writers who have come aboard over the years. We laid a foundation, learned from our successes and our mistakes, and together we all continue to build on that year after year. We have fun, we challenge each other, we geek out on the fine points of grammar together, and we are able to be creative and analytical every single day. It may sound trite, but Rosemont really is an exciting place to work. It’s like a family here and I’m just very lucky and proud to be a part of it.
Posted on January 16, 2013 in Website Design
Ever wondered what a website would taste like? Maybe that’s just something we do seeing as how we eat, sleep and breathe all things internet. But, the question of consumption online is an interesting and multi-layered concern that users confront every time they click-through to your site.
How does color affect your current patients’ experience with your site? Does it impact potential patients differently? Does the appearance of text on the page really affect how users read and absorb the content? These are all questions our designers are extremely experienced at answering, which is why we were way ahead of the curve uncovered by a recent study: regardless of how our site tastes, you like it more because it’s rocking the Rosemont Orange.
Consumers’ Perception Influenced by Color, Study Says
A recent study on the influence of colors “has demonstrated that the physical attributes of the containers from which we eat and drink can influence our perception of various foods and beverages and the overall consumption experience.” [1]
The important thing to take away from this study is the appearance of your site matters. Our rigorous consultation process emphasizes how important 100% custom design really is.
The Container Matters
As part of the study, the authors have outlined practical applications of the findings: “these results are relevant to sensory scientists interested in how the brain integrates visual input (such as color), not only from the food itself, but also from the container…”
Translation: the color of everything on your site influences the overall experience and consumption of your virtual practice, and in turn influences each separate component. You could have the most spectacular color scheme selected, but if the contrast between the color of your content and the background of your site freaks users out, they won’t stick around long enough to get to reach your call to action.
The Content Matters
While the importance of content on your site is something we could spend weeks writing about, the study brings up an important angle to consider: the appearance of content on your pages plays a role in how your users experience your site. When a new user comes to your site, it’s a fresh and eye-opening experience, everything is new and shiny. But what happens on repeat visits?
The impact colors have on your site’s visitors may not differ greatly when comparing repeat users and new ones; however, the appearance and freshness of content does. Just as users develop ad blindness to the various ways marketers advertise on Google/Facebook et al, the same is true of content on your site.
More from practical applications in the study: “these results should hopefully help stimulate chefs, restaurateurs… to think more carefully about the color [appearance] of their plateware/packaging, and its potential effects on their customers’ perception of the taste/flavor of the products they [serve/deliver].”
So take a look at your site and ask yourself: How does my content stand up to repeat views? It may be time to think about the experience your visitors have, and the lingering taste this interaction leaves.
[1] “The Influence of the Color of the Cup on Consumers’ Perception of a Hot Beverage” retrieved on 1/8/13 from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-459X.2012.00397.x/abstract
Posted on January 8, 2013 in Search Engine Marketing
With 2012 packed up and ready for the archives, we’re taking one final look back before we dive headfirst into our annual predictions post.
Self-serving disclaimer: If we’re guilty of any wrongs, it’s not that we’re on the wrong path, just that we got a little ahead of ourselves. Keith’s magic 8 ball just gives us the facts and leaves it up to him to decide when and where the future will show up.
But how did the Rosemont Media CEO’s 2012 predictions hold up over the course of the year? Let’s grade them.
Google+ as Facebook Competitor = It is decidedly so
In terms of a Facebook competitor, I think it’s hard to argue against the success and further potential of Google+. The search engine behemoth forced themselves into relevance by basically requiring any business that wanted a local page to sign up for a Google+ page, which meant that business owners had to do the same. Hello instant super social community.
Keith’s rebuttal: Google+ and author tags have forever changed the look and the landscape of Google search. Author tags will continue to influence the way search engines work in regards to authority and gaining the trust of your audience.
