Every industry, including healthcare, needs a robust digital strategy to make a mark. Do you have one?
It is 2024, and almost 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine. But wait, let’s get a bit more specific. Today, almost 77% of patients perform online research before booking an appointment.
Whether it is going through the reviews or looking for a healthcare facility nearby, it’s the search engine that helps your patient connect with you.
Therefore, your online presence must shine bright to ensure your audience chooses you.
Even if you are a healthcare institute that’s making use of traditional strategies, it is essential to pair them with digital ones in this tech-savvy era. But we have you covered.
In this article, we bring you a complete guide to digital marketing for healthcare in 2024. Let’s unpack!
What is Healthcare Digital Marketing?
Before you delve deep, let’s understand what healthcare digital marketing actually is.
Healthcare digital marketing means using the latest online channels and strategies to promote your products or services. However, digital marketing isn’t very straightforward.
Here, you employ a variety of tactics, such as search engine optimization, social media marketing, paid ads, and more to reach your end goal. That said, it is crucial to ensure that these strategies align with your brand and what you stand for.
At least, 58.5% of adults used the Internet to search for health or medical information. Before, after, and even during initial care, patients take advantage of the available online resources. It can be to browse a symptom or look for information regarding post-treatment care.
When you do it right, healthcare digital marketing can be your ideal partner in helping you attract new clients while retaining the existing ones with ease.
Exploring The Role Of Digital Marketing in Healthcare Industry
Healthcare digital marketing is more than just a necessity. They can be utterly beneficial for your patients and your facility. Here’s how:
Improves Your Visibility
As a business, you must ensure your customers can find you. This is imperative for success. So, as a healthcare facility, the first and foremost criterion is to make sure your patients find you when they need you. It’s only possible with the help of digital marketing.
Education and Awareness
The Internet is a goldmine of information. It helps your patients understand their symptoms, find specialists, etc. with a click of a button. This is achieved via content and social media marketing.
Establish Trust and Credibility
When your patients notice a strong online presence and see social proof to back you up, you establish trust and credibility. It helps build a positive narrative toward your brand.
Improve Customer Experience
As aforementioned, patients rely on the internet to guide them in the right direction when it comes to looking for hospitals, booking appointments, etc. Having everything streamlined improves their experience.
Build A Healthy Relationship
When you offer your patients all the information they need, it keeps them engaged and satiated, which helps build a successful relationship with them.
Inexpensive
Even though digital marketing offers a variety of advantages, it is inexpensive and offers better and measurable ROI in the long run.
Top Features of Digital Marketing in Healthcare
Here are some of the top features of digital marketing that can help you grow.
Measurable
With digital marketing, you can measure key performance indicators like website traffic to ensure you are on the right path and tweak your campaigns accordingly.
Multi-channel
Digital marketing lets you embrace a multi-channel approach, such as websites and social media to reach your patients and expand reach.
Personalization
89% of marketers see a positive ROI when they use personalization in their campaigns and digital marketing lets you do the same, unlike traditional marketing.
Specific Targeting
No more shooting in the dark. With digital marketing, you can target specific groups to ensure your advertising efforts fetch you the desired results.
Automation
Automation tools can be a lifesaver. For instance, you can automate repetitive marketing to save time and resources.
Main Trends in Healthcare Digital Marketing in Recent Years
Now, let’s see a few trends in the healthcare digital marketing space that’s been ruling in recent years.
Social Proof
One of the healthcare marketing trends that’s here to stay is the one using authentic social proof. Before anything, patients always want to see if the healthcare facility is trustworthy and they rely on testimonials and other social proof. However, authenticity is the key. Apart from reviews and testimonials, case studies, success stories, and influencer marketing are a few examples of social proof.
Artificial Intelligence
AI or Artificial Intelligence is changing the game of healthcare marketing. One of the top ways is via personalization. With the help of data analysis, predictive analytics, and even chatbots, you can add that personal touch. It automates content creation and improves patient experiences by providing instant assistance. AI also aids medical imaging analysis for diagnosis and treatment planning. Using AI, you can improve engagement, use the available resources wisely, and so much more
Top Digital Marketing Strategies for Healthcare
Let’s unpack the best healthcare digital marketing strategies to help you get started.
Quality Content
Content is king and it can help you boost your business. However, focus only on high-quality content across channels.
Paid Ads
If you are looking for quick results and to attract high-quality leads, you can always rely on pay-per-click advertising.
Videos
In today’s day and age, people are looking for engaging short videos. So, adding videos to your content strategy can be beneficial.
SEO
Raking on top is imperative to build trust and credibility. Therefore, make sure you optimize your website to appear higher on search engine results.
Social Media
Utilize the right social media channels and build engaging yet informative content to connect with your patients.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is still very much alive and also inexpensive. Therefore, use it to your advantage.
Mobile Apps
55% of website traffic comes from mobile phones. So, optimize your marketing strategy keeping mobile users in mind.
Messages and Chatbots
Chatbots help you offer solutions instantly. And, utilizing messaging apps like WhatsApp opens doors to seamless communication, which is crucial in the healthcare sector.
Geotargeting
You can use geotargeting to deliver location-specific healthcare promotions and services to your patients.
Retargeting
Use retargeting strategies to re-engage website visitors and inform them of the offerings you have.
Influencer marketing
You can collaborate with healthcare influencers to endorse services, products, and health campaigns.
Things To Keep In Mind To Avoid Legal Issues In Digital Marketing in Healthcare
Make sure your digital marketing efforts comply with HIPAA regulations to protect patient confidentiality. Always get complete consent from patients before using their data for marketing purposes. For instance, if you want to use testimonials on a public platform, take written consent via email before you proceed.
All medical marketing content you put out must be accurate, backed by scientific evidence, and doctor-approved. Never make any false or misleading claims about healthcare products or services.
Take Your Healthcare Market Efforts To New Heights With Glomm
This was just the tip of the iceberg.
While these are the top strategies to help you kickstart healthcare digital marketing, you need an agency like Glomm to have your back.
We are a team of experts who are well-versed with the ins and outs of healthcare marketing. From creating a unique strategy that aligns with your brand to always staying on top of the latest trends, we are here with you every step of the way helping you meet your end goal.
Remember, having the support of an agency from the start steers you in the right direction and makes sure you reach your goals easily and quickly.
The Final Word
If you are not jumping on the bandwagon of healthcare marketing, you are missing out.
In this supremely competitive environment, digital marketing helps you stand out and connect with your audience almost effortlessly. Now, every digital marketing strategy is truly excellent. But you cannot use them all. The key is to choose the right set of strategies that resonate with your audience and your brand.
Now is the perfect time to boost your digital marketing efforts with Glomm.
