Welcome to The Healthcare Marketing Connection. This week we are taking a look at some inexpensive ways to get your name out there and to create awareness for your business. Also, here's one last reminder this week, as my class on creating a business from your home as a copywriter is almost full. Our next class starts Monday, August 14th. With only one more class scheduled this year after this one. Come have fun with us for the next ten weeks - and learn how to get in front of your target audience and get more clients easily and effortlessly!

The summer is flying by. Next week my kids register for school. At this time of year I always find myself thinking of all the things I meant to do with them this summer and didn't do. And I try to cram it all in the last two weeks of the summer. It's the same thing every year. Next year I WILL plan better.

To your success!

Kelly

10 cheap ways to create awareness for your healthcare facility
by Kelly Robbins

Creating awareness for your healthcare facility, especially with little or no budget, can be a daunting task. New competitors, a lack of prior marketing, a poor reputation in the past and lack of funds are all reasons why your facility may be experiencing a decline in patients or a lack of growth.

While a difficult task for any business, creating awareness for a healthcare facility can be especially daunting because there is so much competition out there. Here are a few inexpensive ways to let people know you're out there and what you stand for.

1. Write articles or provide tips to local homeowners' associations.
   
   
2. Provide educational information for small businesses in the community by contributing to your local chamber of commerce. Think workplace safety, workman's comp, etc.
   
   
3. Publish articles or inexpensive advertorials in your local community paper.
   
   
4. Partner with realtors in the area and target new families moving into the community. Make sure they know where you are, help them find a local PCP, etc. Be a source for referrals. This can be as easy as creating a hand-out they give to new families when they buy a house.
   
   
5. Similar to how you partner with realtors to introduce yourself to new families in the area, you can also joint venture with apartment complexes and building management companies. Both residential and commercial management companies provide welcome packets for new tenants. Why not include some information about your facility and how to find you? And the great thing about this approach is that once it's done, you don't have to worry about doing it again. It's an easy system to put in place for ongoing marketing.
   
   
6. In addition to the welcome packets, you can publish "health tips" articles in building association newsletters, too. Both residential and commercial complexes usually publish a newsletter for their tenants and are always looking for ways to add value to the publication. They're always looking for content. Help them out!
   
   
7. Work with your local newspaper to add a "health" section to the newspaper's Web site. Make sure the paper knows you're available for interviews or questions on any healthcare related topics that come up. You can also post a calendar of events, etc.
   
   
8. Offer free or low-cost seminars to educate the public. Participating physicians may conduct these.
   
   
9. Can you do a joint venture with someone in the community? Be creative. For example, maybe the local kids' sports team. You can be the official sponsor and provide free tips in their newsletter or have staff people at the games for parents to ask questions.
   
   
10. Remember, people like free things. What can you give away for free? A free report or free consultation? A free blood pressure check? Give this free thing away in all your communication pieces.

(c) 2006, Kelly Robbins LLC

Want to use this article in your e-zine or web site? No problem! Just let me know at info@KellyRobbinsLLC.com. I'll send you a short bio to include at the end of the article.

Because having a strong marketing foundation is key to your company's growth and success, we have put together a complete package that looks at ALL aspects of your marketing and, if necessary, provides you with the tools for a complete makeover. This package includes an hour long private coaching kick-off call, a customized marketing blueprint to success, a thorough analysis of ALL your marketing communications (done by Kelly herself), and five hours of coaching or consulting calls.

You also will receive three of her top selling products... Kelly's new audio program Marketing Your Healthcare Business, The Number One Way to Get Published, and the Guide to Identifying Your Dream Clients! Find out more about this complete marketing package here

This week Kelly recommends www.acmelogo.com. Are you looking for a great logo design for your business? Acmelogo.com can create the perfect logo for your business. AND they also guarantee their work.

If you have any other great resources you'd like me to share with everyone, let me know and I'll check it out. kelly@KellyRobbinsLLC.com

Next class on building your copywriting business with Kelly Robbins and Terri Levine begins August 14th. Classes are kept small to ensure one-on-one coaching time. Enroll now to reserve your space

University of Masters - Tuesday, August 22nd, 12:00 MT. Part three of the "How To" series is next, "How to build your ezine list". Every two weeks we'll cover a new marketing topic. You can check out the classes at www.masterteacherandmarketer.com

SHSMD roundtable discussion leader - September 7th - I will be leading a roundtable discussion on copywriting for the healthcare industry for the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development's (SHSMD) Annual Educational Conference in Phoenix.

To learn more about healthcare copywriting and marketing, visit my Web site at www.KellyRobbinsLLC.com/article_archives.shtml. There are tons of fr ee articles on a variety of helpful topics.