Where medical and dental offices could once rely on print advertising and word-of-mouth to bring in new patients, the changes in modern communication that have come via the digital age have had a real impact. All of this means that medical and dental practices that want to continue to develop and keep a steady flow of patients coming in must create new strategies, with digital marketing at the heart of their marketing plans.
How To Launch A Digital Strategy For Marketing A Medical or Dental Office
A marketing plan using digital processes is critical in today’s competitive business environment. Today medical and dental offices utilize many aspects of the online world in order to let people know about their businesses and what services they offer. Business sites like search engine land are one resource for spreading the news about these types of offices, and for communicating the kinds of services offered to a wide audience.
How can an office prepare an online marketing plan?
The best marketing plans for a medical or dental office are ones that combine several approaches to reaching and communicating with patients. The truth is that no matter how caring and skilled a dentist or physician is, if no one knows about the services they offer, they won’t be able to reach those in need of what they do.
Create a Website
An online website that is interactive and that can communicate with potential patients on a regular basis is a must in today’s digital world. A well-designed and thought-through website can reach patients in a positive way and also act as a communications center for an office. Great website designs can be achieved by working with dental/medical marketing agencies that primarily focus on website design before other services.
The Value of A Great Website
A website serves as a central place where patients can find out about an office and also about the dentist or doctor’s background and patient ratings. A comprehensive list of an office’s services can also be included on the site under different tabs. All of this information is highly beneficial to patients seeking information on care. Some sites now use filmed testimonials from medical professionals as a way to reach out and let potential patients know who they are and that they are available.
A Professional Blog
A regular blog about the office’s practices is also a great marketing tool. A well-written blog creates a friendly feel for an office and it can help build connections with regular patients and those who are looking for a healthcare office. A blog can be used to discuss new techniques and practices in healthcare and to let patients know about the many services an office can provide. News of the day and health and wellness tips can also be discussed, as well as how current trends impact the services an office can provide. New blogs are also effective in keeping readers coming back for updates, and in that way staying connected to the office.
An Email Newsletter
Many offices now use an email newsletter as a way to keep in regular communication with a patient base. A weekly blog can form the content of a newsletter, with added elements like healthcare news notes and tips added in. This is another way to spread the word about an office on an ongoing basis, and to maintain a friendly base of communications.
Search Engines and SEO
Once a website has been established for an office, links to the site can also be used to promote it. Once the site is up and running, search engine words (SEO) can be inserted into the blog to help keep the office at the top of searches on google and other search engines. This can help greatly to promote the office, as potential patients who look up medical or dental offices in their area will be able to more easily find it via an online search. This is another area to ask for experts’ help if you want to get the best ROI out of your marketing dollars.
Yes, business marketing has changed greatly in recent years, and the fact is that the old days of print-driven marketing strategies has fallen by the wayside. Though the thought of creating an online marketing campaign can be daunting, today’s new digital techniques are becoming more streamlined and ever more easy to use. Medical and dental offices who want to be known need to enlist savvy online marketing pros to help them create new strategies that draw in patients and keep them coming for the long term.
