Much has changed in the couple of decades since Al Ries and Jack Trout—both highly respected marketing strategists—published The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing. At the time, most hospitals didn’t have “branding” in their vocabulary, less than 10,000 websites existed on the still-emerging Internet, medical practices didn’t have a “marketing person,” and social media had […]
Virtually all US hospitals now have a social media presence, with widespread adoption having increased significantly in the past few years. But a recent study suggests that hospitals are continuing to search how best to realize a meaningful purpose and payoff from social media (SM). “This dramatic increase in social media use may show the […]
A while back, before traces of autumn appeared in the forecast, most marketing pros at hospitals and group medical practices were tying a bow around their marketing strategy for the still-distant New Year. Healthcare providers have Internet Marketing near the top of the list. The Internet has become your new front door, and it commands […]
Mastery of effective communications skills in a busy medical practice is not limited to doctor-patient interaction. After all, only a fraction of the patient’s time in a typical office visit is with the provider. And the majority of their time is with…everyone else. Verbal communications skills are particularly vital to every face-to-face encounter. Virtually everyone in […]
Perhaps the most powerful tool in your hospital marketing plan is video. The creative and production costs are often low, and there are usually several options for placement where viewer interest is high. Moreover, video is a flexible and multitalented communications tool. Above and beyond the task of attracting new patients, video has the versatility of […]
This idea is funny because it’s so painfully true: “The best place to hide a dead body is page two of Google search results.” Actually, it’s not so funny. Marketing professionals recognize that most consumers who search for hospitals, doctors and health care information begin with the Internet. It has become a universal digital front […]
Almost by definition, doctors are leaders. And successful doctors are also thought leaders. We are fortunate in our work with hospitals and medical practices to know many leaders, thought leaders and influential thought leaders among the ranks of professionals. More than a few in this group are good clients. And, I’m pleased to say, many […]
We see this all the time and it drives us nuts. Hospital executives and doctors—people who are experts in their own profession—don’t have a good test for qualifying outside marketing help. And without a guide, would-be “marketers,” with limited real-world experience and knowledge, are hired for the wrong reasons. This is the first in a series […]
Clear trends in physician reviews and consumer purchase decision patterns have emerged for healthcare marketing professionals. A physician’s online presence may soon become a necessity to attract and retain patients, according to practice management research group Software Advice's 2014 survey of over 4,600 US healthcare consumers. But, compared to the previous year’s survey, the trend […]
Computers rely on software. But healthcare marketing is about the user (human) experience, and an accurate assessment shouldn't rely on software alone. Here’s how to avoid a common pothole, and how to leverage your best available tools. Software helps manage the complexity of healthcare marketing. The multi-faceted mission for hospitals, group practices and other provider organizations would […]
The Internet is video-rich. By some estimates, half of all the traffic online is in video format. And, healthcare marketing is increasingly embracing video as a means to effectively and efficiently tell its story. At nearly every point along the medical delivery continuum, hospitals, service lines and doctors’ offices can take advantage of the proliferation […]
Recent surveys have refined the profile of “Generation Y” and some of the things that healthcare marketing professionals should recognize about reaching the sometimes-elusive, and loosely defined, Millennial Generation include: “Gen-Y” is a large and desirable demographic slice that holds an important position in nearly every savvy marketing plan; Physical health and happiness is important, […]
"In a single generation there's been a fundamental shift in the way people interact with personal technology," according to Joseph Swedish, CEO of Wellpoint, Inc. “Smartphone technology, social media and data mining will drive change and shift the future of healthcare. Healthcare marketing professionals are increasingly refining their marketing plans, adjusting to how smartphones and mobile devices have dramatically […]
Most doctors recognize that healthcare’s “starting line” moved some time ago. The typical care continuum now begins online, long before the first medical office appointment or doctor-patient face-to-face encounter. Among the chief propellants of this digital shift are the: Mainstream proliferation of rapid Internet access; Wide adoption of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; […]
A basic element of healthcare delivery--one that has not changed in recent reforms and re-invention--is that medical care is truly a personal process. Yes, telemedicine has closed issues of distance. And, yes, technology advances have accelerated the speed of diagnosis and care delivery. But in the highly competitive industry, hospitals have not lost sight of the importance of […]
Sometimes healthcare marketing seems like juggling chainsaws and watermelons. In the grand scheme of things, hospital executives, administrators and marketing professionals frenetically toss around competing priorities, political pressures and shifting goals—and at the same time, assure that nothing crashes to the ground. Ultimately, the challenge for people responsible for the performance of hospital-owned ambulatory services and […]
The simple fact is that the art of storytelling is a powerful tool in healthcare marketing. In broadcast or print advertising for example, a good-health storyline is often the message fabric that engages and attracts new patients. Storytelling is common and easy to spot in external communications, but sadly, it’s underutilized (or forgotten) inside the […]
