Posted on December 23, 2019 in General
The Five Biggest Healthcare Marketing Trends for 2020
The end is near… at least when it comes to 2019.
But it’s not doom and gloom. 2020 is here! Which brings along with it the annual fresh start. The ability to hit the reset button. A new opportunity to optimize your office and marketing goals.
The year being 2020 offers symmetry, clarity, and if your practice offers LASIK or cataract procedures, then you have the one-in-a-lifetime chance to run wild with it. Think of the possibilities!
Your competition is putting its plan together for the year ahead, so you need to be as well. To help you out, we’ve outlined some of the biggest healthcare marketing trends we’re expecting in 2020.
Before you move forward, take a moment to reflect.
How was 2019 for your medical practice? Where were your biggest wins? What are your areas that need the most improvement?
Hint: This is how you form a successful marketing plan.
Now, read on to see how you can leverage the five healthcare marketing trends we expect to become more prevalent in 2020.
The Five Biggest Healthcare Marketing Trends for 2020
1. Utilize Lead Management Software
We’re not even going to bury the lede on this one — taking advantage of lead management software from a reputable company like MDprospects is one of the wisest investments your practice can make.
When you outline your goals for 2020, we’re willing to bet that “growth” is a word that appears high on the list. And guess what? That’s exactly what reliably lead management software from a leading company like MDprospects can help you do.
With MDprospects, you can manage your leads, turn those leads into conversions (new patients), and ultimately increase your revenues.
Sound like a good start? We thought so too.
2. Utilize Video Content
We know, we know… you’re ready a blog. And blogs are still a powerful tool that can greatly boost your SEO and build an audience. But video content is becoming more and more important for marketing in any industry, not just healthcare.
An educational blog on the symptoms of a given medical condition still has value, but what if you could do the same thing in a video? You can, and the benefits are twofold.
Not only will you deliver the same information as a blog in a more compelling way, but you’ll also put a face to a name to potential new patients and allow them to get to know you a little. This can build comfort and trust.
Simply put, if you’re not using video to promote your practice, you’re missing out. Video drives serious online engagement, and most people prefer to watch videos over reading a blog. One study even shows that having video content can improve your conversion rates by as much as 80 percent.
So yes, you need video content, but not just any video filmed on a cell phone and slapped on your website will do.
3. Quality Content is Still King
This goes for both your video and blog content. You should have both (with some level of consistency, too), and when it comes to your all-mighty SEO — quality rules above all.
You can drive yourself crazy as much as you want trying to learn all of the back-end SEO tactics that so-and-so says you need. Go wild! But the best thing you can do is make sure you have professional, high-quality content that satisfies and engages your audience.
Keep it simple — tell your story, show empathy (especially when it comes to healthcare topics), and educate your audience on medical conditions and treatment options. You want to build trust and keep your viewers coming back for more content.
Search engines like Google are focused on delivering the best possible search results for a given query, which means the highest-quality content on a topic should rank first. Always consider your audience and think about what they are searching for and what questions they might have. If you’re answering those questions via high-quality content, then you’re on the right track.
4. Embrace Social Media for Healthcare Marketing
Depending on your general stance on social media, you likely either view it as a blessing or the devil. There’s no middle ground!
However, it’s undeniable that social media is a powerful tool for your marketing efforts. More and more doctors and medical practices are using social media to communicate with potential patients in 2020, and you should too. Embrace social media rather than avoid it, because your competition is surely using these channels to its advantage.
You can share information about your practice and new treatments. Perhaps some cutting edge research emerges that you’d like to share. Your audience wants to know about it!
Additionally, you can use social media to combat the spread of bad information. Too often, people view unfounded medical claims and advice on social media and believe whatever they see. This can be harmful, and you can address this issue by sharing factual information to inform your audience of important health issues.
This will position you as a valuable source of information and boost your relationship with potential patients. You’ll also build a community around your practice in the digital space, which will allow patients to find peer support from others who are dealing with the same issues.
5. The Growth of Telemedicine & Electronic Tools
Healthcare marketing is going digital whether you like it or not. According to Modern Healthcare, the telemedicine market is growing rapidly and is expected to reach $130.5 billion by 2025. Yes, billion with a B.
Many practices are offering telemedicine services that allow patients to “see a doctor” without leaving their homes. You’ll have a video chat and that’s that — talk about convenient! Many practices also offer live chat options so someone at your practice can answer questions quickly and directly.
No longer do patients have to deal with long waits and poor communication — and they know it, too. If your practice doesn’t offer these services, it may turn potential patients away from you.
Telemedicine allows doctors to increase their patient engagement. Rather than schedule appointments months in advance, you can check on patients more regularly and monitor their symptoms and progress.
Despite its massive and rapid growth, there is still some resistance and skepticism in regard to telemedicine. Patients may have concerns about the quality of care they receive over a video chat versus an in-person check-up. But your marketing can help them change their perception and get off the fence about this convenient option.
Summary
In 2020, your practice’s number one competition may very well be WebMD. These healthcare marketing strategies can help your medical practice stay at the forefront and be a trusted source of information and care.
If you’re ready to talk about your 2020 healthcare marketing options, get in touch with MDprospects today to see how we can help.
To learn more about the customer experience and how MDprospects can help, schedule a demo today, or contact us using the form below.
