Consumers want to know more about their health. Whether it's questions about their latest symptom, or information about a loved one they're caring for, they're always looking for quality information to answer their questions. Increasingly, the Internet is where they're turning to find it.
With the ability to search millions of sources of information in a few seconds, the Internet has drastically changed how people interact with information, and health care is no different. Increasingly, the Internet is where people turn to arm themselves with information before they consult with their health care professional.
In a recent survey of adult Internet users, the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project found that:
Simply put, health care consumers crave the latest and best information they can find about health care, from information about procedures to support articles that help to keep them on track with their exercise or weight loss program.
This is a huge opportunity for health care providers to use Inbound Marketing to make sure those consumers are getting the information they need by producing and promoting informative content that will help consumers educate themselves about their health concerns. It's also an opportunity to make sure they are getting the right information, which will make conversations with health care providers a lot easier and more productive.
It starts with creating great content that meets the information needs of consumers who are searching for health care information. Maybe it's a tip sheet on "A Parent's Guide to Having a Child Infected With Chickenpox", or a blog that focuses on the challenges of eating gluten-free or perhaps an app that can help manage a weight loss program.
Most health care providers are already producing - have produced - this information for brochures and fliers in the past, so repurposing to get it online is the most likely order of the day. There are dozens of great content opportunities for health care providers.
Once that great content is in place, the next step is promotion so consumers know the answers to their questions are out there and can find it. This is where social media comes into play. Recent studies have shown that 42% of consumers have used social media to access health-related consumer reviews, and 20% percent have joined a health forum or community.
Social media is particularly popular among younger consumers, who tend to trust it more as a credible source of information. Studies also show nearly 90 percent of young adults 18-24 would trust health information from social media.
What would this look like? The Content Marketing Institute featured a couple of great examples in a recent blog that are great examples and inspiration. The first example they featured was the Cleveland Clinic's Health Hub, a online portal for health tips and news, videos, physician blogs, etc. Launched in May, the site is drawing more than 100,000 visitors per month.
Another great example, the MyWay app from Children’s Hospital in Boston, which combines great content with an online tool help visiting families manage their visit. It helps patients navigate the hospital and satellite locations, find local restaurants and hotels, and even locate activities to entertain siblings during a child’s hospital stay. The hospital also has a powerful Facebook presence, boasting a primary page with more than 700,000 “likes,” as well as disease- and disorder-specific pages and online support groups.
By instituting Inbound Marketing, health care providers will not only be helping consumers, but they will be helping themselves through:
Conclusion
Given consumer demand for health care information, and the vast amounts of information health care providers already produce, Inbound Marketing seems a natural fit and a great opportunity for health care providers to better engage and attract prospective patients.
Topics: Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing
