Grow Your Practice: 7 Key Digital Approaches to Get More Patients

POSTED ON: Aug 06, 2024

Grow Your Practice: 7 Key Digital Approaches to Get More Patients Lauren Parr

Grow Your Practice: 7 Key Digital Approaches to Get More Patients

The increasing number of patients healthcare providers serve reflects their growth. Strategies for attracting more patients have evolved significantly in the current digital era. 

Conventional marketing approaches have become less effective in the healthcare sector, so healthcare providers must consider enhancing their online presence and adopting digital strategies to boost their revenue.

In recent times, patients have depended on online ratings and reviews to find a doctor. Research has also confirmed that 88% of patients use search engines to find their healthcare providers.

This has made the healthcare industry seek digital marketing strategies to attract a more extensive patient base. However, the competition among healthcare providers is intense.

Therefore, mastering and implementing the latest online marketing techniques is essential.

This blog explores those game-changing digital marketing strategies, helping you attract more patients and expand your practice.

1. Establish a Robust Online Presence

In today's age, patients rely on the Internet to choose their healthcare providers and make well-informed decisions.

Building a solid online presence is essential for attracting more patients and fostering growth. So, healthcare providers should improve their online visibility to stay competitive.
Here are some strategies for healthcare professionals to strengthen their online presence:

  • Build a Professional Website: Collaborate with experts to create a comprehensive website that addresses all your patients' questions.
  • Create Social Media Accounts: With 72% of social media users active daily, consistently post engaging and informative content on your profiles.
  • Set up a Google Business Profile: Establish and manage a Google Business Profile for your practice to enhance your online presence.
  • Proactively Respond to Online Reviews: As 82% of patients check online reviews of healthcare providers, actively respond to feedback to show your commitment to patient satisfaction.
  • Design Online Campaigns Featuring Valuable Information: Frequently share useful and informative content on your social media accounts to boost patient engagement.
  • Regularly Send Newsletters and Emails to Patients: Newsletters and emails allow you to deliver personalized patient content, promoting better communication.

2. Leverage Healthcare Content Marketing

Healthcare content marketing presents a valuable opportunity for providers to expand their patient base.

As one in twenty Google searches are healthcare-related, healthcare professionals must develop content that aligns with their target audiences' needs. This approach can capture the audience's interest and foster engagement.

For further insights, refer to this infographic highlighting the experiences of healthcare content marketing practices.

Source: SEMRUSH

Healthcare content marketing allows providers to build credibility and authority within the medical field by using valuable, informative, and research-based content strategies.

By producing engaging videos, healthcare providers can enhance their reach and engagement. Also, they can grow their practice by developing and posting blog posts, infographics, articles, and guides.

According to survey results, videos, case studies, and short-form articles are the most effective types of healthcare content.

"We have built a strong connection with our audience by consistently sharing valuable and informative content about aesthetic procedures, skincare tips, and patient success stories on our blog and social media platforms. This approach educates potential patients, establishes trust, and positions us as experts in the field.

David Hill
- David Hill, MD, Plastic Surgeon & Medical Director Fulcrum Aesthetics & Surgery

3. Implement SEO Strategies

SEO involves enhancing websites and social media profiles to rank better on search engines. Approximately 68% of all clicks go to the top five Google search results.

If you have begun establishing your online presence and have added content to your site, you must deploy a well-researched SEO approach to draw in visitors organically.

Enhancing your online presence through SEO will attract organic traffic and gain more patients. Over time, SEO will enable you to boost your online visibility, increasing your practice credibility.

Integrating SEO strategies and optimizing your websites for mobile devices contributes to achieving higher rankings in search outcomes.

"Thanks to our consistent SEO efforts, we've seen a significant increase in organic traffic, leading to more inquiries and appointments. Many patients say they found us through online searches, showing our SEO strategy works. This approach has been key in bringing in more patients and growing our practice.

Dr. Michael May
- Dr. Michael May, Medical Director Wimpole Clinic

4. Offer Telemedicine

The healthcare sector was transformed after the arrival of Telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the demand for telemedicine services has significantly increased since then.

Telemedicine has become crucial for bridging the gap between doctors and patients. 
The advantages of Telemedicine include:

  • Lower operational expenses.
  • A decrease in missed appointments.
  • Improved time efficiency.
  • Enhanced patient convenience.
  • Reduced infection risks.
  • Greater accessibility between patients and healthcare providers.

Moreover, Telemedicine allows individuals to obtain medical care from the convenience of their homes, eliminating the need for travel or taking time off from work. This leads to increased patient satisfaction.

"By offering virtual consultations through Telemedicine, we've made it easier for patients who previously faced geographical, mobility, or time constraints to connect with us. This digital approach has broadened our patient base beyond our local area, enabling us to serve individuals from remote and underserved communities.

Dr. Priya Arcot-Joshi
- Dr. Priya Arcot-Joshi, Doctor Modern Family Medicine

5. Attract Online Reviews

In today's digital age, 79% of patients look at a healthcare provider's online reviews before making a decision. Positive feedback from satisfied patients can significantly enhance the provider's reputation.

To motivate patients to leave reviews, consider the following strategies:

  • Direct them to review links via your website and social media platforms.
  • Inform them about the online review process.
  • Express gratitude by sending videos and emails and requesting their positive feedback.
  • Utilize reputation management software to streamline the review process.

Healthcare professionals should actively engage with all online reviews, whether positive or negative. This demonstrates their attention and dedication to patient care.
Make an effort to respond to all reviews on platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, WebMD, etc.

"At Family Care Center Medical Group, we leveraged a targeted online review strategy to attract more patients. By actively requesting feedback from satisfied patients via email and text, our online reviews increased by 45% within six months.

 

Related Read: 10 Ways to Ask Your Patients for Reviews

6. Start a Patient Referral Program

Starting a patient referral program can significantly benefit your healthcare practice by attracting more patients. 

This strategy is effective and cost-efficient and can substantially expand your practice when executed correctly.

As 78% of healthcare providers view patient referrals as essential for increasing their patient base, you must have a referral program. 

The initial step in launching a patient referral program is deciding on the referral incentive. Once the incentive is determined, you can inform your existing patients that they will receive a reward for each new patient they refer.

Lastly, the rewards should be distributed to the referring patients. A properly managed referral program can significantly increase the number of new patients entering your practice

7. Prioritize Patient Care and Experience

Concentrating on patient care and experience contributes to your healthcare practice's online reputation and patient acquisition and retention rates.

When patients are satisfied, healthcare providers can receive more favorable reviews, which increases the likelihood of attracting new patients through referrals from family and friends.

Enhancing patient care and experience will improve patient feedback about their healthcare provider. Healthcare practices prioritizing patient satisfaction see an average increase of 1,382 patients annually.

"Embracing a digital approach focusing on patient care and experience has significantly boosted patient engagement and satisfaction. Collecting and analyzing patient feedback in real-time has continuously improved our services, resulting in higher patient retention and positive referrals.

Umayr Azimi
- Umayr Azimi, Medical Director MI Express Care

Final Thoughts

By effectively implementing the digital marketing strategies mentioned above, healthcare providers can consistently attract more patients, expanding their practice growth and patient base simultaneously.

As the healthcare industry transforms rapidly, healthcare practitioners must stay alongside these evolving trends. Embracing digital marketing enhances their visibility and ensures they remain established and sought-after in this competitive healthcare landscape.

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