Healthcare Marketing
Healthcare marketing is essential to attracting new patients, staying in front of existing patients, and educating consumers and peers about the latest news and updates related to the addiction treatment industry.
Maintaining a quality website, practicing ethical search engine optimization (SEO), and engaging consistently with the social media community can increase your patient base and help your treatment center become a reputable and well-known industry leader.
An estimated 72% of Internet users in the United States looked online for health-related information within the past year — 77% of whom used search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, as reported by Pew Research Center. The Internet is a convenient and useful resource for people to learn more about health conditions and related treatments — especially for those who suffer from substance use disorders and are hesitant to consult with their families and doctors on behalf of factors such as fear and stigma. If you operate a healthcare center that treats addiction and substance use disorders, focusing on healthcare marketing can demonstrate to prospective patients that your organization is knowledgeable, experienced, authoritative, and devoted to helping them achieve long-term recovery.
Be Transparent
Today’s healthcare consumers expect transparency from providers so they can make educated decisions that allow them to get the best value for their money, according to a 2018 report published in American Health and Drug Benefits. Consumers want descriptions and details about the services and treatments offered, how they work, who they are for, and how much they cost. They may also want to know more about your rehab center’s staff and whether they are qualified and experienced in treating addiction. Transparency demonstrates to patients that your organization is honest, credible, and willing to provide information to help them make the best choice.
Maintaining a quality website, practicing ethical search engine optimization (SEO), and engaging consistently with the social media community can increase your patient base and help your treatment center become a reputable and well-known industry leader.
An estimated 72% of Internet users in the United States looked online for health-related information within the past year — 77% of whom used search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, as reported by Pew Research Center. The Internet is a convenient and useful resource for people to learn more about health conditions and related treatments — especially for those who suffer from substance use disorders and are hesitant to consult with their families and doctors on behalf of factors such as fear and stigma. If you operate a healthcare center that treats addiction and substance use disorders, focusing on healthcare marketing can demonstrate to prospective patients that your organization is knowledgeable, experienced, authoritative, and devoted to helping them achieve long-term recovery.
Be Transparent
Today’s healthcare consumers expect transparency from providers so they can make educated decisions that allow them to get the best value for their money, according to a 2018 report published in American Health and Drug Benefits. Consumers want descriptions and details about the services and treatments offered, how they work, who they are for, and how much they cost. They may also want to know more about your rehab center’s staff and whether they are qualified and experienced in treating addiction. Transparency demonstrates to patients that your organization is honest, credible, and willing to provide information to help them make the best choice.
Provide Research-Based Information
Evidence-based addiction treatments such as medical drug detox and cognitive-behavioral therapy are backed by scientific research that supports the efficacy of these treatments. Your drug rehab website should reference studies and articles published in medical journals and on .gov and .edu websites to demonstrate that your organization is up to date on the most recent services. Using research-based information demonstrates that your rehab center offers safe, quality, and effective addiction treatment.
Update Your Site Regularly
Google’s algorithm takes freshness into consideration when ranking search results. This means Google will crawl your website regularly to detect new blog posts, new web pages, and new statistics to determine whether your site should be ranked higher in searches above your competitors. To start ranking higher in Google, publish new content regularly and update old blog posts with new data and statistics related to addiction and substance use disorders. Also, when referencing medical studies and data, try to find sources that are no older than three years old.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Prospective patients will visit your website because they want to learn more about search words related to your healthcare business. A person who suffers from alcohol addiction may want to know more about withdrawal symptoms or how long it takes to go through alcohol detox. Others may want to know the common signs of their potential problem so they can arrange for their loved one to get treatment.
Stay Engaged on Social Media
Choose a User-Friendly Web Design
Work with a web development or healthcare marketing firm that can help you design a clear, concise, easy-to-use interface for your website. Visitors to your site should easily be able to navigate your site and find the information they want— otherwise, they will likely leave your website and go to another. Make sure your website is user-friendly and prominently displays links to your services, treatments, drug rehab programs, locations, staff, contact information, company information, blog, and financial/payment information. Choose a font that is easy to read and avoid black or dark-colored backgrounds that cause eye strain and discomfort.