Email Signature Tricks for Diagnostic Imaging Marketing

A Good Email Signature Is an Easily Accessible Tool in Your Diagnostic Imaging Marketing Strategy Toolkit

According to Sumo, the average person receives 124 business related emails per day. That’s a lot of competition. When it comes to diagnostic imaging marketing, there are several tactics to get you noticed. One of the simplest, yet often overlooked, is having a good email signature.

Below we will show you how an effective email signature can be created in a matter of minutes.

Looking for a better way to send out more effective emails from your diagnostic center?

Click to learn how professional and educational email marketing can grow your diagnostic center!

How a Simple Addition to Your Email Signature Can Generate Sustained Interest and More Patient Referrals

Radiology Marketing Strategy: All aspects of marketing your diagnostic center should aim to be memorable.  If your signature doesn’t stand out and provide useful information to your reader, you could be missing out on connecting with your community and getting new patient referrals.

So, what does a memorable email signature need?

Most imaging centers have the minimum. This includes:

  1. Your Full Name
  2. Your Diagnostic & Imaging Center’s Address
  3. Your Diagnostic & Imaging Center’s Website

That’s a great start, but here’ what you really need for radiology marketing strategy:

  1. A link to your Imaging Center’s Facebook Page and other Business Profiles
  2. Your Title or Position
  3. Your Logo
  4. Your Email Address (yes, I said that)

Here are 3 key email steps below to pique the interest of a Referring Physician

1. Add Your Email Address to Your Email Signature

It’s funny how a  little thing like this can have such an impact.  Most people feel that it is redundant to add your email address to your signature.  Actually, you are making it easier for your referring physician to save your information and remember who you are.  

This technique sets you apart from those other 123 emails your reader is getting today. 

Email signature diagnostic imaging marketing

2. Make Sure Your Email Signature is Branded In Line Your Other Radiology Marketing Efforts

Your email signature is a form of branding which is key to any diagnostic imaging marketing strategy.  Just as you would take into consideration font size, type, and color on a piece of marketing collateral, use the same principle here too.  Color plays a big part.  Change the font color of your name to match the branding of your facility.  This helps it stand out and adds consistency to your overall marketing.

Go a step further and change the font color of your title and email address to match your name.  This helps your referring physicians quickly identify what they need in a well-organized signature. Another benefit of adding color to portions of your signature is that it will break up your name, title, and website from the middle portion featuring your business address.

Remember to test your color on multiple devices to be sure it is clearly visible.

radiology marketing strategy

3. Get Creative With Your Layout

Who says your email signature has to read like a standard line-by-line paragraph? Actually, you can get your referring physician’s attention by being creative in unique ways.  For example, add your facility’s logo to your signature and move it out to the right of your contact information. Enlarge your logo to cover ⅔ of the signature.  Since we read from left to right, your contact information is the first that is read and your logo is the last.  Embed a link to your website within your logo for an interesting Call to Action.

diagnostic imaging marketing

Want To Kick Your Diagnostics Imaging Marketing Into High Gear?

The tips above cover a lot. But there is so much more you can do! Incorporating effective emails into your diagnostic imaging marketing plan means using what you have to your advantage.

Use Your Radiology Blog in Your Email Signature to Generate Added Interest.

To really stand out, consider adding

  1. Your Headshot
  2. A Link to your Blog
  3. A Link to a relevant article on your Blog
  4. A featured image from your Blog as your link

Are You Seeing Low Open Rates on Your Emails? This article can help!

It’s the little things that matter is a phrase that holds true in many instances. Your mail signature is one of them.  By making just a few small adjustments, you will set yourself apart from your diagnostic imaging marketing competition, increasing the chances of your diagnostic and imaging facility being remembered, thus creating an increased chance of new business with referring physicians.

Download the Email Signatures Template

Still not getting the response rate you’re looking for?

Your diagnostic center’s online reputation could be to blame! Learn how you can get more positive reviews to boost your business.

