Now you have a fully operational clinic, but only a few patients. What can you do to boost your clinic’s daily appointment schedule? How can you build a reputation for yourself and your clinic? One word – Marketing!
This is Part 1 of the two-part series on some relatively easy strategies that you can implement yourself. Apart from saying what works, I have also touched on how you can get started, so you can learn something from this blog post.
The two main objectives in marketing your practice, is to:
1. Build your reputation as a doctor, among the community
2. Get more people to come to your clinic
Create a website
Firstly, invest in developing a website where patients can learn about you, your medical experience, find out about the services that you provide, and maybe even book an appointment online.
How can you get this done?
There are several website development agencies that can develop a customized website for you at a very economical cost (approximately INR 5000 to INR 15000 depending on your needs). All you need to do is, search online for a website development company in your area, tell them your requirements, and you are good to go!
Conduct Drives and Campaigns in your community
This is one of the most important marketing efforts that you can do for your practice. Conducting free drives for your community has several benefits:
· You can educate people on the diseases that are prevalent in the community and how to manage them
· You can slowly build a reputation in your community
· You can raise awareness of your clinical practice and even get a huge influx of patients in your clinic
How can you get this done?
Go to schools, corporates, community centers, and conduct campaigns for breast cancer screening, chikungunya prevention drives, diabetes management campaigns or even a free basic dental check-up in your practice.
Build a referral network
Sometimes you focus so much on getting new patients, that you forget to build referral sources that can send patients to your clinic for you!
How can you get this done?
Contact social workers, school counsellors, support groups etc, and seek referrals to your clinic from their community.
Building a clinical practice, a great responsibility that must be taken seriously. The easiest way to get more people to learn about you, is by making yourself accessible to the people and providing them the ultimate care that they need to get better.
Our Part 2 in this two-part series has some additional strategies for marketing your practice. Watch this space for more info.
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