Your patients go to the web first. Are you making the most of the opportunity?
Hospital leaders sometimes don’t think of their facility’s website as a marketing tool. Your website is one of the most important marketing tools you can have. In fact, it is more than a marketing tool. It’s often the first impression you make with your community. Make that impression count!
Everyone in healthcare knows that first impressions can make or break the patient experience. Making a good impression with your website can be a huge factor in a person’s decision to choose your hospital or to go somewhere else.
Good design matters
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but who really follows that advice – especially on the web? Research shows that the look and feel of a website has a direct effect on what a person expects from your brand.
Take a look at your website and think about what kind of impression you are making. If your website looks bad, is confusing or difficult to navigate, just imagine what kind of service people will expect to find at your hospital!
A simple design that is easy to use is a big step toward making a good impression. Don’t worry about flashy bells and whistles. A simple, attractive website that looks good and is easy to read on computers, tablets and mobile phones is all you really need.
Provide the right information
Research shows that the majority of people look online for information about their health and healthcare services. The internet is often the only tool they use to make decisions about where to seek medical care.
Having the right information on your website is crucial and can guide people in their decision-making.
Phone numbers, information about services, hours of operation and other important information should be easy to find for anyone who opens your website. Information about providers and and healthcare resources is also a great way to equip readers with information to make healthcare decisions.
If someone goes to your website to see if you offer breast cancer screening and they can’t find information about it, they will assume you don’t offer it.
Equally important is keeping your content fresh. Outdated services lists, biographies of providers who have moved on or information about events that have long past are signs that you aren’t engaged online.
If your hospital doesn’t make a good first impression with its website, there won’t be a second impression.
More than a marketing tool
Your website is more than another way to advertise. It’s a chance to add value to your brand and the user experience by providing content and acting as a resource for your community.
Hospitals and clinics have an opportunity to establish a reputation as a trusted source of information and to promote awareness of their services and specialties. Doing so is not only a great way to reach a broader audience, but it is essential for rural hospitals that have to compete with bigger medical facilities in the city.
A healthcare marketing professional can help
SRJ Marketing Communications has been building websites for hospitals since the early days of the internet. With experience designing integrated marketing plans for healthcare facilities, our web design and content creation teams can build a website that makes a great first impression – and keeps people coming back!
To learn how our team can help your hospital succeed call 1-800-441-7401 for a free consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
