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How To Go Viral With Medical Focused Content on Social Media How To Go Viral With Medical Focused Content on Social Media

How To Go Viral With Medical Focused Content on Social Media

Hannah Sether - Head of Web & Online Marketing
February 27, 2023
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Ghost Medical Animation + VR Surgery Studio gained over 1 Million Organic Followers over the course of a few months using medical content.
Our Studio, Ghost Medical Animation + VR Surgery gained over 1 Million Organic Followers over the course of a few months using medical content. In this article we are going to share how we made that possible with some social media tips.

How to Go Viral with a Medical Account: A Social Media Guide

Whether you are a medical device manufacturer looking for brand awareness of your flagship product; or an aspiring MedInfluencer ( an influencer in the healthcare industry ) wanting to create content to educate the masses. Grasping the idea of reaching a high volume of engagement with medical focused content may seem out of reach. However, as a medical animation studio who has gained over 1 Million followers and 100 million views throughout the course of a couple months, this article will give you all the tips and pointers you’ll need to go viral with medical focused content on social media.

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The Unexpected High Engagement of the Online Medical Community

The internet has become an increasingly important source of medical information for people around the world. Undoubtedly, Social media platforms have played a significant role in making medical-related content more accessible to the masses. As a result, potential patients have turned to TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube to stay informed about health topics and to research medical conditions and treatments.

According to a survey by GlobalWebIndex, “48% of TikTok users reported watching health-related content on the platform”. Additionally, TikTok has seen an increase in the number of healthcare professionals creating educational content for the platform. Resulting with the hashtag #MedTwitter gaining popularity. Due to over 1 billion monthly active users; Instagram has become a popular platform for medical professionals and organizations to share health-related content.

Overall, the popularity of medical-related content on social media platforms shows that there is a significant audience interested in health-related information online. This trend is likely to continue, and provide a great bridge for healthcare professionals and organizations to engage with patients and share educational content.

The types of audience types to expect on the Online Medical Community
Healthcare workers watching their favorite MedInfluencers on Instagram

The Audience Types in the Online Medical Community

Before creating content, it is important to realize the target audience you are creating content for.  Here are the different types of audiences that commonly watch medical-related content on social media:

Healthcare Patients

People who have been diagnosed with a medical condition or are experiencing certain symptoms may turn to social media to find information and advice from others who have been through similar experiences.

Healthcare Workers

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals may watch medical-related social media content to stay up-to-date on the latest research and treatments, or to find inspiration and support from others in their field.

Medical students

Aspiring doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals may use social media. They may use it as a tool to supplement their education and gain insights into different medical specialties.

Caregivers

Family members and friends of people with medical conditions may watch medical-related social media content. They may use it to learn how to better support their loved ones.

Researchers and Academics

Scientists and academics may watch medical-related social media content. They may use it to stay informed about the latest research and to find potential collaborators.

Curious individuals

Anyone who is curious about medical topics, whether they have a personal connection or not, may watch medical-related social media content to learn more about different conditions and treatments.

Types of Content Creators in the online medical community consist of medical professionals, Medical researchers, Patient Advocates, MedInfluencers and Medical Animation Studios. A healthcare worker shares a Tiktok of their favorite medinfluencer.
Types of Content Creators in the online medical community consist of medical professionals, Medical researchers, Patient Advocates, MedInfluencers and Medical Animation Studios.

Types of Content Creators in the Online Medical Community

Now it is important to reflect on what type of content creator you want to be. This can primarily depend on your life experiences and education in the online medical community. There are various types of content creators who specialize in creating and sharing information related to healthcare and medicine. Here are some of the most common types of content creators.

Medical Professionals

These are licensed medical practitioners who use their expertise and knowledge to create content related to medical topics. They may write blog posts, record podcasts, or create videos to share their insights on a particular topics.

