If you run a healthcare business, you’ll be all too aware of the level of competition out there. As a company owner, you want to ensure that your patients and clients have access to the best possible standards of care and customer service, but you also need to ensure that your venture is profitable.
Competition is one of the main obstacles to business success, and this is why it’s essential to stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for fresh ideas to inject life into your marketing campaign, look no further. Here are just three ways to set yourself apart from your rivals.
Is your website mobile-friendly?
Did you know that average person in the US spends up to five hours per day on their phone surfing the net and using apps? If you have a fantastic business website, this is great news, but are you taking full advantage of the power and reach of the Internet?
Although many people still use desktop and laptop computers, the majority of consumers access information via their smartphones. You only have to take a look around you on the subway to see how reliant we are on our phones these days. Having a mobile-friendly website enables users to access pages that will display properly and take advantage of features that are designed for mobile use. If your site isn’t suitable for mobile devices, you may find that images don’t work properly and the page is hard to navigate.
Mobile-friendly websites are also more useful for search engine optimization purposes. If you’re targeting phone users as part of your marketing strategy, you may also wish to consider developing an app.
“In 2017 the average person spends five hours a day on their phone.”
Local SEO and patient reviews
It’s no good having the best website in the world for your healthcare business if it’s impossible to find. SEO is an excellent way of attracting more attention online and putting your business on the local map. The power of search engines like Google is staggering and if you can climb the search rankings, this should work wonders for your business.
The higher you are on the page, the more likely a user is to click on your link. With more and more people looking for health advice and healthcare services online, it’s essential to have that online presence. Research shows that 44 percent of patients who look for hospitals or health services online go on to book an appointment.
To improve your SEO campaign, focus on creating high-quality, informative, accurate content, which is interesting and engaging. Use popular search terms and keywords to get yourself noticed and remember that you’re trying to optimize individual pages rather than the site as a whole. Make sure the content is relevant to the link, and the landing page provides all the information that user could possibly wish for.
Internet users regularly search for reviews and testimonials, and it’s really beneficial to give your patients and clients a platform to share their experiences and hopefully, encourage others to make use of the services you provide. Provide space for reviews and ask for feedback. Patients who read positive reviews are more likely to choose you over other providers and making use of feedback will always improve your business.
“Research shows that 44 percent of patients who look for hospitals or health services online go on to book an appointment.”
Using social media and engaging with the community
You may not think of social media as a hotspot for healthcare businesses due to the serious nature of the work involved, but there are benefits of engaging with patients and reaching out into the wider community. Hospitals and medical professionals are often seen as clinical, and having a presence on social media can present a more human side.
Social media is an excellent way of connecting with people, building your brand and letting people in the local area know what you do and how you could benefit them. Many people are reluctant to pick up the phone or organize a face to face meeting, and if you can offer alternative ways of getting in touch or finding out more, this could prove useful.
Social platforms are also a fantastic way to promote optimized content as part of your SEO strategy. You can share posts and hopefully, encourage others to do the same. You can also use platforms to educate and inform people and try and eliminate the risk of potential patients accessing inaccurate data or misinformation. Look at the impact of campaigns like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, for example.
Healthcare is a booming industry, but competition is fierce. If you’re keen to outshine the competition and stand tall in the marketplace, hopefully, these tips will help you take your business to the next level.