How to promote a Medical Sector with Digital Marketing?
Over the last few years, we have seen boom period of digital
marketing. It has started infusing in almost every industry. While it was
possible earlier to do things without digital marketing and go for more
traditional methods, today, however, healthcare digital marketing are
indispensable. Let’s have a look at the role of Digital Marketing in Healthcare
Industry.
“Searching for health information
is the 3rd most popular online activity”
Why Healthcare and Digital Marketing are Joining Hands?
Healthcare
The main reason is a huge number of people are not only
becoming active online but are also looking for solutions to their problems
online. This being the case, healthcare industry cannot or in fact should not
neglect digital marketing. It is safe to assume that digital marketing combined
with healthcare has a pool of opportunities in it.
Things healthcare industry should know about digital
marketing
Digital marketing
includes mobile marketing, content marketing, search engine marketing, social
media marketing, and more. Since digital marketing is an inexpensive as well as
an effective way of marketing when compared to traditional methods, healthcare
industry cannot miss out on digital marketing.
How Digital Marketing Affects Healthcare Industry?
Social Engine Marketing: Businesses that employ search
engine marketing along with search engine optimization and ad campaigns gain
higher visibility than those who don’t.
Social Media Marketing: People are active on social media
and social media is equivalent to ‘word of mouth’ marketing. This type of
marketing plays a huge role in the healthcare sector. If many people around
you, recommend an XYZ doctor, you are more likely to consult that doctor.
Statistics of Digital Marketing in Healthcare
1. Over 40% of consumers say that information found through
social media affects the way they deal with their health (Media bistro)
The professionals in the healthcare industry have an
obligation to create educational content that could be shared across social
media that will help consumers about health-related issues. Others’ opinions
are often trusted but aren’t always accurate sources of insights especially
when you are dealing with such a sensitive subject like health.
2. People in the age group of 18 to 24-year-olds are more
than 2 times likely than 45 to 54-year-olds to discuss health-related things on
social media .This stats show that 18-24-year-olds adopt social media and new
forms of communication easily which makes it important for healthcare
professionals to join in on these conversations.
3. 90% of respondents, aged from18-24 years said they would
trust medical information shared people on their social media networks (Search
Engine Watch).On social media, a network of millennial is a group of people
that is well trusted online which gives an opportunity to connect with them as
healthcare professional in an authentic and new way.
4. 19% of owners of a Smartphone have at least one health
app on their phone. The most popular types are weight, diet, and exercise apps
(Demi & Cooper Advertising and DC Interactive Group). This figure points
out to the need for your healthcare organization to look into possibly
launching a health related app focused on your specialty. This shows that
digital marketing strategy for healthcare should have a strong mobile focus no
matter what their industry size is.
5. According to a recent study conducted by Media bistro,
54% of patients are more comfortable with their providers seeking advice from
online communities to better treat their problems. This shows that a lot of
people are comfortable in perceiving the Internet to be beneficial for the
exchange of relevant information even about their health.
6. According to Med Tech Media, 31% of healthcare
professionals use social media for professional networking. This shows the
importance of social media and other applications which helps in professional
development for healthcare workers from networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and
Facebook. This is undeniably an important factor of digital marketing for
healthcare.
7. As per Demi & Cooper Advertising and DC Interactive
Group, 41% of people reported that social media would affect their choice of a
specific medical facility, hospital, or a doctor. This statistic illustrates
that social media can drive both negative and positive word of mouth. This
makes it an important channel for organizations and individual in the
healthcare industry to focus on in order to attract as well as retain patients.
8. About 60% of the doctors say social media improves the
quality of care delivered to patients. This shows that many doctors believe
that the authenticity and transparency that social media helps spur is actually
improving the quality of care provided by them to the patients.
9. Google’s Think Insights has shows 119% year-over-year
increase in YouTube traffic to hospital sites. This shows that video marketing
could work better than other forms of content to convert traffic and leads with
more efficiency. The hospital facilities should look to create video content
based on patient stories, interviews, and others.
Trends in Healthcare Industry
Healthcare trends
Healthcare Market Trends
There has been a visible transformation in the healthcare
industry that creates both opportunities and challenges for marketers. There
are two variables which drive this transition. One is the rise of the digitally
empowered healthcare consumer and the other is the shift from a fee for service
payment to a healthcare delivery model on the basis of patient satisfaction,
quality outcomes, and transparency.
It affects both the ‘who’ and ‘how’ of marketing
strategies in the medical industry. Therefore, there has been a
transformation in the role of physicians as decision-makers.
There are five key trends that should be considered by every
healthcare marketer:
1. Consumers are now avid researchers
Today, the consumers are no longer satisfied to blindly
accept what a doctor tells them. They prefer doing homework before visiting a
doctor. This means that the doctor no longer has the only say on medications,
hospitals, treatment, and more. Healthcare is more like the collaboration
between the doctors and consumers, thus catering to the needs of digital
marketing for hospitals.
For healthcare marketers, there are different audiences.
This segment is the primary ‘who’ on the basis of the product or service being
offered. Not so surprisingly, doctors are the primary marketing target. And why
not? They still recommend, prescribe, advocate, and buy products and services.
However, doctor decision-making is gradually shrinking as decision-making
shifts to healthcare consumers and payers. Therefore, the emerging trend is
that healthcare marketers need to increasingly target payers and consumers.
3. Digital channels overshadowing traditional marketing
While digital marketing is infusing in almost every sector,
the healthcare industry is one of them. The last couple of years has seen a
huge jump in the preference of digital marketing over traditional marketing in
the healthcare. According to MM&M study, the greatest growth for the
biotech, medical, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical device marketing budgets is
taking place in digital sales material, mobile apps, and social media. Since
consumer marketing tricks are shifting greatly to digital ads, social media,
and mobile apps, therefore, the shift to digital channels in the healthcare
industry is no wonder.
4. Some insights by Think with Google’s ‘The Digital Journey
to Wellness: Hospital Selection’
Search engines are used by 77% of the patients before
booking appointments.
Search drives nearly 3 times as many visitors to hospital
sites as compared to the number of visitors from other affiliate/referral
sites.
44% of patients schedule an appointment who research
hospitals on a mobile device.
The decision process is empowered by digital content.
Before booking an appointment –
77% of patients use search.
26% used reviews generated by consumers.
50% used health information sites.
54% of the patients used health insurance company sites.
83% used hospital sites.
5. Growth rate of Indian Healthcare Industry
As per the predictions of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India,
the Indian healthcare market which is currently worth of US $100 billion will
grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23% to hit US $280 billion by
2020. This is due to increase in adoption of digital techniques. Seeing these
growth trends in India, Google Health card offers health services in India
Also, the Healthcare Information Technology (IT) market
which is currently valued at US $1 billion will grow 1.5 times more by 2020.
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