More Effective Mobile Ads = Outlook good
Are mobile ads still a little hard on the eyes and unappealing? Yes. However, they are extremely effective and poised to become more so. As mobile users continue to increase consumption of data on their devices, the clamor for better, less-intrusive advertising grows. The opportunity is there, the technology just needs to catch up. We’ve got a sense of when this will happen, but that comes later.
Keith’s Rebuttal: 2012 saw yet another year of incredible mobile ad revenue growth of 95% with Google and Facebook leading the charge. If you haven’t considered mobile as a viable source of patient growth, 2013 is your year. If there’s still some doubt swirling around the office, check out these two articles.
Internet ad revenue hits $17B, mobile ad revenues double in first half of 2012
US Mobile Ad Projections Revised Upward: $2.6 Billion In 2012
White Space Devices, or Just White Noise? Reply hazy. Try again later
Another case of jumping the gun, but not entirely off-base. White space devices are very real, but we’re still in the infancy of readily available Super Wi-Fi. Stay tuned.
Keith’s rebuttal: While we did not see much on the horizon for a new powerful wifi technology (I think this may be more of a 2017 prediction), we did see some amazing new wireless speeds from the LTE technology that made everyone’s new iPhone 5 scream.
Rapid Fire 2012 Predictions and Answers
Android OS and Google Chrome Challenge the PC: Better not tell you now
Keith’s rebuttal: Because the Google Chrome Book starts at $249, it definitely makes it affordable for all to be on the web. Mobile devices and tablets of all shapes and sizes have also made it extremely affordable for all walks of life to be connected. This will continue to be an interesting storyline.
Improved Facebook Ads Allow for Creation of Better Customer Profiles
Mobile Affects Ranking Criteria for Search Engines
Wild Card: a New Platform or Technology Will Emerge and Forever Change us All: Concentrate and ask again
2013 Predictions: Search Engines, SEO, Social Media, and Google
Google Turns Up Heat on Spam, Stale Content
We will see more of the same with Google penalizing websites that pursue spammy linking techniques, and have bad or old content. Websites that focus on robust fresh content and offer a better user experience will gain more exposure.
My biggest prediction for 2013 is that Google will finally monetize its local listing or Google places strategy and have a Business listing dashboard to manage the local map listings.
Ad Revenue vs. Quality Engagement will Drive Social Network Growth
Social will face a new set of challenges as the varied social platforms strive to keep people interested and offer ways to better connect with family and friends.
Facebook will have its own set of challenges as they push to grow ad revenues for investors. The ever-important question here: Will ad placement and overall strategy be a deterrent for businesses and consumers? Will Facebook become oversaturated with ads? Facebook will walk the tightrope for much of 2013 as they navigate the push and pull of user engagement vs. investor satisfaction.
Despite the recent struggles Facebook has experienced, without a better user experience on Google+, Facebook will still be king in the social atmosphere.
Mobile Marketing is No Longer a Luxury
Mobile marketing is not the future of internet marketing. It is the present, it is essential, and your patients are waiting for you. If you do not have a mobile plan in place you are missing out on a current opportunity to connect with loyal and potential patients. In the car, at home on the couch, taking a break from work, mobile consumption continues to grow at a rapid rate, so providing users with the best possible experience plays an integral role in how successful your online presence is.
There is still time to develop and plan and get moving, so don’t panic. But the time is now! Take a minute to see how your website looks on a tablet and a phone. What do you see?
Is the site easy to navigate? Do you have to pinch and zoom to read the content? Can you easily click on links and find the contact us page? One recent innovation in the mobile marketing arena is responsive web design, which goes hand-in-hand with mobile accessibility and usability. Basically, this allows scalability onto multiple devices (meaning no matter how patients find your site, they can interact with it from a desktop, a tablet, or a phone). Responsive web design is the next phase of mobile marketing and engagement. You’ll definitely want to stay tuned into this one.
Your Internet Marketing Predictions for 2013
Have questions about the predictions here? Want to go out on a limb and make one of your own? Visit our Facebook page and fill us in, or let us know what you think of those 2013 predictions above.
