There are currently 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide. 65.6 percent of the entire world’s population has internet access. There are 4.28 billion unique mobile internet users worldwide, which makes up 54.6 percent of the global population. There were 5.01 million internet users in Zimbabwe in January 2021. The number of internet users in Zimbabwe increased by 203 thousand (+4.2%) between 2020 and 2021. Internet penetration. With most of the world going digital and online, people are spending tremendous time on social media making connections and when people want to know something or do something, they go to Google for answers and solutions. It thus becomes paramount that as a doctor/ physician carrying out their practise you become visible online so that people can find you. You can take advantage of digital marketing tools such as social media, YouTube, websites and blogging, to build a brand and connect to your existing and new clients building trust and establishing authority in your area of expertise.
Understanding that as a doctor / physician you’re in the service business does give you tremendous advantage over others
Digital marketing can help increase awareness and reach that is get the word about you out there into the world, thus attracting new clients. Digital marketing also helps you connect and maintain an ongoing relationship with your clients increasing loyalty by sharing useful information that is relevant to them.
Here are 5 digital marketing strategies that can be adopted by doctors in their business.
1. Having A Solid Social Media Presence.
Taking advantage of social media platforms such as Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn can be of huge benefit in your digital marketing strategy.
With roughly 2.85 billion monthly active users as of the first quarter of 2021, Facebook is the biggest social network worldwide
Creating and promoting Facebook Page /Group is a great way to connect with potential and existing clients. You can build a community around your business or practice, as you share useful information such as health tips, scientific facts and related topics in your posts.
You can encourage your clients to share their personal stories and testimonials which increases engagement and customer loyalty. Social media also helps you tell your unique story.
Facebook Advertising is a great way to be effective in your marketing efforts as you can be very targeted in your Ads, Facebook allows you to target people according to their age, sex, marital status, parental status, location…for example as a Gynaecologist you can specifically target pregnant women in your ads thus increasing the effectiveness of your marketing.
WhatsApp groups can also be used to target specific groups of people. You can create exclusive WhatsApp groups for your clients building loyalty, and top of mind. These can also be used for customer service purposes ensuring that you respond to queries and clients quickly and timely.
2. Having A Well Designed and Optimised Website
Your website can be your digital office as well as your 24/7 salesperson with potential to reach reaching a worldwide audience. Your website should a clear navigation, clear information about your services, operating hours, contact information and even maps to direct patients and clients on where to find you.
Your website also needs to be optimised for mobile and also for search engines, so that your website appears high up on Google search pages.
A website affords more flexibility in terms of what you can share or do with design compared to social media platforms and thus is necessary to establish a solid online your online presence.
Writing blogs sharing your expertise and knowledge that is relevant helps with Google rankings. Your blogs posts can also be shared on your social media accounts and pages/groups.
3. Make Videos
YouTube has 2.3 billion users worldwide. 79 percent of Internet users have their own YouTube account. YouTube viewers watch over a billion hours of video on the platform every day and generate billions of views.
As a doctor and want to cement your authority, you can make a series of videos sharing health tips, related topics and other interesting facts and knowledge and human biology and the medical and health field. YouTube is the fastest growing search engine, and has the highest engagement rates. Being on YouTube increases your visibility and authority in your industry and you become the go to person.
4. Google Search Ads Campaigns
Many people when they want to know something, do something or go somewhere, they go to Google first. Mind-Blowing Google Statistics and Facts. There are over 70,000 Google searches each second. That’s almost 227 million an hour and about 5.4 billion Google searches per day. Google Search Ads allow you the place your business adverts in front of people who are actively searching for what you offer. An ad expert can help you set up and run your Google Search Ads.
5. Google Display Ads Campaigns
Google Display Ads allows you to place your adverts in front of people who are brewing similar websites to yours or who are consuming content that is similar to what you offer. These ads help increase your visibility and reach to a wide audience and help attract new clients. Google Ads are mostly pay per click meaning to say that you will be charged only when someone has clicked on your advert.
These above digital marketing strategies can help build personal brand and authority online as well as connect and build loyalty with your clients as a doctor or physician in Zimbabwe, and these being not necessarily exhaustive, other strategies to consider are local directory listings, Google My Business listings, making podcasts, creating loyalty programs among other possibilities
There were 5.01 million internet users in Zimbabwe in January 2021. The number of internet users in Zimbabwe increased by 203 thousand (+4.2%) between 2020 and 2021. Internet penetration in Zimbabwe stood at 33.4% in January 2021. Thus being online is a great opportunity for you as Doctor and Physician.
Blessing Mation is a Brand Strategist and Digital Marketer at Regal Digital Solutions
Contact: WhatsApp / Call +263 714 566 727
With businesses now being forced to go online. I believe it is paramount that Doctors and businesses in general take advantage of the digital marketing opportunities. I have put together some possibilities with digital marketing for our beloved Doctors, who are our heroes especially at such a time as this. What do you think about the article, are there some possibilities that i may have left out?