72% of Internet users look for health information online – is there information you could be offering them?

The short answer is yes. According to an article in Social Media Today:

• 72% of Internet users look for health information online.
• 77% of Internet users read blogs.
• 81% of U.S. consumers trust advice and information from blogs.
• Companies that blog have 97% more inbound links.

OK, you say, this makes sense for a larger B2C brand. But what does it mean to me and my hospital? Read full post...

Think about all the untold stories, all of the unshared expertise, experience, and knowledge.

Remember summer reading lists? If you were like me, you procrastinated until late August then hustled through all of the books — barely finishing before the first day of school or even later (don’t tell Mrs. Holden). But there was one summer reading book that I couldn’t put down — To Kill a Mockingbird. I assumed I’d never hear from Scout and Jem Finch again. But hold on, Maycomb. Harper Lee is publishing a “sequel” called Go Set a Watchman, which chronicles Scout’s life as as an adult.

This story of rediscovery is incredible. Here are the Cliff Notes:Read full post...

HubSpot: Companies that blog 15 or more times per month get 5X more traffic than companies that don’t blog at all.

The short answer is yes. According to a recent article in Social Media Today:

• 81% of U.S. consumers trust advice and information from blogs.
• Small businesses with blogs generate 126% more leads.
• 61% of U.S. consumers have made a purchase based on a blog post.

So how do you write a good one?Read full post...

It can sometimes be intimidating to come up with the perfect blog post. Here are 5 tips for creating a blog post that will leave ‘em wanting more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ymk61BzNA

As all hospital content creators know, there is no shortage of stories to tell.

Everyone blogs—kids, cats, Starbucks, even an accused criminal. But in the world of hospital communications, blogging is not nearly as prevalent. In fact, fewer than four percent of hospitals have them—185 to be exact, according to the Mayo Clinic’s Health Care Social Media List.

It’s a little surprising that more hospitals haven’t embraced the blog as a way to share their stories. A blog offers a controlled communications channel that engages and drives measurable web traffic. It showcases the organization’s personality and mission. I would challenge any PR or marketing pro to come up with a tactic that does all that—in 300 words or less!

Read full post...