Posted on October 17, 2012 in Website Design
I recently had the pleasure of writing an article with Dr. Anthony Petrosini of the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, which offers tips on how to improve your practice’s online success.
While the article appears in the current issue of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons monthly publication, AAOS Now, the information can be applied to any practice, and openly speaks to our goals as a search marketing and website design company.
5 questions from the article that can help you assess your current online performance
- Does my website provide an inside look at my practice and philosophy?
- Is my website correctly optimized for search engines and users?
- How can I protect my online reputation?
- How can I communicate with current and new patients between visits?
- How often do patients use their mobile phones to interact with my practice?
To find out how your answers to these questions can impact your online success, read the article in its entirety here: Improving Your Online Success
Posted on September 19, 2012 in Mobile Marketing
As Apple prepares to launch the iOS6 software update, the entire RM Team is very excited about one feature in particular: Maps! I know what you’re thinking, how exciting can a Maps app really be? I felt the same way until Keith came over and showed me the app in action. I am extremely impressed and can’t wait to take a tour of the application myself.
Below you’ll find some of the exciting highlights from the Maps app, including screenshots showing the 3D satellite view and how your practice (with reviews) will display.
Apple Tells Google Maps to Take a Hike
For a few years now, Apple has been preparing to part ways with Google Maps by bringing the maps app in-house, or at the very least building a solution that is aligned with their philosophy (an expected move for all that ascribe to Apple’s brand of tools). As part of this venture, Apple has been acquiring mapping companies, most notably C3, which will power the immersive 3D mapping option.
The biggest change in the new application is something most users likely won’t recognize. With the update, Apple will say goodbye to Google Maps, and begin supporting iMaps with Tom Tom. To start, we hope this means better turn-by-turn navigation, as iMaps will bring Siri into the loop to audibly direct you along your path.
When searching for an exact location, the listing will appear as follows:
As you search iMaps for a business (or you simply want to check out your practice from outer space), here’s what the listing will look like. Notice that the listing pulls reviews from Yelp and provides the rating of your practice.
But what does this mean for your practice? First, online reputation management is a top priority. You must be aware of how your name and the name of your practice appears on the web. Second, on a related note, talk up your practice and encourage your happy patients to check out your listing in the new Maps app, maybe leave a review?
Cool Factor of 10
Have you ever wanted to see what the city of Beijing, China looks like? Or maybe check out Stonehenge? Been disappointed by the options available? I know I have, which is why I’m really excited about the dynamic 3D function of iMaps.
Check out this shot of New York City:
And then you can change the angle and get a better 3D perspective of the city:
While you can get real-time traffic and directions in a life-like landscape (cool on its own), you can pinch and zoom your way across the globe and take a 360 degree tour of any city, forest, or wonder of the world.
What do you think about the new iMap app?
Posted on June 13, 2012 in Social Media Marketing
How do you respond to patient questions or comments on Facebook? Do you have a system in place to ensure your fans and followers receive the information they want and know they are appreciated? Following a recent article on Mashable titled “7 Rules for Responding to Customers Online”, we wondered if our readers had the basic rules in place to keep their social patients happy.
To help you get the ball rolling and keep your social media community engaged, we’ve adapted the list. Check it out below, then visit our Facebook page and let us know what has been working for you, and what hasn’t.
Be Timely
They’re watching. While you’re simply responding to one patient at a time, your entire community is aware of the response, especially how long it takes to answer questions. We all want what we want when we want it. To continue to strengthen your online relationships with your patients, make sure someone is responding to any inquiry with a sense of urgency.
While you shouldn’t feel the need to respond to every comment, be timely and consistent with your responses so patients know you are engaged. Doing so will further inspire your patients to do the same.
Don’t Auto Respond
You’ve seen the stream of comments and posts. Your patients can easily identify automatic, robotic responses. Encourage your social media champion to offer genuine, thoughtful responses, and again, your patients will follow suit.
