Mobile internet usage is growing rapidly, and is only going
to continue to grow as more and more people buy smartphones, tablets and other
mobile devices. As a business in today's world, it is almost expected of you to
have some form of mobile website or application available so that your
customers can quickly and easily access your businesses information, social
media pages and much more. If you think that a mobile application is not right
for your practice, consider this fact, people around the world are using
smartphones to search doctors, book diagnostic lab tests, purchase medicines
and much more. With that in mind, here are seven reasons why a mobile app will
help improve your practice.
Patient and Office
Engagement
As interaction between businesses and customers becomes
easier than ever before courtesy of mobile devices and social media, it is
important that healthcare professionals realise the opportunity that a mobile
application could have for their practice. By creating a quick and easy way for
patients to reach your office, a mobile application saves your patient time
while also providing them with company information and directions to your
location via an interactive map.
Patients Prefer Mobile
Apps over Mobile Websites
Whether you realise it or not, patients prefer mobile apps
over websites. While a website is built for larger screens and can carry more
information, patients today are looking for an app that is functional,
interactive and optimised for their fingers and the touch screens that they
have with or near them 24 hours a day.
Direct Pipeline to
Patients
Looking for ways to share news/specials/promotions with
patients but don't want to spend money on flyers and direct mail? A mobile
application with push notifications can help to do it without the printing
costs. A mobile app will allow you the ability to send push notifications or
"alerts", to users who have downloaded the app quickly and easily,
saving you time and money.
Keep Ahead Of Your
Competition
As mentioned earlier, very few if any of your competitors are
utilising a mobile app for their practice, so why not give your practice the
competitive edge? A customised mobile app will help you appeal to the ever
increasing majority of mobile patients, build and engage relationships with
them and turn them into lifelong patients.
Cost Efficient
Marketing
When considering a mobile application for your practice, it
is important to look at the long-term value of the application. By creating a
mobile app that allows you to do all of the things mentioned above, as well as
having the ability to upgrade/change the overall look of the application at
anytime to fit your office's image, you can begin to see the application as a
base for all other marketing campaigns.
Attract More Referrals
As more consumers switch over to smartphones every day, it is
important to create a mobile brand image and presentation that accurately
represents your business to help gain more referrals. A mobile app that is easy
to use for patients will not only help with customer relationships, but also
lead to potential referrals from existing customers to potential new customers.
Save Time with In-App
Appointment Requests
Not too long ago, phone calls were the main way to schedule an appointment for patients. This often led to offices needing someone by the
phone for hours on end, answering calls and interacting with customers. With
the creation of mobile devices and text messaging and mobile applications,
offices can now simply offer up an appointment availability calendar within
their app and customers can send a quick text, email or voicemail to the office
to schedule their appointment, freeing up staff time and creating an almost
effortless scheduling system.
