Home Health Marketing Strategies

Home health care is becoming more commonplace as a business. Standard small business concepts apply overall, but specifically targeting who needs such care will eliminate frustrations and narrow the margins of loss in time and income. Be certain your practice fulfills every state and local requirement, and feel confident you have trained and experienced professionals on board before you set out to grow your business.

The Internet

• Assuming your business cards and brochures are printed, make sure you have a top-notch, informative and effective website. Not everyone is aware of the power of creating websites easily found by search engines. Purchase AdWords from Google, or make sure your keywords and META TAGS work for you. Show strong images reflecting the type of care you provide, and interactions between caregivers and clients. Offer a free downloadable e-book that gives specific information on topics such as life choices, wellness, nutrition for elders, what families need to know, and so forth. Create a blog that offers periodic tips. Make sure your website URL is on all your written matter.

Alliances

• Form alliances with hospitals, physicians, nurse groups, training programs, schools, community leaders, community centers, and owners of shops that rent or sell items common to your industry.

Footwork

• Let everyone in town know about your business. Try the old-fashioned "footwork" concept: get out on the street with your brochures and cards. Put them in libraries, coffee shops, elder-care facilities, bookstores. Ask friends to share your information with their families and networks. Visit places of worship, retirement communities, and healing centers to introduce yourself.

Courses

• Offer a free one-hour introductory class at your nearby school, hospital or other facility. Give attendees hand-outs with your contact information plus your brochure. Offer an ongoing course through your own office location, for families and friends of those who might need your services. List your courses well in advance through local newspapers and institution calendars.

Radio

• Create a one-hour program or ongoing series for programs such as blogtalkradio, or arrange an interview at a live radio station. Talk about a specific health issue for which you are trained, or delineate what people can expect from home health services. Always leave time for questions at the end of your program, and relay listeners to your website for further information. Take advantage of free PSAs offered for non-profit groups if your business fits that category.

Video

• There are many ways to present yourself online through short videos. Visual materials are also useful to hand out to new clients. If you have the resources, hire a small professional team to create one or several videotapes or DVDs showing you in action, behind the desk, in community, connecting with clients, helping people or simply teaching an aspect of your knowledge and expertise. Create content that reflects your philosophy and invites people to learn more.