The Internet Has Completely Changed the Way Patients Find Doctors

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Marketing experts advise new physicians to work with marketers to gain a competitive edge.

-- Since the launch of the Internet, the way people find a physician has dramatically changed. Doctor's offices now face an uphill battle when it comes to increasing their patient numbers. With more people owning a smartphone than ever before, information is at the fingertips of most everyone. It was not that long ago people used word of mouth to find a doctor, but now, patients are more tech-savvy than ever before and the information available to them is changing the way they choose a doctor.

It is difficult to believe there was once a time information was not so readily available. Some people would pick a doctor and hope for the best, while others would use the Yellow Pages to find information. While having information available to patients is a good thing, it also can put a doctor at a disadvantage, especially if their marketing plan is not a solid one. When it comes to standing out from the crowd, doctor's offices must use healthcare marketing to their advantage.

Online patient reviews and social media are two areas that can make or break a doctor. Positive patient reviews are on the shoulders of the doctor and their staff, based on the care they provide patients. If a doctor's reviews are lacking, this is one of the first things that needs to be addressed.

Branding is an integral part of gaining attention from the community. When someone is looking for a doctor, they will check multiple platforms to gain the information they need. If the branding is not consistent across all platforms, this can cause a person to look elsewhere for their medical services. A professional marketer can help physicians identify the weak areas in their marketing plan so they are able to rise above their competition and gain new patients.

Companies like Lemonade Stand take a concerted approach to help their clients overcome the obstacles that are preventing them from being able to gain attention from individuals who are searching for medical care services. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research, 9 out of 10 people search for location-based services on their smartphones. If a doctor has not taken ownership of their listings on Google and other sites, they could be overlooked in these searches.

SEO is also an important part of marketing. In today's competitive market, physicians who are not listed near the top of search engine result pages are going to find their new patient inquiries staying low. Most people do not look past the first page of result pages so rising in rank is an important consideration. Marketers will offer whitehat marketing SEO practices that help physician's offices to naturally rise in rank.

They will also work to ensure the office is producing stellar industry expert content to bring in new patients. If the doctor can establish themselves as an industry leader, they will be better respected in the community and will find their search engine rank to also be positively affected.

Doctors who do not have a strong online presence are not going to be able to attract new patients. Gone are the days when doctors could put up a sign and start getting calls right away. Hiring a marketing expert will help doctors to improve their online presence and their patient load.

Contact Info:
Name: Greg Trimble
Email: Send Email
Organization: Lemonade Stand
Website: https://www.lemonadestand.org/

Release ID: 88932530

CONTACT ISSUER
Name: Greg Trimble
Email: Send Email
Organization: Lemonade Stand
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