Are you a healthcare provider seeking to find a way to better your engagement with patients online? Since a lot of people now prefer to search about their health online, healthcare providers now need to adapt to practices that allow them to connect with their patients and provide them with well-informed advice–While there are many ways to approach this problem, one of the best practices in healthcare digital marketing.
Understanding Patient Engagement
This somewhat innovative definition illustrates that patient engagement actually encompasses personalised approaches whereby healthcare providers, on one level or another, embark on a care journey themselves with their patients. In this rather simple and catchy presentation approach, it is the patients who are the more wanted performers of decision-making being either facilitated or made capable of much more open discussion in the presence of their concerned health teams. Moreover, better-engaged patients are more likely to adhere to the treatment plan, show up for and keep appointments, and maintain healthy lifestyles.
Why Digital Marketing Matters in Healthcare
These days, whenever someone is curious about their health, whether they are sick or not, approach the internet first and ask their health-related questions on it–including if they need to visit a healthcare provider. Moreover, there have been studies that show that around 80% of internet users would rather search the internet for advice about their health than visit a doctor. And because of this shift, it has become quite important for healthcare providers to create an online presence.
Strategies for Enhancing Patient Engagement Online
Create a User-Friendly Website
A website is the most effective way to connect with potential patients and a well-designed, user-friendly website can go a long way in how the patient will approach your practices. Here are a few tips for creating an engaging website.
- Make sure that the website is simple to navigate, allowing users to find essential information like services, appointment schedules and contact details more easily.
- While optimising your website, also ensure that it is mobile-friendly–since a lot of individuals use their smartphones for accessing information
- Add valuable content on the website like articles, videos and FAQs that are able to aid in figuring out common health concerns–allowing the patients to feel in control and more knowledgeable.
Invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Healthcare providers who are looking to attract more attention to their websites can invest in SEO. This innovative process will allow your website to be more visible in search engine results, guiding more traffic to the website. Here are a few ways SEO can help your website.
- By adding keywords, your content will show up in common search items that might be related to your services
- Using services like Google’s My Business listing–will allow local patients to easily find your location whenever they are searching for healthcare services nearby.
- Healthcare providers who regularly share content regarding common healthcare questions can also aid in driving traffic to their websites, which also allows for more visibility.
Engage on Social Media
Social media is also a powerful tool for connecting with patients and building a community around your services and practices. Here are a few ways to utilize social media for creating an engaging online presence.
- Start by sharing health tips and updates about your practices–while also involving your patients to share their stories.
- Create polls, Q&A sessions or even live videos to engage your audience with your content while encouraging interactivity.
- Service providers can also go a step further by using social media ads–these ads can be used to reach specific demographics based on their age, location or health interests.
Personalize Email Communication
Email marketing is almost as old as time, yet it still remains the most effective way to connect with individuals who have similar interests. These are a few ways healthcare providers can use email marketing effectively.
- Healthcare providers can create tailored messages and send them as personalized emails–these emails can be based on the patient’s history or preferences, like appointment reminders or health-related tips.
- Another great way to utilize email marketing is through newsletters. These newsletters are able to provide valuable information about the services the health centre provides or other health-related tips.
- After an appointment, these emails can also be sent as surveys, asking the patients to provide feedback on their experience and if they have any suggestions.
Offer Telehealth Services
Telehealth has also emerged as an effective way for healthcare providers to grant convenience and accessibility to their patients. It has different options, from virtual appointments that allow patients to consult healthcare providers from home, which might be really helpful for those individuals who either have mobility issues or busy schedules.
Implement Patient Portals
Patient portals are an excellent way to increase engagement by giving patients easy access to their health information. Here are a few ways implementing patient portals can aid in creating engagement.
- Allow patients to book appointments online at their convenience.
- Access Health Records: Enable secure access to test results and medical history through the portal.
- Facilitate communication between patients and providers regarding questions or concerns through secure messaging features.
Concision
To keep it short, healthcare providers who want to create an engaging online environment for their patients will need to use all the tools they can to not only attract their attention but also provide a service that enables them to learn more about their health. While there are many ways to approach these, the most effective way is healthcare digital marketing.