Doctor Marketing: Top Ways to Attract Patients
Marketing for doctors can be a difficult and time-consuming task. However, it is important to remember that marketing is an essential tool for any business, and doctors are no exception. There are several ways to market medical practice, and the most effective approach will vary depending on the business's individual needs. However, a few general tips can be useful for any doctor looking to market their practice. First and foremost, it is important to remember that patients are the lifeblood of any medical practice. Therefore, focusing on providing quality care and creating a positive patient experience is essential.
A recent survey found that nearly 60% of patients said they would be more likely to choose a doctor with an online presence, such as a website or social media profile. This shows that having an online presence is a key way to reach potential patients.
Another important statistic to consider is that 80% of patients said they would be more likely to choose a doctor who was recommended by a friend or family member.
Top Doctor Marketing Ways to Attract Patients
1. Advertise with Mobile Advertising
Mobile advertising is a great way of Marketing for Doctors to reach your target audience. While traditional advertising options can be expensive, mobile allows you to reach patients with more affordable and cost-efficient ads.
Mobile advertising can also target specific demographics, allowing you to bring in the most people who need your services.
Lastly, mobile lets you target specific geographic areas and track your campaign results. This gives advertisers much control over where their ads will appear and how much exposure they want.
2. Identify the Best Channels to Attract Patients
Social Media. It’s hard to deny the power of social media in today’s world, especially for marketing your practice. By using social media, you can connect with your potential patients and show them how awesome you are by posting pictures or videos of what happens in your office or sharing helpful tips that they can use in their day-to-day lives.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is an effective way to attract new patients because it allows you to be found when someone is searching online for a specific type of doctor in their area.
Email Marketing Campaigns: You may have heard people say “email marketing campaigns can be effective at bringing people through my doors without spending lots of money on advertising!”
3. Give Away Swag at Health Fairs & Conventions
Giveaways are a fantastic way of marketing for doctors to attract new patients and build your brand while connecting with existing patients. They can also help you connect with local businesses and media who will be interested in what you’re doing.
Health fairs and conventions are excellent opportunities to leverage this strategy. These events provide the perfect setting for giving away swag like branded t-shirts, pens and notepads, water bottles, and more.
You can even include some fun games or other activities for people to play when they come by your booth.
4. Work with a Medical Marketing Agency
You've built a great website, but if you're starting, it can be hard to get the word out about your practice. You need someone who knows how to work with people and share your story in a way that will attract patients.
If you want to attract more patients, working with a medical marketing agency is one of the best ways.
5. Focus on Your Website Design
Make sure your website is responsive. A responsive website can be easily viewed on any size device, from a mobile phone to a desktop computer. Make it easy to find what you are looking for. Keep the navigation simple and make sure that users don't have to spend time searching for the information they're looking for on your site.
Include a blog or newsletter signup form so that visitors can stay up-to-date with the latest news about what's happening in your practice and other relevant topics related to health care and medicine in general.
Ensure that your site looks good on mobile devices by using responsive design techniques or creating separate versions of each page so they work well no matter how someone accesses them.
6. Get Published on Media Sites & Blogs
Create a blog that includes your thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
Use your blog to share important news items related to health care or specific areas of interest for your patient base.
Include links in the body of the article for more information about the topic that you are discussing.
This is a great way to get yourself out there as an expert in your field, establish credibility and gain authority within your community.
Here are some statistics that show the benefits of getting published:
80% of people say they are more likely to trust a doctor who is quoted in the media.
75% of people say they are more likely to use the services of a doctor who is quoted in the media.
67% of people say they are more likely to refer a friend or family member to a doctor who is quoted in the media.
7. Leverage Referrals from Local Businesses
Referral marketing is the most effective way to reach your target market. It's also an excellent way to reach patients in different locations and with varying needs, as you can target specific demographics based on their age, income level, and stage of life.
With referral marketing, you don't need to spend money on advertising or cold calling because you'll be leveraging existing relationships. Here are a few statistics that show the importance of leveraging referrals from local businesses for doctors:
92% of consumers say they trust referrals from people they know.
70% of consumers say they would switch to a new brand or doctor if they were referred by a friend or family member.
61% of consumers say they are more likely to try a new doctor if they were referred by a friend or family member.
8. Offer Patient Rewards Programs
When you create a rewards program, you can do several things to incentivize patients to refer their families and friends. You can offer discounts on future visits, like 10% off the next visit, or even a free visit after they have referred someone who has become your patient.
You could also offer rewards for filling out surveys about how happy they are with your services and how likely they are to recommend you to others.
You can even offer free items in exchange for completing health assessments or participating in educational programs created by your practice. Finally, you could award points that can later be exchanged for prizes like gift cards or other giveaways!
9. Create a Facebook Business Page for your Practice
The first step to marketing for doctors is to create a Facebook business page for your practice. This will allow you to connect with patients and potential patients and share information about your practice.
You can use ads on Facebook and Messenger to promote this business page, which will help build up its following and increase engagement over time.
10. Invest in social media marketing for doctors
Social media marketing is an essential part of any Doctor Marketing strategy. Research shows that 93% of consumers turn to social networks to find information about products and services they are interested in.
To attract patients, you'll have to invest time into your social media marketing efforts. There are many different ways you can use social media the key is being consistent and using the platform(s) that works best for your practice.
11. Develop a local search engine optimization strategy
Local search engine optimization is a very important part of your digital marketing strategy for doctors. Because patients are using the Internet to find you, your website must rank in the results on Google, Bing, and other popular search engines. The good news is that you don't need to be an SEO expert to get started with local SEO.
Although many doctors have heard about on-page and off-page optimization—and even conduct some basic efforts in both areas—they often fail to see results because they lack a thorough understanding of how these two types of optimization work together as part of a comprehensive strategy.
According to a recent study, 77% of patients use search engines to help make healthcare decisions. This suggests that patients increasingly turn to the internet for health information and advice.
12. Generate new patient reviews
Reviews are the most important way to attract new patients to your practice. Patient reviews help create a reputation for you, so you must do everything possible to get patients to review your practice on sites like Google and Facebook.
One of the best ways to encourage patient reviews is by giving them something in return for writing one—often referred to as “review rewards” or “rewards for reviews” programs. According to a recent study, over 80% of patients would be more likely to choose a doctor based on positive online reviews. In addition, patients are increasingly using online reviews as a way to compare and research potential doctors.