by Keith Jayogue 
When starting out in medical practice digital marketing there are a lot of materials available–clinic facility pictures; video footage of procedures, team pictures…and so forth – but after 2-3 months most practices wake up feeling like they have run dry because nothing has been posted consistently enough online.
But great news! You no longer have to worry about how you will come up with an unlimited amount of creative ideas to market your practice.
In this blog post, we will give you five surefire hacks that will help you get an idea for your next marketing campaign in a snap.
Keep reading to learn more
1. Use Patient Testimonials and Stories
70% of people trust reviews and recommendations from strangers (Nielsen). As your practice grows you’ll definitely help a lot of people some will be life changing.
After all, patients are the ones who see firsthand the effect that you have on their lives.
That’s why testimonials from patients can be some of the most valuable pieces of marketing collateral that you have.
Here are a few tips on how to get patient testimonials
- The easiest way to get testimonials from patients is simply to ask them
At the end of each interaction, whether it’s a routine checkup or a more involved procedure, let your patients know that you would appreciate a testimonial if they’re happy with the results.
You can even include a link to an online form where they can leave their feedback.
- Make it easy for patients to leave testimonials by providing plenty of opportunities for them to do so.
In addition to asking them verbally and including a link on your website, you can also place physical forms in your office that patients can fill out and drop in a box on their way out.
You can even offer incentives for leaving testimonials, such as discounts on future services or entry into a prize drawing.
- When following up with patients after their appointments.
Take the opportunity to mention how important their feedback is to you and ask if they would be willing to leave a testimonial.
This personal touch can go a long way in getting the testimonial you’re looking for.
- Get your smart phone and record a quick interview
If your patient is not a shy type ask them if you could record talking to them after their successful treatment. Most of them are willing to do so! Content should include
Patient name
What’s their situation previously (Before)
How did they know about your practice
What’s their situation after their treatment (After)
Why do they recommend your practice
2. Keep up with the Latest Trends
Another way to make sure that you always have fresh ideas for your healthcare marketing is to keep up with the latest trends.
This means staying up-to-date with the latest changes in the healthcare industry, as well as keeping an eye on general trends in marketing and advertising.
By understanding the latest trends, you’ll be able to come up with creative ways to market your healthcare practice that will resonate with your target audience.
Here are some ways to get into the latest trends in healthcare
- Use Social Media
In today’s world, social media is a great way to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in any field, including healthcare. Following healthcare leaders and organizations on social media is a great way to stay informed about new developments in the field.
- Talk to your Colleagues
If you want to really stay on top of the latest trends in healthcare, then you need to start talking to your colleagues.
Healthcare professionals are always talking about new developments and research, so this is a great way to stay informed. Additionally, your colleagues can provide valuable insights into how these trends may impact your specific area of practice.
- Attend Conferences
Another great way to keep up with the latest trends in healthcare is to attend conferences.
There are often conferences devoted specifically to healthcare, where new research is presented and discussed. Attendance at these conferences can help you stay on top of the latest developments in the field.
3.Take Inspiration from your Competitors
In today’s business climate, it pays to know what your competitors are up to.
This is especially true when it comes to marketing and advertising. After all, if your competitors are doing a better job of getting their name out there, they’re going to attract more patients (and, as a result, more business).
That’s why, if you’re a doctor or practice owner, it’s important to take some time to check out your competitors’ marketing and advertising efforts.
Doing so can give you some valuable insights into what’s working well for them and what isn’t. And armed with that knowledge, you can make sure that your own marketing and advertising are as effective as possible.
So how exactly should you go about checking out your competitors’ creatives? Here are a few tips:
- Take a look at their website
One of the best places to start is your competitors’ website.
After all, this is usually the first place that potential patients will go when they’re looking for information about a particular doctor or practice.
As you’re looking through your competitors’ websites, pay attention to things like the design, the content, and the overall user experience.
Are their websites professional and easy to navigate?
Are they packed with valuable content?
If so, these are all elements that you’ll want to incorporate into your own website.
- Look at their social media accounts
Another good place to look for insights into your competitor’s marketing efforts is their social media accounts.