A Good Email Signature Is an Easily Accessible Tool in Your Diagnostic Imaging Marketing Strategy Toolkit

According to Sumo, the average person receives 124 business related emails per day. That’s a lot of competition. When it comes to diagnostic imaging marketing, there are several tactics to get you noticed. One of the simplest, yet often overlooked, is having a good email signature.

Below we will show you how an effective email signature can be created in a matter of minutes.

Looking for a better way to send out more effective emails from your diagnostic center?

Click to learn how professional and educational email marketing can grow your diagnostic center!

How a Simple Addition to Your Email Signature Can Generate Sustained Interest and More Patient Referrals

Radiology Marketing Strategy: All aspects of marketing your diagnostic center should aim to be memorable.  If your signature doesn’t stand out and provide useful information to your reader, you could be missing out on connecting with your community and getting new patient referrals.

So, what does a memorable email signature need?

Most imaging centers have the minimum. This includes:

  1. Your Full Name
  2. Your Diagnostic & Imaging Center’s Address
  3. Your Diagnostic & Imaging Center’s Website

That’s a great start, but here’ what you really need for radiology marketing strategy:

  1. A link to your Imaging Center’s Facebook Page and other Business Profiles
  2. Your Title or Position
  3. Your Logo
  4. Your Email Address (yes, I said that)

Here are 3 key email steps below to pique the interest of a Referring Physician

1. Add Your Email Address to Your Email Signature

It’s funny how a  little thing like this can have such an impact.  Most people feel that it is redundant to add your email address to your signature.  Actually, you are making it easier for your referring physician to save your information and remember who you are.  

This technique sets you apart from those other 123 emails your reader is getting today. 

Email signature diagnostic imaging marketing

2. Make Sure Your Email Signature is Branded In Line Your Other Radiology Marketing Efforts

Your email signature is a form of branding which is key to any diagnostic imaging marketing strategy.  Just as you would take into consideration font size, type, and color on a piece of marketing collateral, use the same principle here too.  Color plays a big part.  Change the font color of your name to match the branding of your facility.  This helps it stand out and adds consistency to your overall marketing.

Go a step further and change the font color of your title and email address to match your name.  This helps your referring physicians quickly identify what they need in a well-organized signature. Another benefit of adding color to portions of your signature is that it will break up your name, title, and website from the middle portion featuring your business address.

Remember to test your color on multiple devices to be sure it is clearly visible.

radiology marketing strategy

3. Get Creative With Your Layout

Who says your email signature has to read like a standard line-by-line paragraph? Actually, you can get your referring physician’s attention by being creative in unique ways.  For example, add your facility’s logo to your signature and move it out to the right of your contact information. Enlarge your logo to cover ⅔ of the signature.  Since we read from left to right, your contact information is the first that is read and your logo is the last.  Embed a link to your website within your logo for an interesting Call to Action.

diagnostic imaging marketing

Want To Kick Your Diagnostics Imaging Marketing Into High Gear?

The tips above cover a lot. But there is so much more you can do! Incorporating effective emails into your diagnostic imaging marketing plan means using what you have to your advantage.

Use Your Radiology Blog in Your Email Signature to Generate Added Interest.

To really stand out, consider adding

  1. Your Headshot
  2. A Link to your Blog
  3. A Link to a relevant article on your Blog
  4. A featured image from your Blog as your link

Are You Seeing Low Open Rates on Your Emails? This article can help!

It’s the little things that matter is a phrase that holds true in many instances. Your mail signature is one of them.  By making just a few small adjustments, you will set yourself apart from your diagnostic imaging marketing competition, increasing the chances of your diagnostic and imaging facility being remembered, thus creating an increased chance of new business with referring physicians.

Download the Email Signatures Template

Still not getting the response rate you’re looking for?

Your diagnostic center’s online reputation could be to blame! Learn how you can get more positive reviews to boost your business.

Effective Radiology Marketing Using Emails to Physicians From Your Diagnostics Center

Marketing to physicians should be a cornerstone of any imaging center’s overall strategy.

Effectively marketing to physicians comes down to professional relationships. Building and maintaining relationships with both current and prospective referring physicians is the name of the game. Email is an effective and surprisingly personal method for doing just that.

