Alma’s Top 10 Marketing Ideas During Coronavirus

With the practice partially or completely closed due to the risks of the coronavirus, Alma Lasers reached out to practices across the United States to compile marketing recommendations to help the specialty through this uncertain time.

Here are a few of their favorites:

• Utilize this time to perform treatments on yourself or a family member so you can showcase your own results… take videos and pics and start building your marketing library.
• Interest rates are at an all-time low – you can take advantage of this by refinancing your mortgage or even financing a new device.
• Telemedicine and online consults are a great way to support your patients when they can’t come into the office and continue to generate operating revenue.
• Consider special offers – patients can get a discount when they pre-pay for a laser hair removal or body contouring package that they can use once restrictions are lifted.
• Let patients know that their safety is your top concern by describing the methods you’re using to keep your office sanitized and operational. I have adopted a one patient at a time policy. Patients wait in their cars until the office has been sanitized and then we invite them in.
• Let patients know it is OK to cancel – if they are feeling ill, they should not come in. Of course, cancellation fees can be waived during these extreme circumstances.
• Remember WHY you love aesthetic medicine – it is so much more than improving the way someone looks. We all love this business because of the way we make patients FEEL. Reach out to patients and collect their testimonials – then utilize them online, through social media and even on your brochures in your office.
• Find ways to connect and engage with your patients outside of the office – consider profiling each member of your team – talk about what they do at the practice and something unique about them.
• Light-hearted and humorous posts are much needed during difficult times. Of course, you want to be sensitive to what is happening in the world, but people are looking for things that make them smile.
• Don’t be repetitive – lots of different types of posts, from fun to educational, will keep people engaged now and in the future!
• Consider hosting a virtual event on social media. You can post short informational videos, polls and even run contests offer specials for treatments that can be booked when limitations are lifted.
• Content is king in online marketing – spend time reviewing your website, updating your content and writing new posts that can be used in the months ahead.
• Plan out your social strategies and mine content. Prepping content NOW will save you so much time later.
• Read, read, read! Spend this time educating yourself on the latest treatment techniques so that you’re ready with new treatments to offer when the time comes.
• Take part in online educational courses to sharpen your skills.
• First, now is a great time for us all to solidify healthy habits – including a good skin care routine. Provide information on your top skin care tips and drive patients to your e-store. If you sell products in-person only, figure out a way to take orders and ship skin care even if patients can’t make it into your office.
• Gift cards are another way to generate operating revenue while restrictions are in place – consider a special offer – a free $25 gift card with every $100 gift card purchase. Perhaps you can make this offer for services only, not retail items such as skincare, which have a hard cost and could negatively impact your bottom-line.

Alma is donating a portion of the proceeds of every sale during the pandemic – including those raised during their spring promotion event – to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, to help healthcare professionals around the world prevent, detect and manage the spread of the virus, according to the company.

For more information, contact your local sales rep or reach out to Alma directly at 224-337-2000.