Short-form videos are gold for getting people’s attention because they can compact complex topics with subtext into a short, easily approachable format. While short video content is excellent for entertainment, this form of content can also be a useful tool for doctors and medical practices. Short videos allow healthcare providers to turn complex health topics into something interesting and engaging and can help medical practices gain more awareness of your brand. Here’s a deeper dive into why short videos are some of the best content medical practices can develop for their online presence and how they can help doctors better connect with their patients.
Why Short-Form Videos Are Trending and Valuable
Short-form videos, like the ones found on Instagram reels and TikTok, have drastically changed how people view and perceive video content. Many social media platforms have started working to integrate short-form, bite-sized content because of its limitless potential for digital expansion and clout. But short-form videos can also be a powerful tool for medical practices. They can educate patients and employees and even start conversations with high-ranking providers about health topics that are pervasive in today’s world. And even if users only spend a few moments with the content, its engagement is what makes it so valuable, and it provides many benefits, including:
Short Videos Provide More Variety
This type of content gives you the opportunity to cover all sorts of topics—from quick health tips to behind-the-scenes care at your office. Short-form videos can help patients connect with the content through more visual elements. These videos can encompass any topic and translate it into something fun and engaging.
Show Your Expertise on Display
When you work to share your knowledge in a video, you can put your expertise on display for everyone to see. These videos can be an excellent way to build trust with your current patients and potential new ones and can work to strengthen the relationship between you and your target audience.
Farther Reach Online
Another benefit of short-form videos is how far their outreach is on the internet. More people can see videos that get lots of likes and shares than just regular text posts, and this allows people from outside your digital frame of reference to learn more about your office and what services you provide.
Showcase Your Practice’s Values
Videos are a chance to show the faces and hear the voices of the people at your medical practice. This personal touch can make healthcare feel less intimidating and more welcoming, which is important for patients who might be nervous or unsure.
Help Build a Community
When people start commenting on and sharing your videos, you can build a community of patients online and help create a place where everyone can share, learn, and support each other. This community can be sustained and help provide continuous support to your practice.
Understand Your Platforms: What Does Each Offer?
For practices looking to integrate more short-form video content into your content strategy, it’s best to learn what each social media platform can provide and what types of content are best used for those platforms. Some platforms can be used for conversational pieces, while others for more creative endeavors. Everything about the design and execution of your short-form videos can be influenced by these platforms, so knowing what to create for your social media channels matters.
- Facebook: Facebook is meant to be a conversational platform where people and businesses can connect easily and engage in long-form comments. Videos on Facebook usually consist of helpful tips, newsreels, and story videos, so when trying to develop content for your social media profiles, try and develop content that can spark conversations on your profile or group page.
- X (Twitter): Twitter’s video reels tend to focus more on eye-catching content, as it’s small character limit and constant influx of tweets, Twitter can be used for eye-catching videos for patients. However, if you’re using your account to connect on a B2B level or engage with academic study, educational, high-end videos should also be considered.
- Instagram: Instagram was considered the original place for short form videos before the onset of TikTok came into play, and story reels are some of the most popular content formats found on this platform. Instagram’s platform is designed for aesthetic value and story-sharing, so it’s an excellent option for physicians working with aesthetic-related medical topics such as med spas, plastic surgery, and other subspecialties.
- TikTok: TikTok has become the primary platform for short-term videos due to its algorithm and intensive outreach to people globally. It’s a creative platform where anyone from anywhere can film and create content, and for businesses looking to expand their brand, it’s a platform designed to help you develop your brand voice and style of content. It can be used for engaging conversation, informative health topics, or personal story-sharing, making it a great resource for any practice.
- YouTube: While YouTube focuses on long-form videos as its main advertising platform, It has recently developed YouTube Shorts, which can be used to share quick and to-the-point educational content.
Content Ideas For Social Media Videos
Once you’ve decided on the platforms you wish to use, developing the content you want to produce is the next step for improving your content strategy with short-term videos. For medical practices looking to begin integrating short-term videos into their social media, here are some content ideas that can help you get started:
Inspiring Health Journeys
Many people love success stories, especially when overcoming health challenges. Sharing short videos of patient success stories (with their permission) can be incredibly inspiring to others facing similar challenges. These stories not only showcase the positive outcomes of patients under your treatment but also help humanize your practice by highlighting the real-life impact of your work.
