A new study from the Pew Research Center suggests that the number of Americans using “check-in” services has doubled in the past nine months. For those who don’t know, “checking-in” is a feature of several social networks like Facebook and Foursquare. It allows users to share their location with friends, family and colleagues. And, encouraging your patients to check-in is not only a great way to communicate on social networks, but also a marketing strategy to help grow your practice!

Claim your location!

First, you must claim your Foursquare location and your Facebook business page. If you already have a Facebook page, add your address so you can be found.

Then, patients can search locations in the area to come across your practice or, proactively search for your practice name to check-in. If you’re offering a deal or special, it will show next to your practice name.

So, how can you use these free check-in services to market and build your practice?

1) Offer discounts and specials for check-ins:

• Foursquare allows you to create specials to be “unlocked” by new, existing or frequent customers. Try offering discounts on common procedures or new products. You can even give away gift cards to a local coffee shop or let patients who “check in” to park for free. Promote specials on your social networks and hang signs in your office.
• Facebook now offers deals for check-ins. When patients check in to your location, they’ll be able to claim individual deals, deals after a certain number of check-ins, group deals and even charity deals. Unlike Foursquare, your deal must be approved by Facebook, which takes about 2 business days. Visit Facebook’s Help Center for more information.

2) Give patients something to do in the waiting room

• After claiming your listing, Foursquare will mail your location a window cling. Hang it up to encourage patients to check-in on Foursquare in the waiting room. Share photos and tips to give them something to do!
• Encourage patients to check-in on Facebook and read articles or blog posts on your wall. This will help foster more communication on your page.

3) Add buttons to your website

• Make sure patients and potential patients who come across your site know you’re active on social networks. Add social icons to your site to encourage communication and check-ins.

4) Establish brand advocates

• When patients check-in using any social network, their location is shared with their followers and friends. These patients will serve as brand advocates, potentially influencing others to visit your location as well.

Keep up with the trends!

“Going social” shows patients that your medical practice is tech-savvy and keeps up with the current trends. And, allowing patients to check in will get your name out there! To learn more about how social media can benefit your practice, contact a MedNet Representative.

Patients are more likely than ever to turn to the Internet to find healthcare providers. Ask yourself these questions: Does your website captivate patients enough to contact your practice over hundreds of others in your area? Does your website provide patients with a clear path to the information they’re looking for?

Whether you’re looking to launch your practice on the web or redesign your existing site for greater reach and appeal, choosing the right web design company is the first and most important step.

Consider these important factors when choosing a web design company:

1. Experience in your field- It’s important to choose a company that has previous experience in your field. Your patients are looking for detailed, accurate information about the procedures you provide and conditions you treat. A company that understands the unique aspects of your specialty is more likely to build your practice a high-quality web presence.
2. A robust portfolio- Go with a web design company that is proud to show you their previous work. Sharing a portfolio demonstrates pride in their work and confidence in their success.
3. Lets you work directly with designers- During the web design process, it’s important that the people creating your site understand exactly what you’re looking for. Working directly with designers ensures your expectations are met and exceeded!
4. Keeps your practice goals a top priority- The company you’re working with should ask what your practice goals are for your website. Perhaps you want to reach more patients in your area, to promote a new teeth whitening technique or to sell a skincare product. Your website should reflect what you expect to accomplish.
5. Offers other services to make your site more visible- Having a beautiful site is only the first step to online success. Choose a company that not only understands how to design a visually appealing site, but how to market your site to your potential patients.

6. Stable company- Choose a company with staying power. Working with a company with years of proven success is important to the growing success of your website.

7. Grants you access to make edits and updates- New web design and development techniques make it easier than ever to edit websites. This is a huge advantage when you need to make minor tweaks to your site right away.

Looking for a website that delivers patients?

At MedNet we provide all of the above and much more. We understand what patients look for in a website and strive to accomplish your practice’s goals. Contact us today for a free website consultation!

Many refer to Google+ as “Google’s solution to Facebook.” And, although similar to the most popular social network, Google+ Pages for business offer features that make connecting to customers a more interactive experience.

