5 Ways Healthcare Providers Can Reach New Patients

Times are progressing, and so is the technology and data that affect businesses. We live in a technological world where businesses must use every available resource in order to remain competitive. Healthcare has been one of the late boomers to this phenomenon, however is no exception to the digital revolution that other industries have seen. 

Within this article, we will examine five different ways you can improve your marketing strategies using technology that will push your business to the pinnacle of the healthcare industry. We will cover:

• Using Consistent Healthcare Branding
• Evaluating Your Online Patient Experience
• Learning to Leverage Your Healthcare Business on Social Media 
• Follow up Reviews from Patients 
• Co Creating Value for Your Patients 

Using these five techniques, you will be able to utilize the new age of marketing to help your practice successfully reach new patients. 

Unveiling the Power of Digital in Healthcare: Stats and Trends for Growth

The healthcare landscape is undergoing a digital revolution, and savvy providers are seizing the opportunity to connect with patients in new and effective ways. Here’s a glimpse into the exciting reality through compelling statistics and trends:

Consumer Healthcare Search:

• 77% of patients research healthcare providers online: Google is the doctor for many! Optimizing your online presence is crucial.
• 50% of healthcare website visits happen on mobile: prioritize a mobile-friendly website and booking experience.
• Voice search is on the rise: ensure your website content is optimized for voice queries and local SEO.

Decision Factors:

• Online reviews heavily influence patient choice: actively manage your online reputation and respond to reviews.
• Transparency and convenience matter: showcase appointment availability, pricing, and insurance information clearly.
• Patient portals ease communication: offer online appointment booking, prescription refills, and secure messaging options.

Self-Service Appointments on the Rise:

• 70% of patients prefer online appointment booking: streamline your system for a seamless user experience.
• Telehealth adoption explodes: embrace virtual consultations for increased patient reach and convenience.
• Automated chatbots offer 24/7 support: free up resources and provide patients with timely answers and appointment scheduling.

Industry Digital Opportunities:

• Invest in social media marketing: engage with patients and build trust through platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
• Create educational content: establish yourself as a reliable source of health information with blog posts, videos, and infographics.
• Personalize the patient journey: utilize data analytics to tailor communication and services based on individual needs.

Consistent Healthcare Branding

What do you want your practice to be? Is it a modern take of what a doctor’s office used to be? Is it more family-friendly, or designed to have a spa-like atmosphere? These are questions that you must answer when coming up with what you want your brand to become. Partnering with EMR software development teams enables building customized health records platforms aligning to unique practice visions.

Focusing on the uniqueness of your practice will provoke consumers into thinking you have something special. Something that other practices may not be able to offer. Defining what your brand is can be a time-consuming and difficult process.

However, when done correctly, it will definitely bring new clients who are looking for what you have to offer. With technology at the fingertips of most consumers, choices have grown at incredible rates. Patients now have choices for healthcare providers as they do milk at the grocery stores – there are so many specific types that cater to exactly what the consumer wants. In this competitive landscape, healthcare providers need to leverage the expertise of a digital pharmaceutical agency to effectively reach and engage their target audience in the digital realm.

With that in mind, when thinking about what brand you want your practice to evoke, put yourself in the client’s position. By looking at your business through the eyes of your clients, you should be able to decipher what they want and how you can provide that. 

Evaluating Your Online Patient Experience 

Times have changed. No longer is just having a website sufficient enough to bring in new clients. Websites are now the gateway into your company, they give insight to the client about what your practice is about and what they can expect. 

Your website should reflect what we discussed above. You spent plenty of time deciding on what your branding should be, and now it should reflect onto your website too. Your website will be one of the first things a prospective patient may look at. Because of this, evaluating how your website interacts with the patient through their perspective is imperative. 

Looking at it from their point-of-view allows you to see if everything a client might want is easily accessible. Is your location easily accessible? Are your services in an optimal location to where they can find it within the first few seconds of being on the website? Asking questions through the lens of your clients gives insight as to what can be changed to perfect your online patient experience. 

Leverage Your Healthcare Business On Social Media

Search engine optimization (SEO) can be a useful tool when trying to optimize the visibility of your website. However, as social media grows more and more, companies should look towards marketing within specific media outlets. 

Social media companies like Facebook or Instagram have done the work for you now. They know your target audience and using paid for ads on their platforms will help you reach more of your target clients. Using these targeted ads will allow for your company to reach the right people who may be inclined to look at your services provided.

For example: if an individual had a recent online search of nearby dentistry practices, and later that day they are scrolling on Instagram – if you utilize paid-for targeted ads, the platform will display your practice to the prospective client and therefore do advertising that you do not have to worry about. 

Follow Up Reviews From Patients

Having automated reviews emailed to patients can be an effective way to hear back on what you can improve. Technology has now outdated the traditional front-of-desk review. Utilizing an advanced doctor email signature that includes easily accessible review forms can be the new and convenient way to gather valuable patient feedback.