But what should your radiology email marketing convey? When should you send them? And how do you determine what’s working and what’s not?

Needless to say, setting up automated email funnels for various groups can be tricky. Today we are here to help you build your roadmap to email success.

But before we dive in, remember, your marketing is only as good as your reputation.

If your reviews are less than stellar, not only will patients look elsewhere for care, physicians will look elsewhere when sending referrals.

Generate positive online reviews ethically and automatically with MedRev, the reputation management system built by healthcare professionals for healthcare professionals.

Writing physician emails to increase patient referrals

Referring Physician radiology email marketingFirst and foremost, your focus should be on your physician emails. Since doctors are the ones referring patients to your facility for diagnostic tests, they need to be your focus. As a diagnostic center, one of your most valuable relationships is with referring physicians.

There are three groups of physicians to consider here.

  1. Potential relationships: Doctors who have not referred anyone to you, but that you would like to build a relationship with. (Cold leads)
  2. Previous relationships: Doctors who have referred patients in the past, but not within the last few months. (Warm leads)
  3. Current relationships: Doctors that have recently referred patients. (Hot leads)

Each of these groups needs to have their own automation funnel which we will go over next.

If you’re new to email funnels, this article will get you up to speed on the basics.

New Physicians: Using a radiology newsletter to build relationships

Gaining traction with a provider that has never referred to your center is the most difficult group to engage so it’s very important that you are selective with the content you include in your radiology newsletters to these offices.

For radiology email marketing, the most important question you can ask yourself here is:

How can I best provide value to the person I am reaching out to?

Here are some proven tactics to use:

  • Personalize each email by medical specialization. By targeting the physician’s specialty you can provide information that is specific and therefore most useful to that office.
  • Let them know you researched them. If you’re sending cold emails you don’t want people to think you’re emailing every doctor this side of the Mississippi, but that you chose to reach out to them for a reason (which should be the truth anyway). Tell the referring provider exactly why you chose to reach out to them. These reasons could be:
      • Their location is close to your imaging facility
      • They are new to the area
      • Their specialty is also your specialty
    • You have a relationship with one of their partners
  • Introduce your facility. Let them know who you are and why they may be interested in building a relationship with your radiology center. This is your chance to focus on your strengths.
  • Ask them a question. Give them an opportunity to tell you what they are looking for or what they are having trouble with. You can send out a survey asking things like:
      • What difficulties do you face when referring patients to a diagnostic facility?
    • What are the biggest factors you consider when choosing a facility to refer patients to?

radiology email marketing unsubscribeImportant note: Always be respectful and courteous of their time. When marketing to physicians that you have not worked with previously, make it very clear that they can choose to stop receiving your radiology emails marketing at any time and make it easy for them to do so.

Winning back physicians who have referred patients to you previously

There could be a number of reasons that a physician who has previously referred patients to your imaging center is no longer doing so. Marketing to doctors in this category means striving to understand what caused them to stop referring and what you can do to make them interested in sending patients once more.

Here are some strategies to use when reaching out to this group:

  • Update them on what’s new with your facility. If they haven’t talked to you in a while, they likely aren’t up to speed on any new equipment, software, and referring guidelines you may have. Letting them know what they missed could mean you’ve already resolved the thing that made them leave in the first place.
  • Remind them of your referral process. Sometimes reminding people of how easy it is to work with you makes a big difference.
  • Let them get to know your staff better. Did you hire a new office manager? Let people know who to contact to get in touch with you. Giving everyone the chance to learn who’s who on your team will help strengthen relationships with physicians. Putting faces to names also helps make your business memorable.

Maintaining relationships with physicians who are currently referring patients

radiology email marketing relationshipsMaking sure you’re fostering strong relationships with currently referring physicians is vital. The content you send to this group is highly dependent on the nature of your current relationship. So, always be sure you’re only sending emails to these doctors if and when they are wanting to receive them. If you have determined that these providers are interested in getting emails from your imaging center, here are some tips:

  • Tell them something they don’t know. Do some research so they don’t have to. Maybe there is a new imaging technology that is being developed for their specialty or maybe there are some new findings in how to interpret the results of a scan. Find the information that is most valuable to show them you care about their interests.
  • Make every email personalized. Maybe you have a doctor that is interested in hearing about new medical technology, and another doctor that is interested in hearing about upcoming community events. Ask people not only if they are interested in getting your emails, but also, what they are interested hearing about.
  • Learn how you can help them. It may be that there are ways you could help your referring providers out that you don’t know they need. So why not ask them? Finding out how you can best help people means you will understand what you can do to provide value to them.

