3 Healthcare Marketing Trends to Watch in 2018

In 2018, healthcare marketing continues to evolve with constant changes that are tailored to patient demands. Although the healthcare industry has been a leader in implementing the latest technology that supports the provider, the industry has been slow to implement patient-centric advances.

Is your healthcare business advancing with the latest marketing trends to help you stay ahead of the competition while growing your business? If that’s a no, Creative8 is here to share with you our top 3 healthcare marketing trends to watch for in 2018.

Patients want critical information, NOW.

In retail, a smart shopper makes a confident purchase decision after evaluating reviews, pricing, and competing brands. The same demand for information and patient behavior has made its way over to the healthcare industry. This is where healthcare marketers can offer a patient-centric experience with online reputation management to monitor and respond to online reviews, social media comments, questions, and concerns. Want to be ahead of the trend? Incorporate Chatbots into your marketing strategy. Advancements with this patient communication system will have the power to replace search windows and many apps in the not-so-distant future. This leads us to the next marketing trend to watch for in 2018, patient portals.

Patient portals are due for an upgrade.

As more consumer-oriented tech companies enter the market, healthcare providers are looking for ways to increase patient engagement and offer care outside of the traditional setting. Does your healthcare business use a patient portal1? Well, it’s due for an upgrade. To improve features with a patient-centric approach, your business needs to understand specific patient needs. Start by conducting a patient survey to lay the foundation for more control over their care. This is likely to result in a more sophisticated and user-friendly portal that facilitates interactive engagement between the patient and provider.

Let video be your voice.

For doctors, social media is an essential platform to expand reach and enhance engagement. Patients value brands that offer relevant and unique content that hold their attention to share and engage with. Is your content compelling enough? If your next social media post is to share an article of an award your hospital has achieved, reconsider your delivery. How about sharing a video that tells a story and tugs at the heart of the viewer? This is a SHOW not TELL type of delivery. Show how the award was earned through the eyes of the staff, patients, and community at large. Here is a video example that does just that.

If your healthcare business wishes to stay competitive in the market, let’s have a discussion about how we can adjust your marketing strategy to align it with current healthcare marketing trends. Create new opportunities for your hospital or practice with a company that understands the business of medicine. Creative8 assists marketing clients in Houston, Texas, and beyond. Call us today for a free consultation and digital marketing report to get started at 713.322.6481.

1 A patient portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. Using a secure username and password, patients can view health information such as: Recent doctor visits. Discharge summaries. Medications. Source: HealthIT.