Social Media & Marketing Strategies for Health Care Professionals

Posted on by ASCENT: Administrator Support Community for ENT

With 2019 nearly upon us, it’s time to start thinking about a marketing plan. Proper execution and branding are dependent upon a combination of marketing and social media. By listening to patient feedback and coming up with new methods of engagement, you’ll earn the trust of your community and will also enjoy increased revenue.

Health Care Data to Help Drive Your Marketing Efforts

Computer data

When crafting a marketing plan for 2019, it’s important to keep in mind key data. The following stats and figures might surprise you and should prove useful in knowing where to focus your efforts in the coming year.

  1. Visual marketing is crucial for engagement. Studies show the brain processes visual data 60,000 times faster than text. And 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual in nature. Content may be king, but visuals are best for interacting with patients.
  2. Older people represent the fastest-growing social media segment. You might associate social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter with the younger generation, but in reality, more seniors are signing up for social media accounts than any other age group. They doubled their presence on Twitter last year and are sticking with Facebook while younger people are leaving. Considering this is a key demographic for targeting health care services to, it’s worth your while to maintain a strong social media presence.
  3. Digital coupons are very popular. Approximately six out of ten internet users have used digital coupons or codes at least once, and that trend is expected to continue. In 2019, an estimated 31 billion eCoupons are expected to be redeemed. Everybody loves a good bargain, and coupon-oriented strategies have been adopted by such a large number of retail clinics and hospitals, they’re a must if you want to remain competitive in the new year.
  4. Voice search is on the rise. Thanks to the popularity of devices like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, voice searches accounted for 20 percent of all internet searches this year. That number is expected to continue to rise in 2019 and beyond.
  5. Emails should be mobile-friendly. Nearly two-thirds of all emails were opened on mobile devices in 2017, the most recent year data was available. Despite the popularity of games, calendars, and productivity apps, checking email is the top mobile activity of smartphone and tablet users. Making sure your emails are mobile-friendly – easy to read, informative, and appealing – is essential.
  6. Social media’s influence runs deep. 74 percent of all buying decisions have been influenced to some extent by social media. Additionally, nine out of ten consumers rely on peer recommendations when making purchases, so do not underestimate the importance of patient reviews!
  7. Instagram might be your best bet. The photo-sharing platform boasts 500 million viewers every single day, and 71 percent are Millennials. Plastic surgeons and fitness experts have already reaped the benefits of this coveted demographic; it’s never too soon to begin targeting this group as they begin making important decisions about their long-term health.
  8. Emphasize advertising campaigns less. Seven out of ten consumers prefer learning about a hospital or company through articles and reviews rather than traditional advertising campaigns, according to a recent survey. You shouldn’t completely eliminate advertising from your plan, but focus more heavily on consumer reviews, patient testimonies, and visual or print articles to get the most bang for your buck.