Mobile Marketing - Seeing is Believing!

Looking for ways to stay connected with your patients between visits, while making the  in-office experience more interactive?  Mobile is the most dynamic and ubiquitous communications channel available today, and easily integrates into existing traditional marketing channels.  Check out Seeing is Believing – optometry’s first virtual conference dedicated to teaching practitioners about online tools, techniques and technology.   Here’s a sneak peak at some of the topics I’ll be discussing as part of my presentation – Mobile Marketing and Communication – Go Where the Eyes Are!

SMS Text

We love text messaging!  Everywhere we go we see people feverishly tapping away on their mobile devices.  What was once just for personal use is slowly finding a place in our practices, mostly for things like appointment reminders and alerts (ie. “your glasses are ready for pick-up”).  But what about SMS as a marketing tool?  SMS marketing is permission-based, meaning patients must opt-in to receive your messages.  As opposed to mass marketing like e-blasts or direct mail, permission-based marketing creates opportunities to define a niche market and design marketing campaigns specific to that group.  Got a dry eye specialty?  Vision therapy?  Sports vision?  Looking for ways to build awareness and attract new patients?  I’ll discuss a few ways to get people interested in joining your “mobile club”.

QR Codes

QR codes are basically a link that connects to digital content when scanned with a smartphone.   They are a fun and interactive way to direct people to your website, Facebook page or even Youtube videos.  They are also a great way to drive sales by making your optical more educational.  For ex. “scan the image to see how sunglasses protect the eyes from harmful UV radiation”.   I’ll provide a list of free informational vids you can use in your optical.

Mobile websites

Things like staff bios, frames & lenses, and eye health information are great features on a traditional website, but is that what people want to see when they visit your site on a mobile device?  Research by Google reveals it isn’t.  People on their mobile site are often on-the-go and want quick access to basic information (phone number, directions, office hrs, etc.).  If fact, Google found that most people will abandon your site within a very short time if they can’t find this info quickly.  Mobile websites do not replace your traditional site, they merely compliment it by directing mobile users to a more streamlined version of your desktop site.  Tune in to find out how to create a mobile-friendly site, and how it can elevate you in search listings.

Social Media

Social and mobile go hand-in-hand these days.  More and more people are checking-in and updating their social status right from their mobile phones.  Wanna see some fun and easy ways to get people to Like your FB page, check-in at your practice, or post a pic wearing their awesome new glasses?  And more importantly – share with their friends!

Hope top see you at the conference!

About Steve:  Steve Vargo, O.D., M.B.A. is in private practice in St. John, Indiana where he lives with his wife and 2 sons.  He also founded iMobile Communications, and frequently writes and lectures about using technology for marketing and communication.

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