The healthcare industry in India is experiencing significant growth and increasing competition. In this era of digitalization where people are curious about every bit of information on the World Wide Web, they search for prescribed medicines, cures, etc. and share them with their peers to create awareness. To retain patients and attract new patients, you need to focus on providing personalized service to each patient. This will make them feel like they are cared about.
If you are looking for guidance on digital marketing for hospitals, you have come to the right place. Here, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively implement online marketing strategies for hospitals.
Developing a calculated and well-thought-out online marketing strategy and plan for the hospital would not only sustain your patient volume forever but also provide the best patient experience possible.
While the main concern of most hospitals is to provide quality care to their patients in the shortest time possible, a small patient base can be a major problem for hospital operations and growth. In this blog, we will share 13 digital marketing strategies for hospitals that will be key to your hospital’s success in the digital age.
1. Highlight what makes your hospital stand out from others
I am sure you know why it’s worth going to your hospital and not your competitors. But do potential patients know what makes your hospital stand out? You may have the best patient experience, qualified doctors, or a technologically advanced facility, but no one will know unless you tell them. Throughout your hospital digital marketing strategy, make sure you consistently highlight your brand and unique selling points so your potential patients know what sets your hospital apart.
2. Optimize your website for search engines
If you have a question, are unsure about something, or are researching a specific topic, you are going to search Google for the answers you need. The same is true for patients trying to find the best hospital for their needs.
Optimizing your website to make it to the top of search results is an important strategy to include in your hospital marketing plan. When your website appears first in a Google search, you will have more visitors to your website and increase your chances of attracting new patients.
3. Make a good first impression with a user-friendly website
Since one of the first encounters with your hospital is usually online, you should have an up-to-date website that provides visitors with a satisfying online experience. Make sure your website loads quickly and your pages provide visitors with the relevant information they are looking for, as well as an easy way to contact your hospital. You can take help from the best UI UX design company near you to optimize your website.
4. Use paid advertising to increase your online visibility
It’s undeniable that top placement in organic search results is critical to the success of your business. However, appearing above the organic search results by using pay-per-click (PPC) advertising can make all the difference. By using PPC ads in your hospital marketing strategy, you can reach your target audience much faster because you have control over which search queries they can appear on. This is one way to target the exact patients you are looking for.
5. Make sure your online hospital listings are accurate
When your patients search for you online, make sure they see the right name, accurate address and phone number (NAP). Search engine crawlers want to make sure that all of your contact information online is correct. An inconsistent NAP will affect your search engine optimization strategy and make it harder for patients to find you online.
6. Increase your social media presence
If your hospital is not active on popular social media platforms, you are missing out. According to a study conducted by Pew Research, 72% of the public uses some type of social media. Patients research a hospital extensively, and looking at your social media accounts is one of the ways they learn more about your hospital. It’s also a good way for you to engage with your patients and increase engagement.
7. Stay connected with your patients via email
Something that is often overlooked when it comes to reaching potential or current patients is email marketing. A monthly newsletter is a good way to attain patient engagement. Share updates, health news, and other relevant information. This could be hospital events, fundraisers, or even just letting your patients know about the upcoming flu season.
8. Integrate mobile marketing into your strategy
Most people use their mobile phones or laptops for their daily tasks, whether it’s catching up on social media news, checking their email, or surfing the web. A recent study showed that 80% of people continued to search via a mobile device in 2019. Make sure that your website is responsive on every mobile device, as this will let your patients have a user-friendly experience when they are in search of the right hospital for them
9. Provide captivating and relevant content
Building a trusting relationship between your hospital and potential patients is crucial to growing your practice. Creating high-quality and relevant blog posts, email newsletters, video content, or any other type of content marketing can strengthen these relationships. By providing your patients with free health content and an in-depth library of information, you’ll set yourself apart as a leader in your field and reassure your patients that they can trust you with their health needs.
10. Get the patient’s feedback
Patients do not usually comment on their experience as a patient, especially when they are in the office. Create a process where you consistently solicit feedback. Asking your patients how their appointment went will give you insightful information about your hospital’s communication, professionalism, atmosphere, and appointment scheduling. It also signals to your patients that you are invested in their care and willing to improve the patient experience.
11. Make sure your online reputation is accurate
Patients want medical professionals they can trust to take good care of them. They research and look at online reviews of hospitals they are considering before making a commitment. Whether or not the reviews are positive is a deciding factor in potential patients’ choice of hospital.
Their star ratings, frequency of reviews, and number of reviews will all play a role in the decision-making process. After all, most people are more likely to choose a hospital with hundreds of reviews with high ratings than one with a handful of reviews. Use online reputation management tools to generate reviews and address your customers’ concerns.
12. Address dissatisfied patients with a customer retention strategy
While it’s tempting to ignore negative comments from patients and focus only on positive reviews, you need to address your patients’ bad experiences and reviews. Coordinate with your team members to make sure there is a process for addressing patients. By addressing the negative reviews, you can ultimately prevent losing valuable patients.
13. Build strong relationships with your current patient base
Not only is it important to get feedback from your patients, but it’s also important to stay in touch with them and build meaningful relationships with them. This will make it more likely that patients will come back to your hospital in the future and recommend your hospital to friends and family. Make sure your staff and providers build a friendly rapport with patients. Send birthday cards and Christmas cards to show that you are thinking of them!
Internet is an important tool in everyone’s daily life, and your hospital needs to take advantage of it to continue growing its patient base. Follow these top marketing strategies for hospitals or hire a specialist hospital digital marketing agency to increase your patient numbers.
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