The medical world is constantly in flux. From innovative medical procedures to new medications to changes in seasons, there are countless opportunities to educate your patients. Creating a health awareness video that covers health issues can:
- Educate patients on pertinent topics.
- Encourage viewers to take action, if necessary.
- Correct misinformation.
In addition to providing valuable information, video can also be a powerful marketing tool. Eighty-five percent of marketers were successful with Facebook® video, while 80% of marketers found success with YouTube®. If you want to create health awareness videos for your patients, we’ve got useful tips and healthcare giveaway ideas to help you get started.
Choose a topic
Before you start shooting, determine which topics are most relevant to your patients. Ask staff members about the questions and concerns patients share most often—then put together a list of 5-10 ideas. Or go straight to the source. Ask patients to fill out a short, anonymous survey on health topics they would like to know more about. Thank them with a useful item, like a pocket first-aid kit or reusable straw. Or hand out a stylus pen they can use to fill out the survey.
Select a platform
Once topics are selected, determine where you want people to find your videos. Will you be featuring them on your website? Or do you want to share them on social media to reach more people? Determining your platform will help you make decisions about everything from shooting format to presentation style to video length.
Start shooting
Now that you know what you want to talk about and where you want people to find your content, it’s time to start shooting. Keep these tips in mind:
Script, then shoot
Knowing exactly what you want to say will ensure your videos get to the point and create maximum impact. A video that runs 60-90 seconds is best for providing digestible snippets of content.
Choose a good location
A quiet office, lounge or outdoor location can minimize distractions and speed up shooting.
Use a microphone
The one on your phone or camera will likely be too far from the subject, making sound quality subpar—clear information needs clear audio.
Don’t forget lighting
Make sure the people you’re recording are easy to see—natural lighting is best.
Shoot in small segments
Shooting a line or two at a time makes recording and editing easier and simplifies the process in case you want to add graphics or other visual inserts later.
Start sharing
Once your video is live, spread the word. Send out a bookmark with the URL of your new video content and ask patients to “bookmark” it for future videos. You can also ask followers to share your videos. Offer a themed healthcare giveaway—for example, if you’ve posted a video on sun safety, send a bottle of sunscreen to anyone who shares it.
Putting video into practice
Health awareness videos turn tricky topics into educational opportunities. Every time you share a useful video, you’ll not only help keep viewers healthier, you’ll help your organization find more potential patients too.