Marketing Strategy: What Mayo Clinic does with Facebook?

Half of the world already knows Facebook. It is a site which is formerly for college students to connect with their classmates. Further more, this site is becoming the most popular community site in the world. It has became a place for people to deliver many purposes not only just communicating but also to get support in politics, ideas and even marketing.

So, what is the relationship between Facebook and Mayo Clinic?

Marketing can be anywhere, maybe this is what the Mayo Clinic's marketing strategy. Finding the opportunity, Mayo uses Facebook as a place to build Mayo Clinic community. A community which consists of patients, its scientists and doctors, its college students and everyone who wants to join.

Through Facebook, Mayo wants to express its 'caring' to customers. Further more, Mayo wants to listen from everybody in order to make it better. With more than five thousands fans, Mayo Clinic's Facebook is becoming an effective tool to listening 'voices'. Communication between the patients or their family with the Mayo management occurs well. Questions and criticism are well handled, as to be heard is one thing that the people want. Example of this case is seen in the quotation below.

Wondering if Mayo One helicopter can change its flight pattern. I understand its need but to do "practice" flights but every night (early AM hours)it is causing me to wake up at 1-2 or 3 AM and not being able to get back to sleep. I have insomnia and once awoken I do not go back to sleep. Mayo One is so close it feels like they are landing on the house.

The above is a suggestion from a person who got the service of Mayo Clinic. This suggestion gets respond shortly from the Public Affairs Division.

Dear Chris, I work with Mayo One in our Public Affairs Division. Thank you for your post and sharing feedback on Mayo One. Regrettably there is only so much we can do to minimize noise with the helicopter on final approach to Saint Marys. We do have a GPS approach to the hospital, so we are able to fly at the highest altitude possible prior to landing. However, prevailing wind conditions generally dictate our flight path, as well as any nearby obstructions, so we are limited in the approach we can take to the helipad. I can assure you however, that any flights taking place at that time of night are actual critical patient flights, and not training exercises. The helipad at Saint Marys also serves a number of helicopters in the region--from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Wisconsin bringing patients to Rochester--so it is a busy airspace. I will gladly share your feedback with our Director of Air Operations and Aviation Site Manager. Sincerely, Glenn Lyden

See, Facebook's wall is becoming a 'wailing wall'. But wait, Mayo uses Facebook to introduce its programs like Acupuncture for Nausea. Since it able to upload video, the facebook is an all in one marketing tool.