Let the Experts Handle It
Who in your practice knows your patients best? Who do the patients look forward to seeing and interacting with? Chances are, patients will respond in similar fashion to this personality online. Of course this person will need to have some extra time to tend to the online community, but as long as they are social media savvy and let their personality come through, you can expect patients’ virtual relationship with your practice to grow stronger.
Don’t Forget About HIPAA
This one should not come as a surprise, never share personal information online. Always be aware of the platform and keep it simple. If your patient wants to address some concern or question further, encourage them to schedule an appointment or contact you over the phone.
In the case of negative comments or reviews, don’t be afraid to engage with the patient. Remain calm and rational, and again, be genuine and answer the patient’s questions as best as you can. If the issue remains, encourage them to contact you to resolve the issue.
Keep it Short
The attention span is virtually non… Wait, what was I just talking about?
If you want to connect with your patients on the various social media channels, keep it short, keep it simple. Give them just enough to keep them interested and make sure they want to return to your profile.
Mind Your Manners
Please and thank you go a long way in the social world. If you want your community to read a post or fill out a survey, ask politely and don’t forget to thank them. If a patient offers a poignant link or regularly contributes comments, thank them for it.
If It’s Broke, Fix It
If you see the same issue continue to surface, make a concerted effort to answer or fix the problem. This doesn’t mean you need to have an instant solution, just that you need to let your community know that you are aware of the issue and are working to correct it.
Remember, they’re all watching. Fixing an issue for one patient shows the rest of your community you are attentive and care about their satisfaction and support.
Posted on May 30, 2012 in Social Media Marketing
How to Use Pinterest Today
Interested in getting started with Pinterest today? We’ve created a quick list to help you get your practice going on the 3rd most popular social media platform. Read more about what it is and how to determine if Pinterest is for you.
Create Patient Profile and List of Keywords
As I mentioned in the previous post above, Pinterest is currently attracting a female-centric audience. As you consider jumping into the social network, think about those patients that fall into that category and create a patient profile: what procedures do they typically want, what are some common concerns these patients express, what are questions they ask during the consultation process?
Once you have the answers here, think about how those relate to the procedures you want to promote and develop a list of keywords to help drive traffic back to your site.
Identify Procedures with Strong Visual Imagery
Once you have that list, think about how each one can be visually displayed. The Pinterest platform is more visual than the other social networks, so accounting for this will help grow your audience here.
Develop List of Boards Based on Practice and Patient Interest
Take a second look at the keywords and think about how to best organize the accompanying images into categories. Should you do it by procedure? Area of the body? Surgical and nonsurgical? That’s up to how you believe your patients will want to digest the information. Typically, a straightforward and easily understandable arrangement is best so visitors don’t have to first decode your methods.
Announce Your Practice’s Arrival
Be sure to promote your new social network on existing social networks. Just as Pinterest won’t work for every practice, or even the majority, it won’t work for all patients either. But spreading the word will let them make the decision.
Start Pinning to your Boards
Interaction is essential here just as it is on your other networks. Again, think of the patient profiles you’ve created and pin accordingly. If some patients are always interested in skin care products, pin some of your favorite products. Know of a celebrity that has a smile you happen to like, or a pair of lips your patients often ask about? Pin some images and offer your thoughts with creative descriptions and calls-to-action.
Note: If you do pin images from other sites, be sure to track down the original source online to ensure you are giving credit to the correct source.
Is Pinterest Worth the Effort?
The only way to tell is to get started and see what sort of impact the social network has on the amount of traffic coming into your site. Again, this is not a network for the faint-of-heart. Pinterest requires a great deal of forethought, quality optimized content, and time in general.
Unless you are actively looking to branch out from Facebook or Twitter because you believe your audience wants something a little different, a little more visual, you may want to continue with the current set up and remain focused on building your practice’s community on your established networks.
