9 Marketing Tips for Your Practice During COVID-19

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise exponentially, many practices are facing new challenges on how to manage their online presence during this global pandemic. 

We recognize that the coronavirus pandemic is tremendously affecting your practice and your patients. Unfortunately, it remains unclear on what will unfold in the days to come, that’s why leveraging digital marketing to maintain your online presence and communicating effectively with your patients becomes more important than ever for your practice. It’s time to develop a strategic plan and to adapt to new ways of operating. Here are our tips for managing your practice digitally during a crisis.  

With so much changing so quickly your practice needs to be fully aware and alerted even though times may be uncertain. Find out how to manage your online presence and keep your patients updated in a time of crisis with these 9 marketing tips. Let’s dive in. 

Tip 1: Maintain Your Google My Business Account

Your business operations may have changed during this time. Make sure your patients are cognizant of any changes to your practice’s business hours and contact information through your Google My Business profile. 

Learn More: How to Claim Your Google My Business Listing

With Covid-19 patients are urgently seeking more information from healthcare providers. Identifying any time adjustments on your account will notify potential patients when they can reach your practice along with any descriptions or information regarding those changes. 
Also include a clear voicemail recording stating when you will be closed so if people call ahead, they will know.

Tip 2: Create a Directory Listing that Generates Results

Along with updating your practice’s business hours on your Google My Business profile make sure you appear online in directory listings like Google, Yelp, Facebook, Bing, Yahoo, and more. Your name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be accurately represented throughout your website, Google Search, and Maps. If your online business listings aren’t accurate, your patients who are seeking urgent information quickly won’t be able to reach you. Make sure your NAP is updated on all media outlets.

Learn More: How to Maximize the Efficiency of Your Local Directory Listing

Tip 3: Implement an Effective SEO Strategy

Nothing is business as usual during the COVID-19 pandemic. Which means your practice needs to have an effective SEO strategy now and after COVID-19. Search engine optimization (SEO) helps keep your practices’ website at the very top of search engines like Google. As of now, COVID-19 is affecting search traffic. 

Now more than ever, the need for a long term SEO strategy is pivotal. Maintaining your website at the top of Google’s first page can help your practice stay in business and continue to drive in new patients once things are back to normal. Make sure your practice continues to rank for top keywords in your market during this time. 

Learn More: How to Implement SEO on Your Website

Tip 4: Update Your Website with Relevant Content

It’s important that your website is current, relevant and appropriate during COVID-19. Make sure you have dedicated COVID-19 content. This will not only help your SEO but provide valuable advice to patients in search of more information. 

Learn More: Update or Delete? What to Do With Old Content on Your Website

For example, if you work in the eye care industry make sure you are alerting your patients on how COVID-19 can affect your eyes along with protective measures against the coronavirus. Veterinary professionals can create content regarding COVID-19 and pet owners. Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC for information on what pet owners should do in order to protect themselves from the virus and tips on how to keep pets safe during COVID-19. 

Lastly, as a chiropractic professional you may be struggling to manage your practice because businesses like yours require close contact with clients. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people must be 6 feet away from each other to limit the spread of the virus. If this is the case, add a popup or a banner to your website stating any impactful messaging from your business in response to COVID-19. Another tip is offering emergency services only and providing an option for patients to wait in their car instead of in a waiting room.

Tip 5: Utilize Telemedicine to Care for Your Patients

With social distancing, your practice may need to start adopting telemedicine and virtual care to help assist your patients while keeping yourself and your staff safe during COVID-19. If you can virtually treat your patients try introducing telemedicine into your practice. This may even make your patients feel more comfortable rather than waiting in their car to be seen.

Through secure live chats, text messaging, video conferences, and emails you’ll be able to diagnose symptoms prescribe medications and provide treatment plans for your patients.  

It’s important to provide this service during a crisis because you can still check in with your patients through virtual appointments or virtual screenings and treat them without person to person contact.

Tip 6: Communicate, Be Reliable & Stay Informed

Through the chaos and franticness of COVID-19, be sure you are responsive and monitor your emails and phone calls. Make sure you are communicating effectively with your patients by providing the latest and updated information about the virus. As a healthcare professional you must also keep yourself informed on any news or updates about COVID-19. You can do this by checking for credible sources like the CDC. The last thing you want to do is mistakenly provide false information to your patients about the virus. 

Tip 7: Keep Socializing Through Social Media

As you keep your social distance from others stay connected with your followers. Update your social media platforms with COVID-19 content.

Learn More: 5 Benefits of Using Social Media for Healthcare Practices

Make sure your ads or any promotions you are running don’t include words like “celebrate” or “make an appointment now” because with the current circumstances that doesn’t seem appropriate at all. Focus on how you can better attend and care for your patients. 

Your online messaging and tone should be aligned throughout all forms of social media regarding COVID-19. Engage with your patients by using your platform to share videos and photos on how you’re practicing social distance and staying healthy. If you come across any articles that would be valuable for your patients to read be sure to reshare it on social media.  

Tip 8: Postponing Nonessential Appointments

Continue to keep in mind what’s best for your patients. If you believe it is better to postpone nonemergency and nonessential appointments for the better care and safety of your patients and your staff then do so. 

Remember by implementing telemedicine you’ll be able to care for your patients virtually during social distancing. Send out emails to your patients letting them know you can still care for them through virtual services or simply postpone the appointments until further notice. 

Tip 9: Get Your Practice Ready & Prepare to Care for COVID-19

It’s important that patients who are searching for your practice are aware of any changes and know how to reach you. By applying these tips into your digital marketing strategy you’ll be well-positioned online in order to care for more of your ideal patients as well as retain your current patient base.

No Time? Let Experts Take Care of Your Online Marketing Strategy

We understand that the coronavirus pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. Let us make it easier for you, especially during this time by taking care of all your digital marketing needs, so your practice can get ahead and continue to drive in new patients once this is all over. 
Focus on what’s important to you and let our marketing strategist do all the work. Give us a call at 800.792.8384 or click here to discover our digital marketing solutions.