By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    learn to recognize and treat yeast infections
    Most Commonly Asked Questions About Yeast Infections
    November 17, 2021
    Advanced lung cancer diagnosis systems used by doctors
    Advanced Lung Cancer Diagnosis Systems Used by Doctors
    March 6, 2022
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    June 13, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Much Ado about Nothing
    September 13, 2017
    Repeal Without Replace Starts Destroying GOP’s Chances
    May 17, 2011
    Misinformation About IPAB
    June 9, 2011
    Latest News
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 7 Healthcare Marketing Stumbles and Blunders
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > 7 Healthcare Marketing Stumbles and Blunders
Business

7 Healthcare Marketing Stumbles and Blunders

Lonnie Hirsch
Last updated: September 26, 2014 8:00 am
Lonnie Hirsch
Share
5 Min Read
risk adverse
SHARE

risk adversePhysicians, as a rule, tend to be risk adverse. The science base of healthcare, combined with training, continuing education, and experience in practice, can make medical risk manageable.

risk adversePhysicians, as a rule, tend to be risk adverse. The science base of healthcare, combined with training, continuing education, and experience in practice, can make medical risk manageable.

Doctors—who are also owners, entrepreneurs, and the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)—tend to be especially risk adverse on the business side of healthcare. Success in marketing and advertising, for example, can be more of an art than a science. The rules of the game can be less precise, and their education and experience in healthcare marketing is still growing (slowly).

That said…risk and marketing mistakes are inescapable. Even trained and experienced marketing professionals don’t miss all the potholes and mistakes happen. Sometimes these are small, sometimes they are costly, but the prudent path is to learn from mistakes (of others), and avoid healthcare marketing blunders.

More Read

New Rx Talk Time
Patient Nonadherence: A Rational Reaction to Sub-Optimal Physician-Patient Communication
Strategies for Optimal Hospital Supply Chain Solutions
How To Become An Emergency Preparedness Administrator
Tips to Create Unique Social Media Content for Your Hospital
Is Your Dentistry Practice Present on Top Social Media Sites?

The classic marketing mistakes…

“You Don’t Know Me.” Mistakes connected to Target Audience are a category of their own. The obvious risk is, if you don’t know WHO you are talking to, your marketing or advertising message will never connect, communicate or engage. Instead: don’t guess, assume: Carefully define your “ideal customer persona” in precise detail.

“Listen before you speak.” Success in marketing occurs when the problems, needs and concerns of the audience are intimately understood, and the provider delivers solutions and answers to those needs. Listen “with both ears,” as the saying goes. Use research, social media, surveys, market data and other tools to actively and perceptively understand needs first.

Other stumbles and blunders…

Don’t challenge your assumptions. Everything about the nation’s healthcare system has been changing rapidly. Whatever you thought to be true this morning has likely changed by the end of the day. Competition among medical providers and institutions is a significant example. Private practices are rolling up into medical groups, physicians and groups are being acquired by hospitals and health systems, pharmacy chains are making a play in primary care, and the health insurance industry is reinventing itself on most of these same fronts. Don’t rely on old data, last year’s assumptions, or intuition. What has been true, or what has worked in the past, has changed.

Just get your name out there. This would the branding corollary to “everyone, everything” mistake. Trying to be everything to everyone gets traction with no one. Attempting to win new business from a generalized, non-directed name recognition effort alone is hugely wasteful and unproductive. Follow this course if you have deep pockets, low expectations and thick stomach lining.

It’s safe on the sidelines. A wait-and-see strategy is seldom useful in the long term. Creating and following a proactive plan provides you with more control of risk (and your own future) than trying to duck and cover. Indecision and inaction can be fatal. Unless you’re already on your way to the showers and out of the game, sitting on the bench is no strategy at all.

Put all your chips on one number. Traditional, and familiar marketing methods (print advertising, broadcast media, etc.) has been so overshadowed by digital media (online advertising, websites, blogs, social media, etc.) that some would have you believe that “traditional” is dead. Successful marketing plans are never cookie-cutter, nor will they rely exclusively on one means, method or media. Effective marketing will use a combination of the best tools (traditional or digital) to produce the desired results.

Above all, don’t track. Marketing without measuring effectiveness and results is…well, it’s not really marketing. Create a reliable, real-time system that quantifies results as a comparison to goals. Tracking is the only way to know Return-on-Investment, what’s working, make adjustments, and measure meaningful results.

As a final thought, “The only real mistake,” Henry Ford put it, “is the one from which we learn nothing.” You may not be able to avoid making any mistakes, but when you can avoid many, or learn from them, it’s a step toward greater success in healthcare marketing.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025
healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Medical Device Approval Process is Faulted in Study

March 22, 2011
Patient Saying No
Business

Patient Reactance: What It Is and Why Clinicians Need to Be Aware of It

August 21, 2014
uber-phone.jpg
eHealthHospital AdministrationMedical InnovationsTechnologyWellness

How Hospitals Are Using Technology to Improve Patient Access to Care

September 21, 2016
IRO Services
Business

A Commitment to Quality IRO Services – A Letter From Our Medical Director

September 16, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?