 |
| Healthcare Marketing |
Every industry has a few big names which are so deeply ingrained in the mind of the people that they have almost become the synonyms of a product/service. These companies have not become a big brand due to any miracle. There are a well-planned brand management strategies and hard work of years.
Being a doctor itself is a thing of pride, it is a very noble profession. A Doctor serves the society and gives people the most valuable thing in the world that is health. He should be a known personality as his work is very important; however doctors generally do not do personal branding & self-promotion, whatever fame they get is by the hospital for which they work and through successfully treated patients.
A personal brand is how people perceive you? What comes in their mind, when they think of you? Who you are and what you are known for is the personal brand. Your personality, values, beliefs, education, skills, conduct, and your professional track records, all come together to form a personal brand. What others say about you is more important than self-promotion. If you have good online reviews, you will be perceived as an authority in your domain and will remain ahead of your competitors.
Large business and companies do Brand promotion & management, it is equally important for smaller ones and on the individual level as well. When a patient chooses a particular hospital for treatment, it is because of hospital or doctor’s reputation. A doctor with a good reputation becomes a brand himself in the local market. Online brand management has become very important, as people do online searches to find quality products and services.
Brand Management is important for various reasons, First reason is career development if you have a good market reputation, people will look for you. You will obviously get growth opportunities and offers to be associated with top corporate brands. Self-awareness is another reason when you evaluate your brand; you get to know where you stand. You also become aware of your strengths, areas of improvements and what differentiate you from others. These valuable insights help you shaping your career.
Most important reason for brand management is the increase in the medical tourism industry. India has emerged as a preferred medical tourist destination because of it pool of talented doctors, good infrastructure and low cost of treatment, Million of foreign patients come to India every year for treatment; their decision is totally based on the online reputation of doctors and medical facilities. So branding pays you back.
Doctors can build a good reputation through social media channels by sharing knowledge and expertise. The future of Indian healthcare is very bright. If you develop a good personal brand, you will definitely reap good results. A doctor should also share his success stories such as successful surgeries and treatment with the world; it will greatly help you in personal branding. Having a website or a blog is a good idea, where you can share these things.
Personal branding is a something that every professional should do no matter what his expertise/specialization is. A professional should share his knowledge and skills to market and promote his services. To increase your visibility as a doctor you need your name, address and
contact details listed in the local search engine, directories, and yellow pages, where a patient can easily find and set an appointment with you.