Advancing technology has significantly shaped the health system, and today, more and more people have access options to healthcare from the comfort of their homes. However, this presents a problem for individual health establishments. There’s a lot of information online that most patients don’t feel the need to visit the closest health facility.
Today, constructing a health facility will not guarantee patients lining up at your doorstep, unless you put some considerate effort marketing your services. Healthcare is a sensitive topic, making hospital marketing a challenging area. If you are looking to attract new patients, you will need to get the word out there.
According to recent marketing studies, 77% of patients will perform an online search before booking an appointment with a medical facility. Another study found that about 90 million Americans have researched about a health-related topic online. What this means is your typical billboard and banners will do very little to help a medical facility get its patient volumes up. Instead, it will need a well-rounded healthcare product marketing strategy.
Depending on your experience with digital marketing, it might be a good idea to consult a medical marketing agency on what strategies could work for you.
Marketing Strategies to Help Create Awareness About Your Medical Business
In case you are getting started on opening a new medical business, it could mean getting your office listed on both the online and local print listings as well as building relationships with other medical providers nearby. The following are a few tips that could help create brand awareness with little investment.
Don’t underestimate search engines
You are probably aware that the average patient will hit google before they call your office, right? Therefore, when a potential patient decides to use a search engine, you want your business to appear at the top. This is the power of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). You could hire an SEO expert or consult your Web team on the best SEO keywords to improve your ratings on the Search engines.
The power of social media
Social media is a virtual global marketplace, and if used well, it could significantly improve patient volume and walk-ins. Regularly appearing on social media feeds will keep your medical business in the minds of potential patients. When the need for healthcare arises, you’ll be the first they will contact. Consistently post interesting and useful information to keep your audience engaged. It builds credibility and authority.
Make sure you have a responsive website
One of the first things your patience will do before they walk through the door is to check your website. It won’t matter what kind of services or state-of-the-art facilities you have. If your site is not responsive or appealing, it will negatively affect their perception of your business. Also, make sure the information on the website is less about your staff and hospital and more about useful health information such as preventive care.
Automate your services
Not a lot of people like being around hospitals, and for obvious reasons. While being in a hospital means your life is at risk, it adds to the burden if the entire experience from check-in to discharge feels like you are applying for a business permit. Making your patient’s experience secure with a reliable information system will make a huge difference in their knowledge and recovery. This is enough marketing to get more patients streaming in.
Good digital marketing for a medical office is as simple as showing your patients that you care about their health and well-being.
