Imagine a patient, who recently moved to your location where your practice is located. He has been suffering from chronic back pain for some time. Since he doesn’t know anyone he turns to Google to find one. He simply typed in "chronic pain specialist near me," and your practice pops up at the top of the search results.
They click on your website and are impressed by the information that you’ve written about chronic pain management on your website
Later that day, the patient comes in for an appointment, and during the consultation, they mention that they chose your clinic because they found you online and appreciated the educational resources you provided. They feel confident that you have the expertise to treat their condition and decide to become a regular patient.
Without digital marketing, it's possible that this patient may have never found your practice, or they may have chosen a different provider.
So, in the rest of the article. I’ll share with you the details of digital marketing strategies for doctors that can be used to make sure your clinic pops up when searched online.
So let’s dive in…
Some other ways in which online marketing for doctors can benefit your practice include:
The abundance of online channels and social media platforms in india allows you to target audiences best fitted to your practice
You can easily interact and engage with your patients on an ongoing basis, addressing grievances and ensuring prompt redressal before their negative reviews affect your practice's reputation
You can also establish yourself as a thought leader by regularly posting relevant content to your website or social media handles to increase patient awareness about your practice
Read Similar Article: Importance of Hospital Marketing That You Cannot Deny! (With Case Study Data)
Don't treat digital marketing as an expense but rather an investment.
Digital marketing in healthcare is a very complicated affair involving a high level of planning and strategic approach. (Which you will see below) So don't think of it as an unnecessary expense in your pocket. For every penny you invest in it, you can get ten fold a return.
The success of any website largely depends on the keywords that they are targeting. It helps search engines understand your content and provide it to the user whenever they search online.
So, your first step would be to identify the kind of keywords that your patients use when searching for your services.
Suppose you are an eye care hospital operating in Mumbai And want to attract local patients. The right keywords can be:
Etc… etc.
After, you have finished finalizing your keywords. It’s time to frame your content.
Don’t know what keywords are right for your website? You could hire a freelance digital marketing consultant or hire a full time Healthcare digital marketing agency.
In the present digital era, your medical website is often the first impression your patients will have of you. It is critical to have a user-friendly website with clear messaging that helps your patients navigate your services easily. It will save patients time and effort, simplify their search and selection process and provide valuable features like booking an appointment, downloading reports, 24/7 support through chatbots, etc.
Your twitter, Linkedin, facebook account can be banned but nobody can take down your website. In other words, you should treat your website as a digital asset.
In essence, a well-structured website not only ensures a seamless patient engagement but also goes a long way in building a solid patient-doctor relationship based on trust and continuous support.
Don't know where to start? You can consult web design companies about such a patient-centric solution and get a head start on your competitors
When was the last time you passed away a free opportunity to grab something like discounted food, discounted cloth or even offers like Buy 1 get 1 free. I guess never.
That’s how your patients behave. They crave free tips or information that others might charge them for.
But Ajay, why would I give free tips and information when others are charging for it?
That’s simple - When patients are given something for free, they tend to value it even more. This is known as the “reciprocity principle" in psychology.
By offering free value, you will build trust with your patients. It shows that you are knowledgeable and generous, which can lead to increased loyalty and engagement.
Free valuable content can also help you in establishing your personal brand as a thought leader in your industry. It can also increase your visibility and reach, as people are more likely to share and recommend content that they find helpful.
Let me show you an example.Below is the screenshot of Google analytics data of traffic and conversion of one of our US based healthcare client. What you see here is trust and loyalty in the form of data.
They provide free valuable tips to their patients and in return get so much trust from them
Blogging is effective tool when it comes to brand positioning for doctors and physicians. By writing and posting blog content on a regular basis, you can bridge the gap between you and your patients while providing meaningful information. Make sure to write on topics that are related to your practice.
Pro TIP: You can share a recent update reagrding your practice or new insights into the latest treatment options or just couple of home remedies to educate your patients while encouraging them to share your post for wider reach.
