IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS. A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE MARKETING.
By Rick Blitman
Okay, so your new website is up and running. Your video went viral. Your CRM is reaching out. And your social media is getting seen. But are you really connecting with consumers?
It’s hard to tell.
That’s probably not the answer anyone expects to hear, but the reality is that despite an unprecedented array of data-measuring technology, there’s still no step-by-step, guaranteed roadmap to instant, quantifiable success in the world of medical marketing.
Most people just go on about their day-to-day lives not thinking about healthcare at all, until all of a sudden, a medical issue pops up. And then it’s all they can think about. Your primary goal should be to become the first place that people with medical questions think about when they need medical answers. That’s where marketing actually begins.
While there’s no denying the importance of KPIs in a digital world, the first step in the marketing chain still revolves around creating a memorable branding campaign that resonates with consumers. Just as it always has. Because no matter how robust your website is, no matter how extensive your outreach, consumers won’t reach back unless you make them feel something. In other words, you can’t treat your patients like a number.
Think of it as the difference between a doctor who walks in, looks at your chart and instantly diagnoses you, versus one who looks you in the eye and asks how you’re feeling.
When people are at their most vulnerable, they’re likely to remember the confident voice that tells them they’re going to be okay.
And once you’ve established that voice, it’s essential to reinforce it at every touchpoint on your patients’ health care journey. From their initial web search, to the way you answer your phones and respond to inquiries on your web portal, every interaction should be a seamless reflection of the brand.
At Tinsley Advertising, we weave stories across every platform. Whether it’s creating a compelling emotional story about the healing power of faith for Holy Cross Hospital, or providing the comforting reassurance that nobody understands children better than Miami Children’s Hospital, whether on a 75” tv screen, a 48’ billboard, or a 468 x 60 pixel banner ad on your cellphone, the tone remains the same. And so do the results. Holy Cross Hospital’s web traffic increased by 42%, and Miami Children’s by 50%. And both institutions successfully reversed declining market shares.
With careful planning, critical attention to detail, consistent follow-through and a little bit of magic, all of your numbers will fall into place, too.