An Interview with Fouad: Using Twitter for an Optometry Office
Interviewer’s Note: I always enjoy focusing on businesses who don’t typically come to mind when you think of social media or Twitter. Today’s interview is with Fouad Melamed, who runs Melamed Eye Care, an optometry office, and talks about the difference between Twitter and Facebook when using it for professional purposes.
Hello Fouad, welcome to the Pluggio Blog! How do you describe your business?
I have a primary eye care practice dealing with whole host of eye conditions from visual correction to eye disease management.
How did you get started?
I purchased a small practice in West Hollywood back in 2008 after graduation and slowly grew the practice into more areas of optometry.
What role does Twitter play in your business?
I use Twitter to interact with local business owners and professionals as well as potential clients.
What impact or change have you seen due to Twitter/social marketing?
I think it is a bigger part of marketing, and more businesses and professionals will find themselves involved with some way or another.
3,500 people following you- wow! How did you build your following?
Simply by interacting with local Twitter and Facebook fans.
What kinds of people/businesses are they?
They are mostly local professionals and potential clients.
You mentioned that you’re also on Facebook- what is your approach to using that site for business?
Facebook has been more difficult becuase collecting fans has been more difficult for a local business.
What strategies did you use for social marketing (either online or offline)? What worked for you?
My biggest strategy is to use my large Twitter follower list and to help other local businesses market their material. This way I realized many are kind to repricocate and we can all help use Twitter to market each other.
What does Twitter do for you that nothing else can do?
Twitter allows you to communicate with potential clients whereas Facebook allows you to communicate with current clients. In this way, Twitter has a much larger potential of making network connections and getting your message out to potential clients.
Follow Fouad on Twitter here.
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