In the evolving world we live in today, successful physicians are both skilled clinicians and entrepreneurs. You have to think of finding, attracting and retaining patients. Patients have more options today, which makes it paramount for you to plan, budget, and have a marketing plan to stay ahead. Luckily, these five simple tactics will help you boost your presence both online and offline.
1. What are your goals?
Every practice wants to engage its patients, offer patient comfort, and provide employee satisfaction. You may also want to map your value stream, which is a fancy way of saying “analyze your patient care process and identify which aspects are effective and which need improvement.” One of the most effective ways is to determine a patient’s lifetime value. Defining your goals is vital in giving you direction on where you are going and what you want to achieve.
2. Create a website
70% of people say that the number two factor in deciding whether or not to visit a practice. Create a website that is effective, appealing, and simple to navigate. A site will act as your marketing hub, and you will use it to communicate with patients online. Besides your location, phone number, and directions, your website should reflect your marketing goals. It should also discuss your services and include a blog where you will provide educational content for your patients.
3. Connect on social media
Social media has over 1.94 billion monthly active users around the world. Connecting with your patients on social is vital for your business. You will frequently contact and interact with your audience and remind them of your presence. Don’t talk about your services all the time. Instead, give tips, news, and other noteworthy items your audience would be interested. Social media will also help you build trust and loyalty, but it’s also an excellent forum to share your blog posts.
4. Setup a Google local listing
According to Google, every one in three searched has local intent. This means that the majority of people searching for physicians in your local area looking for businesses such as yours. Statistics from Google show that 50% of people who search for local businesses also visit it, and 18% of these end up making a purchase. This is an amazing marketing opportunity that will attract at least a billion unique users every month, some of who will end up in your practice.
5. Include offline marketing
Just because your patients are found online does not mean you should forget about offline marketing. Look for inexpensive promotions such as imprinting your office details on shirts, magnets, stress balls, water bottles, and pens. Freebies are a great way to get people talking about your business and spreading the word. They are a great way to win affinity and build relationships. In this digital age, everyone is looking for their next Facebook post, and your freebies will make it to people’s posts, which will further create awareness and reach.
Getting customers may not be easy, but if you want to increase your revenue, you must invest in both offline and online marketing strategies.