How to Market Your Ketamine Clinic Despite Social Media Restrictions in 2024

Synopsis: Marketing your ketamine clinic can be challenging due to strict social media regulations and evolving algorithms. This blog explores the impact of Meta's ketamine ban and offers practical strategies to overcome these obstacles. From creative wording to enhancing your SEO, discover how to effectively reach potential patients and grow your clinic.

Key takeaway: Successfully marketing a ketamine clinic requires creativity, adaptability, and a strong focus on SEO. By shifting your perspective from frustration to problem-solving, you can turn social media challenges into opportunities to connect with your audience and expand your practice.

Meta Doesn’t Like Your Ketamine Clinic: What To Do 

Marketing your ketamine clinic is an ongoing challenge. Marketing any type of clinic or business is difficult in itself, but ketamine therapy poses unique challenges due to stringent regulations. These rules are in place to prevent unscrupulous individuals from selling drugs on popular platforms, but they can sometimes feel overly restrictive—especially when it comes to Meta.

In this blog, we’ll explore the recent development as of September 2024: “ketamine” is now a shadowbanned word, and we’ll discuss what ketamine clinics can do about it.

Meta is blocking the search of “ketamine” related content at this time.

Meta Thinks You Are Selling Ketamine

Meta (formerly known as Facebook and Instagram) is once again cracking down on the word “ketamine.” If someone searches for “ketamine,” they won’t find any search results. Instead, they’ll see a message indicating that the search may be related to the sale of illicit drugs—which, as we know, is not the case. 

If “ketamine” is in your clinic’s name or social media handle, your account isn’t blocked for now, and you can still be found. However, potential new patients unfamiliar with your brand may struggle to find you, which is neither good for business nor fair.

Strategies: Marketing When There’s a Ban on “Ketamine”

Ugh! So, what can you do? Here’s what we’re doing, and it may be helpful for you as well (or feel free to share this blog with your marketing team!):

• Take a Deep Breath: Bans on the word “ketamine” happen periodically. Community guidelines evolve, and algorithms are fickle. Who knows when the tides will change? This issue may not be a problem in 3-6 months, or it could be a permanent situation. Take a deep breath; it’s not the end of the world. Focus on what you can control.

• Get Creative with Your Wording: On Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram, avoid using the word “ketamine.” Instead, use phrases like “infusion treatment” or “medication.” You can continue to discuss ketamine therapy, just without explicitly saying the word. For now, as long as you avoid the word in the copy, you should be fine. However, keep in mind that technology is evolving and this may eventually include video content as well.

• Avoid Restricted Hashtags: Steer clear of hashtags like #ketamine, #ketamineinfusion, #ketaminetherapy, and #ketaminetreatment. Using these could get you banned.

• Be on Less Restrictive Platforms: TikTok is currently more ketamine-friendly, but remember to create content that performs well on that platform. It might be time to start making videos if you haven’t already. YouTube is another option where people can search “ketamine” without issue.

• Focus on Growing Your Email List: Encourage your social media followers to join your newsletter. You can’t control Meta or other social media platforms, but you can control your email list! Make it easy for potential patients to provide their email, and ensure your emails are worth reading.

Lean into SEO: Check your website’s performance. Is it slow to load? Mobile-friendly? If you or someone on your team isn’t actively working on improving your search engine optimization, you’re missing out. Despite our clinic’s strong social media presence, 60% of our patients find us through online search.

Social media is the subtle business vital sign you’re ignoring.

Social Media Is a Headache for Ketamine Clinics—Why Bother?

Some of you might be thinking, “Why even bother with creating content on Meta or social media at all? I don’t need this headache!” But the reality is that social media is where your potential patients are. They’re looking for answers, seeking connection, and searching for people who “get them.” Social media is where they spend their time and, ultimately, where they might find you.

Think of social media and content on your website as a business vital sign—heart rate, in particular. Consistent, helpful, and engaging content is like a strong, normal sinus rhythm. It shows the business understands what’s important to its clients and has the resources to deliver engaging content. But inconsistent or inauthentic content? That’s bradycardia or sick sinus syndrome. Similar to getting a sense of how your patient is doing, seeing what educational content you create gives a potential patient more clarity into the “health” of your business.
One of the first things to go when a business is struggling is its social media presence. A healthy business, or one that’s in it for the long haul, keeps posting consistently, staying engaged, and maintaining that strong rhythm.

Your social media presence acts as a marketing funnel for patients to find your clinic.

Can Social Media Followers Really Turn Into Patients?

Let’s say you’re on board with posting on social media, but how can this help you get more patients? Or, put another way: Can your social media followers actually become your patients? To answer this, let’s revisit the primary goal of all this marketing. The aim is to convert individuals who are interested in ketamine therapy, and who have no medical contraindications, into trusting patients who choose your clinic for their treatment.

With this straightforward goal in mind, let’s address the question: No, your goal shouldn’t be to turn all 500 of your followers into 500 new patients. Instead, think of your social media content as a way to build credibility and showcase your clinic’s value to those searching for you online. 
They will likely visit your website, look around, and then check if you have a social media presence—because they’re on social media all the time anyway.

This approach is especially crucial for local businesses, like ketamine clinics, that serve a specific community. You’re trying to attract potential patients who can physically come to your clinic. Social media platforms are global, but your focus should be local. When a potential patient is researching where to go for ketamine therapy, they’ll likely include a review of your social media presence as part of their decision-making process. 

In the context of the marketing funnel, your social media content moves them further down the funnel, helping them choose your clinic over others.

Marketing Ketamine Therapy: It’s a Puzzle, Not a Pain

Take comfort in knowing that if you’re struggling to market your ketamine clinic, your competitors are likely facing the same challenges. Those who are truly passionate about this therapy and the industry will always outshine those who lack heart and purpose. So don’t lose hope. 

Think of marketing not as a burden but as a puzzle to be solved. Just as ketamine therapy can shift a patient’s perspective, try to shift your own view from frustration to curiosity. And if you’re tired of solving this puzzle or need a hint to get you started, we’re here to help you.

Ready to tackle the marketing puzzle for your ketamine clinic? Join our newsletter to get insights, tips, and updates on marketing strategies tailored for ketamine therapy professionals!

Related Questions:
What should I do if “ketamine” is banned on a social media platform when I own a ketamine clinic?

• If the word “ketamine” is banned on platforms like Meta, focus on using alternative terms such as “infusion treatment” or “medication” in your content. Avoid banned hashtags like #ketamine, and consider shifting your efforts to more ketamine-friendly platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Prioritize building your email list and improving your website's SEO to reach potential patients directly.

Does social media content help with search engine optimization?

• It does so indirectly. The posts themselves don’t directly affect search ranking. They provide social signals of relevance (likes, comments, shares, etc.) and an opportunity for more traffic to your website and backlinks which can support improved search ranking.

If you prefer blogs, check out these posts too:

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Struggling to market your ketamine clinic? Learn strategies to navigate social media bans, boost SEO, and turn followers into patients in this 2024 guide.

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