Thursday, December 6, 2007
Happy Holidays from FindUrgentCare!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Can Patients Find your Urgent Care?
In my quest for Urgent Care centers nationwide, I seek out the internet. According to market research, so do 94% of US consumers as their first stop for healthcare information. An advantage to performing the same research as our target consumer market, is that I experience the same frustrations and am able to tailor my site according to their needs. Have you seen the website of your competitor? Have you searched online for local urgent care centers? I encourage you to surf around, and find out how to market your clinic competetively.
Surprisingly, my biggest frustration as a potential consumer is the lack of vital clinic information posted on most primary websites. If I am fortunate enough to find a clinic's webpage, I often find that contact information is insufficient. Let me make a few suggestions that will help patients find your clinic:
* Include the zip code and a mapquest link if you can- providing an address without a zip code makes it much more difficult for mapquest users; most of the time, the program requires a zip code.
* Include the major crossroads, while still providing the exact address. It doesn't help a traveling patient who does not know crossroads if this is all you provide.
* Include the name of the shopping center and a familiar landmark. If a McDonald's is next to your clinic, you are allowed to mention this. Also, feel free to let the McDonald's know you are including their name in your marketing. Businesses generally appreciate more exposure, unless you mispell their name or they do not want to be associated with your business. You may even get a free Happy Meal =)
* Post pictures of your location, especially if your decor or building is something to be proud of! Either way, it will help patients quickly identify your building in your time of need.
* Use temporary, portable signage on sidewalks to attract passing traffic. This will especially help if it includes an arrow and "walk-in clinic". Clinics tucked deep into a plaza will especially benefit from this.
* Use bright or distinct permanant signage that is visible from the street. Make sure you adhere to all tenant policies if located within a plaza.
* The most obvious rule for helping patients find your clinic: Location, location location! Purchasing a great location will save you marketing dollars in the long-run by making it easier for patients to find your clinic.
* Update your website or online listing regularly!! There is nothing more dissappointing than driving to a location only to find that the hours, location, prices, or even clinic name aren't as advertised.
* Is your website on page 8 of the search results? This is where FindUrgentCare becomes valuable, you may have a beautiful website, but it won't benefit patients unless they can find it. FindUrgentCare stays up-to-date on search engine standards to provide clinics with optimal exposure.
* Did you know FindUrgentCare.com allows clinics to post a picture, provides a map, a Patient Pre-assessment Form, a link to your primary website (optional), services offered, and hours of operation?? Patients may find us by performing a search for local urgent care in major search engines.
Lastly, make sure your direct mail or ads are consistent with your website and feature landmarks, pictures, and marketing highlights.
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