The tools that can be used with these customer reviews are infinite. Having a database where all reviews are stored allows for easy access when looking for customer satisfaction reviews or to see if there are any repeated outstanding concerns that can be answered. With these testimonials, you can use them to display on your website what sets you apart from the competition and what makes your practice one of the best in the area. 

Co-Creating Value

In a digital age where people can learn a lot about their health online, practitioners are seeing a rise in patient knowledge within the medical field. No longer are patients expected to take a passive role in the decisions about their healthcare, but instead to be more involved and develop a trusting relationship with their practitioner. Technologies like smart on FHIR are facilitating this shift by empowering patients with access to their health data and enabling more informed discussions and decisions about their care.

An example of this can be seen with chronic patients. They have been, or will be, dealing with their conditions for a long period of time. They know what therapy or medication works best for them and what does not, and as a practitioner of the 21st century it is your job to take their autonomy into account. To realize that they must have done research online and to take their opinion as if it were an expert opinion from a colleague. 

Due to this new access to information, practitioners must take a step back from their paternalistic senses and work with the patient to build a cohesive relationship between the two parties. Doing this will not only appeal to the current patient, but prospective ones after they tell them about how progressive and deep-rooted their care was with you. 

Using these five tools will take your healthcare practice to the next level. We are in an age where business owners can no longer rely on old-school methods of reaching out to new clients. Technology is now a business owner’s best friend and by using resources that will assist you and reach new clients, your practice will be taking advantage of the tools readily available. Digital marketing strategy is where any business should start and then define the goals of their investment in marketing for the next 12 months.

Case Profile Examples: How Clinics Achieved Patient Volume Growth with Multi-Channel Strategies

1. CityMD Urgent Care (Multi-Location Chain):

• Challenge: Increase patient volume across multiple locations in a competitive market.
• Solution:
  • Implemented a comprehensive SEO strategy, optimizing website content and provider profiles for local search.
  • Launched targeted Google Ads campaigns focused on high-intent keywords like “urgent care near me” and specific conditions treated.
  • Actively engaged with patients on Facebook and Instagram, sharing informative content, hosting live Q&A sessions, and running localized ad campaigns.
• Results:
  • 25% increase in website traffic within 6 months.
  • 40% rise in online appointment bookings through PPC campaigns.
  • 30% growth in new patient visits attributed to social media engagement.

2. Dr. Sarah Jones, Pediatrician:

• Challenge: Attract new patients in a highly saturated market with numerous established pediatricians.
• Solution:
  • Created a comprehensive website with detailed information about services, appointment booking functionality, and a blog section.
  • Developed a series of informative blog posts and videos addressing common childhood concerns and offering parenting tips.
  • Partnered with a local parenting blogger for a sponsored Instagram campaign showcasing her patient-centric approach and warm environment.
• Results:
  • 50% increase in organic website traffic through targeted SEO and content marketing.
  • 20% growth in new patient registrations attributed to the Instagram campaign.
  • Enhanced online reputation with positive patient reviews and increased community engagement.

3. Dental Clinic ABC:

• Challenge: Increase awareness and attract new patients for cosmetic dentistry services.
• Solution:
  • Developed a dedicated landing page on their website showcasing before-and-after photos and patient testimonials for specific cosmetic procedures.
  • Launched targeted Google Ads campaigns focused on keywords like “teeth whitening near me” and “affordable dental implants.”
  • Ran retargeting campaigns on Facebook and Instagram targeting website visitors who showed interest in cosmetic dentistry options.
• Results:
  • 35% increase in website conversions (appointment bookings) for cosmetic dentistry services.
  • 20% growth in overall patient volume attributed to paid search and retargeting campaigns.
  • Increased patient satisfaction and repeat business due to a focused digital marketing strategy.

Frequently asked patient acquisition questions:

What’s the easiest channel to start with?

Optimized provider profiles andfoundational website updates establish critical basics needed across other channels.

Is content creation worth the effort for providers?

Yes, condition-specific content improves discoverability and trust while educating prospective patients on specialized services perfect for their needs.

What metrics indicate strategy effectiveness?

Track website traffic surges after optimizations go live, spikes in call/form submissions, and patient intake questionnaires referencing specific marketing channels.

How much budget do campaigns require?

Start small while testing – $300/month for Google Ads, $150/month for social ad testing before scaling budgets up based on ROI.

Reach New Patients Conclusion

Reaching prospective patients and driving appointments has never been more competitive or more digital. Clinics combining website enhancements with data-driven paid search, social, and precision advertising efforts are stealing market share today. The organizations prioritizing patient acquisition programs have leadership collaborating with in-house marketing experts and agencies to ensure consistent brand messaging and experience across channels.

With robust analytics tracking that ultimately ties new patient growth to specific initiatives, savvy healthcare marketers create and refine strategies achieving the greatest Return on Patient Investment (ROPI).