How to Market my Clinic: 10 ways to attract patients to your Clinic in 2023
The eternal goal of any new or established clinic is to grow its client database. They are always battling with their competitors to win the favour of those looking for healthcare services so that they can go on to build an impressive reputation that will stand them in good stead for years to come.
If you work for a clinic, you will understand the importance of attracting new clients. You may also often feel the frustration of not achieving your goals when it comes to this endeavour. We’re here to introduce you to some new ways of thinking, that could help you grow your customer base.
Get More Patients by Becoming More Convenient
Just like with any business, the customer must always come first for clinics too. One of the key ways in which you can make yourself attractive to new clients is to prioritise convenience in your customer service.
Most people lead busy lives and it is surprising just how many companies limit their success by sticking to a traditional opening hours structure. Making yourself available outside of the typical business hours; Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, will open doors for you.
Potential clients looking for a clinic that is client-minded will see this as a green flag, not to mention the fact that it could make you one of the only clinics possible for them to contact and visit in the near future.
You may be questioning whether greater convenience is something you can realistically offer to clients, considering the inevitable cost involved. However, something as simple as an out-of-hours phone line can help you to tick this box.
Companies like Cymphony offer a round-the-clock call answering service that you can affordably outsource out of hours phone calls to. Many call centres follow a pay per minute payment structure. So, as well as growing a strong reputation as a client-centred clinic, you can also do so without breaking the bank.
Content Creation is Key for Clinics
In this day and age, marketing your clinic isn’t as simple as placing an advert in a newspaper, in fact, it is far from it. Now, you have to think outside the box, and the main way in which you should be doing this is by striving to become the go-to expert in your field.
With so much competition out there, clinics need to work harder to stand out as the obvious choice. One of the first things a potential client will do now is visit your website. Here, they will be looking for evidence that you will be able to provide what they need as well as going above and beyond what your competitors would be able to offer.
In order to achieve this, it is important that you create plenty of content that showcases your main selling points. One of which needs to be superior medical knowledge as, in the world of clinics, this is what separates success. Consider a company blog covering some of the main areas of healthcare that your clinic works in, or present some case studies of your recent success stories.
Lastly, remember to make your website as easy to use as possible. Not doing so will create barriers between you and potential new clients. Think carefully titled sub sections and client-minded prioritisation of information.
Social Media Helps to Win Over New Patients
As well as creating an impressive website that will help you to convert leads into new clients, you need to be creating leads in the first place. One of the key ways to make yourself known to a new audience is to utilise the power of social media. There are many tips and tricks when it comes to how to make the most of this crucial tool but an organic approach, based on common sense, will also lead to success.
For example, by maintaining a consistent presence online you will increase your chances of being discovered through things like home pages and ‘for you’ pages. These pages bring companies to the attention of those not already following them and are, therefore, key to raising awareness of your business.
Similarly, being consistent when it comes to creating interesting content will lead to you becoming memorable and the first port of call for someone looking for top-quality healthcare. Encourage audience participation with things like competitions or requests for opinions on medical topics, as the more engagement your posts receive, the further they will spread.
SEO for Clinics
Your website must be search engine optimised in order to appear in the top few results for those on the lookout for healthcare services. It is likely that such people will be asking questions about their particular area of concern, for example, diabetes, so you need to make sure your website appears to google as a strong information resource on the topic. The same goes for any of the areas of medicine you cover.
Great content and an easy-to-navigate website are the starting points when it comes to SEO, but you also need to make sure you are including keywords in your content, making content easy to read, and linking to other high-traffic websites for kudos.
Community Visibility Can Be Surprisingly Powerful
As well as thinking big with SEO and social media, building a strong presence in your local community will also generate a significant amount of interest in your clinic. You could offer free medical advice for locals in need, or sponsor local events such as fun runs and street fairs.
Catching Calls Creates Patients
When you start to generate interest, it is monumental that you never miss the opportunities that come your way. One of the main ways in which potential new clients will reach out to you is via the telephone.
Being understaffed when it comes to your telephone lines is a big mistake. While answering the phone may not seem like a priority in a busy office juggling many responsibilities, it is central when it comes to company growth.
If time is a challenge, outsource to a remote team of call handlers who can integrate into your business and provide great customer service, without it putting a strain on overall company workflow. Investing in this way is bound to create a return, especially considering the affordability of outsourcing compared to hiring full-time, in-house employees.
Furthermore, instead of having one member of staff who would inevitably not be able to answer every call, yet often be without purpose due to a lack of calls, you can benefit from a bigger team on a pay-per-minute basis.
Companies that specialise in customer service, such as call handling services, are going to provide the best people for the job when it comes to impressing those potential clients with their initial queries.
Clinics Must Build Meaningful Relationships with Their Clients
Once you’ve attracted some new clients, you need to use the opportunity to build a great reputation with them. This, in turn, ensures that you continue to build on your client base through recommendations and through future dealings with existing clients.
The medical world has a tendency to be cold, so taking the time to build meaningful relationships with your clients can really set you apart from the competition. The goal is to have every one of your clients believe that their problem is of particular importance to you. The way to achieve this is through paying careful attention to detail, listening, and going the extra mile.
The Best Practitioners Attract the Patients
Another way in which you can maintain the favour of your new clients is by making sure you attract some of the best talent in the medical field to work for you. While customer service goes a long way, your clients also need to be offered an outstanding healthcare service for their money.
Some popular ways in which firms go about building an excellent team is by offering a superior working environment. Flexible working terms are also highly sought after in post-Covid Britain, as is job security. Progression opportunities are on most people’s wish lists, as are opportunities for skill development.
How Can Clinics Get More Cases – a Summary
- Making your services as convenient as possible
- Create excellent content to showcase your expertise
- Use social media to raise awareness
- Use SEO tactics to attract attention
- Become visible in your community
- Expert Call Handling makes the most of every opportunity
- Build strong client relationships
- Build a strong team
