Michele Hart-Henry, Managing Director, CP Health
Alyssa Stevens, Director of PR, Social Media & Influencer Marketing
Maya Menon Freeman, Strategy Intern

With over one billion global monthly active users, TikTok has amassed a captive audience for everything. From face creams to MRIs, native Gen Z seeks out online information on any and all subjects, including medical advice. Fifty percent of digital natives, aged 18 to 25, turn to social media platforms for health-related purposes either all the time (22%) or often (28%), according to Insider Intelligence’s US Digital Health Survey 2022. With a wealth of information that they’re used to at their fingertips, younger consumers tend to rely on digital resources for their well-being more than their older counterparts.

With the shifting dynamics of social media gaining more influence and legitimacy as a news source comes the risk of abusing this power. Experts warn that user-generated content on social media platforms, often shared by social influencers, can easily provide disinformation, creating a confusing and misleading mix of fact and fiction. 

The most recent example of this is when Kim Kardashian received backlash for promoting an elective MRI scan that can cost up to $2.5k to her 364 million Instagram followers, claiming that the procedure “has really saved some of my friends’ lives.” The New York Times deemed the endorsement a signal of The New Status Symbol. Prenuvo, the company offering the imaging session, claims to search for early signs of cancer, aneurysms, liver diseases and even multiple sclerosis. The impulse to discover illnesses as early as possible is understandable, however, the American College of Radiology has stated that there is “no documented evidence that total body screening is effective in prolonging life,” and warns that scans could lead to “nonspecific findings” that require expensive follow-ups. 

Avoiding Pitfalls of Influence

Unfortunately, a case like Kim K’s is not out of the ordinary. When non-professionals become leading health voices without any background or training, power shifts away from highly trained individuals, leading to ripple effects throughout the industry. For influencers promoting products or services with supposed medical benefits, these spotlights are often motivated by personal gain, whether financial or to expand influence and followers, as opposed to proven science. Influencers sharing recommendations may create an oversimplification of medicine at best, and create misinformation at worst. Influencers may even cause consumers or followers to self-diagnose and seek out treatments or shortcuts that may not be in their best interest. 

As N. Adam Brown, MD, MBA explains, “we simply cannot treat healthcare innovations as trends. We must demand greater responsibility and accountability by platforms and companies using influencers to drive healthcare businesses.”

Authenticity in Healthcare 

As true as the pitfalls may be when using influencers in the healthcare space, there is expansive potential for positive, authentic content that can improve health. Raising awareness is one of the simplest and most effective benefits derived from an influencer presence, leading to earlier detection, better management, and reduced stigma associated with some conditions. 

The most successful example is the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which began as an Instagram trend and resulted in more than 17 million people participating in the Challenge and raising $115 million for The ALS Association. The culmination of that campaign was the Steve Gleason Act, which guarantees ALS patients access to much-needed speech-generating devices.

Influencers sharing their own health experiences can also lead to greater personal advocacy, where individuals feel empowered to seek out more personalized, high-quality care from their providers. In this same vein, platforms like TikTok create a lower barrier of entry for those afraid of asking personal or potentially embarrassing questions to their own medical teams. 

Accounts like @avgdiabetic and @shaneburcaw share daily experiences of their chronic conditions as well as their lives outside of their medical care. They build an authentic connection with their viewers and speak truthfully to their own individual experiences, instead of plugging a new trend or product.

 @nursehadley and @doctor.mike are excellent examples of healthcare professionals who are also influencers, using their experience to educate viewers in a way that is backed by science, years of medical school, and research. Credibility is the core of their persona, and rightfully so. They reach their followers through expertise with a personal touch. For healthcare professionals in particular, these platforms can be utilized as a social listening tool where users discuss frustrations or opportunities to respond to consumer needs. 

Prioritize Experience

Whether personal or professional, experience is the key. Speaking from a more personal place for non-HCPs enables authentic connections and greater empathy among followers. The greatest potential for positive effects comes directly from transparency and de-stigmatization of sharing one’s story. But leave the medical advice to the professionals, who are the most qualified to provide actual advice, knowledge, and best practices to counterbalance misinformation that can permeate social media. 

TikTok and other social media platforms are here to stay. Deploying the reach of influencers to help consumers make good health choices is a continuing balancing act. While the supplanting of healthcare practitioners for the likes of Kim Kardashian is concerning, there is still an opportunity for impactful, empowering content to create broad awareness and move people in healthy directions.

Learn more about Connelly Partners Health.

Jane Amendolara, Assistant PR, Social Media & Influencer Marketing Manager

As a young female professional, I have quickly learned the importance of building relationships, fostering connections, and seeking mentorship. While essential, this can also be a daunting experience.

Various studies have shown that in comparison to their male counterparts, women struggle in networking environments. It comes down to the fact that women and men simply network differently. While men tend to focus on short-term needs, women succeed by building more long-term, personal relationships and friendships. Women often form connections through people they already know and develop smaller, tighter-knit networks that are built on trust. It’s been shown that women actually wind up in a worse position when they attempt to network like men with hopes of getting ahead. Not because they aren’t qualified or lack the necessary skills, but because they are missing the crucial need for a close inner circle of women. That female connection helps to provide critical information on job opportunities and challenges, and ultimately serves a deeper purpose than just a “way in.”

In a world where making meaningful connections in professional settings can be difficult, I feel extremely grateful that Connelly Partners recognizes this and helps provide me and my female colleagues with the warmth, support, and empowerment needed to successfully network. 

