Last updated on June 20th, 2023 at 09:52 am
Healthcare consumerism is a real thing these days, and more and more people turn to private institutions before hiring quality services – not a general rule, though.
Indeed, private facilities tend to invest more than the government, and they also follow some solid marketing strategies.
But then, whether you run your own healthcare facility or you manage a public institution, marketing is essential to keep it going.
Not sure where to start? Here are some interesting tips that will push your institution above the competition.
Messaging applications rock
You do not necessarily need to look for healthcare business loans to implement this strategy, yet you might need to buy software for mass messages.
Marketing is a loud industry these days. There are ads everywhere, and they often go unnoticed – radio, television, large billboards, and so on.
Text messages are less likely to be ignored though, and they are usually opened within seconds only, so they make a good marketing option – just make sure you have something useful to offer.
Opt for messaging applications that send text messages, rather than apps that require everyone to have them. Some of your clients may not have smartphones or the app you choose to install.
Get in touch with influencers
Influencers are people with hundreds of thousands of followers or even millions of them. Different influencers operate on different social media channels, yet they tend to stick to the main ones.
At this point, it depends on what kind of healthcare facility you use. If it is private, influencers could be a great choice.
Find influencers with a mature audience, rather than someone who only posts about a lavish lifestyle. For instance, if you own a dental facility, opt for good-looking influencers.
Their followers will most likely want to know how their teeth are so white or aligned, so they may bring in a decent following.
Offer something for free
You can actually invest time, rather than money. For example, if you run an eye care facility, offer free consultations if the patient buys the glasses from you as well. It is an amazing offer.
No matter what you run, a free consultation will work well in exchange of something – such as their phone numbers, so you can add them to your messaging campaign.
You could also provide a free digital magazine based on the clients’ interests, not to mention invitations to workshops or other similar events.
Build a responsive and interactive website
If people can avoid waiting in queues over the phone, they will. Get a website where patients can get in touch with doctors and get calls back within a specific time frame.
The word will spread. People these days wake up early to queue in front of medical facilities, even if they have actual appointments. Queues over the phone are just as problematic.
Such a system will not just bring you new patients, but it will also ease the pressure on your staff – it is one thing to call back when you have a few minutes and a different thing to have people queuing outside.
Ask for reviews
You need to ask for reviews – nothing wrong with that. Happy patient? Simply ask them to review you on whatever network they use.
It takes a few minutes for someone to leave a review, and while a few reviews will not make a major difference, dozens or even hundreds of them will certainly help.
Whether they look for a whitening procedure for their teeth or perhaps a private facility for surgery, people will pay attention to reviews upfront. Such small details can and will help.
Go full in
Sometimes, going full in may also help. That means going on television and radio. Make sure your ad is catchy and friendly, rather than annoying – it will chase people away.
While loads of people aim to block ads coming from all directions, there is one major thing you have to focus on – brand recognition.
You want people to know about you. When they think about medical treatment, you want them to associate their issue with your institution, only because they see this name everywhere.
Such a campaign will not be as cheap as others, but it will help and boost brand recognition, which is just as helpful in the long run.
Conclusion
As a short final conclusion, there are plenty of different ways to advertise for your healthcare facility. Some of them will cost a lot, while others can be done without any major investment – just some of your time. What truly matters is to get your name on everyone’s lips.
Whether it comes to brand recognition, a top-notch system to help your patients, or freebies, each of these techniques will work wonders. Just because you keep gaining in popularity, it does not mean it has to stop though. Keep in mind that bad publicity can also occur and take you down straight away.
