How to Market Yourself on Social Media as a RD
One of the most intimidating parts of starting your own online private practice as a Registered Dietitian is finding your dreamy clients and growing your business. There are lots of ways to market yourself and find success, but one of the most common digital marketing techniques is establishing a social media presence.
Though it’s not for everyone (and definitely not required) it can be a great tool for RDs who think of themselves as savvy in this area! Your dreamy clients are already on these platforms looking for resources to solve their nutrition problems. So, jumping on these channels and offering your incredible wisdom, unique approach, and unmatched passion can be a great way of connecting with your audience and turning them into loyal clients.
So, today, I’m going to discuss some tips for marketing yourself on socials as an RD! Here’s what you can do to grow your business online:
How to Market Yourself on Social Media as a RD
As an RD, you’re a HIGHLY capable person who can handle any entrepreneurial challenge that comes your way. However, it’s no secret that your expertise, education, work experience, and credentials aren’t in digital marketing . . . they’re in health and nutrition! That means even if you spend time on social media, marketing probably doesn’t come naturally. I want to tell you all, that’s okay!
First of all, it can be learned. Think about what you’ve already learned and overcome! I am going to give you some tips here today, but this is also something that we would go over in my nutrition business coaching services. In both my service tiers we will master your marketing strategy and find something that uniquely works for you and your niche! If you think that hiring a dietitian business coach may be right for you, take this quiz!
How to Choose a Social Media Platform to Target Your DREAM Clients
Step 1: Identify where your target audience is hanging out.
First of all, you need to consider what social media platforms your target audience is already using. For example, if you’re targeting postmenopausal women, Facebook would be a better place to find your dreamy clients than TikTok. If you want to reach athletes, platforms like YouTube or Instagram would likely be better than Pinterest. Take some time to identify where your target audience is already looking for content.
Step 2: Consider what social media platforms you're most comfortable with.
Another thing to consider is what social platforms you feel the most confident in running yourself. Each social channel has unique features and its own culture. If you haven’t ever used the platform before, it may be difficult to figure out the best way of building a following and getting the results you’re looking for.
Step 3: Determine what kind of content you want to create.
There’s a lot you can do with your content! It all depends on your niche and your messaging. Of course, ask yourself whether you want to create photos, infographics, short-form videos, long-form videos, etc., but also consider what the content will be about. For example, if you’re a dietitian specializing in type 2 diabetes management, you may want to share early signs of the disorder, information about diabetes management, or even low carb meal plans. It’s up to you!
Step 4: Take note of how much time you’re going to have day-to-day.
Some platforms take more time than others. For example, making short-form or long-form videos for TikTok or YouTube will probably take longer than an Instagram photo or a Pinterest pin. Plus, some platforms may require you to post more often to gain traction. So, consider how much time you have to dedicate to social media each day.
Step 5: Figure out where your competition is thriving.
If you want to figure out where you’ll be most effective, see where other people in your industry are finding success! It may seem like a bad thing if there’s a lot of competition on one platform, but that’s not always the case. A lot of potential clients already seeking content like yours in a place where the niche is already well-respected can be great for capturing your target audience!
How To Use Social Media For Marketing As A RD
Step 1: Don’t overthink it in the beginning.
Social media is not essential for the success of an online business. It’s just not! So, don’t stress too much in the beginning and think your online private practice can’t be successful without a sure-fire digital marketing strategy. Social media is a great asset, but it’s not the only way to find your dreamy clients!
Step 2: Start with only one platform.
Managing too many social media accounts at once can be overwhelming. Plus, if you’re trying to make multiple platforms work at once, you’re probably not doing any of them justice. If you focus your energy on one, you can master it and get in a good routine before adding something else to your plate.
Step 3: Keep your branding consistent.
Developing a personal brand is important when you’re trying to market yourself. However, when I say that I don’t mean having the right logo, font, and colors. What I am talking about is how you present yourself. What’s the tone of your message? How do you communicate with your clients? And how does your business name or description accurately represent what you do?
Nail down all the essentials of your nutrition business’s values before you jump into the color schemes. Then, yes, think about how you can make your brand visually consistent for social media posts. This will help with recognition of your brand on social media and makes you look even more qualified and professional!
Step 4: Market yourself using heartfelt messaging.
Social media marketers will have a lot to say about how you should present yourself online to generate leads that convert. However, the nutrition industry is different—I don’t have to tell you that! When you’re dealing with something as personal as someone’s eating habits and their nutrition goals, it’s not time for bro marketing and pushy paid ads. You need to promote yourself on social media with messaging that’s GENUINE, AUTHENTIC, and HEARTFELT. Your honest passion is the best marketing technique!
Step 5: Highlight your client’s paint points, wins, struggles, and questions.
When you’re communicating with your target audience, talk about the things that are important to them. Discuss and offer solutions to their pain points and struggles. Answer their question. And, of course, celebrate every win!
Step 6: Use popular trends to communicate your message.
Don’t compromise your messaging for trends, but if you can use a trend and twist it to fit your niche, you have the makings of a highly successful post! These trends can help your content be seen by a much wider audience, which is why they can be helpful to utilize when they fit your message.
Step 7: Focus on creating value for your audience.
Beyond the aesthetic photos and flashy ads, you need to be providing value to market yourself on social media successfully. Your dreamy clients will find their way to your profile due to a search or suggested content post, but they’ll stay because the content you offer is valuable. It should be highly empathetic and informative and help you potential clients with their nutrition before they even hire you as an RD! It’s the best way to demonstrate your education, qualifications, and credentials.
