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Getting Referrals But Need More Patients?

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How can doctors compete in this crazy fast-paced information age?

The Solution is Simple and Highly Effective

doctors get new patients
  • “72% of internet users said they looked online for health information within the past year.” Source: 2013 Pew Research Center Report.
     

  • “41% of people would choose a healthcare provider based on their social media reputation.”Source: DC Interactive Group’s Rising Use of Social Media and Mobile in Healthcare Infographic.
     

  • “60% of doctors say social media improves the quality of care delivered to patients.” Source:DC Interactive Group

Remember the days when small town doctors grew their practice by face to face referrals only. Jim, the local barber would tell Mary at the diner and so forth. Well, those days are quickly fading behind us.

 

Welcome to the information age where every doctor needs to have a multi-tiered marketing strategy with a heavy dose of social media.

Some quick facts to whet your appetite:

In today’s environment, your success, let alone your survival, depends on a well thought out marketing strategy.  Every marketing strategy has to start with the goals for your campaign. Usually, the goals include generating awareness and buzz for your practice which will lead to an increase your clientele. The campaign goals for your practice can include educating the community, building a good reputation and promoting new services.
 

Next, it is important to determine the demographics and size of your target market. Who is the target market for your services and does this market change if you offer new services? Is your target market local or is it regional or even national?  How are you going to reach your target(s)?
 

First and foremost, you need a compelling website for your practice.  Your website should:

 

Have a well-organized and clean layout with aesthetically pleasing images and color schemes. Your online presence and especially your website is the first thing that potential patients will see if  your and your practice and are an avatar and direct reflection of your image. You wouldn’t go on a date or meet your patients wearing old, rumpled, stained clothes and your web presence should reflect on your practice professionally.

 

Top medical websites should include:

 

  • Highly visible contact information; images promoting health or videos.

  • The philosophy of your practice, why you differ from competition,

  • Clearly defined services,

  • Bios and Photos

  • A list of accepted insurance plans 

  • Downloadable patien forms
     

The two things that are most likely to convert a potential client online are testimonials, and video when done properly.  The video needs to be short, directly related to and placed next to the product or service mentioned.  Websites absolutely should also have a contact form to capture future patient information which can then be added to your Customer Resource Management (CRM) software or which can be sent directly to your in

box for a response.
 

"Augur Marketing produced my Website, and it is a great improvement over my previous website which was developed by a different reputable web designer.  The site is fabulous and has a lot of visitors."

Dr. Shore Armani. McLean, Va.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your website could have all of the above but there is still a catch. Remember the phrase all “dressed up and nowhere to go?” What good is a compelling website if nobody knows that it exists. The majority of online health seekers began their sessions using a search engine such as Google, Bing or Yahoo. It is important to get these search engines working for you by ranking you at the top for medical search results.
 

“Eighty-one percent of users conduct online research before they make a purchase. Sixty percent begin by using a search engine to find the products or services they want, and 61 percent will read reviews before making a selection.” Source: SocialTimes
 

used to be very important for higher rankings but this has now shifted to how relevant your website and how much quality content it contains. Relevancy is determined by how many reputable sites or people are sharing or linking back to your content and how fresh and relevant is your content. Many of the top websites include current blog articles about the latest medical topics which allow for comments and feedback.back linksThe key is search engine optimization (SEO)! The use of meta tags and

 

Search Engine Optimization Services SEO, Augur Marketing

Augur Marketing provides medical practices with patient development services.

 

Perform a simple check on your practice by typing the type of practice or specialty and then the city name into Google. For instance internist tysons corner va. If you do not see your practice in the top few results then you are automatically losing customers to your competition, those practices listed in that specific search result.
 

“50% of all mobile searches are conducted in hopes of finding local results, and 61% of those searches result in a purchase.” (Search Engine Watch)

Every marketing strategy should also include engaging social media marketing and cater to mobile users. Social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube are critical in creating a dialogue with patients or promoting your expertise. The conversation about your practice is happening online and it is better if you are a part of it.

Paid social media advertising through Google Adwords, LinkedIn Ads, Facebook Ads, Twitter Ads and YouTube video ads are time-saving and cost-effective ways to raise awareness and recognition for your practice. Remember to always focus on your target market who are becoming more tech savvy and are depending more on their mobile devices for their medical information.  If your practice is in a large metropolitan area like Washington, DC or New York then you can reach thousands of locals by city, zip code, lifestyle, gender, age, and interests for a fraction of the cost of advertising on cable television.
 

“A multi-channel campaign (includes Social Media and radio for instance) have a 20% higher retention rate by consumers than a single method campaign.” Source:  Comcast Cable
 

A social media strategy is critical for your success but you should never forget traditional marketing avenues. Patients still use both online and offline sources for the medical information. Per a 2012 Google/Compete Hospital Study, 32% of patients use TV for research, 20% use magazines for research and 18% use newspapers for research.
 

You should also consider email blasts as part of your marketing strategy. Targeted email marketing campaigns are very effecting at generating more referrals. Per MedData Medical Technology Marketing Industry Trends Report, for every $1 spent, $44.25 is the average return on email marketing investment.

This article was published by Augur Marketing based in Washington, DC.
Augur specializes in marketing campaign management which include the most effective combination of website development, search optimization (SEO), social media campaigns video production, and radio and television.  Please let us know if you have any questions concerning your marketing strategy or need any advice.

 

Contact Us:

richard.lewis@augurmarketing.com

Augur Marketing

571-201-5272

Our expert team includes social media analysts, bloggers, web designers, and search optimization specialists and will handle all of your marketing needs in a combined campaign and a simple single monthly payment.  We will provide you with everything that you need to grow your practice.  Services can include blogging and content, paid advertisements online, search engine optimization (SEO), direct mailing, and even video and promotional events.  We use the latest in techniques and technology to create a sales funnel for you which increases your brand awareness and value proposition and captures new patient information for easy follow up and call back.

 

“Medium sized businesses with a regularly updated blog get 120% more lead growth than those who don’t.”

 

Augur is a local firm based in the Washington, DC Metro area and we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and for offering an exceptional value and solutions that work to increase sales.

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