When a person is in a medical emergency, he searches for the best medical or hospital option in his local area on the internet, though in the past people made decisions based on discussion with others. The changing pace of Bangladesh’s healthcare industry is very fast now. Changes are also obvious in people’s tastes, preferences, and the facilities they are looking for from a hospital. Today healthcare organizations are depending on internet-based marketing to find their target patients. This accurate time-tested smart approach helps organizations to meet and serve patients accurately and in a cost-effective manner, and the patient, on the other hand, to make the best possible decision regarding his health issue.
Hospital Marketing Strategies: Think Digital [ Healthcare and Medical SEO in 2023 ]
Feel the branding and make it feel: Of course, I am pretty sure to the point that you are entirely convinced to the extent that your hospital provides more value than your competitors. You and some of your regular or old patients already know that certain points make your hospital stand out. Do your potential customers, or in other words, patients know the issue? How would you expect them to come to take your service when they are not well informed or convinced about the services that you offer? No one will be able to know your satisfactory patient experience, advanced facility, and most importantly qualified doctors unless you let them know. It’s your responsibility to state your unique selling points(USP) that makes your hospital incompatible. Previously a patient-friendly hospital got its popularity and more customers through word-of-mouth. But today, Google reviews, SEO, GMB review, and Google my business are the very special and effective mediums to spread hospital business. However, regardless of the type of your marketing effort, branding is the key point you should focus on. Why would a patient come to you when there are many options within his geographic boundary? It is branding that answers the question convincingly.
User-friendly website: With the help of a user-friendly website, you can provide the first impression online. That website should provide a positive and satisfying customer experience. Having a website increases your visibility online. Your website should provide a fast-loading experience. Please make it as simple as possible. A typical website of a hospital should hold all the relevant necessary information like a doctor list with their specialities, contact details, provided services, service price etc. The information on service prices would help your customer for being prepared and eradicating confusion. Your website would be your opportunity to convince your potential patients to come to your place to take service. You should bear in mind that this particular website is designed to help your patients. From that point of view, you should help your patients or customers. For example, the level of understanding or decision-making process is not the same for all patients. Suppose, someone is entirely confused about which category of doctor to select as his complication matches with gastroenterology and medicine at the same time. This sort of confusion is very common to expect as this typical patient is not a specialist. On your website, you should have a section that would help the patients to make decisions and overcome such complications. You can also provide a call center option in this situation. Believe me, it would create value for your brand.
Local SEO for hospitals
Your Google My Business(GMB) should be taken care of
At first, the basic question is why should you think of GMB in your healthcare business? It helps to drive awareness in the area you perform business and add value to your brand image. It increases your service sales. It shows important information like your contact number, address, business hours etc to a person who searches online. It impacts SEO and helps your patients to find you easily.
⦿Provide Your Appointment URL: It provides an opportunity for searchers to book an appointment instantly from the GMB profile. This option is also convenient for your patients and your business.
⦿Clearly Describe Your Company: In different social media platforms you have already mentioned your business. In your GMB profile, you have to also describe your company shortly and clearly.
⦿Mention Products And Services You Offer: The purpose of your online presence is not only to promote your business but also to help your target group audience to know better your business. In your private hospital setting, you are likely to offer a diagnostic facility, doctor’s chamber, pharmacy and other relevant services. In your GMB profile, it is wise to mention those offered products and services.
⦿Mention Your Business Hours: It is important to mention your business hours concisely. Suppose, someone is in medical trouble at 3 AM. You should mention whether your services are available at that time or not.
⦿Don’t Forget To Add A Phone Number: You have to also provide an active phone number. There should be a dedicated person to deal with the phone. Of course, you know that a hospital means where sensitive and emergency medical issues are taken care of. So, every call made by patients should be responded to promptly.
⦿Include Your Website: The necessity of having a website for your healthcare business is already described. In the GMB profile, you have to provide your GMB link.
Synergise your social media presence: You are missing out many opportunities provided that your presence is not so active on social media. Patients make decisions based on their perception, branding image set in their mind, positive story, others’ experiences and more. You can use Social media to build those perceptions. During the decision-making process of which hospital to choose, people or patients conduct huge research on hospitals. Again, social media is a good platform to get them known and uphold your brand during their decision-making process. In sum, it’s a good platform for your branding.
Have a meaningful relationship with present patients: It has been known that a large number of people in Bangladesh are affected by chronic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure. That means those patients in your locality are your potential regular patients. You should maintain a meaningful and healthy relationship with that group of patients. If that group is already your customers, let them come regularly by making a welcoming environment. You can offer them special discounts or other related facilities.