Healthcare Success’ Kylie Ladd talked with Preston Gee, Vice President, Strategic Marketing at CHRISTUS Health. They spoke about Preston’s 2014 SHSMD (Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development) presentation titled: Surf ’s Up: Catching the Consumer-Empowered Tidal Wave Produced by Exchanges [SHSMD14 Speaker Series] Hospital and healthcare marketing and strategy functions will be pivotal to […]
The fast-approaching New Year is shaping up to be even more challenging for many doctors and patients as well. In a market already strapped by a growing doctor shortage, a new report by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) forecasts nearly 25 percent of doctors may turn their back on Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans […]
The elementary formula for success in healthcare marketing and advertising is to engage a prospective patient with a meaningful answer to their problem at the right time. The recipe sounds simple enough, but putting it all together…well, it’s complicated. Here’s how to organize your tools and build your marketing, advertising and promotional plan around the […]
Audience demographics can be a bewildering blizzard of data even for numbers-oriented healthcare marketing professionals. Thankfully there are several geo-demographic data shuffling companies that decode the raw data and transform it into understandable (and useful) market descriptions. One such outfit—Esri, based in New York—has distilled a ton of data into an easy to understand description […]
Healthcare’s new breed of informed consumer—today’s prospective patient—is making important decisions about choosing a provider long before your office phone rings for an appointment. Physicians and marketing professionals understand that the early competitive battleground for attracting new patients has gone digital, where online reputation is more important to consumers than your 12-page Curriculum Vitae. Internet […]
It may seem counterintuitive, but America’s population of older adults—frequent users of healthcare services—are increasingly frequent users of the Internet. The intersection of senior citizens and the Internet is a growing demographic sweet spot for hospital and healthcare marketing for baby boomers. Although younger age groups are more closely associated with technology, gadgets and Internet […]
For nearly 10 years or so, hospitals have been struggling with how to effectively and profitably reinvent themselves. The direction is to become increasingly consumer-direct. Among the transformational market forces are the informed and empowered public, increasing competitive pressures, and the desire for hospitals to serve women and other demographic groups. Sprinkle into this recipe the overarching goals […]
[SHSMD14 Podcast Series] Healthcare Success’ Kylie Ladd chats with Elizabeth Joint, the new marketing manager at Ochsner Health System (Louisiana). They spoke during the 2014 SHSMD Connections event in San Diego. Ochsner Health System, southeast Louisiana's largest non-profit, academic, multi-specialty, healthcare delivery system, is also one of the nation’s “most wired” organizations. A unique “O […]
Online marketing and healthcare content—most notably social media—is increasingly visual. Longer ago than most of us can remember, what we now call the Internet was strictly an alphanumeric beast. It was great, as long as you could communicate strictly in letters and numbers. That didn’t last long. Communicating with visual elements—pictures, charts, animated GIFs and […]
Throughout the year I have the opportunity to speak with groups of doctors about marketing. I thoroughly enjoy the intellectual exchange with smart people, particularly when the topic is advancing the business side of their practice. Putting aside the poster presentations and beyond sharing clinical info that dominates professional meetings, doctors—usually successful practitioners—are eager to […]
Today, nearly anyone with online access can see a doctor or healthcare professional immediately. No appointment, no travel, no waiting, no hassle. A computer, smartphone or tablet increasingly connects patients and providers via live, two-way video consultation—24/7/365. What’s more, the typical insurance co-pay is relatively low, and for some people, employers cover the cost. This […]
We know for a fact that—in healthcare marketing—it can seem difficult to explain the value, importance and impact of Twitter. Have you ever been called to a set-down meeting with the boss (or even professional colleagues) and asked to defend social media in general, and Twitter in particular, as an effective marketing expense? Twitter can seem […]
Healthcare marketing professionals know what the retail-world textbook says about customers. Substitute “patient” for “customer” or “consumer” to realize how healthcare’s new swing from provider-centric to patient-centric is much more significant than a smile and warm welcome. Your relationship with healthcare’s new empowered consumer is vital element in revenue and profitability. Acquiring a new customer […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Tracy Borkowski, Director of Business Unit Marketing for Memorial Hermann Health System talks with Healthcare Success’ Kylie Ladd regarding the 2014 SHSMD Connections presentation: Attracting the Digital Healthcare Consumer: Innovations in Real-Time Online Appointment Scheduling. "There's a big appetite by consumers for online scheduling," Tracy Borkowski said, and Memorial Hermann Health System […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Mayo Clinic’s Katheryn Hawkins, Senior Analyst, and Erin Cole, Business Development Manager, talk with Healthcare Success’ Kylie Ladd regarding their presentation at the 2014 SHSMD Connections meeting. Their topic: New Methods to Identify the Right Relationship and Monitor Performance. The classic question in healthcare marketing is how to measure success. The […]
Let’s say an informed patient determined that the cost for “arteriography and angiocardiography using contrast material” was half as expensive at “Hospital A” as compared to “Hospital B.” At half price, would they want to buy two procedures? On the other hand, does the consumer trust that "cheapest available" is the ideal purchase decision in health care? More realistically, would […]