Effective email marketing to referring physicians takes time

Maintaining mutually beneficial relationships doesn’t have to be hard, but it does take work. With these tactics, you can write effective radiology email marketing to your referring physicians that provide value to your referring partners. Every physician’s office is unique and research is an ongoing process. Measure your progress often to find what emails are best for your diagnostic imaging center.

In need of effective and professional email marketing centered on increasing provider referrals?

Click to learn how the Radiant Referral Growth System can help!

Marketing to physicians should be a cornerstone of any imaging center’s overall strategy.

Effectively marketing to physicians comes down to professional relationships. Building and maintaining relationships with both current and prospective referring physicians is the name of the game. Email is an effective and surprisingly personal method for doing just that.

But what should your radiology email marketing convey? When should you send them? And how do you determine what’s working and what’s not?

Needless to say, setting up automated email funnels for various groups can be tricky. Today we are here to help you build your roadmap to email success.

But before we dive in, remember, your marketing is only as good as your reputation.

If your reviews are less than stellar, not only will patients look elsewhere for care, physicians will look elsewhere when sending referrals.

Generate positive online reviews ethically and automatically with MedRev, the reputation management system built by healthcare professionals for healthcare professionals.

Writing physician emails to increase patient referrals

Referring Physician radiology email marketingFirst and foremost, your focus should be on your physician emails. Since doctors are the ones referring patients to your facility for diagnostic tests, they need to be your focus. As a diagnostic center, one of your most valuable relationships is with referring physicians.

There are three groups of physicians to consider here.

  1. Potential relationships: Doctors who have not referred anyone to you, but that you would like to build a relationship with. (Cold leads)
  2. Previous relationships: Doctors who have referred patients in the past, but not within the last few months. (Warm leads)
  3. Current relationships: Doctors that have recently referred patients. (Hot leads)

Each of these groups needs to have their own automation funnel which we will go over next.

If you’re new to email funnels, this article will get you up to speed on the basics.

New Physicians: Using a radiology newsletter to build relationships

Gaining traction with a provider that has never referred to your center is the most difficult group to engage so it’s very important that you are selective with the content you include in your radiology newsletters to these offices.

For radiology email marketing, the most important question you can ask yourself here is:

How can I best provide value to the person I am reaching out to?

Here are some proven tactics to use:

  • Personalize each email by medical specialization. By targeting the physician’s specialty you can provide information that is specific and therefore most useful to that office.
  • Let them know you researched them. If you’re sending cold emails you don’t want people to think you’re emailing every doctor this side of the Mississippi, but that you chose to reach out to them for a reason (which should be the truth anyway). Tell the referring provider exactly why you chose to reach out to them. These reasons could be:
      • Their location is close to your imaging facility
      • They are new to the area
      • Their specialty is also your specialty
    • You have a relationship with one of their partners
  • Introduce your facility. Let them know who you are and why they may be interested in building a relationship with your radiology center. This is your chance to focus on your strengths.
  • Ask them a question. Give them an opportunity to tell you what they are looking for or what they are having trouble with. You can send out a survey asking things like:
      • What difficulties do you face when referring patients to a diagnostic facility?
    • What are the biggest factors you consider when choosing a facility to refer patients to?

radiology email marketing unsubscribeImportant note: Always be respectful and courteous of their time. When marketing to physicians that you have not worked with previously, make it very clear that they can choose to stop receiving your radiology emails marketing at any time and make it easy for them to do so.

Winning back physicians who have referred patients to you previously

There could be a number of reasons that a physician who has previously referred patients to your imaging center is no longer doing so. Marketing to doctors in this category means striving to understand what caused them to stop referring and what you can do to make them interested in sending patients once more.

