In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global reprioritization of health and wellness. As a result, more people are choosing to include acupuncture in their holistic wellness plans. To take advantage of the influx of wellness seekers, acupuncture marketing is more important than ever.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to gathering your acupuncture marketing materials, don’t stress! This article will cover the ways to build your acupuncture marketing plan and reach new clients, including:
- Launching your website
- Marketing to your target audience
- Using content marketing
- Creating a social media presence
- Optimizing your business profiles
- Providing updates to your clients
We make it easy to build loyalty with patients and clients, drive referrals, and grow your center.
Launching your website
When prospective patients want to learn more about your acupuncture business, they will most likely start by looking up your website. Because of this, it is essential that you build a website. The goal is to appeal to customers with a site that looks great, is easy to navigate, and is mobile-responsive for patients on the go.
Your acupuncture website should include:
- Your health and wellness philosophy
- Information about you and your acupuncture practice
- Staff pictures and biographies
- An easy-to-access appointment portal
- Visible contact information
Beyond this, consider building a team blog and adding a few resources about acupuncture and its benefits. Create a website that feels genuine to your mission as a practitioner. Your website is an opportunity to establish your branding as a health and wellness business.
Marketing to your target audience
Acupuncture appeals to patients for a wide range of reasons. It is important to identify who your target audience is to help guide your marketing choices. For example, you might want to market to the millennial generation, who values wellness, or you might want to cater to those looking for relief from symptoms related to trauma.
Depending on which client base you choose, your marketing efforts will be vastly different. To get a better idea of who your target audience is, it helps develop a customer persona. To build a profile of your ideal patient, ask yourself the following questions:
- How old are they?
- Where do they live?
- What is their income bracket?
- Why are they seeking your services?
You may find that you hope to promote your business to multiple markets. In this case, you can utilize target marketing to appeal to multiple demographics. One way to do this is through email list segmentation. When you launch your next email campaign, you can tailor your email marketing to attract specific prospective clients in different ways.
Using content marketing
A solid content marketing strategy can provide major benefits for your business when it comes to the health and wellness industry. Essentially, content marketing involves creating valuable content for your audience and using it as a promotional tool.
A popular way to utilize content marketing is by starting a blog. Patients and prospective clients alike look to you for advice about leading a healthier life, resources about acupuncture, and more. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ideas for your health and wellness blog. Examples include:
- Alternative forms of fitness
- Tips for combating headaches with acupressure
- Resources on pet acupuncture
- How acupuncture contributes to wellness
When you create a steady stream of content on your website, you boost your search engine optimization and give yourself plenty of content to post across your website and social media channels.
Creating a social media presence
Whether you are a fan of social media or not, it’s hard to deny the power of social media marketing! Social media is a great way to connect with potential patients and build meaningful relationships. To establish your presence on social media:
Use multiple channels
When you create multiple social media channels, you increase your efforts exponentially. Especially if you are trying to reach multiple markets, claiming your profile on more than one platform can really pay off:
- Facebook. Facebook is a great place to start when it comes to social media marketing. Use Facebook to answer client questions, manage reviews, and link to your latest blog post.
- LinkedIn. LinkedIn is beneficial for connecting with busy professionals. Connect with local businesses to encourage employees to take care of their health.
- Instagram. Instagram is a great place to show off images of your facilities and staff. This helps prospective clients get more comfortable with you as a provider before coming in.
- Twitter. As a text-based platform, Twitter is effective for posting short updates and upcoming promotions.
As a health and wellness provider, make sure you are maintaining your patients’ privacy in any content you post.
Utilize analytical tools
Whether you choose Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram to connect with clients, you can elevate your efforts by using social posting and monitoring tools. These tools will provide valuable insights into your client base and help guide your future marketing choices.
Invest in visibility
Visibility is the key to a great marketing campaign. To invest in your presence on social media, purchase Facebook and Instagram ads and make sure you’re being seen by your target audience.
Optimizing your business profiles
As an acupuncture business, it is important to reach clients who are in your area. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to do this, including:
Optimizing your Google My Business account
One way to increase your chances of appearing at the top of near-me searches is to optimize your Google My Business account. This free profile provides you multiple ways to boost your acupuncture business’ credibility and SEO. Optimizing your account takes some time, but the results are well worth it.
Purchasing ads
Another avenue for rising in search ranks is purchasing Google ads. Google ads place you at the top of local searches — making it a sure thing that people searching for acupuncture will see your business.
Managing reviews
Step up your optimization by taking the time to claim and moderate your reviews on the major platforms like Google and Yelp. Ultimately, this will make it easier for potential patients to see great feedback about your service.
Providing updates to your clients
Marketing your business during COVID-19 can be challenging. However, you have a chance to connect with clients through your online presence. Make it a priority to provide regular updates on your business operations. Clients will also appreciate any efforts to show how you are approaching health and safety in regards to COVID.
Next steps for effective acupuncture marketing
You know that acupuncture brings peace and relief to the lives of your patients. As a provider, you want to share your services with as many clients as possible — effective acupuncture marketing is the way to achieve this!
With your new knowledge of how to market your business on multiple levels, are you ready to start gathering your acupuncture marketing materials? If you need more time to read up on advice for health and wellness brands, you can peruse The Download, a free marketing guide for health professionals. Do you have a limited marketing budget? If so, check out our article on how to market your small business on a Shoestring Budget.
