3 Do’s & 3 Don’ts Of Healthcare Mailers & Messaging

If you have a healthcare business, you know the value of healthcare mailers as part of your holistic healthcare marketing strategy. However, there are certain things you can do to maximize the impact of healthcare messaging in the mail. Healthcare advertising isn’t as straightforward as traditional products or services, there are several nuances and guidelines you should know. Here are some marketing tips, 3 do’s and 3 don’ts for anyone using direct mail marketing for healthcare-related services or products.

DO Leverage Targeted Lists Most Relevant To A Condition

Have you utilized targeted lists in your healthcare marketing plan before? If not, this is an excellent way to make sure you get the best return on your investment. We have a few blogs about how to get an effective list.

Healthcare needs can be very broad or very niche, depending on your service or product.

A broad tactic is sending out flyers about a new dental office opening in a specific neighborhood, while a niche list is important if you are looking to advertise a certain treatment for a specific illness or condition.

Broad lists can be narrowed down using:

• Location (Example: Proximity to a new office, or an office accepting a new type of healthcare plan)
• Age (Example: A dentist office specializing in cleanings for children)
• Gender (Example: Mammograms)

Niche lists should be relevant to a specific medical condition. For example:

• Diabetes prevention
• Hormone imbalances
• High blood pressure patients

DO Use CTA’s For Appointments Or Calls On Patient’s Terms

All marketing messaging needs a clear CTA, or Call to Action. For healthcare messaging, this means leading the potential patient to create an appointment.

Contact methods can include a:

• Phone number
• Website
• QR code
• Email address

Putting the CTA in an obvious spot means that the mailer can be saved for later reference, and appointments can be made on the patient’s terms.

It is important that the reader has a sense of urgency and doesn’t toss the mailer in the trash, but instead saves it for later. Messaging like, “Appointments filling up, don’t wait!” or “Limited spaces available, call today!” are good CTAs.

DO Demonstrate Expertise To Prospective Patients

Part of healthcare direct mail marketing is building trust with patients. A great way to do that is to show your expertise. Longevity of practice in the community or of a particular product is a great lead-in. National or local awards or certifications prove results and expertise, so should be highlighted on mailers.

You also need to prove a point of difference to set you apart from your competitors. A specific expertise typically not shared by your competition is a good start. Include any other relevant practical information that would help potential patients choose you.

DON’T Be Alarmist With Medical Messaging

Keep in mind that health-related issues are stressful for everyone. Don’t take this as an opportunity to alarm or scare potential patients! Focus on messaging, and:

• Assure rather than alarm
• Avoid “should” type messaging
• Treat it like an opportunity – not a burden

Don’t list the statistics of a condition unless it’s in a positive light. For example, “This many people benefit from earlier treatment”. You want potential patients to feel safe and comfortable, and let them know that they can reach out with questions at any time.

DON’T Use Too Much Jargon

Jargon is technical language and it can be confusing to people who are not heavily involved in your industry. It can be especially confusing when using medical terms related to conditions or treatments. Avoid long, hard-to-pronounce, or unfamiliar terms.

DON’T Ignore Seasonality

Depending on your practice, certain times of the year may be better or worse for investing in healthcare mailers.

Pay attention to your industry’s seasonal trends. Send your healthcare messaging leading up to and in the heart of the busiest times of the year for your office or product. For things such as dental appointments, remind patients to book early, before school breaks fill up with other activities. Routine physical exams and vaccinations are best (and sometimes necessary) before school starts.

Certain procedures are more easily done in different weather, which varies based on your location. For instance, the Midwest has a lot of snowstorms in winter, while the Southern states can be hit with heat waves, floods, and power outages in summer. Keep these things in mind when encouraging patients to come in at certain points during the year.

More About Healthcare Messaging

Do you have questions about how to get a healthcare mailer into production? Our team can handle every step of the process, from conception to mailing! Read more about using direct mail to serve your healthcare patients here. Contact us for a quote today!