5 DIY marketing strategies for time-pressed medical professionals

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Medical practices are undeniably busy places. Physicians have incredibly limited time, and administrative staff often juggle multiple roles. Despite this, attracting new patients, enhancing the experience for current patients, and improving brand perception are more crucial than ever. Effective marketing is essential for any business, and medical practices are no exception.

Yet, many medical practice owners and administrators are reluctant to manage marketing campaigns on their own due to time constraints or lack of familiarity with promotional strategies. The familiar phrase, “you don’t know what you don’t know,” rings especially true here, as it’s often impossible to know where to start with marketing or public relations if you are a novice. With search engines and artificial intelligence tools, it may be incredibly easy to search for “how” to do something, but it’s often the “why,” “where,” and “when” that elude us when first starting a new discipline.

That’s where do-it-yourself (DIY) medical marketing platforms come in. Rather than investing in an experienced, in-house marketing team or partnering with an external PR or advertising agency, a medical practice should consider leveraging a DIY platform to think like a marketer and take those crucial first steps.

Finding time for marketing

The common refrain, "But who has time for marketing?" is often heard. The reality is, if you can find a few minutes to check your personal social media or read up on the latest sports news, you can find the time to enhance your medical practice's growth, financial stability, and reputation. Using step-by-step blueprints from a DIY marketing tool, you and your team can attract new patients, engage better with existing ones, and elevate your practice.

Five practical tips to integrate marketing into your workflow

1. Distribute tasks

Share marketing responsibilities among staff members to ensure that no single person is overwhelmed. This helps maintain continuous marketing efforts even during busy times. By dividing tasks such as social media updates, email newsletters, and review responses, you can ensure a steady flow of marketing activities without overburdening any one team member.

2. Optimize short breaks

Use a 15-minute coffee break to craft a media pitch, respond to reviews, post on social media, or send out an email blast about your new referral program. Consistent small efforts can lead to significant results over time. These short, focused bursts of activity can make a big difference in maintaining an active and engaging online presence.

3. Expand job roles

Incorporate search engine marketing and reputation management into the job descriptions of front desk staff. This ensures these essential marketing activities become part of daily operations. Training your administrative team in basic marketing tasks can turn routine interactions into opportunities for promoting your practice and managing its online reputation.

4. Leverage patient feedback

Implement new methods to secure patient reviews and referrals. For example, provide links or QR codes on appointment cards to make it easy for patients to leave reviews. Encouraging satisfied patients to share their positive experiences can significantly enhance your practice’s online reputation and attract new patients through word-of-mouth referrals.

5. Enlist help

Get family members or friends involved for a few hours on weekends. Their fresh perspective can bring new ideas to your marketing efforts. Whether it’s brainstorming new content ideas or helping with social media posts, having additional hands can lighten the load and introduce creative approaches to your marketing strategy.

Getting started with DIY marketing

The DIY approach to medical marketing is not only feasible but also highly beneficial. By leveraging the right platform, medical practices can access expert guidance and tools, enabling them to take control of their marketing, enhance their visibility, engage more effectively with patients, and ultimately drive growth and success. With a bit of planning and the right resources, even the busiest practices can make time for marketing and reap the rewards of their efforts.

Effective marketing doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive. By adopting DIY strategies and utilizing the talents within your team, your practice can achieve significant marketing success without straining your resources. The right tools and a proactive mindset can turn marketing from a daunting task into a manageable and rewarding part of your practice's growth strategy.

Tom Testa is co-founder of Owned Reputation. a consulting firm that delivers do-it-yourself (DIY) promotional tools, resources, and guidance for those who are not experts in marketing communications.