Since the advent of smartphones, digital users have been growing rapidly. Even when it comes to looking for doctors near them, instead of going around asking others, people just use Google and search “Dentist near me” or “Gynecologist near me” to find a doctor for their issues.
When people search for these terms, they are shown the local or map pack results of the doctors near their area.
To get yourself or your hospitals featured on these pages, you need to have a Google business profile (formerly known as Google My Business).
Here is the search volume of how many people search for dentists and gynecologists near their location on Google every month.Â
Dentist near me = 2.1 Million searches per month
Gynaecologist near me = 595.7k searches per month
Not only Google but also social media has a great impact on your online presence. The number of people who search for doctors on social media is no less than those who search on Google. Here are some hashtags that are used and searched the most on Instagram.Â
#dentist = 13.85 MillionÂ
#gynecologist = 246k
From the above data, it is clear how important having an online presence is for doctors. In this digital world, having a presence on Google and social media can help doctors java an edge over their competitors.
This article discusses why marketing is important for doctors and how they can develop growth marketing for themselves or their hospital.
Why Is Digital Marketing Important for Doctors?
Doctors need marketing because it can increase visibility and get new patients for their clinics. Having a digital presence can attract a large number of patients for doctors.
Patients who are looking for quality doctors to treat an ailment can easily identify doctors when they search for them in search engines.
Doctors can also use the online platform to establish trust among patients by providing valuable information like health tips, videos, blogs related to medicine, etc.Â
Doctors can also use marketing to establish meaningful relationships with their patients and provide preventive care measures by providing information on treatments, upcoming events, etc.
Medicine is an extremely competitive field where new doctors are emerging every year. So, it is important for doctors to stay ahead of the competition and maintain a successful practice.
How to Develop Growth Marketing for Doctors?
Marketing might sometimes seem too complex that might take too much effort and time.
But, if we dissect the process and divide them into different segments, it will be easier for doctors to focus on each segment and succeed in them.
Here are some steps that doctors need to follow to establish their online presence in both Google searches and social media platforms.
1. Set up a Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile (GBP) offers doctors a great opportunity for their hospitals/clinics to appear on Google Maps and local search results.
They can use it to provide important information about their organizations, including their services, opening/closing times, website links, contact details, etc.
Setting up a GBP is one of the easiest and most effective ways to be found online by patients.Â
For example, when a patient searches for “dentist near me,” they will be shown some dental clinics that are near their location.
This is because the clinics shown have a GBP page, which makes them a step above their competitors who don’t have a GBP.
2. Set up a website
There is absolutely no reason for a doctor to not have a website. A website can be a highly efficient and cost-effective method for doctors to track their patients.
Here are some benefits doctors can get by setting up a website for their hospital.
- A website can help doctors extend their reach and also communicate their value proposition to their patients.
- Patients only visit hospitals that they trust. Through a website, patients can learn more about the hospital’s expertise and gain trust in the doctors.Â
- There are several doctors with the same specialization. Having a website can help doctors stand out and be more visible to patients.Â
- Websites are an easy way for customers to contact doctors and learn about their services.
A website is a doctor’s portfolio or resume. It is a reference point for patients in which they can learn about the services provided by the doctors.
3. Write content and start working on SEO
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The next step after setting up a website is to write content that demonstrates their industry and the services they provide. Writing content on a website shows visitors that the doctors are proficient in their field and know what they are talking about.Â
This can make Google algorithms deem the content authoritative and will rank it higher in the search results. The more authority a content has, the more likely visitors will trust its services.
SEO for doctors is more important growth marketing strategy that helps in acquiring organic leads. Also, SEO creates brand awareness by reaching to audience with high intent.
It increases the website’s visibility and helps it rank higher on the SERP. This means that the websites will also have high organic traffic and can reach a wider audience.
4. Set up social media accounts
Social media is another way for doctors to engage with their patients and let more people know about their services.
Growing your presence on social media platforms is highly beneficial if you wish to extend your reach and develop your hospital.
Social media can also be used for advertising purposes. Most people nowadays spend the majority of their time on social media.
