Many of the physicians we meet with don’t see the immediate value of social media marketing. In fact, lots of them think online marketing of any kind can be a waste of time and money for a medical practice. That might have been the case once upon a time, but it certainly isn’t now.
No matter where you work, or which communities you serve, you can bet that new patients are looking for you on the web. That means you need to have a presence on Google and the other search engines, but also on social media sites like Facebook. After all, they have billions of users and are becoming increasingly prevalent in our day-to-day lives.
Let’s look at a few of the biggest reasons doctors need social media marketing as part of their promotional strategies…
People Look for Physicians Differently
Buyers look for all kinds of products and services over the internet. However, when it comes to choosing a physician or medical provider, they search a little differently.
In particular, they don’t just look for qualifications, insurance availability, and other baseline factors. They also want to read reviews and see what other patients think about a doctor’s demeanor and attention to detail. These days, that means turning to their friends and colleagues on social media to see what sort of impressions have been shared in the past.
You Can Establish a Marketing Tone
Doctor’s face unique marketing challenges because they have to be very careful in what they say about patients and outcomes. Confidentiality laws state that there is very little they can point to in terms of specific successes or testimonials.
What you can do as a physician or medical provider, however, is tell the world about your expertise, philosophy, and commitment to providing the best care. In other words, you can establish a tone in your marketing that will carry through to initial appointments and consultations.
It’s Not Just About Finding More Patients
In most business situations our goal in working with new clients is to help them find more customers and revenue. That’s certainly a part of the work we do with doctors offices and medical practices, but it isn’t just about bringing in more money – it’s also about creating a better fit between patients and providers.
That means having people come into your office more prepared, and setting them on the path to deliver you positive feedback and referrals. Over time, those can lead to a more stable and stress-free practice, and one that is largely free from complaints or missed appointments.
Want to Grow Your Medical Practice Using Cost-Efficient Internet Strategies?
Biondo Creative is one of Philadelphia’s leading digital agencies because we help our clients make sense of the “noise” involved in internet marketing and achieve real-world results. If that’s the kind of service you want for your medical or dental practice, contact us today to set up a free consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you grow.