These days, most businesses have some presence on social media, so there’s a good chance that your competitors are active on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
As you’re looking at their social media accounts, pay attention to things like the frequency of their posts, the topics they discuss, and whether or not they’re engaging with their audience.
If you see that they’re regularly posting interesting and relevant content and are actively responding to comments and questions from their followers, this is a good sign that their social media strategy is working well.
- Read their blog posts
In addition to having a website and social media accounts, many businesses also have blogs.
Reading through your competitor’s blog posts can give you some great insights into the type of content that resonates with their audience as well as the topics they’re interested in reading about.
4.Look Outside your Industry for Inspiration
One of the best ways to get those creative juices flowing again is to look outside your industry for inspiration.
By looking at how other businesses in unrelated industries solve problems, you can gain some valuable perspective and come up with some truly innovative solutions for your own business.
Here are a few examples of how you can do just that.
- Take a cue from the retail world
In the retail industry, one of the biggest challenges is getting customers into the store in the first place.
To overcome this challenge, retailers have become very creative in their marketing efforts, coming up with unique and attention-grabbing campaigns that make people want to visit their store.
As a doctor, you may not be able to put up a giant neon sign or hand out free samples, but you can use some of the same principles to get your patients in the door.
For example, you could offer a free health screening or host a seminar on a topic that would be of interest to your patients.
- Learn from the food industry
The food industry is another great source of inspiration when it comes to creativity.
After all, there are only so many ways you can cook a chicken, but chefs continue to come up with new and innovative dishes that amaze and delight diners.
Similarly, as a doctor, there are only so many ways you can treat a cold or broken bone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find new and better ways to do it.
By thinking outside the box, you may just come up with a revolutionary new treatment method that could change the medical landscape forever.
- Get inspiration from the world of art and fashion
Art and fashion are two industries that are known for their creative flair.
If you’re ever feeling stuck, take some time to browse through a museum or flip through a fashion magazine—you’re sure to find plenty of inspiration there.
While it may seem like an unlikely place to look for medical inspiration, you’d be surprised at how often doctors and nurses have found creative solutions by taking cues from the world of art and fashion.
For example, nurses have been known to use scarves and other accessories to create unique and stylish uniforms that stand out from the sea of boring scrubs worn by most other medical professionals.
5. Be Open to New Ideas to get Unlimited Creatives
When it comes to running a medical practice, there are a lot of balls to keep in the air.
Between seeing patients, managing staff, and keeping up with the latest developments in your field, it can be tough to find time to be creative.
However, being creative is essential to the success of your practice.
Here are a few tips on how you can be more creative in your medical practice.
- Make Time for Creativity
The first step to being more creative is making time for creativity.
This may seem counterintuitive, but if you want to be more creative, you need to set aside time specifically for brainstorming and coming up with new ideas.
You might want to set aside an hour each week to brainstorm new marketing ideas, treatment options, or ways to improve patient care.
Alternatively, you could schedule a monthly brainstorming session with your staff.
Whatever you do, make sure you set aside some time each week or month specifically for creativity.
- Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Another way to be more creative is to get out of your comfort zone. If you always do things the same way, you’re not going to come up with new ideas.
So mix things up a bit!
Try something new once in awhile, whether it’s a new marketing tactic, a different approach to patient care, or even just a different route to work.
By breaking out of your comfort zone, you’ll open yourself up to new possibilities and new ideas.
- Be Open-minded
One final tip for being more creative is to be open-minded.
Creativity requires an open mind that is willing to consider new and different ideas.
If you’re too closed-minded, you’ll never come up with anything original or innovative.
So the next time someone suggests a crazy idea, don’t dismiss it out of hand—give it a chance!
You never know where the next great idea will come from.
By following these five hacks, you’ll never run out of ideas for marketing your health care practice.
By repurposing existing content, using data to inform your strategy, taking advantage of user-generated content, collaborating with others, and keeping an idea log, you’ll always have a wealth of fresh ideas at your disposal.
So what are you waiting for? Put these hacks into action and see how they can help take your marketing efforts to the next level!
