New Patient Acquisition Strategy Guide

Because so many healthcare consumers turn to the internet to find a new healthcare provider, not having a strong online presence makes your medical practice virtually invisible to potential patients.  

Patient acquisition marketing is all about strategies that make it more likely that patients in your local territory will encounter your medical practice brand when they search for care services. This is mostly achieved through search engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising (Google Ads or social media advertising), and Google Business Profiles. Social media and online reputation management (gaining ratings and reviews) work to supplement your online presence. 

It can take about seven to 10 “touchpoints” before a consumer makes a final decision to go with one healthcare provider over another. The more often patients see your medical practice during their internet search activities, the more “touchpoints” there will be to help acquire new patients. That’s why it is essential to have a website optimized for conversions, including seamless capture of a new patient appointment request (a patient lead). 

What types of practices or groups can benefit from this guide?

Any medical practice–groups included–that has a goal to get new patients should download this guide. Our patient acquisition strategy guide covers several aspects of digital marketing, some that you may not be currently utilizing which could be a game changer for attracting new leads. 

Because digital marketing is an investment, performance tracking is necessary to confirm ROI. Core KPIs to track are website traffic, ad impressions, ad click-through rate, conversions (when a consumer completes a desired action), social media engagement such as likes and comments, Google Business Profile activity, new reviews, and more. Without marketing expertise, performance data can be difficult to interpret. With the help of an experienced digital marketing agency, you can get a more accurate reading of your performance and ROI. 

Some medical practices opt to keep their marketing efforts “in house.” What every healthcare business manager should know is that effective marketing is a full-time effort that requires consistency. For a medical practice staff member already tasked with multiple responsibilities, new patient acquisition activities can easily fall through the cracks during busy weeks.  

Successful marketing initiatives often require advanced skills and experience. For example, to run a cost-effective Google Ads campaign requires advanced keyword research skills, interpretation of reporting data, and coordination of aspects such as copywriting and landing pages. There are also Google Ad regulations that pertain to healthcare that must be followed to keep your business account in good standing. 

For medical practices in heavily competitive markets that want their patient acquisition strategy to be implemented correctly and consistently, we highly recommend hiring a full-service digital marketing agency like iHealthSpot. 

Content marketing is a digital strategy that works to build trust and authority with audiences and Google’s algorithms. Your website is the primary hub of your content marketing, but you can supplement efforts through social media posts. By providing website content and regular blog posts that educate patients about their medical conditions and treatment options, you demonstrate a commitment to helping the public make informed decisions. Such efforts work in favor of your medical practice brand. 

Content marketing also powers your online visibility as a core component of search engine optimization (SEO). By infusing high relevance content with phrases that patients frequently search for on Google, you increase your chances of appearing more often for those who are actively looking for healthcare services. 

Absolutely! Feel free to explore some of our related marketing strategy guides and resources: Marketing For Dentists | Marketing For Dermatology | Marketing For Hospitals | Orthopedic Marketing