Important Digital Marketing Trends For Healthcare Providers

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More than half of medical patients will use search engines, such as Google, to research details and reviews on healthcare providers before booking an appointment. Because of this, digital marketing for medical practices has become crucial for those in the healthcare industry to connect with their patients, build brand awareness, and stay competitive.

With rapidly evolving technology and shifts in consumer behavior, it is important for medical professionals to remain up to date on the latest and greatest trends in digital marketing.

What Is Medical Marketing?

Medical marketing is a specialized branch of digital marketing that focuses on promoting and advertising medical services, products, and providers. The primary goal of this type of marketing is to retain existing patients while also raising awareness among potential new patients about available medical services.

In a competitive healthcare landscape, where patients have diverse needs, establishing a strong online presence is crucial for distinguishing a provider’s services. Medical marketing helps craft a compelling message that resonates with a healthcare provider’s target audience. Effective medical marketing has been shown to enhance patient loyalty and satisfaction, ultimately benefiting both the provider and the patients they serve.

Social Media

Healthcare providers need a social media presence to remain competitive in the digital space. Popular social media platforms include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It is important to consider the perspective of the patient when creating social media content in order to make posts that are attention-grabbing, engaging, and beneficial. Posts can be diverse with varied visual content, educational posts, and interactive features.

Content Marketing Strategies

Content marketing has also proven to be a reliable medical marketing strategy. Popular forms to express content includes informative blogs, videos, infographics, podcasts, webinars, newsletters, and social media posts. The challenge with content marketing is understanding the best information to drive patient interaction and leads. Having high quality content that focuses on empowering patients with education has been seen to drive organic website traffic and increase healthcare provider’s credibility and authority.

Telemedicine

In a post-Covid-19 pandemic era, patients are continuing to opt for the convenience of telemedicine. Therefore, healthcare providers greatly benefit from increased emphasis on telemedicine promotion on their internet marketing channels. Adopting or creating email campaigns, social media advertisements, and website banners can increase patient knowledge of a provider’s telehealth options.

Influencer Partnerships

Influencer partnerships are becoming increasingly popular in the healthcare industry to promote healthcare products or advocate for different health related issues. Collaborating with trusted, influential, and pre-established individuals can help healthcare providers amplify marketing efforts, reach new audiences, and build credibility. These influencers can increase human connection within medical marketing by providing personal and relatable experiences to potential new patients.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology trend impacting nearly all industries, including the healthcare industry. AI is supporting digital marketing for healthcare professionals by providing more personalized and data-driven approaches to help build client retention and engagement. Additionally, AI-tools are bolstering patient support resources with assistance like responding on website chat services and scheduling appointments.

Patient-Centric Communication

It is important to prioritize patient-centric communication. This will strengthen patient engagement and enhance the overall patient experience with tailored messaging and services to meet unique patient needs. For example, marketers can send personalized emails or newsletters with relevant health information and appointment reminders. Patient-centric communication makes patients feel supported and cared for by their healthcare team, supporting patient loyalty and retention.

Learn More About the Importance of Digital Marketing for Healthcare Providers

Digital marketing enables healthcare providers to target specific audiences and manage the progress/success of marketing efforts. Having an online presence that aligns with the current trends will strengthen a medical practice’s ability to reach new patients in addition to remaining connected to existing patients. To remain competitive in a saturated industry, healthcare providers need to use digital creativity to expand their consumer reach. Partnering with professionals like MedShark Digital allows a practice to focus their efforts on caring for their patients while still maintaining a competitive edge online. Call today to learn more.