Here are some strategies to use when reaching out to this group:

  • Update them on what’s new with your facility. If they haven’t talked to you in a while, they likely aren’t up to speed on any new equipment, software, and referring guidelines you may have. Letting them know what they missed could mean you’ve already resolved the thing that made them leave in the first place.
  • Remind them of your referral process. Sometimes reminding people of how easy it is to work with you makes a big difference.
  • Let them get to know your staff better. Did you hire a new office manager? Let people know who to contact to get in touch with you. Giving everyone the chance to learn who’s who on your team will help strengthen relationships with physicians. Putting faces to names also helps make your business memorable.

Maintaining relationships with physicians who are currently referring patients

radiology email marketing relationshipsMaking sure you’re fostering strong relationships with currently referring physicians is vital. The content you send to this group is highly dependent on the nature of your current relationship. So, always be sure you’re only sending emails to these doctors if and when they are wanting to receive them. If you have determined that these providers are interested in getting emails from your imaging center, here are some tips:

  • Tell them something they don’t know. Do some research so they don’t have to. Maybe there is a new imaging technology that is being developed for their specialty or maybe there are some new findings in how to interpret the results of a scan. Find the information that is most valuable to show them you care about their interests.
  • Make every email personalized. Maybe you have a doctor that is interested in hearing about new medical technology, and another doctor that is interested in hearing about upcoming community events. Ask people not only if they are interested in getting your emails, but also, what they are interested hearing about.
  • Learn how you can help them. It may be that there are ways you could help your referring providers out that you don’t know they need. So why not ask them? Finding out how you can best help people means you will understand what you can do to provide value to them.

Effective email marketing to referring physicians takes time

Maintaining mutually beneficial relationships doesn’t have to be hard, but it does take work. With these tactics, you can write effective radiology email marketing to your referring physicians that provide value to your referring partners. Every physician’s office is unique and research is an ongoing process. Measure your progress often to find what emails are best for your diagnostic imaging center.

In need of effective and professional email marketing centered on increasing provider referrals?

Click to learn how the Radiant Referral Growth System can help!

8 Effective Strategies to Improve Your Diagnostic Imaging Center’s Marketing Plan

If you’re in the business of diagnostic imaging marketing, you have a lot of tools at your disposal. From patient outreach to physician referrals, using your resources effectively is key.

In today’s world, online is the place to focus your diagnostic imaging marketing efforts. As of 2016, over 76% of Americans were searching the web. With the internet becoming easier to use each day, that trend shows no signs of stopping.

Important note: Always be mindful to abide by Stark law and anti-kickback laws that prohibit giving incentives like gifts or money to patients or referring physicians.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to gain traction without legal repercussions.

Looking to grow your patient base without any extra marketing effort?

Building your online reviews will attract patients and referring providers alike so you can grow your imaging center without jumping through hoops.

Here’s our secret to getting more 5 star reviews.

These steps will lead to success in your medical imaging marketing

  1. Website: Make it specific to you diagnostics imaging center

Your website should be a cornerstone of your medical imaging marketing plan so it’s imperative that it has at least the basics:

  • Works on all browsers and devices
  • Is designed for users to easily find what they are looking for
  • Clearly represents your services

Because your website is the foundation of your business, you’ll want to make it as helpful to your visitors as possible. Here are some areas of development to consider:

  • Patient Portal
  • Physician Portal
  • Online patient forms
  • Online payment option
  • “Call now” button for mobile sites
  • Pricing information
  • Exam information
  • Equipment information
  • Calendar of events and facility closing dates
  • Customized landing pages
  • An image rotator

Read more tips on setting up a website specific to diagnostic imaging marketing

Pro tip:  Even if your website looks great, user experience testing can help identify pain points for your website visitors so you can address areas of difficulty.

2. Google Places: A crucial step in digital marketing for an imaging center

This one is high on the list because it’s so important. People don’t typically think of Google Places when planning digital marketing for an imaging center, but this is definitely worth paying attention to. People being unable to easily find your facility on Google Maps, means missed appointments, lower patient satisfaction.

