In 2017, nearly 20 million Americans aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder.1 A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, you can safely assume even more of our neighbors, friends, and family members are struggling with substance abuse. Despite these alarmingly high rates, few people get the treatment they desperately need to battle drug and alcohol abuse. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 19% of people with addictions get treatment.1 This is where addiction treatment digital marketing can help.
One of the more straightforward barriers to treatment to overcome is finding the right addiction treatment center. There are 14,500 centers across the country, but not enough people are enlisting their services to help.1 Why?
Even though addiction treatment centers prioritize patient privacy, there’s still a stigma. As a result, many centers don’t appropriately publicize their services. And that only prevents the message from getting to the folks that need them. This must change.
There are millions of people out there who need you. Are you doing everything you can to reach new patients and their families? Your ability to market yourself well could make the difference between life or death for a person desperately in need of treatment. Today we’re looking at a few techniques for cultivating a dynamic addiction treatment digital marketing strategy to increase your center’s visibility.
Claim Your Google Business Profile Listing
When people look for something they need, like an addiction treatment center, they usually start with an online search. When they search for your center, what do they see?
Claim your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) as soon as possible. This free business listing can unlock the potential of your treatment center and help you connect with even more patients and their families. Five percent of Google Business Profile views directly contribute to conversion.2
When you claim your listing, fill all the fields. Include as many details as possible and add professional photos and your logo. You’ll not only appear more appealing to prospective patients, but you’ll also boost your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Your Google Business Profile listing can contribute up to 14% of your ranking power.3
Support your Addiction Treatment Digital Marketing by Investing in SEO
SEO is the process of fine-tuning your website to rank as high as possible on search engine results pages. Page rank holds great value, because the higher you appear in search results, the more likely your target audience will click through to your website. Searchers select one of the top five search results on Google 76.6% of the time.4
SEO also has potent local effects. Forty-six percent of Google searches have local intent. And when someone is seeking an addiction treatment center, they’re often looking for a center in their community. Ensure your site is optimized for local searches so you’re easily discoverable to users searching for treatment centers in your area.
Create an Informative, Well-Designed Website
We’ve explored how people search for treatment centers and what happens when your addiction treatment center shows up in a Google search. But what about when someone clicks through to your website? What then?
Your website should be an honest reflection of your center. Design your site with user-friendly features and simple navigation. Think about the hopes, fears, and desires users have when looking for an addiction treatment center. Make sure your pages address the following queries:
- What services do you offer?
- What insurance companies do you work with?
- Do you have inpatient or outpatient treatment?
- Are the facilities a good match?
- What rules will patients need to abide by?
These questions are just a start. Most of your patients and their caregivers will be looking for even more specifics.
And don’t forget the contact page! Users want to easily access your phone number, physical address, and an email address where they can send questions. A simple form where people can contact you or ask questions is another great asset.
Optimize for Mobile
Optimizing your website for viewing on mobile devices is an essential part of your digital marketing strategy. About 60% of Americans begin their searches for local products and services on a mobile device.3 Make sure what they see when they click through is clean and viewable in portrait mode.
There’s nothing more frustrating than visiting a site not optimized for mobile. Neglect to invest in a mobile site, and you risk losing patients. Sixty-one percent of searchers will likely contact a local business if they have a mobile site.5
Engaging digital marketing strategies to promote your addiction treatment center is essential, not only to your success but also to the recovery of the patients and families who need you.
If you have questions about these or other digital marketing strategies, Dreamscape Marketing can help. Our dedicated team of professionals understands how to market addiction treatment centers and has the expertise to develop effective digital marketing plans. Contact us today at 888.307.7304 to get started.
For a list of references, please contact us.