subject: How Cost-effective Is Your Healthcare Marketing Strategy? [print this page] For generations entrepreneurs have been perfecting marketing strategy. Theyve revolutionized ways to make consumers want a commodity, feel that they need it, believe that they deserve it, and see it as a worthy expenditure of hard earned cash.
Healthcare marketing is a little different. People understand that it can be costly and uncomfortable. About 44 million Americans are without health insurance. For many, that means avoiding care until the situation is urgent. Even for those with benefits, much elective care non-medical dermatology, cosmetic dentistry, plastic surgery, vision correction, hair restoration, vein care is not covered, or is subject to large co-pays. Its still a bit taboo in our culture to discuss elective care. Most patients dont want to admit their appearance concerns, or seek referral advice from friends and relatives. Doctors are expected to provide a unique combination of professionalism and compassion.
An effective healthcare marketing strategy is vital to address those uniquenesses, but it has to be cost-effective in todays economy.
Can you track the return on your marketing investment? Maybe you ask new patients how they found you, but do you do so consistently and compare results by form of media? Do you ever take time to ask loyal patients why they stay? Or ask departed patients why theyve left?
Surveys can help you spot big problems, but the information they return is hit or miss. Internet marketing campaigns provide overview and a wealth of detail to help you determine whether your plan is attracting and keeping the right patients, and highlights areas where improvement is needed.
Have you fallen victim to the thats the way weve always done it mentality? A simple shingle or a tastefully painted front window may have been sufficient once. Yellow page ads were the norm. Billboards became an acceptable form of healthcare marketing some years ago.
Are you interested in attracting the patient who walks by your shop, still uses a phone book, or randomly drives by your sign on the freeway? Internet marketing allows you to target consumers in your geographic area who want the service you offer and can afford it.
Is your marketing plan flexible? Does it give you the opportunity for daily interaction with patients, let you present special offers, or provide information that helps the consumer make informed healthcare decisions? A multi-faced internet marketing program does all of that, and more.
When you partner with Ekwa Marketing, you gain an ally who knows internet marketing for the medical community its our specialty! We design cost-effective healthcare marketing strategies that work.