Quick Health Tips
Quick health tips can be a valuable resource for people, especially those looking to keep themselves healthy or have strict diet restrictions. Short videos offer simple, actionable health advice that can greatly impact your patients’ lives, such as ways to improve sleep, stress management techniques, or easy exercises for staying active. It’s They’rebite-sized, easy to consume, and easy to share.
Myth Busting
Because the internet is what it is, misinformation is vast. Short-form videos can help myth-bust and spread the correct information to people, which is especially vital for conversations regarding health, diseases, and treatments. For your practice, select myths related to your specialty and debunk them. Use them to educate your audience and position your practice as a trustworthy source for accurate health information.
Ask the Doctor
Inviting questions from your audience and answering them in short videos can be an excellent way to engage with your patients. This quick Q&A format allows you to address common concerns about your expertise, share treatment advice, and help demystify complex medical topics. These videos also help place you as the face of your practice and show your patients that you listen and care about their experiences.
Health Awareness Days
Health awareness days and months can be an excellent way to raise awareness about the health topics you care about and help show your practice’s commitment to improving public health. These topics occur year-round, are almost always relevant, and can be used to create engaging, informative, and shareable short-form videos.
What Are The Best Practices For Creating Short-Form Videos?
Creating short videos can be both exciting and overwhelming; for some, it is a massive investment of time and money. With so many people scrolling through their feeds daily, catching their attention is key to ensuring that your videos won’t be scrolled past. Whether you’re aiming to share health tips, introduce your team, or make health education more engaging, some tricks of the trade can help your videos stand out. Here are some tips for creating awesome short videos that grab attention and make a lasting impression on your audience.
Grab Their Attention Fast
The first few seconds of your video are crucial. Think of it as your video’s handshake – it needs to be strong and memorable. Start with something surprising, a fun fact, or a question that makes people want to keep watching. The goal is to spark curiosity immediately so that viewers feel compelled to watch the rest of your video.
Keep It Consistent
Just like your favorite TV show keeps you coming back for more with its consistent style and characters, your videos should also have a consistent look and feel. This doesn’t mean every video has to be the same, but sticking to a certain style-the way you edit your videos, the kind of music you use, or even the color scheme- helps people recognize your content immediately. This consistency builds familiarity, which is key to developing a loyal audience.
Timing Is Everything
Jumping on trends can give your videos a huge boost. If there’s a health topic everyone’s discussing, a popular challenge, or a trending hashtag that fits your practice’s values, making a video about it can get you more views. Just ensure the trend aligns with your practice’s message and values – staying true to your brand is more important than chasing views.
Make Your Videos Accessible to All
Not everyone who sees your videos will be able to hear them. Adding captions or text overlays ensures that even those who are hard of hearing or scroll without sound can understand and appreciate your content. Plus, it’s just a nice thing to do, making your videos more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.
Unleash Your Creativity with Features and Tools
Most social media platforms offer a variety of creative features and editing tools. Don’t be shy about using them! Filters, stickers, or text animations can add an extra layer of fun or clarity to your videos. Experimenting with these features can also help you find new ways to convey health information engagingly.
Share the Right Information
In the medical field, sharing accurate and helpful information is non-negotiable. Always double-check your facts before posting a video. Sharing educational content that’s been verified not only helps your audience but also reinforces your credibility as a trusted healthcare provider. Plus, debunking common myths in a fun and engaging way can be both informative and entertaining for your viewers.
Respect Privacy Laws
When creating content, especially in healthcare, adhering to privacy laws like HIPAA is essential. Always get consent before sharing any patient stories, images, or information. Ensuring privacy and confidentiality protects your patients and builds trust by showing that you take their privacy seriously.
Your Next Steps: Partnering with Optimized360 for Success
Utilizing short form video content into your content strategy can be an excellent way to engage with your patients, and build up a professional reputation built on success. At Optimized360, they can ensure that your practice not only meets but exceeds the digital expectations of your patients by catering to your goals with your content strategy. Contact Optimized360 today to schedule a consultation with their team of web designers and SEO experts for websites and marketing solutions.
