3 Steps That May Help Expand Your Scheduling Potential
This article was originally published on May 5, 2022.
69% of patients believe it is important for a doctor’s office to have a modern-looking website.1 This 3-step marketing strategy may help expand your website’s online reach and patient scheduling potential. First, you need to attract visitors to your website. Once visitors have landed on your site, you need to show them that you’re a top provider in your area. Then you can facilitate appointment bookings by making scheduling with your office as easy and convenient as possible. Luckily, there are tools and services available that can help you implement this 3-step strategy.
69% of patients believe it is important for a doctor’s office to have a modern-looking website
Step 1: Help attract more website visitors with digital ads
Digital advertising on Google, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms can help you get your practice in front of more people. Pay-per-click advertising — where you only pay when someone clicks on your ad2 — allows you to set a daily budget and direct visitors to a dedicated web page where they can easily book appointments. Social media ads are seen while users are on the platform and can be targeted to specific audiences.
Dedicated web pages for your ads, also known as landing pages, encourage people to take a specific action after your ad attracts them to your site. For example, people can book an appointment without searching through your site menu, which can make it more convenient for them to choose you. AMP Digital Marketing services help you design and track digital ad performance for your practice.
Step 2: Showcase positive online reviews
Once people have found your website, you need to demonstrate to them that you’re a good fit as their potential physician. It’s common for patients to do their own online research prior to booking an appointment. In fact, 74% of patients find online reviews very important or somewhat important when selecting a new doctor.1
74% of patients find online reviews very important or somewhat important when selecting a new doctor
A quick internet search reveals specialty practices in your geographic area, along with any patient reviews on your business profile. Building social proof is a key way to differentiate yourself from the competition. “Social proof” is defined as using others’ experiences as evidence to determine if something could be a good choice for an individual.3 For example, you may be more inclined to choose a pet sitter who displays testimonials online, rather than one who does not. AMP Reputation Management can help you respond to patient reviews and showcase them on your site to help persuade people to book an appointment.
Step 3: Incorporate scheduling directly into your website
When website visitors are ready to book an appointment, a fast and seamless online experience is essential. People are already used to booking appointments online for car maintenance, grocery pickup and other services. These same expectations carry over into the healthcare industry.
When you connect a patient portal with self-scheduling capability on your website, potential patients can skip being put on hold with the front desk and select open time slots that work for their schedules. AMP Website connects to the ModMed®Patient Portal and Self-Scheduling to provide a patient-friendly online scheduling experience.
This 3-step strategy can help expand your website’s scheduling potential. And with ModMed AMP doing the work for you to help attract visitors, you can open up new digital channels beyond traditional media, reaching potential patients in your area.
This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult with your legal counsel and other qualified advisors to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
1 According to the ModMed “What Patients Really Think” 2022 Report conducted by independent research firm OnePoll
2 Inc: How Does Pay-Per-Click Work, April 2017: https://www.inc.com/john-lincoln/how-does-pay-per-click-work-questions-answered-for-startups.html
3 According to the ModMed “What Patients Really Think” 2022 Report conducted by independent research firm OnePoll
4 American Psychological Association: Tapping our powers of persuasion, February 2011: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/persuasion