While many industries have been globally impacted with indispensable digital marketing strategies, the Healthcare industry however, has been taking a lag behind. Although not totally influenced, many sectors of this industry are yet to understand how a global reach can be attained through digital marketing strategies.

Today, we are going to address this problem. Our blog is precisely going to explain how Digital Marketing Strategies can change the Healthcare Industry globally.

Before we move further into this topic of discussion, we would like to address a few tips and trends that has prevailed for quite a period of time. Our tips, listed below, would give you an idea on why we believe it is important for any Healthcare Sector to venture into digital marketing.

• Tip – Professionals in the healthcare industry have an obligation to create educational content that could be shared across social media that will help consumers about health-related issues.
  Trend – When it comes to dealing with their health, over 40% of consumers say that facts found through social media affects the way they deal with treatments.
• Tip – Healthcare industry has to adopt to new forms of communication platforms to address the consumer sector.
  Trend – People between age group 18 to 24 are twice more likely to discuss health-related things on social media than people belonging to age group 45 to 54. 90% of respondents, aged from 18-24 years said they would trust medical information shared by people on their social media networks (Search Engine Watch).
• Tip – Healthcare industry have a necessity to adapt themselves through mobile apps with their consumers that benefits in the longer run.
  Trend – 19% of owners of a smartphone have at least one health app on their phone. The most popular types are weight, diet, and exercise apps. This figure depicts the need for your healthcare organization to look into possibly launching a health related app focused on your specialty.
• Tip – Healthcare professionals have to realize that a new trend has emerged, which shows that a lot of people are comfortable in perceiving the Internet to be beneficial for the exchange of relevant information even about their health. This naturally means, its now more imperative than before to engage such consumers through trusted online communities.
  Trend – According to a recent study, 54% of patients are comfortable with their providers seeking advice from online communities to better treat their problems.
• Tip – Healthcare professionals have to adapt to independently manage their profiles through online mediums.
  Trend – According to MedTech Media, 31% of healthcare professionals use social media for professional networking. Social Media helps in professional development for healthcare workers from networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
• Tip – Hospitals have to brand their niche on social platforms to empower people about their facilities and treatment. Hospitals have to use this platform to indicate their authenticity and transparency about their care delivered to increase patients trust.
  Trend – As per DC Interactive Group, 41% of people reported that social media would affect their choice of a specific medical facility, hospital, or a doctor. Social media is, therefore, a vital channel for healthcare players to focus on.
• Tip – Hospitals have to be there when a user looks for them – digitally!
  Trend – Google’s Think Insights has shows 119% increase every year in YouTube traffic to hospital sites. This depicts that video marketing could work better than other forms of content to convert traffic and leads with more efficiency. The hospital facilities should create video content based on patient stories, interviews, and others.

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Digital Marketing Strategies To Implement For HealthCare Institutes.

Create a Robust Website for your Practice‍

Patients most of their time, prefer to research on Google regarding their medical issues than to spend in the doctor’s office, the waiting room and the surgery center combined. Also, make sure that you include a robust patient resource section. Patients are online hunting for medical information. If yours is the site serving this information up, better for your practice.

Additionally, managing one, responsive, efficient site allows healthcare organizations to focus on developing a single, strong web strategy, which increases visibility, reach and conversions, while decreasing expenditures and effort.

Center your Web Interface around the Patient‍

Sure, the website is for your medical practice.. But, if you center your site solely upon your practice, you are missing the point. A strong digital healthcare site should be centered around the patient, not around you.

Invest in Video‍

People are far more likely to view a video than they are to read details on a whitepaper. What better way to leverage your skilled staff than to put them on camera. Fill it full of animated elements and help diagrams that show what is happening inside their bodies and what treatment looks like. Studies reveal that a high-quality video on your landing pages increases conversion rates by 80 percent.

Include High-Performing Keywords‍

To be able to rank on the search engines you need to research the most relevant keywords to include on each page of your site. A little of this goes a long way in helping your practice to gain buoyancy in search results.

The key, of course, is to devote your optimization time and ad spends on the right things. In particular, make sure that you’re paying attention to services and location.

Why services? The Google research found 45% of users are looking for procedure information (i.e., “chemotherapy”) or department information (i.e., “pediatrics”).

And why location? Because a survey conducted by Healthcare Success found consumers are more likely to choose a hospital based on convenient location (58%); than the amount of copay (45%) or even outcomes data (30%).

Leverage Patient-Generated Reviews‍

Today, patients are mostly relying on patient-generated reviews to help vet the doctors in their area. People want to know about your bedside manner, not about what diplomas hang on your wall. Add a review section to your website. Encourage patients to rate your doctors. Include testimonials on your site.

Develop Fresh Content and Constant Interaction‍

Make sure your site has a news section and a blog area. Patients are looking for information. The search engines are, too. Google rewards fresh, relevant content.

When it comes to content marketing, hospitals are in an enviable position — yet many don’t realize it.

The Google study mentioned earlier found 37% of health searchers are trying to learn more about conditions/diseases, and an additional segment is researching symptoms.

The format of this content isn’t the most important thing — it can presented in a blog post, article, video, or even infographic — what’s essential is that’s truly well-informed and useful.

The internet can be used to build brand loyalty by opening new lines of communication with patients, care givers and prospective patients. Hospital marketing staffs of the future may need to engage social media and online specialists who can help maintain an online presence and respond to consumer enquiries as they arise in the various online outlets.

Don’t Underestimate Social Media‍

Social media is a great way to engage today’s patient. Leverage your Facebook page to post patient reviews, videos, blogs, articles and more.

Perhaps more than in any other field, the power of the testimonial is a key in health care, as patients and families researching diagnoses often turn to patients with similar experiences. Social media gives hospitals and clinics the opportunity to share patient stories and connect consumers.

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