A great way to keep your patients up-to-date with the ever changing healthcare issues, trends & tips is by generating a newsletter. The fastest and least expensive method for circulating a newsletter is to send it via email; this saves on printing and mailing costs, and allows you to reach a broader audience with just the click of a mouse. Software Advice, a website that reviews medical software (here), recently wrote an article that outlines some steps to help you thrive if you decide to create a newsletter; some tips are:
- Know your brand. Use the same look of any marketing materials you already have so that when your patients receive it, they will recognize who it’s coming from.
- Build a quality email list. Ask patients, and even providers, for their email addresses when you come into contact with them. Quickly let them know what the benefit for providing this information is going to be, and assure all customers that you will never sell or give out their information, and that they won’t be bombarded with spam. If you already have a website, think of adding a newsletter sign-up button so anyone that finds you on the web can sign up for it.
- Develop Interesting, Relevant Content. In a nutshell, it’s important to know your audience and give them information that is pertinent to them and will enrich their lives and/or health. The main purpose of a newsletter is to educate your audience and let people know they need your services; it’s not just to promote your business.
- Write a Good Subject Line. The biggest challenge when distributing information by email is to have the reader open it. That’s why it’s crucial to capture your viewers’ attention by being as descriptive and to-the-point as possible.
- Be Consistent. Pick a schedule and stick with it. The article recommends from their experience that monthly works for patients while quarterly would be for your providers.
- Measure Your Return on Investment. Think of your marketing efforts as an investment and your success as the return. If you can, ask every patient how he or she heard about you. This will help you measure the success of your newsletter so you’ll know what is working and what needs to be tweaked.
Marketing and brand awareness are important concepts, especially in today’s technologically-oriented world. Navigate the changing times by harnessing the power of technology and making it work for your practice.