TheRealTikTokDoc Richard J. Brown, MD

doctormyro Dr. Myro Figura, MD

doctoryoun  Anthony Youn MD

Richard J. Brown, MD as @therealtiktokdoc a medical professional influencer.
Richard J. Brown, MD as @therealtiktokdoc ; a major medical professional influencer in the online medical community.

Medical Researchers

These are scientists and researchers who conduct research studies and publish their findings in medical journals. They may also create content such as articles, videos, or infographics to share their research with a broader audience.

Patient Advocates

These are individuals who have experienced a particular medical condition themselves or have a loved one who has. They create content to share their personal experiences, offer advice, and advocate for others who may be going through similar experiences.

MedInfluencers

These are social media personalities who have a large following in the medical community. They use their influence to promote medical products or services, share health and wellness tips, or advocate for certain medical causes.

nurse.johnn John BSN,RN

Dr. Najeeb Lectures Dr. Najeeb

therealdrmiami Michael Salzhauer Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

John BSN,RN as @nurse.johnn, a popular MedInfluencer who uses humor to bring awareness to issues in the healthcare industry.
John BSN,RN as @nurse.johnn, a popular MedInfluencer who uses humor to bring awareness to issues in the healthcare industry.

Medical Animation Studios

These are companies that specialize in creating animated videos that explain complex medical concepts or procedures. They may work with medical professionals or researchers to create educational videos for patients, medical students, or healthcare professionals.

GhostMedical Ghost Medical Animation + VR Surgery

nucleusMedicalMedia Nucleus Medical Media

HybridMedical Hybrid Medical Animation

Ghost Medical Animation + VR Surgery, a studio that has been open since 1994 has also gained recent popularity within the online medical community.
Ghost Medical Animation + VR Surgery, a studio that has been open since 1994 has also gained recent popularity within the online medical community.

Overall, the online medical community benefits from a diverse range of content creators who are dedicated to sharing accurate and helpful information related to healthcare and medicine.

Elements that Help Medical Content Go Viral

Medical content that goes viral on social media often contains several key elements that capture people’s attention and interest. These elements include:

Shock Value

Content that is shocking or surprising tends to get shared more often. Medical content that involves shocking or rare medical conditions, medical emergencies, or innovative medical treatments can draw people’s attention.

Informational

Content that is educational and informative tends to be shared more often, especially when it’s presented in an engaging and conversational way. This could include interviews with medical professionals, patient testimonials, or explanations of medical procedures.

Humor

Humor is a powerful tool to engage and entertain people, and it can make medical content more relatable and shareable. Medical content that includes humor or satire can help to desensitize certain health conditions and create a more positive dialogue.

Quick and Digestible

Social media content that is easy to consume and understand tends to be shared more often. Medical content that is presented in short, bite-sized pieces like infographics, videos, or memes can be more effective in capturing people’s attention and getting shared.

Inclusion of Popular Tags

Social media platforms use tags to categorize content, and using the right tags can help medical content reach a larger audience. Using relevant hashtags can make it easier for people to discover your content and share it with others. Here is a short list to get you started.

Popular Healthcare Tags

#healthcare #health #medicine #medical #doctor #hospital #wellness #nurse #healthylifestyle #healthy #doctors #fitness #nursing #healthyliving #surgery #education

Medical Animation

Animated medical content is a great way to make complex medical topics more accessible and engaging. Medical animations can help people understand medical procedures, anatomy, and health conditions in a more interactive and immersive way.

Collabs & Duets

Collaborating with other medical professionals or patients can help to amplify your content and reach a wider audience. Social media platforms like TikTok also offer duet features that allow users to create content together, which can help to increase engagement and views.

Overall, medical content that is attention-grabbing, educational, entertaining, and easy to digest has a better chance of going viral on social media. Using relevant tags and collaborating with others can also help to increase the reach and impact of your content.

Becoming a Medical Content Creator can result in positive change. Such as having the ability to raise awareness on specific issues in the healthcare industry.
Becoming a Medical Content Creator can result in positive change. Such as having the ability to raise awareness on specific issues in the healthcare industry.

