Digital marketing for doctors might sound like an odd combination. After all, as long as doctors provide high-quality services they can expect a steady flow of patients, right? Well, not necessarily. If you are the only clinic in your town, then it is highly likely that most of the patients will come to you. However, a single online search will make it evident that a single doctor in a town is a story of the past. The competition in the medical industry has increased steadily over the years. If you want to attract patients, then you need to hire a digital healthcare agency to help you create an online presence.
Winning Digital Marketing Rules that Doctors must Follow
Today when patients first notice any symptoms, they make an online search before even approaching a healthcare professional. And even the healthcare professional they choose is largely dependent on their online search. It has become quite common for people to search for doctors in their areas online, go through the reviews and then arrive at a decision. However, data shows that only 4.3% of physicians and doctors are making use of digital marketing. This means that the majority of prospective patients aren’t even aware of the doctors in their area. This is precisely why you need to start investing in digital marketing for doctors. It will help you in connecting with patients and build trust. The following are some digital marketing rules that you must follow:
Creating a Website that is Easy-to-Navigate
Websites often act as the anchor of all your digital marketing efforts. They are often the first point of contact between your practice and your potential patients. And even if they don’t land on your website at first, it is highly likely that once they find you on social media they’d want to check your website. Or your PPC advertisements will take them to your website.
Once somebody lands on your website, you’d want them to take certain steps so that they accomplish the desired action such as making an appointment or signing up for the newsletter. Now, if your website is not easy to navigate, more than half of these leads are likely to leave even before they take a single step let alone complete a desired action. Make sure that your website can be navigated easily.
Invest in E-mail Marketing
Healthcare marketers need to incorporate all kinds of marketing channels in their strategy. A growing number of millennials are now using social media regularly. However, there are also people who prefer the traditional mode of communication, that is, email.
When it comes to the age group of your target audience, it is likely to be anyone about the age of 18. Even if you are a pediatrician, you’d want to target parents (ages anywhere between 25 and above) and not the kids. Thus, email marketing is a great way of reaching these individuals. The patient or their caregiver receives vital information in their inbox and they feel connected to you. This also makes them feel valued and helps in building loyalty.
Produce your own Content
Whether you want to be at the top spot of the search engine results page or you want to boost your reputation - original content is the way ahead. Create content that is informative, engaging, and original. It'd be even more effective if you create video content as an increasing number of people are turning towards such content. As a doctor it can be difficult to find the time to produce your own content but hiring an agency that specializes in Digital Marketing for Doctors can help you in creating the right content.
Conclusion
Lastly, you also need to remember that patient reviews are an important part of building your reputation. Thus, you need to encourage your current patients to leave a review. You can ask them for reviews when they are in the clinic or you can send them via emails or text messages. You can also post these reviews on your website to establish credibility