Occasionally, I get a little push-back from doctors who challenge my advice saying: “I don’t need an ‘elevator speech.’ Everyone knows who I am, I’m not pitching investors, and I’m not ‘networking.’ Besides, it sounds phony and I’d never use it.” That's not from everyone, of course. Many professionals know about the "quick message" technique, […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Stewart Schaffer, Chief Marketing Officer for BayCare Health System in the Tampa, FL area talks with Lonnie Hirsch, Co-Founder of Healthcare Success about Stewart’s presentation at the 2014 SHSMD Connections meeting this month titled: Designing a Consumer-Driven Brand Experience that Brings the Brand Promise to Life. In hospital and healthcare marketing, what […]
List this study as Required Reading for healthcare marketing professionals. The 2014 Survey of America’s Physicians: Practice Patterns and Perspectives is not only one of the largest physician surveys, it lives up to its self-description as “an unrivaled resource of information on today’s doctors for hospital and medical group executives, physician recruiting professionals, members of […]
Perhaps the idea of promoting “flu shots” isn’t particularly “glamorous” in healthcare marketing. Some doctor’s offices, healthcare providers (and marketing professionals) consider vaccinations and immunizations as ordinary and routine as remembering to turning off the lights at night. Nobody gives it much thought. Preventative care and patient wellbeing are at the top of the list, […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Lonnie Hirsch, Co-Founder of Healthcare Success talks with Marcy Marshall, Director of Employee Communications, Geisinger Health, about her upcoming presentation at the 2014 SHSMD Connections meeting titled: We Gave Our Employees a Voice: The Transformation of Employee Communications. What do you do about internal communications when health system employees—thousands of them—feel their voice […]
The Internet assures me that “we look at our smartphones 150 times each day.” It must be true…I saw it on my smartphone. Look it up…I’ll wait. But seriously…three things collided on our healthcare marketing radar recently. Collectively and individually they are sharp reminders that if your plans and strategy are not “thinking mobile,” your […]
Until recently, the concept of “brand” or “brand building” has not been too important for physician practices, medical groups or hospitals. Only a few healthcare entities took branding seriously in their marketing plans…and fewer still were able to carry it off effectively. Almost overnight, or so it seems, all that changed. To listen to some people in […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Stewart Gandolf, CEO of Healthcare Success talks with Sharp HealthCare Multicultural Community Relations Specialist Jessica Lopez, and John Cihomsky, Vice President, PR & Communications. Jessica and John will be speaking at the 2014 SHSMD Connections Conference on the topic: Building Credibility With the Hispanic Community. The concept of “Show Me. Don’t Tell […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Lonnie Hirsch, Co-Founder of Healthcare Success talks with Tom Jensen, Director of Marketing for Mercy Health System about Mr. Jensen’s upcoming presentation at the 2014 SHSMD Connections Conference on the topic: Enabling Tools and Technologies: The Rise of Google Plus. Google Plus is standing toe-to-to with Facebook, but—as Tom Jensen and Lonnie […]
For the sake of a convenient label, let’s call it the Nordstrom Syndrome. Doctors of various professional disciplines come to me, with some regularity, exhibiting symptoms of this (marketing) condition, and they want my business advice. It’s the first of two valuable marketing lessons that doctors can learn from retail stalwart Nordstrom. Lesson One… Physicians […]
Physicians, as a rule, tend to be risk adverse. The science base of healthcare, combined with training, continuing education, and experience in practice, can make medical risk manageable. Doctors—who are also owners, entrepreneurs, and the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)—tend to be especially risk adverse on the business side of healthcare. Success in marketing and advertising, […]
[SHSMD14 Speaker Podcast Series] Stewart Gandolf, CEO of Healthcare Success talks with Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Paul G. Matsen. Mr. Matsen will be speaking at the 2014 SHSMD Connections Conference on the topic: Building a Global Healthcare Brand Through Multichannel Marketing. In today’s podcast, Stewart Gandolf and Paul Matsen discuss how the world-renowned […]
A little good-natured kidding comes up around the office about how much traveling I do. Of course, that’s only when I’m actually in the office and not on the road visiting clients throughout the nation. (Well…every state except for one.) With the non-stop changes that are happening in healthcare, I love being shoulder-to-shoulder with clients, […]
One “certainty” about healthcare reform, and the continuing effects of the Affordable Care Act, is that there is no certainty…except that change is universal and it will continue. The big picture can appear—justifiably—frightening for the individual. You fear that your hard-earned career in hospital marketing is in peril, a potential casualty of a hospital roll-up, […]
Baby pictures have a nearly universal “human touch” appeal. On the social media scale of cuteness, engagement and share-ability, babies, kids and grandkids are right up there in popularity with images of “grumpy cat,” playful puppy dogs, and ice bucket videos. But evidently “cute” has its limits when baby pictures are publically posted—as they commonly […]
"Stealing from one is plagiarism,” according to American playwright Wilson Mizner, but “stealing from many is research." That said—and apropos of nothing at all—here’s a quick “research” roundup of fresh ideas and examples of how hospitals are continuing to leverage the power of video in marketing. Seriously, savvy marketing and communications executives are always learning…and […]
It never fails. Whenever I’m talking with a physician or medical marketing professional the frustrating topic of healthcare “competition” inevitably raises its ugly head. It’s inevitable because competition among providers, group practices and hospitals is increasing in intensity and healthcare reform has brought it to everyone’s doorstep. What’s more, it’s frustrating for several reasons. One […]
