The healthcare digital marketing space is unique from what you’ll find in other sectors. Here are some essential tactics you should put to use this year.

Typically when you think of digital marketing, your mind goes toward something like Instagram ads for a new clothing brand or skincare product, right?

Retail brands aren’t the only companies that can benefit from digital marketing. The healthcare industry relies on technology in every other facet of their field, so it’s no surprise that it should apply to their marketing strategies as well.

Healthcare digital marketing tends to be a bit different from digital marketing in other fields. At this point, you might be wondering how you can make digital marketing work for your company.

We’ve got you covered! Check out our five digital marketing tips for healthcare professionals below!

Develop a Social Media Platform

When it comes to healthcare digital marketing, the need to use social media can’t be overstated. You might think that social media is only important for companies with flashy products, but it’s just as important for healthcare providers. A social media presence makes your business more personable and reputable.

Medical misinformation runs rampant on social media, so a professional healthcare provider can take this opportunity to clear up misconceptions and answer patient questions. It’s also a great place to broadcast awareness for flu season, website updates, and more.

SEO Strategy

One of the best ways to get your name out there is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO relies on using keywords and phrases in content so your website will pop up higher in search engine results.

This can be a daunting task if you’re not familiar with digital marketing, but it’s something that a healthcare digital marketing agency can easily help you get started with.

Mobile-Targeted Healthcare Digital Marketing

You can’t expect patients to constantly be using their desktop browsers to check their patient portals. Healthcare providers have to consider the fact that people rely on their phones to get instant updates throughout the day.

It’s important to have a mobile-friendly website that patients can access when a computer isn’t available. Mobile-friendly websites adjust the website size and resolution when accessed through a phone, and they typically are formatted a bit differently to be more user-friendly.

Utilize Customer Feedback

Restaurants aren’t the only businesses that get feedback and reviews online. Google and Yelp are just a few of the places where patients can leave reviews on a healthcare provider’s office.

Both positive and negative reviews can help to show what’s working for a business and what they need to improve on. Informing your clients as much as possible before their visit is the best way to avoid negative reviews, but it’s important to address them when they do occur.

Video Marketing

One of the best ways to introduce yourself and your practice is through video marketing. Videos also lead to visitors spending a longer amount of time on your website.

It’s easy to develop an intimate relationship with potential clients by uploading personal videos. You can discuss your practice, common ailments you treat and their symptoms, as well as your credentials.

This is especially helpful if you run a small practice. Potential clients can count on seeing the knowledgeable people in the videos if they schedule an appointment. This builds a sense of trust between doctor and patient.

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Marketing

With the advancement of digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has become possible, and its uses go beyond performing basic commands since it can also do complex processes using software and applications. According to a trusted source, AI is a fast-growing trend in healthcare marketing today, and this market will reach 6.6 billion US dollars by 2021.

Check out these sample areas where AI can be used for health care marketing.

Website Chatbots

For faster patient acquisition and promote on-website engagement to retain site visitors, chatbots can help healthcare marketers create more encouraging conversion. For example, chatbots can direct potential patients to answer surveys online or sign-up to improve the overall patient experience.

You can speak with your web developer about incorporating chatbot on your website.

Predictive Analytics: Data Mining

AI also involves gathering relevant information or data mining that can be used to forecast future outcomes. Some practical applications of predictive analytics include predicting the viability of new offices and predicting the availability of participants for clinical trials, which predicts staffing. Another example is predicting patient acquisition’s future cost by identifying the different types of patients, referral source, and reason for the visit.

With the use of the AI model used in healthcare marketing, you’ll be able to create an effective plan with a foreseeable accurate formula for return of investment (ROI).

Speech Recognition Technology: Voice Assistants

With speech recognition technology, clinicians and nurses can use smart speakers in various hospital settings. Voice assistants can be used in gathering feedback and conducting clinical trials and surveys. All of these things can help you create a more effective recruitment campaign and increase patient retention.

Consumers can use voice assistant skills to ask relevant healthcare questions, like self-care questions, such as ‘Alexa, pull up my heart rate readings’ or seeking medical attention ‘Alexa, find me a doctor,’ getting a prompt response in return

Developing the Best Digital Marketing Strategies

In an industry that relies on new information to keep its clients safe, it’s important to stay up to date in all ways possible! Not all digital marketing strategies will work for each practice, but the five above should get you started if you’re new to healthcare digital marketing.

For more articles on the healthcare industry, check out the rest of our blog!