One of the most distinguished elements of Google+ is its video chat feature, which allows users to chat with up to nine people at the same time. These “Hangouts” have become popular for businesses on Google+ to interactively connect with customers.

Now, Google has announced the rollout of Google+ “Hangouts On Air,” a feature available worldwide. It allows businesses to broadcast Hangouts live on the web and record them to share on YouTube or to embed on their websites.

Hangouts On Air, similar to live video streaming, is a way to create and share video content across the web, while communicating with others in your industry and those interested in your services. For more information, visit Google’s blog.

Google+ Hangouts On Air for Doctors

But how can you use Google+ Hangouts On Air to connect with patients?

The Power of Video

Sharing videos with potential patients on the web can be extremely powerful and influential. It puts a face to the name, allowing patients to connect with you before meeting in person. Plus, sharing your expertise makes you a more credible source for information and helps foster patient trust.

Patients are searching the web for doctors and communicating on social networks about the procedures. Give them a reason to contact you over other providers in your industry!

Start reaching new patients!

Want to communicate with patients on social media? Let MedNet launch and manage your social media campaign. We’ll plan and execute a cohesive social media strategy for your practice and get potential patients talking! Contact a MedNet Representative for more information.

Take a moment to consider this: When a potential patient clicks your online ad or sponsored story, what’s the first thing they see? If it’s not a targeted, well-designed landing page, keep reading.

A landing page is a single page of copy presented to a user after he or she clicks an advertisement. Think of it as an extension of the ad, encouraging visitors to take action right then and there. An effective landing page captures leads by presenting a specific offer, a clear call to action, limited navigation, a simple contact form, and an overall defined “next step.”

Landing Pages Sell

An effective landing page sells. It’s free of clutter, providing users targeted information that clarifies what they should do next. Whether your goal is to get visitors to fill out a form, to download a coupon or to purchase your latest skincare product, creating an effective landing page increases the chances that a visitor takes action.

Top Landing Page Tips That Convert!

Your visitors were already interested enough to click your PPC ad. Now, it’s up to your landing page to convert them into leads.

Do you want a PPC campaign that generates more leads?

If you want your PPC campaign to generate more, high-quality leads for your medical practice, creating an effective landing page can help do the job.

Not sure where to start? Let MedNet’s experienced Search Engine Marketing (SEM) specialists do the work for you!

With years of experience launching and maintaining PPC campaigns and proven success in creating effective landing pages, we’ll help your practice generate leads and increase conversion rates! Contact a MedNet Representative to get started.

Content marketing. What’s that? It’s creating your own original content and giving it away for free. For free? Are you crazy? Stick with me.

There’s nothing that consumers resent more than feeling like they’re being sold something. It’s the reason we channel surf during commercials, delete pitchy emails, and why we’ll walk out of a store when a salesperson comes on too strongly. Want to make someone’s skin crawl? Try selling them something.

So, in a world where the consumer has been trained to avoid “the pitch,” how can a healthcare provider possibly market effectively? The answer is simple: give them something for free.

Making the Content Investment

Alright, you don’t have to think of content marketing as giving something away for free — think of it as an investment. And, all you’re putting in is time and knowledge. What you may be creating, on the other hand, is a powerful and cost-effective lead generation tool.

Why content works:

• You become an authority. Good content can make your website a trusted patient resource. It can give you the kind of credibility that generates not only site visits, but office visits as well.
• It associates you with value. People love free. By giving away good content in the beginning, readers will associate you and your brand with value. And, when choosing a healthcare provider, you can bet value is something patients are looking for.
• It disarms the reader. Unlike aggressive marketing tactics, content marketing is approachable, digestible and non-threatening. By disarming readers, they’ll likely stick around your site a little longer — maybe even long enough to fill out a contact form.
• High ROI potential. Content marketing is undeniably one of the most cost-effective parts of any Internet marketing campaign. And, while the time you invest is certainly valuable, when it comes to dollars and cents, content marketing can have a remarkable return on investment.
• It can improve your visibility. As an added benefit, publishing content to your site can enhance your visibility in search engines. And, by writing diversely, you can increase your opportunities for appearing in a variety of search results. What does that mean for you? More visitors from search.

