Almost half of all Google searches are local, which means your next patient is probably searching for care right in your neighborhood.
But if your practice isn’t showing up or standing out, you’re missing a huge opportunity.
The good news is that you don’t need a massive budget or complex strategy to attract more local patients. Just a few focused moves can make a big impact.
Here are 6 local marketing ideas that can help increase patient flow and put your practice on the map:
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Participate in community events to build visibility and trust
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Offer a free seminar that positions you as the go-to expert
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Connect with local businesses for valuable partnerships and referrals
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Leverage online listings so patients can easily find and contact you
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Host an open house to bring new faces through your doors
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Create local content that speaks directly to your community’s needs
Ready to get more patients without spending more on ads? Let’s break down how each of these strategies works and how to start using them today.
Tips for using local marketing to attract more patients
There are many ways you can utilize local marketing to increase your patient flow. For starters, you can:
Participate in community events
One of the best ways to get involved in your local community is to participate in local events. This could include sponsoring a charity event, setting up a booth at a local fair, or offering a free health screening at a community center. By participating in local events like these, you can meet new people, share information about your services, and build relationships with potential clients or patients.
Offer a free seminar
Hosting a free seminar or workshop is an effective way to showcase your expertise and provide valuable information to potential patients or clients. This may include a talk on a specific health topic, such as diabetes management or heart health, or a workshop on healthy cooking or exercise.
Connect with other local businesses
Networking with other local businesses can help increase your visibility and attract more clients or patients to your practice. For example, you may wish to consider offering a referral program to local gyms or health food stores, or partner with a local salon to offer a special wellness package.
Leverage online listings
Online listings like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Healthgrades are vital tools for local marketing. The more local listings you have, the easier it will be for potential patients nearby to find your practice online when searching for providers in your area.
Host an open house
If you’re new to the area, hosting an open house is an effective way to introduce your practice to the local community. Invite potential patients to tour your facility, meet your staff, and learn more about your services. You could also offer a free health screening or other incentives to encourage attendees to schedule an appointment.
Create local content
Creating content that is tailored to your local community is a great way to attract new patients. This includes writing blog posts about local health trends, using local SEO to tailor your content keywords around local terms (e.g., city name, “near me”), publishing articles in local publications, and more. Another great way to create local content is through videos or social media posts that highlight your involvement in the local community.
Benefits of using local marketing
There are many benefits that come with using local marketing strategies. Targeted reach, increased trust, cost, and enhanced visibility are just a few.
Targeted reach
Local marketing allows healthcare providers to reach their target audience more effectively. By focusing on the local community, you can develop a more targeted marketing message that speaks directly to the needs and interests of your desired patients or clients.
Build trust
When you focus on building relationships with the local community, it helps build trust with them. This is particularly important in the healthcare industry, where trust and credibility are critical factors in the decision-making process.
Cost-effective
Local marketing is often more cost-effective than traditional advertising methods for quite a few reasons. One of the biggest contributors to its affordability is the niche targeting aspect of it all. Print and radio ads, on the other hand, are much more expensive, with no guarantee that they’ll reach the right people. In contrast, local marketing efforts like community events, sponsorships, SEO, and online listings can be more affordable and targeted.
Improve visibility
Local marketing efforts can help to increase the visibility of your healthcare practice. By participating in local events, sponsoring community initiatives, and networking with other local businesses, you can help to raise awareness of your services and position your practice as a trusted resource in the community.
Local marketing is an effective way for healthcare providers to attract more patients and build a strong reputation in their local community. For help grasping the ins and outs of healthcare marketing, join the OPTICS™ academy to learn from experienced specialists and speak with like-minded professionals who are having the same struggles as you.