As the most popular global mobile messenger app, WhatsApp can play a crucial role in helping you engage with your patients on a more personal level, right when they need it the most. From appointment reminders to 24/7 patient support, you can employ WhatsApp chatbots to reach out to more patients simultaneously.
The ease of use offered by WhatsApp is the foremost reason why many healthcare practices and hospitals use the AI-powered platform.
Never underestimate the power of social media in creating a good impression on prospective patients and getting more online recommendations. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter make it easier for doctors to share updates with their patients and stay connected anywhere, at any time. Here are a few social media marketing strategies you may want to implement for your practice-
Conduct free webinars or answer health-related queries in real-time
Respond to patient grievances through Facebook's online groups and discussion boards
Target the right audience on different social media channels based on their distinct demographics and interests
Employ social media marketing experts who can help promote your practice on different social media channels
Sharing patient stories and testimonials will not only motivate others experiencing similar health issues but will also establish you as a credible healthcare practice that is genuinely invested in its patient's wellbeing. You can even have a dedicated web page displaying patient stories as shared by them, their family, or your staff.
As you can see from the image below that how one of the leading hospitals using their patient stories to reach thousands of more users and engage them on personal level.
The idea is to connect your practice and prospective patients seeking doctors who can treat them with a human touch. By sharing patient experiences that clearly elucidate how you went the extra mile to provide personalized care for their unique needs, you can effortlessly attract new patients to your clinic.
Perhaps the easiest way to gain instant visibility, carefully planned and well-executed paid ad campaigns can help your practice stand out among a sea of competitors. What more, you can target the best fit for your practice by ensuring that your ads are visible to the right audience at the right time.
Below you can see an example of paid ads campaign for a gynecology practice in Hyderabad for the highlighted search term.
Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn allow you to run paid ad campaigns centered around terminologies and search terms that new prospects might use while searching for your practice. You can even adjust these campaigns to suit your budget, thus saving thousands from being spent on futile marketing.
Your practice must be listed on local directories like Justdial, Sulekha, etc., and on medical directories like Practo, HealthGrades, DoctorsDig.com, and BookofDoctors to be easily found by prospective patients. However, it is not just enough to be listed. You need to provide complete and accurate information a bout your medical practice, no matter which online directory you use.
Accurate directory listings will also ensure greater visibility across the web as Google's bots search through every bit of data related to your practice available online to establish consistency and credibility.
Perhaps the best way to attract local patients to your clinic, even more than your website
How?
Whenever you search for doctors or businesses near you, Google displays a list of businesses in a box at the top of the page. This is called “Google Map Pack” (or the Google Local Map Pack) is a prominent section in the Google local search results that showcases the top-ranking local listings for your location or the search location.
This is how it looks from patient’s perspective
This is an important place for doctors to show up as the top 3 spots get the highest clicks to their profile.
So, go create one if you haven’t already.
Don’t know how, read this step by step guide on how to create a Google business profile.
You probably have heard about quora but what you don’t know is that It can also be used for building trust and attracting referral to your website. How?
A lot of people ask questions on quora even for their health> That makes it the Goldmine of a platform. All you have to do is create your account and start identifying questions related to your field and answer them with insights.
As I already mentioned, people love free things and that's what you are giving them.
Below quora answer has generated more than 8000 views and 3 enquiries from prospects.
In conclusion, digital marketing has become a crucial aspect for doctors and healthcare professionals to attract and retain patients. By implementing the above mentioned digital marketing strategies, doctors can increase their online presence, build trust with patients, and ultimately improve their practice.
One example of successful digital marketing for doctors can be seen in our case study of Netralayam, who was able to increase thier new patient calls to 400% after implementing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy.
If you're a doctor looking to improve your digital marketing strategy, our case study Netralayam Eye Care Hospital is a great resource to learn from. By taking the time to understand your target audience, implementing effective marketing tactics, and constantly analyzing and adjusting your strategy, you too can achieve success in the digital world.
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