5 Absurd Myths Keeping Doctors From Building An Audience Online

The truth is: all your years of training and clinical experience are worthless if patients can’t find you.

Sure, you can always get whatever insurance or your employer put in your schedule but then you’re entirely at their mercy. They decide how much you make, your schedule and your vacation days. Not quite the life you envisioned as a doctor, is it?

The solution is to build an audience and take matters into your own hands.

Unfortunately, doctors are hesitant to go down this path.

In this essay, I’ll share 5 absurd myths about building an audience online.

Myth #1: Nobody cares about what I have to say

Yes, patients don’t care about technicalities, jargon, big words, references and basically, boring stuff.

But they care about their condition and how you can help them live healthier. Keep an inventory of questions patients ask you. In their words. And then answer them online, just like you would answer them in your office.

Myth #2:You must to be on every platform

One platform is more than enough. And definitely all you should focus on when you start out.

Myth #3: You need to a huge following

I have just north of 5k followers on LinkedIn and a bit over 500 on Twitter yet I’m building relationships and have leveraged both of these audiences for new clients.

On the other hand, I’ve worked with doctors who have built Instagram profiles with 50k+ followers and just can’t figure out how to leverage them. The way you nurture your audience is more important than its size.

Myth #4: It takes too much time

It only takes too long if you don’t have a system.

Having a system allows you to batch the pieces of the process, delegate some (if needed) and never start from a blank page. Other than these daily essays, I create my content for the week in about one hour every Sunday.

Myth #5: Monetization means you have to “peddle products” like Dr. Oz

Relax, you do not need to sell supplements, pills, devices or join an MLM to monetize your personal brand.

You can monetize by acquiring new patients for your practice, creating digital products, a coaching program, getting a book deal or speaking engagements, etc…