Step 8: Include clear calls-to-action.
Don’t forget to add clear calls-to-action in each post. Don’t be too pushy about it, but remind your target audience that the value you demonstrate goes far beyond the social media posts and videos. You want them to book your services! So, offer them free consults or additional free resources to get them committing to working with you long term.
Step 9: Schedule posts in advance and post regularly.
Though every social platform demands a different amount of daily or weekly content, one thing is the same for all of them—consistency is key. You’ll need to commit to a regular posting schedule and get everything read well in advance to keep that content stream going.
Step 10: Engage with your audience as often as possible.
Our role as an RD is highly personal! So, it’s important that you engage with your dreamy clients from the beginning to establish trust and build a relationship. If they’re commenting on posts or directly messaging you, make sure you’re giving genuine responses and offering your attention. They want to know you care before they hire you!
Step 11: Offer lead magnets to gather potential client info.
It may take quite a few interactions with someone to finally convince them to book your services. So, it’s a good idea to get their contact info early on, so you can continue to offer them content in multiple ways—and so you can personally stay in touch! A great way to tactfully get phone numbers, emails, and other information is via a lead magnet. Basically, offer something valuable to the potential client for free in exchange for their email. This could be anything from a printable meal plan to a free session.
Step 12: Track your progress using analytics.
To see if your content strategy is working, ensure you’re keeping an eye on your social media analytics. These valuable insights will tell you exactly what’s beneficial and what’s not. That way, you can continue to refine until you find the right solution.
Step 13: Consider SEO blogging in addition to social media outreach.
Research shows that search engine optimization on your website can draw in more organic traffic over a longer period of time with less effort. Blogging on your website is one of the best ways of doing that. Research SEO and consider if the lower demands of running a blog would be better suited for your nutrition business.
How to Market on Each Platform as an RD
How To Market Yourself On TikTok
Share quick, informative content
Add captions and text overlays
Use trending hashtags
Use trending audio
Post 1-4 times a day
Host live streams occasionally
Be as authentic as possible
How To Market Yourself On Instagram
Share aesthetic photos and videos as well as infographics
Keep your branding consistent
Use relevant hashtags
Add stories and highlights too
Make educational reels and IGTV
Create interactive content using polls and quizzes
Engage with followers in DMs and comments
Host live streams occasional
Try to post once a day
Be authentic and showcase your credentials often
How To Market Yourself On Facebook
Create a professional page
Utilize a Facebook group to engage with audience
Host live streams occasionally
Post lots of interactive posts
Promote events and specials
Offer free resources
Use plenty of eye-catching photos and images
Try to post at least once a day
How To Market Yourself On Pinterest
Create high-quality pins
Use text overlays
Keep your branding consistent
Provide lots of free resources
Use keywords in pin descriptions
Utilize group boards
Link and verify your website
Try to post 5 times per day
How To Market Yourself On YouTube
Create valuable, long-form content
Create branded and engaging thumbnails
Use keywords in titles and descriptions
Add closed captions
Respond to comments
Promote videos on other social platforms
Create playlist
Host live streams occasionally
Invest in good editing
Stick to a consistent posting schedule
How to Market Yourself on Your Website
Learn about SEO and use the strategies
Keep consistent branding
Post high-quality blog content to capture organic traffic
Promote website content on other social platforms
Guest post on other successful RD blogs
Add photos and other visuals to content
Offer lead magnets and communicate clear CTAs
Respond to comments and engage with followers
Use landing pages and services pages
Offer free resources
Try to upload blog posts once a week
Tips on How to Use Canva For Social Media
Make sure you have Canva Premium.
Canva Premium isn’t a big investment, but it offers the full suite of features that you’ll want for the easiest design curation process possible! I recommend getting it to avoid the hassle of paying for premium assets or dealing with locked features.
Upload and apply your brand kit.
Canva allows you to upload your own logos, colors, fonts, photos, and graphics into a pre-set “brand kit.” This brand kit can then be used to quickly redesign every post to fit your nutrition business’s visuals! This is great for keeping your content cohesive, engaging, and dynamic for your dreamy clients!
Use the pre-set social media canvas sizes.
As you probably know, every social media platform has their own unique dimensions. Instagram has the infamous square. Pinterest has specified dimensions for their pins. YouTube thumbnails are a specific size. The point is, this can be hard to keep track of. However, Canva has pre-made canvas sizes for all graphics and photos that fit each platform and type of content. Simply hit: “Instagram Story” or “Facebook Banner” to create the perfect size graphic!
Take advantage of pre-made Canva templates.
Not only does Canva have pre-made canvas sizes, they also have curated templates! You can just select one that fits your business’s style and then use your brand kit and personal photos to make it yours. It’ll look highly professional, but with very little effort. It’s a great time-saving technique!
Download your images as a high-quality jpg.
Once you’re ready to post, download the image as a high-quality jpg. You can also share it directly to your social platforms if you’d rather skip a step!
Social media can be a great place to find your dreamy clients!
As I said, don’t stress about having the perfect social media marketing techniques. There’s no reason to spend all your time stressing about posting and making yourself uncomfortable filming videos and photos you don’t want to share. Do something that feels truly authentic to you—that’s what’s going to resonate the best with your dreamy clients anyway! Plus, often a marketing mix works better for RDs and entrepreneurs in general.
If you want more ways to grow your nutrition business beyond social media, apply to work with me. We can refine your marketing strategy and everything else about your nutrition business plan to get you to your biggest goals. It’s time to turn those private practice dreams into a reality!