Health expert, to advertise or not?
Too many health practices wait to do advertising or marketing work until a specific problem or need arises.
Sure it’s a choice, and you can certainly choose not to make the investment, but at what cost? Too many health practices wait to do advertising or marketing work until a specific problem or need arises. Until, for example, patient visits have decreased, patients leave the practice, a new competitor has arrived in the neighborhood, or the satisfaction score is dropping, etc. Successful and visionary practices incorporate marketing or advertising into their daily businesses, even if everything is going well and as something fundamental to stay ahead. They proactively and continually build and nurture relationships with their staff, patients, referral sources and community. A successful health practice in the 21st century:
- They get involved.
- Come to understand individual needs and make necessary changes to better serve these needs.
- They communicate and keep patients and interested parties informed.
- They regularly thank and show their appreciation.
- Look for opportunities to reach out, welcome, serve as a resource, and make new connections.
- Monitor key indicators (satisfaction, referrals, reviews) and take immediate action if a problem or negative trend is identified.
- They protect and strengthen your reputation. It is well known that attracting a new customer costs five times more than maintaining an existing one. At its core, advertising is about building relationships. Invest in a healthy marketing “lifestyle” that organically nourishes and cultivates your practice and you will see how performance changes.
