Last year, more people used mobile devices than desktop browsers to search the internet for the first time ever, and this trend toward mobile web browsing is only going to increase in coming years (The Guardian). As a result, any business, including dermatology practices, that use online marketing in any way need to be sure that their strategies take advantage of this shift in consumer activity. Here are a few tips dermatologists can follow to help make sure their practices are mobile friendly and therefore reaching the eyes and ears of as many potential patients as possible.
1. Make Sure Your Website Is Compatible with Mobile Devices
If you’ve ever come across a site that wasn’t mobile-friendly, chances are good that you noticed this flaw right away. While your website might look clean and organized on your desktop or laptop computer, it could be rendered unreadable on a mobile device if it hasn’t been optimized for this use. Making sure that potential patients can easily access and navigate your website using a variety of different types and sizes of smartphones can help to maximize your online presence and internet marketing strategy.
2. Utilize Mobile Calendars, Promotions, and Forms
These days, cell phones aren’t just used for phone calls and texting anymore. In fact, there’s not much you can’t do on your smartphone. For this reason, more and more people are relying on their mobile devices to create calendar events, reminders, receive coupons, and even fill out important forms. Keep your practice up-to-date and tech-friendly by integrating its calendar system, promotion materials, and patient forms into your mobile and desktop platforms. That way, no matter how your patients want to access this type of information, they have the tools necessary to find what they need.
3. Set Up Text Message Reminders
Dermatologists already know that no-show appointments can cost their practice time and money. However, what you may not know is that a large percentage of your patients prefer to receive digital appointment reminders via text message or email, rather than over the phone. In fact, a recent survey of dental patients found that the number-one preferred method of receiving appointment reminders was through text message. Interestingly enough, the patient age group that most preferred online appointments and text message reminders was between 35 and 54, indicating that it’s not just the millennial generation who wants you to text them!
4. Create and Share Mobile Friendly Videos
With the overload of information that is constantly available at their fingertips, it’s easy to see why internet users now prefer video content to traditional text (Forbes). As a dermatologist, this can be great news for your practice, as creating short informational videos and posting them to your YouTube channel or integrating them directly into your website and other social media pages can be an easy way to reach potential patients of all ages.
5. Update Regularly
Remember that technology and the online world are constantly changing, so make sure you have someone to regularly update your website and mobile integration. As mobile technologies continue to change, you may need to adjust and adapt your mobile and desktop platforms in order to remain compatible with the latest devices. If this is something that you’re not sure you can handle in-house, consider hiring a third-party or a contractor to help you manage and update your website and/or mobile app.
In Summary
You can keep your dermatology practice ahead of the game by jumping onboard with the latest online marketing trends and tools. Optimizing your website and other marketing strategies to be compatible with current mobile technologies is one of the best ways to increase the number of potential patients who are viewing your practice online, which, in turn, can translate to growing business for your practice.
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