Cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology are competitive industries with a growing demand for procedures. In order to stay ahead, successful practices are always looking for new ways to attract potential patients. Here are the three best ways practices are finding new patients.
Website Marketing for Cosmetic Surgery Practices
Website marketing is imperative for practices to attract new patients in the competitive and ever-growing cosmetic/plastic surgery industry. An effective website should be designed with the user in mind, providing a user-friendly and informative experience for potential patients.
A well-designed website should have clear navigation, high-quality images, and comprehensive information about the procedures offered by the surgeon. The information provided should be easy to understand, educational and answer frequently asked questions. The aesthetic practice website should also provide information about the surgeon’s credentials, experience, and qualifications to help potential patients make an informed decision about their procedure.
What most new practices sadly realize early on is that simply having a website is not enough to be useful to a practice. There are millions of website competitors that compete to be more visible. Search engine optimization (SEO) is an important aspect of website marketing for aesthetic practices. By optimizing websites for search engines, especially Google and Bing, they can increase the chances of appearing at the top of search engine results when potential patients search for cosmetic and plastic surgery-related keywords. Practices should use keywords that are relevant to their services and target the right audience. They should also use meta descriptions and titles that accurately reflect the content of their website, making it easier for search engines to index and rank their site. SEO is not just limited to the website; it should also be focused on outside of the website (off-site SEO.)
Since website marketing is so important to an aesthetic practice’s success, in most cases, it should not be delegated to office staff. Hiring a professional digital marketing and SEO team will often cost more money than using officer personnel. However, the benefits for many far outweighs the cost. Some marketing firms provide more than just website management and SEO services, they provide reputation management. Customers are much more likely to choose someone with 5 stars over someone with a 3-star rating.
Paid advertising, such as Google Ads, is another way to increase visibility and drive traffic to the website. With Google Ads, cosmetic and plastic surgeons can create targeted advertisements that appear at the top of search engine results, increasing the chances of potential patients clicking on their website. Paid advertising can be a cost-effective way to reach a large audience, and by using targeted keywords, the surgeon can reach potential patients who are actively searching for their services.
The medical industry is highly regulated, so it’s important to ensure that all marketing tactics comply with laws and regulations – another reason why it is best to use a professional team rather than an amateur.
Social Media Marketing in Aesthetic Practices
Another way surgeons are finding new patients is through social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter provide a way for surgeons to engage with potential patients and promote their services. They can share before and after photos, educational content, and other information about their procedures to help build trust and establish themselves as experts in their field.
Cosmetic Practice use of Referral Marketing
Finally, plastic and cosmetic surgeons can find new patients through referral marketing. Encouraging current patients to refer friends and family members can be an effective way to build a steady stream of new patients. Surgeons can offer incentives, such as discounts on future procedures or gift certificates, to encourage referrals. Some plastic surgery software with PMS systems have these capabilities built in.
There are many ways cosmetic surgeons, plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists can find new patients, but website marketing is the top option. A well-designed website, optimized for search engines and paired with paid advertising, can help attract potential patients and provide them with the information they need to make an informed decision. Social media and referral marketing are also effective ways to reach new patients, and combining these strategies can help aesthetic medical practices build a strong patient base and establish themselves as leaders in their field.