What’s more, you want to be the first thing that pops up when someone in your area types in “MRI” or a similar term into Google Maps. You don’t have to compete with the whole world, like you might on a traditional Google search, just with your local area.

google-search-results

The good news is it’s not hard to set up. Just follow these steps:

  1. Set up a Google My Business account
  2. Verify your business
  3. Fill out information about your business

Pro tips:

  • Use high-quality images for your listing
  • Keep your information up to date (hours of operation, contact information, etc.)
  • Set up keywords that people would search to find you

Choose your keywords carefully. Like in any of your other diagnostic imaging marketing strategies, keywords should be terms real people would type into a search, so put yourself in the patient’s shoes for this one.

3. Facebook: Building a business page for your imaging center

Odds are your business either has or has considered a social media account or two. This is one of those medical imaging marketing ideas that is worth investing time in. If you don’t have a Facebook page you can set one up using this guide.

If you already have a Facebook page make sure it’s effective by having:

  1. A clearly branded profile picture and cover photo
  2. A call-to-action (CTA) button
  3. A regular posting schedule
  4. Someone to respond to comments and messages on a regular basis
  5. Up to date “About” information

Read more tips on building a Facebook page for your imaging facility that will propel your medical imaging marketing efforts

Here’s an example of a page well done:

page-well-done

If you’re already a Facebook pro, here are some more advanced options to be sure you’re getting the most out of your medical imaging marketing ideas:

  1. Use targeted Facebook ads to promote your page
  2. Measure your success using an analytics tool
  3. Use a social media management tool like Buffer to schedule relevant articles to post

Looking for more on how to set up your social media page? This article is a great guide.

4. A Blog: Creating content for your diagnostic imaging marketing

Building and maintaining a blog is crucial for multiple aspects of marketing your imaging services. It’s how people browsing the web for related topics will find you as a trusted resource. It also gives people coming to your website educational information.

The articles you write for your blog can be used in your email marketing and your social media posts. Finally, your blog can help your SEO so your website ranks higher in Google searches.

Determining a blog strategy is the first step. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Determine how much time you can devote to your blog in order to decide on a posting schedule. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, regularity is key.
  • Decide who you are writing for. Will this week’s article be written for the college athlete or stay at home mom? Each article should have a clear audience.
  • Write actionable content. Don’t write a bunch of fluff. Give your readers clear and helpful information that they can really do something with.
  • Quality trumps quantity. Always.

5. Automated and segmented emails

Building an email list is a no-brainer, but it’s easier said than done. Keep things organized by creating groups or segments in your list so you can send out personalized emails to your subscribers.

Any diagnostics imaging email strategy will benefit from automated emails. Consider grouping subscribers by:

  • Physicians
  • Patients
  • Newsletter subscribers

Your automated emails will also benefit from:

  • Having multiple ways to subscribe (eg. Facebook, Blog, or in-office)
  • Keeping track of where people signed up
  • Sending emails on a regular schedule

6. Lead Magnets

You know those pop-ups that offer ultimate guides, or a 3 part lesson? Those are lead magnets and you want them. Putting lead magnets on your blog gets people onto your email list and provides them with valuable information.

Here’s an example:

diagnostic imaging marketing Lead Magnets example

For a diagnostic facility that might go something like this:

Example:

  1. You write a blog article about “What to expect during an MRI”
  2. You create a PDF checklist that tells “Everything you need to know to prepare for an MRI exam”
  3. You put a lead magnet on your article that pops up or is shown in a sidebar asking readers to enter their email to receive the free checklist

There are lots of tools to use for this. We like Sumo.

7. SEO

A good radiology marketing strategy needs more than just a website and a blog. If you are not showing up until page 47 of a Google search, none of that matters. SEO means finding your keywords and optimizing your site to showcase them.

