A good marketing strategy requires many different components. But few of them are as effective and essential as a good website. It’s hard to overemphasize just how important your web presence is, especially for rural hospitals. With more people searching for information about their health and healthcare options, having a great website is a critical first impression you need to get right.
To get you started, SRJ has compiled five reasons why you should pay more attention to your website.
People check the web first when searching for services
The days of the yellow pages are long over. Research shows that 95 percent of consumers look up information about local businesses online, and well over half of them go straight to a company’s website (the others are checking social media or reading online reviews). Similarly, a big majority of people search the web for information about healthcare services.
Having a good website with accessible information about your services and providers is the best way to ensure people find your web presence. Driving people to your site means that you can control the narrative and encourage them to make the call.
First impressions are the only impressions
Your website is usually the first impression a person has of your hospital. Get it wrong, and it will be the only impression.
Take a look at your website and think about what kind of impression you are making with your audience. If your website looks outdated, is confusing or is difficult to navigate, just imagine what kind of service people will expect to find if they visit your hospital!
Connect on any device
Today, there are more mobile devices of all shapes and sizes than laptop or desktop computers. That means your website has to look great on every device — every time.
From the smallest smartphones to big tablets, your website should have a design that is able to resize and fit. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, it’s time for a redesign. If it’s been a few years since it was designed, you may be driving people away.
Added value
Your website is more than an advertisement. It’s a chance to add value to your brand and the user experience by providing content. Although design and visual appeal is the first thing users see, information is what they are looking for.
Use your website as an opportunity to provide fresh, relevant and impactful content. Keeping your information, blogs and events updated will encourage people to come back more often. Give them a reason to visit your website rather than just checking out online reviews or directories somewhere else!
Websites are cost-effective
Printing and mailing newsletters, designing ads and buying space in the paper, paying someone to answer the phones after hours — the costs can add up. By contrast, adding new content to your website is quick and easy, and it’s always open! Think of it as your least expensive employee. If you have the right content on your website, you can answer most of the questions your community is asking.
Taking your website seriously and putting some effort into keeping it fresh will help improve your reputation online and will improve your ability to communicate with your target audience. If you are ready for a new approach to your web presence, give SRJ Marketing Communications a call!
The Web team at SRJ can help you develop a website and online marketing strategy that works on all devices and reaches the right people. For a free consultation, please call 1-800-411-7401.
