Cast a Wider’Net!; Marketing Your Practice with a Web Site
August 18, 2008 – 7:51 am
Times are changing. Running a successful practice today requires more than a knowledge of medicine; it takes a combination of training and business acumen – skills that are no longer mutually exclusive. Nowadays, a good marketing plan should include a Web site.
Your practice can only grow when your marketing plan extends further than your own front door, and Web sites are a great way to promote your practice externally. The goal is to position your practice one level above the competition. When you put forth the effort to create a strong polished message, prospective clients will notice. They will identify with your practice and feel confident that the care you provide is of the utmost quality.
A website gives clients the opportunity to learn about your biography and history, making you more relatable to them. Your staff can also post their personal stories and current news that may be of interest to clients. This makes your practice more personal and helps foster relationships – the heart of mainstay of successful practices.
There is also great opportunity for Web sites to add value: appointments can be confirmed via email; schedules can be coordinated; referrals can be handled with ease; bills can be collected more efficiently by offering online payments; discounts, special offers and other courtesies can be extended to encourage preventive visits and increase loyalty. Such services make your practice more attractive to new members of the community, including specialty practices with which you could form alliances.
The result of building a Web site is that your practice will be seen as current and connected. It will show that you are respectful of you clients’ preferred method of communication, and it will demonstrate your consideration of their time and their need to stay up-to-date on reliable patient education. You can thoughtfully respond to their questions instead of feeling rushed during office hours.
Marketing yourself on the internet should not be on your future list; it’s essential now. Your practice will grow stronger as you cast a wider net. The only downside is that you may need more seating in your reception room!
One Response to “Cast a Wider’Net!; Marketing Your Practice with a Web Site”
Thanks for writing such an easy-to-undertsnad article on this topic.
By Stormy on Jul 12, 2011