This is the tried and true process we recommend:

  1. Brainstorm keywords that you think people would search for when finding you
  2. Use Google Adwords Keyword Planner to see which of those keywords are being searched the most and how difficult it is to rank for each one
  3. Pick out your best keywords. These are the ones that are relevant to you, have the highest search volume, and have the lowest competition
  4. Use those keywords in the text on your website and blog
  5. Repeat these steps for each page and article on your site

SEO google adwords, diagnostic imaging marketing

Don’t have much time? Keep reading, PPC could be your better bet.

8. PPC

Pay per click ads can be a great use of the dollars in your radiology marketing budget especially if you have a bit of extra cash, but not a lot of time.

Not sure what PPC ads look like? Here are some examples:

diagnostic imaging marketing, PPC

To have paid ads on Google like these you will need to set up a Google Adwords account

There is still a substantial learning curve, but there are lots of tutorials that can help. This article is a good resource to get you started.

This is just the beginning of what you can do. Over time you will get to know these techniques and tools better so you can tailor your strategy to your imaging facility.

If you need more help with laying the groundwork for your radiology marketing plan, or if you want a hand implementing your current strategy we are here to help.

Looking for a better way to market your imaging center to patients and referring providers?

Click to view our menu of diagnostic growth systems!

We specialize in radiology and diagnostics marketing and nothing else. We are here for you when you need us!

If you’re in the business of diagnostic imaging marketing, you have a lot of tools at your disposal. From patient outreach to physician referrals, using your resources effectively is key.

In today’s world, online is the place to focus your diagnostic imaging marketing efforts. As of 2016, over 76% of Americans were searching the web. With the internet becoming easier to use each day, that trend shows no signs of stopping.

Important note: Always be mindful to abide by Stark law and anti-kickback laws that prohibit giving incentives like gifts or money to patients or referring physicians.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to gain traction without legal repercussions.

Looking to grow your patient base without any extra marketing effort?

Building your online reviews will attract patients and referring providers alike so you can grow your imaging center without jumping through hoops.

Here’s our secret to getting more 5 star reviews.

These steps will lead to success in your medical imaging marketing

  1. Website: Make it specific to you diagnostics imaging center

Your website should be a cornerstone of your medical imaging marketing plan so it’s imperative that it has at least the basics:

  • Works on all browsers and devices
  • Is designed for users to easily find what they are looking for
  • Clearly represents your services

Because your website is the foundation of your business, you’ll want to make it as helpful to your visitors as possible. Here are some areas of development to consider:

  • Patient Portal
  • Physician Portal
  • Online patient forms
  • Online payment option
  • “Call now” button for mobile sites
  • Pricing information
  • Exam information
  • Equipment information
  • Calendar of events and facility closing dates
  • Customized landing pages
  • An image rotator

Read more tips on setting up a website specific to diagnostic imaging marketing

Pro tip:  Even if your website looks great, user experience testing can help identify pain points for your website visitors so you can address areas of difficulty.

2. Google Places: A crucial step in digital marketing for an imaging center

This one is high on the list because it’s so important. People don’t typically think of Google Places when planning digital marketing for an imaging center, but this is definitely worth paying attention to. People being unable to easily find your facility on Google Maps, means missed appointments, lower patient satisfaction.

What’s more, you want to be the first thing that pops up when someone in your area types in “MRI” or a similar term into Google Maps. You don’t have to compete with the whole world, like you might on a traditional Google search, just with your local area.

google-search-results

The good news is it’s not hard to set up. Just follow these steps:

  1. Set up a Google My Business account
  2. Verify your business
  3. Fill out information about your business

Pro tips:

  • Use high-quality images for your listing
  • Keep your information up to date (hours of operation, contact information, etc.)
  • Set up keywords that people would search to find you

Choose your keywords carefully. Like in any of your other diagnostic imaging marketing strategies, keywords should be terms real people would type into a search, so put yourself in the patient’s shoes for this one.

3. Facebook: Building a business page for your imaging center

Odds are your business either has or has considered a social media account or two. This is one of those medical imaging marketing ideas that is worth investing time in. If you don’t have a Facebook page you can set one up using this guide.