The Importance Social Marketing has on the Healthcare Industry

Choosing to become a content creator in the virtual Medical Community can result in positive changes of specific issues in the healthcare industry. Social marketing can be an effective tool to raise awareness and promote behavior change, including encouraging patients to ask their doctors about specific treatments.

Several studies have shown that social marketing can be effective in increasing patient engagement in their own health care, including asking their doctors about treatments. Here are a few examples of the effectiveness of social marketing campaigns in promoting patient engagement in health care:

Social Marketing Campaign on End-of-Life Care

A social marketing campaign aimed at promoting discussions between patients and their doctors about end-of-life care was found to be effective in increasing patient engagement in such discussions. The campaign, which used a variety of media and communication channels, led to a 19% increase in patients discussing end-of-life care with their doctors (as reported by the patients themselves).

Social Marketing Campaign on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

A social marketing campaign aimed at promoting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among young women was found to be effective in increasing intentions to discuss the vaccine with doctors. The campaign, which used a variety of media and communication channels, led to a 13% increase in intentions to discuss the vaccine with doctors (as reported by the women themselves).

Social Marketing Campaign on Hypertension

A social marketing campaign aimed at promoting medication adherence among patients with hypertension was found to be effective in increasing medication adherence. The campaign, which used text messages to remind patients to take their medications, led to a 9.5% increase in medication adherence over a six-month period.

Overall, social marketing campaigns can be part of a comprehensive strategy for promoting behavior change, and should be supported by other interventions, such as patient education and provider training, to maximize their effectiveness.

Having mass awareness in the public eye can help doctors learn more about new medical devices, help patients retrieve access to them and help medical device manufacturers sell more of their product.
Having mass awareness in the public eye can help doctors learn more about new medical devices, help patients retrieve access to them and help medical device manufacturers sell more of their product. Everyone wins!

The Success Social Marketing has on the Medical Device Industry

There are several metrics that have been used in the medical device industry to measure the success of social marketing campaigns. Furthermore here are a few examples:

Website Traffic

A medical device company that launched a social marketing campaign to promote its products reported a 300% increase in website traffic during the campaign period.

Social Media Engagement

A study of medical device companies found that those with an active social media presence had 2.5 times higher engagement rates than those without a social media presence.

Patient Inquiries

A medical device company that launched a social marketing campaign to promote a spinal implant formerly reported a 20% increase in patient inquiries during the campaign period.

Conversion Rates

A medical device company that used social media to promote a new surgical device reported a 10% increase in conversion rates, which translated to $500,000 in additional revenue.

Return on Investment (ROI)

A medical device company that launched a social marketing campaign to promote a new orthopedic implant reported an ROI of 4:1, meaning that for every dollar spent on the campaign, the company earned four dollars in revenue.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that the specific metrics and results will vary depending on the industry, target audience, and specific goals of the campaign. However, these examples can provide a general sense of the types of metrics that can be tracked and the potential impact of social marketing campaigns in the medical device industry.

Summary

The online medical community is growing, with people increasingly using social media to access information on health-related topics. Therefore, in this article, we identified different types of audiences that commonly watch medical-related content and highlighted various types of content creators in the medical community. We also gave key elements that help medical content go viral while suggesting the impact that medical animation can have in explaining complex medical concepts or procedures. The article is aimed at medical device manufacturers, aspiring MedInfluencers, and anyone interested in creating medical-focused content for social media.

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Ghost Medical is an award-winning leader in medical visualization, specializing in custom medical animation, medical marketing services, and surgical training solutions. We provide a comprehensive range of digital services designed to elevate medical marketing, enhance patient communication, and streamline staff training. With a team of highly skilled professionals and deep expertise in biomedical processes, we ensure precise and impactful representations of your device, product, or procedure through 3D animations, medical illustration, and other dynamic media formats. Contact Ghost Medical today to discover how we can help you train surgeons, boost medical device sales, or effectively communicate your pharmaceutical innovations.

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