Now that your social media account is set up, it is time to put it to good use! This course walks through a few tips and tricks to help you optimize your social media content and audience engagement to grow your private practice.

Start by setting your schedule

You are busy, so setting a realistic content schedule and finding a sustainable way to fit social media into your life is critical! For example, we have seen many providers have a lot of success with just one post per week. Consistency is key for social media algorithms, so set a schedule you can stick to long-term. And don’t worry about minor inconsistencies - focus on maintaining your routine, adjust as needed, and the results will follow!

Brainstorm potential content

After establishing your content schedule, start thinking about the types of content you want to create. Education, testimonials, personal insights, cooking hacks - there are so many content categories that are proven to resonate with potential patients! It is important to make sure you are posting across a few categories to drive engagement.

Need some inspiration? Check out these content ideas:

• At the grocery store? Film what you’re putting in your cart or a deep dive into a specific item.
• Eating breakfast? Snap a picture of your meal!
• In line at a coffee shop? Share what a healthy coffee drink order could look like!
• Waiting in line at carpool? Film a 30 second video sharing why you became an RD.
• Dining out at a restaurant? Snap a picture of the menu and share what you would order for a balanced meal out!

<aside> 💡

Attention spans are shorter than ever, so engaging the viewer at the start of your video is important. Tapping on a mug or touching your jewelry are two easy visual stimulants that naturally draw the viewer in - proven tactics to increase views and boost engagement!

</aside>

Edit and post engaging content

Editing and posting content can feel daunting, but keep in mind that the more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become. While it can be tempting to only post perfectly edited photos and super curated videos, try to get comfortable posting authentic moments from your life, which is what viewers relate to the most. Remember, “perfection is the enemy of progress”!

Use drafts

Save your content as drafts on Instagram and TikTok to have posts ready whenever you need them. Drafts are stored indefinitely, so you can prepare content in advance!

Leverage trending audio

Incorporate trending audio for reels and videos to boost your reach. You can add audio to your videos, even turning it down if you're speaking. Look for audio with under 10k-15k listens to catch it early on in its growth.

Write authentic captions

Craft your captions in your natural tone to keep them relatable and engaging. Stick to a style that feels natural to you. For example, do you love emojis? Use them in your captions! Also, make sure to break up large blocks of text and proofread!