Medical Marketing Matters | Information for Medical Marketing and Public Relations Professionals

Turn Your Brand Inside Out

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Posted on October 10, 2012 by admin

The winter months are upon us and with it comes the cold and flu season. Coughs, sneezes and sniffles are often followed by a request for a Kleenex, rarely referred to as a tissue. Trademarked in 1924, Kleenex has become genericized in the United States. The popularity of the product has resulted in the use of its name to refer to any facial tissue, regardless of the brand. Dictionaries including Merriam-Webster and Oxford now define the brand name as such.

The term branding is one of the most popular buzz words in the world of marketing. Building and maintaining a strong brand are critical for any successful business model. Branding a medical practice extends beyond a logo and a brochure; it is projected Continue reading →

QR Codes: Marketing Tool or Toy?

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Posted on October 9, 2012 by admin

Long before these funny little images invaded the center of magazine ads, medical staffers may have recognized these boxed images on pharmaceuticals and other supplies.

A QR (Quick Response) Code is a matrix bar code readable by QR scanners, mobile phones and smartphones. While nearly half of all mobile phones in use are Smartphones
and 25% of American adults own a tablet, the internet continues to become more accessible.

QR codes are not only a growing trend in the marketing world, but are being utilized in the medical field. Many medical facilities are beginning to replace the traditional bar codes with QR codes because it can hold more information than its counterpart. Tracking medication, patients, medical records, and emergency medical bracelets are just a few of the many applications.

Marketers utilize QR Codes to provide quick access to websites, promotions, events, surveys, product details, and are finding it improves their search engine optimization on websites. Whether this trend will continue in the marketing world depends on increased Smartphone sales; marketers creative applications for the end-user; and consumer usage.

Medical Websites

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Posted on October 1, 2012 by admin

Technology, coupled with the Internet has drastically changed consumer habits in the way they shop, bank, read books, make reservations, research, and receive government ?

Even if your practice or medical facility does not have a website, chances are you are already on the internet. Blogs, chat rooms and review sites allow patients (or even your competition) to make anonymous comments about you, your staff and your practice.
Patient Internet usage for medical information has outpaced medical practices website development. There are a number of reasons medical practices have been slow to adopt this efficient means of marketing and communicating. These obstacles include concerns about confidentiality, legal, liability issues, and the belief that the patient population is not utilizing the Internet.

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Damage Control: When a Few Bad Apples Spoil the Bunch

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Posted on August 20, 2012 by admin

Bad press can create a public relations crisis for an entire industry. You can create an immunity for your practice by preparing ahead.

One glaring example in the medical field are pain clinics. For years the press has reported on Pill Mills, Prescription Rings, Pill Peddlers – the media descriptions are Continue reading →

A Shopping Trip that Pays!

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Posted on June 29, 2012 by admin

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. You may have the best and the brightest medical staff, but many times the Patient Experience ends at the Appointment Desk – the first impression.

Medical practices can no longer rely exclusively on new patient referrals. Potential patients shop around, self-referring based on a number of factors including, insurance Continue reading →