Last month, Connelly Partners hosted its first Empowering Women Networking Event. We were joined by nearly 30 females from across a wide range of ages and industries, including former clients, prospective clients, friends, and job seekers. Together, we curated the welcoming environment that women need to build new relationships, both professionally and personally. 

Not only was I given the privilege of being surrounded by a room full of driven females from all different backgrounds, but this became an opportunity for us to get to know one another in a safe space for authentic connection. Whether it was talking business or simply forming friendships, the women in attendance were eager to share their experiences, advice, insights, and wisdom. It was uplifting to see genuine connections forming rather than just mere business transactions. 

Not to mention, how else would I have learned that there is in fact a correct way to wear a nametag? 

This event wasn’t just about networking. It was about creating an inclusive space for empowerment and served as a reminder that the support of like-minded individuals is invaluable. As I continue my career, I’m eager to witness the impact of Connelly Partners’ continued initiative for women and their networks…and I feel grateful to be a part of the journey.

Interested in joining us for our next women’s networking event? Sign up here!

Travel Weekly, a leading provider of news, research, opinion, and analysis to the North American travel trade marketplace, has announced the results of the 2023 Magellan Awards. This year saw a record-breaking number of entries submitted from across the globe.

The awards honor excellence in design, marketing and services across various industry segments, including Hospitality, Airlines, Airports, Travel Destinations, Cruise Lines, and more. Entries are judged against Travel Weekly’s standard of excellence.

We are thrilled to share that our client, the Williamsburg Tourism Council, has secured one Silver and two Gold Magellan Awards.

Check out the full list of winners here and the official press release here. 

Gene Begin, Managing Director, CP Education

Higher education has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, whether it’s the ongoing demographic shift, the change in student and family expectations on the value of a degree, or the shifts in modality, exacerbated by the pandemic and advancements in technology. As colleges deal with this evolving landscape, and many simultaneously strive to find stable financial footing, they often find themselves evaluating their portfolio of programs. And while higher ed loves to call them “programs” to steer away from marketing language, let’s be clear. Programs are the “product,” the forgotten element of higher education marketing’s Four P’s.

Constituents on campus and beyond typically look to the marketing team for “promotion,” but let’s remind ourselves that there are Four P’s of marketing, with “place” and “price” being additions to the aforementioned “product” and “promotion.” Marketing leadership typically has expertise in market analysis, strategic planning and communication, always thinking about the audience first. Institutions build programs with two primary audiences in mind, students and employers, so who better to help strategize on programs than a leader who puts the consumer first in everything they do?

Today, we’ll leave thoughts on “place” and “price” for another time, so let’s focus on the benefits marketing leadership can provide in program development:

Identifying Student Demand by Conducting Market Research

Understanding the demand for a particular program can significantly impact enrollment expectations. The shifts in demographics and the shifts in interests of different generations can help you identify emerging program ideas. Students and families expect programs to deliver tangible outcomes such as employability and career advancement, so understanding the needs of employers is table stakes. Additionally, evaluating industry data as well as institutional insights, such as enroll and non-admit information on your applicants’ majors that went to other institutions, could provide an understanding of new program potential.

Most marketing teams conduct primary market research at least every three to four years in addition to any ongoing brand studies. This research can be a starting point for program managers, but market research can also be conducted to determine which topics, subjects and programs are likely to attract prospective students and their families and meet the needs of today’s employers. Identifying trends and assessing demand can limit the risk of investing in programs with limited market potential.

Benchmarking Competition to Craft Compelling Messaging

In a crowded higher education marketplace that has turned into a commodity in the eyes of many consumers, it is very difficult to be distinctive. Not many colleges or universities can say they are distinct, but every college and university can differentiate from their top competitors. Marketing leaders can help assess how a program compares to its competitors and recommend potential variations or niche elements of the program vision that may generate a higher level of interest. 

Successful programs require more than talented faculty and a well-intentioned curriculum. They need a compelling value proposition that resonates with prospective audiences and current students and communicates the key features and benefits provided by the new program. In fact, identifying a message that may differentiate from competitors is critical to help stand out. The positioning of the program from the competitive benchmarking will help institutions develop that primary message.

Integrating Targeted Program Marketing Into Brand Strategy

Programs are often created without integrated marketing and brand strategy in mind and that can be a serious detriment when the program is ready for the old reliable “P,” which is “promotion.” A new program is typically provided with a “marketing” allocation as part of its draft budget to help get “butts in seats.” First of all, it is likely not enough budget to build the brand of a new program on its own. 

Secondly, there may be other budgets to leverage. Marketing leadership is often planning for the fiscal year far in advance to ensure that an integrated marketing campaign can holistically impact the institution and maximize visibility for its multiple programs. A new program can be an energizer to an integrated campaign, but its effectiveness can be exponentially more impactful if coordinated as part of a two-pronged brand marketing and enrollment strategy. The right marketing strategies reaching the right audience at the right time to inspire the right action can only be done through coordination, communication and collaboration. The analogy, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” is over-used for a reason; because it is accurate.

Change isn’t easy but product evaluation and evolution are critical to shaping the future of any institution. In fact, the evaluation of program offerings is an exercise that higher education institutions have been doing since their inception. But too often marketing leaders do not have a seat at the table early enough to help with program development. Rather than pulling our chief marketing and communications officers in to communicate and help community-manage stakeholder feedback after the announcement of the program evolution, let’s proactively plan to maximize program visibility and positively impact enrollment. I mean, those were the original objectives for the new program development anyway, weren’t they?