By Beth Cooper
Fellow healthcare marketers, the time has come to declare LinkedIn a professional necessity. As you sip your morning coffee, remember that your LinkedIn network is not just waiting; it's thriving with opportunities.
This step-by-step guide contemplates that you’ve already built out your profile with things like a picture, bio, and skills. This is exactly how I grew my LinkedIn to over 10k followers.
Step 1: actually logging in + connecting to people
First things first, make it a habit to log into LinkedIn every morning. Open a tab for it when you’re booting up your email, calendar, and marketing automation system. Lack of consistency is probably the biggest hurdle to overcome.
When sending a connection request, mention a mutual interest, an element of their profile you admire, or recent industry news. But, keep it short and human.
For example, "Hi Jenna, I noticed we both attended the Digital Health Summit. Your insights on patient engagement technology are awesome. Let's connect!"
Step 2: content is not just king; it's the ace in your deck
Now, let's talk content. Choose the subjects you’ll be posting about. For us, it’s likely healthcare advancements, new tech in the industry, and B2B marketing nuggets.
Sharing is caring. A great way to produce quick, easy content -and- building rapport is by “re-sharing” articles from your network about trending topics in healthcare marketing with a quick note in the caption with your thoughts or insights. For example, share an article like, “Top 5 Digital Marketing Trends in Healthcare for 2024,” and add your own take on it.
Set a reminder on your calendar to post at least once a week. Don’t fall into the trap of overthinking. Here’s another reminder: perfect is the enemy of good.
Step 3: joining + thriving in LinkedIn groups
There are some fantastic LinkedIn groups where healthcare marketers gather. Groups like “Healthcare Sales and Marketing” or “Healthcare marketing, communications and education professionals” are goldmines for insights and networking. Just search “healthcare marketing groups” and click “join.”
Step 4: the art of the follow-up
After connecting, send a follow-up message. Maybe something like, “Thanks for connecting, Keisha! I saw your post on innovative patient engagement strategies and found it very insightful. Would love to hear more about your work in this area.”
Why LinkedIn matters in healthcare marketing
In healthcare marketing, it's all about trust and credibility. Building a strong network on the current most popular professional social media site helps build thought leadership and important connections in our space.
Your LinkedIn network is a living, breathing ecosystem. Nurture it with thoughtful engagement, consistent presence, and genuine curiosity. Remember, every connection is a potential collaborator, client, or friend in the healthcare marketing world.
Here’s a weekly checklist you can use to grow on LinkedIn:
Monday: connect + grow
Tuesday: share + engage
Wednesday: publish your thoughts
Thursday: join group discussions
Friday: endorse + appreciate
Saturday + Sunday: rest, reflect, and plan the next work week
AI disclosure: AI was referenced for a minor portion of the content creation of this blog; the core ideas, perspectives, and the majority of the wording are authentically my own.