Content Marketing’s Secret Weapon

Hopefully by now, you can see the value of adding unique content to your practice’s website. But, you’re probably asking yourself one question: How? Rest assured the answer is simple — and, it’s right in front of you. Blogging.

Blogs are digestible, approachable and a familiar format to people visiting your site. Best of all, adding a blog is perhaps the simplest way to start your content marketing campaign today. To see how easy it can be, contact a MedNet representative.

Strapped for time? MedNet’s article writing service can write your blogs for you. Starting at as little as $100/month, this ghostwriting service will post custom articles to your site on a regular basis. Get started now.

Want to attract more patients on Facebook? Share “Offers” they can’t refuse! The new Facebook Offers feature is a FREE self-serve product that allows local businesses to create coupons, share them on their Timeline’s and allow offers to be claimed, redeemed and shared by customers!

In addition, each time your offer is claimed by a Facebook user, it will be shared in their newsfeed, putting your offer in front of potentially hundreds more users.

How do I create a Facebook Offer?

First, visit your practice’s Facebook page. At the top of your timeline, where you post status updates, choose the option to create an offer.

You’ll be prompted to upload a thumbnail image (90 x 90 px) and write a headline in 90 characters or less. You’ll also be asked to choose a limit for the number of claims, an expiration date and add terms and conditions.

Click preview to view your Offer, and when you’re ready, post it and watch your coupon get claimed!

How can a patient redeem my Offer?

Each time a potential patient claims your offer, an email will be sent to them. When they come to your location, they can redeem your offer by showing the email in printed form or on their mobile phone.

How much does it cost?

It’s free of charge! But, if you want to promote your Offer outside of your network, consider running a Facebook ad or sponsored story that will target potential patients in your area.

Who will see my Offer?

As of now, the only way to control who views your Offer is by language and location. Choose countries and languages and when Facebook users of those demographics visit your page, they’ll see your offer.

Also note, offers are not limited to only those who “like” your page.

Tips for Designing a Successful Facebook Offer

Keep it Simple- Make sure your headline and terms & conditions are straightforward. If patients are confused, they may not claim your Offer.

Chose an Appealing Image- Choose an image that demonstrates your offer and make sure it’s clear when viewed at thumbnail size.

Make Discounts Significant- Make an Offer your patients can’t refuse. A few good examples:

Pin and promote! Pin your Offer to the top of your Facebook page for the best visibility. Also consider a Facebook ad campaign to get your promotion in front of more potential patients in your area.

Track Success- Facebook Offers provide you information on how many people claimed your offer. But also be sure to track how many patients redeem that offer in person! Keep your staff aware of offers as well.

For more information about Facebook Offers, visit Facebook’s Help Center.

Create Your Offer Today

Creating your Offer is a free and simple way to draw in more business. Start today and watch your business grow!

Still Not on Social Media?

Now is the time! Let MedNet launch and manage your social media campaign. We’ll plan and execute a cohesive social media strategy for your practice and get potential patients talking! Contact a MedNet Representative to learn more.

According to eMarketer, a recent study done by PulsePoint Group and the Economist Intelligence Unit suggest conversation on social media leads to more sales.

The article encourages companies to use social media as a space for consumers, potential customers and employees to have meaningful conversations.

Social Media Takes Effort

Being present on social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ is no longer enough. To see results, you must plan and implement a social media campaign that complements your sales and marketing efforts.

Take a look at our previous blog posts for tips on using social media to generate conversation about the services your practice provides.

Need Help Planning and Executing Your Practice’s Social Media Campaign?

Let MedNet launch and manage your social media campaign. We’ll plan and execute a cohesive social media strategy for your practice and get potential patients talking! Contact a MedNet Representative to learn more.

A recent study by Return Path suggests by the end of 2012, more people will open and read emails on mobiles devices than on desktop computers.

