Maybe you’ve already invested time and money into proper search engine optimization for your dermatology practice website and are looking for other ways to extend your reach. Lucky for you, there are plenty of ways to attract more patients that go beyond simple SEO.
A Well-Designed Website
Your website may be easy to find, but is it functional? In today’s day and age, a well-constructed website is incredibly important for attracting customers. Many people looking for care will scour the internet for options—often landing on whichever site is easiest for them to use.
Make sure your site loads fast, is straightforward and, perhaps most importantly, is optimized for mobile devices. You want to make sure that every user is met with a great website experience regardless of whether they are on mobile or desktop.
Your site should include easy-to-find options for scheduling appointments or calling the office for more information. This will make it easy for a customer to get what they need out of your site. Furthermore, it will increase the rate at which you convert site visitors into repeat customers.
Your site can also contain a dermatology blog. This is where your expertise can really shine. Show visitors to your site that you are well-equipped to deal with anything within dermatology. By creating an outlet to present information and commonly asked questions, you can attract more customers.
Video Marketing
Video is a great tool for dermatologists to extend their reach to the masses. Investing in proper video for your practice will ensure that more eyes land on your business. This also presents a great opportunity to show the results of your work. You can write about success stories all day, but seeing is believing for the average consumer. So, show them what your practice is about!
Patient testimonials can go a long way in bringing more patients through the door. When someone is dealing with a dermatology condition, it can feel lonely, but seeing someone else who has overcome a similar issue is inspiring. By providing patient testimonials, you can attract other people with similar conditions to your business.
Social Media Marketing
Whether you want to hear it or not, social media is one of the most effective ways for a dermatology practice to extend their reach. Social media marketing goes well beyond in-feed advertising. By developing a consistent and effective posting strategy, you can play off the algorithm to show up on more people’s screens.
Social media can be a great way to tell stories of existing patients too. Like the video testimonial mentioned before, this will be similarly effective in attracting patients to your practice. People spend a lot of time glued to social media and, by not utilizing that to your advantage, you are missing out on a massive source of revenue.
Build Your Brand
Social media, site design and video are all great ways to extend your reach, but none of them can save you from a lousy brand. Establishing a strong and aesthetically pleasing brand is one of, if not the most, important factors in building your practice.
Your brand isn’t just a logo or slogan, but instead the image of your business that you create. A great image can be achieved in a few ways.
Ask yourself if the name of your business is attractive. It might sound ridiculous, but the name is the first thing that people will see about your practice. It is the first impression. Your name should be attractive and straightforward. A confusing name will confuse patients—simple as that.
Your brand’s voice should also be consistent. If you employ ads, social media marketing, website marketing and email strategy, then the voice used in each should remain consistent. Along with being easier to understand for patients, this will establish a tone that becomes associated with you. Existing patients and potential ones will become familiar with your brand this way. As they say, consistency is key.
Lastly, your brand should come off as a place that is safe and comfortable for patients. Rather than boasting about your accolades and achievements, present a message that will show patients that their concerns are your top priority. As a dermatologist, the patient always comes first, and being in touch with patient needs is extremely important. A little bit of empathy goes a long way in this business.
Focusing on these steps will ensure a brand that is more attractive to the eye.
Overview
SEO is not the end-all-be-all when it comes to attracting patients to your practice. A thoughtful website design, consistent social media strategy, video testimonials and a thought-through brand can draw more patients toward your services.
