7 Ways To Expand Your Telehealth Strategy

In today’s tech-driven world, digital and remote interaction is at an all-time high. It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the telehealth industry. A 2021 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found a 63-fold increase in Medicare telehealth usage during the pandemic.

Since it’s clear that telehealth is here to stay, your practice must continue to use medical technology to its full potential and have strategies in place to increase the visibility of your services.

Through social media, referrals, partnerships, your online presence, and community involvement, you can reach a larger audience and promote the use of your telehealth services. Here are seven ways to expand your telehealth strategy.

1. Understand and identify your ideal customer

Understanding your ideal customer will help you determine where to focus your time and energy. By identifying the characteristics of your perfect customer, you can more easily create marketing messages and strategies that resonate with them.

You should also consider what type of telehealth services they are looking for and how they want to receive them. For example, if you offer mental health services, are they looking for therapy sessions via video chat, or do they prefer text-based counseling? Different age groups and demographics will respond differently to various marketing messages and strategies, so it’s essential to tailor your approach.

2. Develop a multi-channel approach

Relying on one channel for marketing, such as email or social media, is no longer enough to reach your audience. To be successful, you need to develop a multi-channel approach that meets people where they are.

This might include email marketing, social media, SEO, and paid advertising. Develop a solid presence on review sites by asking past patients or clients to leave reviews on sites such as Google and Yelp and directories such as Healthgrades and Vitals.

By using a variety of channels, you’ll be able to reach more people and effectively promote your telehealth services.

3. Generate word-of-mouth referrals

One of the most powerful marketing tools you have at your disposal is word-of-mouth referrals. When someone has a positive experience with your telehealth services, they’re likely to tell their friends and family about it.

One great strategy to promote customer referrals is to create an incentive program for current customers. You can use referral platforms to incentivize and track customer referrals.

4. Develop partnerships with other businesses

Partnering with other businesses in the healthcare industry is a great way to promote your telehealth services. For example, you could partner with a laboratory that offers genetic testing and offer discounts to customers who use both services.

You could also develop relationships with primary care physicians and specialists who can refer their patients to you for telehealth services. These partnerships can help increase awareness of your telehealth services while also generating new leads.

While using cross-promotions with other companies or organizations can be very beneficial, it is imperative that the partnering company aligns well with your business, brand, and, more importantly, customer demographic.

5. Create an engaging and user-friendly website

Make sure that your telehealth services are clearly advertised on your primary website.

If you are promoting a technology-driven service, customers expect your business to have high-quality digital products, starting with your website. Some things you can do to make sure your website is engaging and user-friendly include:

• Use high-quality images and videos.
• Write compelling copy that speaks to your target audience.
• Create clear calls-to-action, such as a button that says, “Schedule your virtual appointment today.”
• Optimize your website for search engines.

6. Get involved in your community

Getting involved in your community is a great way to raise awareness about your telehealth services. Some examples include:

• Sponsoring local events
• Donating to local charities
• Participating in trade shows and health fairs
• Giving presentations at local schools and organizations

By getting involved in your community, you’ll be able to reach more people and let them know about the telehealth services you offer.

7. Ask clients for reviews

Over 70% of consumers look at reviews online before selecting a new doctor or healthcare provider. If you want people to use your telehealth services, you need to have positive reviews.

Some places that customers are likely to check for reviews include Google, Yelp, and Facebook. You can also publish testimonials on your website to show potential customers what others have said about your telehealth services.

To encourage customers to leave reviews, you can incentivize them by offering rewards, discounts, or other small offerings. You can also consider using a referral program to incentivize customers to leave reviews on multiple platforms.