If you already have a Facebook page make sure it’s effective by having:

  1. A clearly branded profile picture and cover photo
  2. A call-to-action (CTA) button
  3. A regular posting schedule
  4. Someone to respond to comments and messages on a regular basis
  5. Up to date “About” information

Read more tips on building a Facebook page for your imaging facility that will propel your medical imaging marketing efforts

Here’s an example of a page well done:

page-well-done

If you’re already a Facebook pro, here are some more advanced options to be sure you’re getting the most out of your medical imaging marketing ideas:

  1. Use targeted Facebook ads to promote your page
  2. Measure your success using an analytics tool
  3. Use a social media management tool like Buffer to schedule relevant articles to post

Looking for more on how to set up your social media page? This article is a great guide.

4. A Blog: Creating content for your diagnostic imaging marketing

Building and maintaining a blog is crucial for multiple aspects of marketing your imaging services. It’s how people browsing the web for related topics will find you as a trusted resource. It also gives people coming to your website educational information.

The articles you write for your blog can be used in your email marketing and your social media posts. Finally, your blog can help your SEO so your website ranks higher in Google searches.

Determining a blog strategy is the first step. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Determine how much time you can devote to your blog in order to decide on a posting schedule. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, regularity is key.
  • Decide who you are writing for. Will this week’s article be written for the college athlete or stay at home mom? Each article should have a clear audience.
  • Write actionable content. Don’t write a bunch of fluff. Give your readers clear and helpful information that they can really do something with.
  • Quality trumps quantity. Always.

5. Automated and segmented emails

Building an email list is a no-brainer, but it’s easier said than done. Keep things organized by creating groups or segments in your list so you can send out personalized emails to your subscribers.

Any diagnostics imaging email strategy will benefit from automated emails. Consider grouping subscribers by:

  • Physicians
  • Patients
  • Newsletter subscribers

Your automated emails will also benefit from:

  • Having multiple ways to subscribe (eg. Facebook, Blog, or in-office)
  • Keeping track of where people signed up
  • Sending emails on a regular schedule

6. Lead Magnets

You know those pop-ups that offer ultimate guides, or a 3 part lesson? Those are lead magnets and you want them. Putting lead magnets on your blog gets people onto your email list and provides them with valuable information.

Here’s an example:

diagnostic imaging marketing Lead Magnets example

For a diagnostic facility that might go something like this:

Example:

  1. You write a blog article about “What to expect during an MRI”
  2. You create a PDF checklist that tells “Everything you need to know to prepare for an MRI exam”
  3. You put a lead magnet on your article that pops up or is shown in a sidebar asking readers to enter their email to receive the free checklist

There are lots of tools to use for this. We like Sumo.

7. SEO

A good radiology marketing strategy needs more than just a website and a blog. If you are not showing up until page 47 of a Google search, none of that matters. SEO means finding your keywords and optimizing your site to showcase them.

This is the tried and true process we recommend:

  1. Brainstorm keywords that you think people would search for when finding you
  2. Use Google Adwords Keyword Planner to see which of those keywords are being searched the most and how difficult it is to rank for each one
  3. Pick out your best keywords. These are the ones that are relevant to you, have the highest search volume, and have the lowest competition
  4. Use those keywords in the text on your website and blog
  5. Repeat these steps for each page and article on your site

SEO google adwords, diagnostic imaging marketing

Don’t have much time? Keep reading, PPC could be your better bet.

8. PPC

Pay per click ads can be a great use of the dollars in your radiology marketing budget especially if you have a bit of extra cash, but not a lot of time.

Not sure what PPC ads look like? Here are some examples:

diagnostic imaging marketing, PPC

To have paid ads on Google like these you will need to set up a Google Adwords account

There is still a substantial learning curve, but there are lots of tutorials that can help. This article is a good resource to get you started.

This is just the beginning of what you can do. Over time you will get to know these techniques and tools better so you can tailor your strategy to your imaging facility.

If you need more help with laying the groundwork for your radiology marketing plan, or if you want a hand implementing your current strategy we are here to help.

Looking for a better way to market your imaging center to patients and referring providers?

Click to view our menu of diagnostic growth systems!

We specialize in radiology and diagnostics marketing and nothing else. We are here for you when you need us!