You’ve worked hard to create a robust mental health lead generation plan. But have you ever stopped to think about the many ways patients arrive at your doors in the first place?

The different journeys your patients take before reaching your mental health center are as diverse as they are. Yet, a single process got them there: lead generation. This powerful digital marketing strategy uses a myriad of tools to encourage prospective patients to schedule an appointment.

Whether you opt for PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, encouraging phone calls, or even asking for reviews, your goal is to turn leads into patients. And there’s a lot on the line. The more leads you generate, the more patients you’ll help.

How Does Mental Health Lead Generation Work?

This process might sound like some overblown marketing technique best suited for businesses not focused on health care. Truthfully, lead generation is a powerful tool for mental health centers. Here’s how to get the most out of this strategy and convert more patients. 

1. Use PPC Advertising

Mental health lead generation isn’t as straightforward as slapping a billboard over an interstate and expecting patients to call. Prospective patients are dealing with a highly sensitive and often stigmatized issue. A successful digital marketing strategy needs to consider these factors. 

Nearly half of internet users say they click on text-based PPC ads.¹ But PPC works so well for mental health treatment because this type of ad allows you to specifically target the leads you want. Then, you’re able to directly deliver a conscious message encouraging them on their journey to seeking treatment.

2. Add Impactful CTAs

One of the most significant parts of a PPC ad is the call-to-action (CTA). But these aren’t just important for PPC. Using CTAs is a great way to encourage a lead to take the next step, regardless of where they are in their journey to find mental health treatment.

CTAs let you tell your audience the next step you’d like them to take. If you want a prospective patient to fill out a contact form, the right CTA can inspire them to do that. A different type of CTA encourages a lead to stop in or call your mental health treatment center. Think about how you want leads to become patients and create your CTAs accordingly.

Then, use those CTAs often! Add them to the end of web pages or articles and include them in graphics. And, keep in mind, lead generation increases by 45% when CTAs are displayed as a button.²

3. Don’t Hold the Phone

Phone calls are re-emerging as an unexpected yet impactful way to generate leads in today’s digital age. Let’s say you use a CTA that prompts leads to call your mental health center. When they call, they might be looking for more information, or they might be ready to go all in and make an appointment.

Either way, research suggests that leads who call make appointments 30% faster than those who only interact with a mental health practice online.³ The human connection forged over the phone puts prospective patients at ease and makes taking the next step more comfortable.

Reference your mental health treatment center’s phone number prominently in several places on your website. Include your phone number in any CTAs prompting prospective patients to call your center. The easier your CTAs are to complete, the more likely a lead will take the next step and contact you.

4. Encourage Reviews and Testimonials

Online reviews and testimonials are some of the most potent mental health lead generation drivers. Whether a prospective patient first hears about your center from an online directory, a friend, or a PPC ad, there’s a good chance they’ll turn to Google before taking any other action.

Nine out of ten people use online reviews to evaluate potential healthcare providers.⁴ Even more relevant is that eight out of ten believe the reviews they read online just as much as personal recommendations from friends and family.

What patients write about your mental health treatment center matters. Monitor and moderate your Google Business Profile, as well as other forums where patients leave reviews. And when you’ve established a good rapport with a patient, ask them to write a review for your center. Their insights will help others make important decisions about their mental health needs.

 

For a list of references, please contact us.