Blog - social media

Social media posts from healthcare workers can quickly damage patient trust and create reputational risk for hospitals and health systems. Viral incidents also shape how job seekers view an organization, affecting employer brand and recruitment. Healthcare leaders need clear policies and consistent training to help employees navigate social media responsibly. Learn how to protect your brand before a single post puts it at risk.

More patients are turning to social media for health information, and much of what they find comes from unqualified sources. Healthcare organizations can build trust by showing up consistently with credible, human guidance that helps patients make sense of what they’re seeing. The real challenge is balancing the opportunity for patient education with the risk of competing against unreliable content. See how to cut through the noise and become the source patients trust.

Patient trust now takes shape online long before a first appointment is ever booked. More than 80% of patients read reviews before scheduling, even when they already have a referral, and online sources are outpacing personal recommendations as the go-to for provider research. Healthcare organizations that actively manage their digital reputation through reviews, social presence, and transparent communication are better positioned to win and keep patient trust. Learn how to take control of your reputation before patients form their own conclusions.

Keeping up with social media trends and updates sometimes feels impossible. Algorithm changes, new features, and even entirely new platforms are popping up regularly. From the uncertain future of TikTok in the U.S. to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) reshaping the digital landscape, 2024 saw its fair share of changes to social media. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’re diving into the most significant social media shifts of 2024 and sharing our predictions for what’s on the horizon in 2025.

For the past dozen years or so, the advertising industry has been pushing the value and effectiveness of social media influencers hard. There’s been some pretty solid logic backing those recommendations up too. Influencer product pitches and endorsements, everything from unboxing to live demos, have helped businesses in many verticals see significant improvements from brand affinity to sales. But are times changing? Recent data, driven largely by Gen Z and younger millennials, shows new attitudes toward influencer authenticity, dwindling engagement rates, and increases in private micro-communities. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll look at what these changes may mean to how you balance the social media plan in your marketing mix and when it still makes sense to work with influencers.

Change is a constant in public relations and social media, but the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just another change – it’s a revolution. Generative AI goes beyond automating tasks. It has become a creative collaborator for many communication and public relations professionals, sparking fresh ideas for content creation, building media lists and helping overcome hurdles like writer’s block.

The relationship between social media and organic search engine optimization (SEO) has become increasingly intertwined. Social media platforms serve as more than just channels for connecting with friends or sharing cat videos – they have evolved into powerful tools for increasing visibility while driving referral traffic to your website. Couple this with Google serving up social media profiles in search results, and you have a match made in brand awareness heaven. In this edition of Plain Talk, we will explore how savvy use of social media can help increase your SEO rankings.

In the dynamic world of digital marketing, platforms continually evolve. With over 140 million monthly active users, Twitch has emerged as a powerhouse for brands seeking to engage with diverse audiences under the age of 45. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll explore Twitch marketing in depth and help you decide if it’s right for your brand.

You may be as surprised as I was to find out that the infomercial industry is said to have generated nearly $250 billion in sales globally in 2022. Why are brands still resorting to decades-old sales tactics when there are so many options to promote their products online and through social? And why is this throwback approach still working for some brands? In this Plain Talk, we’ll look at old-school infomercials and how you can leverage the benefits of using infomercials for your brand.

For most of us, social media is an integral part of our daily lives, and it certainly plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception of brands and businesses. While positive feedback and glowing customer reviews can boost a company’s reputation, negative reviews and customer complaints can spread like wildfire and lead to a full-blown crisis. Effective crisis management for social media reviews and customer complaints is crucial for preserving a brand’s image and ensuring its long-term success. In this edition of Plain Talk, we will examine the importance of social media crisis management for businesses on social media. We’ll discuss effective strategies to combat negative reviews, with examples on both local and national levels. We may also uncover some valuable lessons.