More Mobile Email Stats:

• 88% of people check their email on their mobile phone daily
• Weekends are most popular for checking email on mobile devices
• 63% of Americans say they would close or delete an email not optimized for mobile

If you email patients with practice news, specials and promotions you may want to keep this shift in mind!

Here are a few ways to ensure mobile-friendly emails:

Ready to go mobile?

Check out our mobile website solutions and contact a MedNet Representative to get started!

A recent study by the Journal of Healthcare Management looked at what makes an effective medical website and how consumers rate the sites of some of the country’s hospitals and health groups.

According to a report from American Medical News, the study suggests that hospitals and practices should hold a higher value on patients when designing and creating content for their site. Keeping in mind the way patients view and read your site is the key to success!

Here are 5 ways to achieve a patient-friendly website:

1. Clear Navigation

   Patients come to your site for a specific reason. Whether they want to know where you’re located, which procedures you offer or details about a specific treatment, you must make that information accessible. The first step is creating a clear, user-friendly navigation menu.

2. Comprehensible Content

   The way you present information is also important. You want to provide useful information in words and terms patients will understand. Know your audience and avoid medical jargon. Incorporating images and animations can also help illustrate certain procedures and conditions.

3. Visibility in Search Engine

   Making your website accessible through search engines is crucial in ensuring patients find you. Optimize your site for related popular keywords and terms, and consider a pay-per-click campaign to guarantee placement in popular search engines.

4. Social Media Icons

   Sharing your social media sites lets patients communicate with your practice in a way they’re already familiar with — through social networks!

5. Call-to-Action

   By visiting your website, patients are showing an interest in the services you provide. If they can’t quickly and readily find a way to contact you, chances are they’ll move on to one of your competitors. Make sure your site displays a bold call-to-action on each page.

Creating a more patient-friendly website helps increases your chances of turning a visitor into a patient.

Want a website that attracts more patients to your practice?

As a leader in healthcare website development, we understand what your patients are looking for. Contact a MedNet Representative to get started on your new website!

As the importance and influence of online patient reviews continues to grow, boosting your online reputation becomes crucial. Encouraging positive patient reviews, especially to your practice’s Google Places listing, can make a huge difference for your online presence.

Claiming your Google Places listing is the first step toward maximizing your practice’s visibility on the web, but how can you increase the number of positive reviews to your listing?

Here are a few ideas for directing patients to your Google Places listing:

1) Use word-of-mouth

The best source of positive online reviews is from frequent and satisfied patients. Try encouraging patients to post reviews when they visit your practice. Have handouts ready at the check-out desk with your Google Places listing URL and some words of encouragement and appreciation!

2) Implement a QR Code

Statistics suggest that most of your patients are smartphone owners. And, many patients may even spend time in your waiting area on their mobile devices. Try implementing a mobile marketing strategy!

Add a QR code to practice brochures, mailings and business cards. A QR code acts like a bar code that brings users to a specific mobile landing page when scanned by a smartphone or other mobile device. You can direct patients to your Google Places listing upon scanning your QR code. The idea is to solicit positive reviews from satisfied patients with a click of a button!

3) Set up a Kiosk

Does your practice have a computer or tablet designated for patients to check in for their appointment? This is a great opportunity to encourage returning patients to write a review for your Google Places listing! They’re at your office, with access to the computer and connected to the web. When they complete their online check-in, prompt them to write a review on your listing.

For new patients, you can also set up a kiosk, complete with a computer or tablet to write a review upon their exit.

4) Reach out on Social Media

If you’re active on social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Google+, reach out to your fans and followers. Post links to your Google Places listing encouraging patients to post reviews.

5) Send an Email Blast

Do you currently ask for an email address on patient forms? If not, this is a great opportunity to reach all patients at once with practice news or information. Send out an email blast, with a link to your Google Places listing, asking satisfied patients to post reviews.

The more reviews, the better!

The more reviews on your Google Places listing, the more weight it will have in search engines. The more positive reviews from satisfied patients, the better your online reputation!

Have questions?

Post to our Facebook wall with any questions you may have about your Google Places listing!