Healthcare professionals who work in recovery and rehabilitation understand that addiction treatment can be a sensitive topic. Unfortunately, alcohol and drug addiction still carry a stigma. Patients and their loved ones may not know where to go to get help, or they might feel uncomfortable seeking out referrals or resources. That is why it is so important for treatment centers to do outreach and education. Here, AMNY Health Marketing highlights some of the marketing tactics that service providers can use.

What Is Healthcare Marketing?

Healthcare marketing refers to the set of tools and resources that a provider or facility uses to bring in more patients. This could include tactics like social media marketing, radio and TV advertisements, traditional print media, and email marketing. For addiction rehabilitation centers, an effective marketing strategy should raise awareness about your facility, while highlighting what makes your services unique. Your marketing strategy should be designed to reach people struggling with addiction, as well as their friends, family, and healthcare providers.

Best Practices for Addiction Recovery Services

Addiction is a sensitive topic. Understandably, service providers may struggle with developing effective marketing campaigns. Their messaging needs to be empathetic without being exploitative, and they must align with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements. Luckily, there are many ways that a treatment center can expand its reach sensitively and tactfully. Marketing strategies for rehabilitation centers include:

Claim Your Google Business Profile

Google is easily one of the most popular search engines, and for many people, it’s the first place they go when looking for healthcare providers and services in their area. One of the simplest ways to expand your digital presence is to set up your Google Business Profile. This service is free to use, and once you’ve claimed your business on Google, you can complete your profile with key information such as:

• Phone number
• Website
• Location
• Hours of operation

You can even add photos of your facility, which will help potential patients get a sense of your campus and environment. By setting up your Google Business Profile, you’ll help drive local potential clients to your center and can increase visits to your website.

Manage Your Reviews

Through Google Business Profile, you can also manage and respond to reviews and questions. Positive reviews can make prospective clients more likely to choose your services, while negative reviews can be a major deterrent. Ensure that you’re responding promptly when clients offer feedback, and address concerns whenever possible. Consider asking former clients to submit reviews on Google or other platforms so that leads can hear directly from people who have benefited from your services.

Share Testimonials

In the same vein, you may want to consider sharing testimonials from former clients and their loved ones. Human stories are a powerful tool. Whether you use printed quotes, audio, or video, you can highlight these testimonials on your website, social media, and other marketing outlets. These firsthand accounts can inspire other people who are struggling with addiction, and encourage them to take the first step in seeking support.

Leverage Content Marketing

Developing a content marketing strategy can be a great way to connect with your audience and share helpful educational information about addiction and recovery. Your content can include:

• Blog posts
• FAQ pages
• Infographics
• Ebooks
• Videos

By creating content that’s specific to your industry and services, you can help drive more visitors to your website while offering valuable resources to people who may be struggling.

Connect with Your Community

By connecting with healthcare providers and community-based organizations in your area, you may be able to increase your referrals. The more you develop long-term relationships with providers, the more likely they are to think of you when they have a patient who needs recovery and rehabilitation services. There are many ways to improve your outreach efforts, such as:

• Participating in local health fairs
• Giving presentations at area hospitals and clinics
• Attending industry conferences and events

Whatever type of strategies you pursue, you must always ensure they align with industry legal requirements. Strive for the highest level of ethical standards in your marketing efforts. Ultimately, you want your marketing campaigns to accurately reflect the treatment services you provide while being mindful of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Choose AMNY Health Marketing

If you need help showcasing your addiction recovery services, turn to the experts at AMNY Health Marketing. Our award-winning creative team has worked with many different healthcare clients, helping them increase referrals and serve even more patients. Our capabilities include market research to better understand your audience, customized content creation, and targeted advertising. For more information, visit our blog or contact us today.