Advertising on these platforms is extremely beneficial to generate more leads and get more followers for your page.Â
- YouTube
5. Invest in Instagram reels and YouTube shorts
Instagram reels and YouTube shorts have been trending in recent times and is sure to gain the attention the doctors need to expand their reach. People’s attention span is getting lesser and lesser, which make long form content not so appealing to them.Â
This is where short-form content such as Instagram reels and YouTube shorts come in. These 1 minute videos are shorts and allows doctors to provide creative, attention-grabbing content that can go viral in a short time.Â
Here is the screenshot of how we have grown our doctor’s engagement rate through Instagram reels growth marketing strategy.
6. Start subscribers for newsletters
Newsletters are periodically sent emails that inform customers of any updates, tips, or news related to a particular field of business.
Newsletters are very effective marketing tools since they allow brands to interact directly with their customers and provide valuable insights about them.
Doctors can use newsletters to inform their subscribers about their organization, any updates on their services or procedures, helpful healthcare tips, event promotions, etc.
6. Start investing in Google ads
Google ads are an effective way to bring more patients to a doctor’s website. People usually search for what medicine to use, what doctor to consult, and which hospital to visit for their problems on Google.Â
Spending on Google ads can show the ads on the search results when the patients search for a service.
This can increase site visits, subscriptions, and appointments and ultimately leads the patients to visit the doctor for consultation.Â
While Google ads can be quite expensive, they are an effective way to drive traffic to websites.
Paid ads can be extremely beneficial for doctors who have just set up their websites and are looking to expand their reach and get more visitors.
7. Set up tracking codes on the website
A tracking code is a snippet of JavaScript code that is present in the HTML source code of a website.
It is used to track and analyze the flow and activity of website visitors. Tracking codes can also be used for the following purposes.
- Measuring page reading depths
- Capturing visitor activity through heat maps
- Analyzing e-commerce data
- Tracking the performance of campaigns
- Analyzing clicks gained through advertisements
Here are two tracking codes that doctors can use to track and analyze their website’s performance.
- Facebook Pixel (Meta Pixel)
Meta Pixel is a code on your website that can be used to track the activity and effectiveness of an advertisement.
It can help people understand better what actions visitors take on a site, such as visiting a page or adding an item to the cart.
- Google Remarketing Tags
Google Remarketing tags are codes that add a website’s visitors to the data segments so that marketers can target their ads to these visitors.
It helps doctors create remarketing lists by letting them place one tag across all pages of a website.
By doing this, they can reach their target audience and send specific and relevant messages to them.
8. Retarget using social media ads & Google display ads
However much traffic a site may get, one should always be aware that site visits do not always lead to conversions. The maximum conversion rate of most websites would be utmost 5% on average.Â
Retargeting visitors who have shown interest in their ads can help doctors gain more conversions for their websites. Retargeting helps doctors create brand awareness and reach out to users who have already visited their website.Â
Retargeting has a good chance of converting maximum visitors since those who have visited a website are obviously people who are ready to buy a service.
Doctors can use retargeting to target people who have visited their website or searched about their service and make them visit them for any service or consultation.
Retargeting can be done through either social media ads or Google ads. Doctors can also combine the two platforms and strengthen their marketing campaigns and increase traffic and conversions for their websites.
In short, Google ads and social media ads can be used interchangeably to increase awareness and get more patients for the doctor.
Conclusion
- Growing their practice is essential for any doctor. To do this, they need to be active on search engines and social media platforms.
- This not only helps doctors grow themselves but also makes it easier for patients to find relevant doctors for their issues quickly.
- Unlike in older times, when they have to ask other people for directions and reach a hospital, patients can now easily search on Google.
- Also, they can choose between which doctor and hospital is best to cure their illness. Who knows, sometimes this can also be a life-saving factor for patients.
- Doctors who don’t have a digital presence and are not involved in marketing may be losing out on potential patients and their opportunity to connect with them.
- So, doctors should get started today to develop and grow their medical practice. Reach us to boost your revenue with our healthcare marketing services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Healthcare marketing allows doctors to establish meaningful connections with their patients and nurture them through regular content and advertising.
Doctors need to create awareness to the patients who are in need of a physician’s care. But, how do they know you’re an expert?
Here are 6 steps doctors can follow to market their services and increase their reputation among their patients.
- Setup Google Business Profile to dominateÂ
- Keep blogs on your website
- Build a social media presence
- Publish press releases and build credibility
- Work with local media (TV station, local radio, etc.)
- Become an author (publish eBooks in your specialized field)
