Comments on: Should doctors advertise? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/should-doctors-advertise.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:15:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Health Train Express http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/should-doctors-advertise.html/comment-page-1#comment-87497 Health Train Express Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:19:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/should-doctors-advertise.html#comment-87497 You might equate internet web sites as advertisements, but when coupled with 'Google' as a search engine you have instantaneous yellow pages, with lookup features, by specalty,location, and features. Very cost effective..... You might equate internet web sites as advertisements, but when coupled with ‘Google’ as a search engine you have instantaneous yellow pages, with lookup features, by specalty,location, and features. Very cost effective…..

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/should-doctors-advertise.html/comment-page-1#comment-87494 Anonymous Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:53:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/should-doctors-advertise.html#comment-87494 I understand your bias toward online advertising, but the best strategy is to make use of multiple media - print and broadcast, as well as online.<br/><br/>Most people do not exclusively rely on the Web when seeking out local services. There is also a value to repeating and reinforcing your advertising message in a variety of media that reach the widest demographic possible.<br/><br/>Finally, may I say that exclusive online advertising is, well, elitist? Many people can't or won't use computers - including, to my own personal knowledge, more than a few health care professionals. Some of them aren't comfortable with the technology, or haven't gotten into the habit of using the Internet to search for local health care. Maybe they can't afford to have a computer, or can't afford to pay the monthly fee for a good broadband connection. Many rural areas simply don't have good Internet service available. And many physician practices and community hospitals don't have the resources to invest in an attractive, up-to-date Web site, or have chosen to spend their resources on other things, such as patient care.<br/><br/>Technology is awesome, but it creates a whole new class of haves and have-nots. I respectfully submit that your advice to ignore your local newspapers and radio in favor of online advertising will serve only to widen this gap in ways that don't bode well for the future. I understand your bias toward online advertising, but the best strategy is to make use of multiple media – print and broadcast, as well as online.

Most people do not exclusively rely on the Web when seeking out local services. There is also a value to repeating and reinforcing your advertising message in a variety of media that reach the widest demographic possible.

Finally, may I say that exclusive online advertising is, well, elitist? Many people can’t or won’t use computers – including, to my own personal knowledge, more than a few health care professionals. Some of them aren’t comfortable with the technology, or haven’t gotten into the habit of using the Internet to search for local health care. Maybe they can’t afford to have a computer, or can’t afford to pay the monthly fee for a good broadband connection. Many rural areas simply don’t have good Internet service available. And many physician practices and community hospitals don’t have the resources to invest in an attractive, up-to-date Web site, or have chosen to spend their resources on other things, such as patient care.

Technology is awesome, but it creates a whole new class of haves and have-nots. I respectfully submit that your advice to ignore your local newspapers and radio in favor of online advertising will serve only to widen this gap in ways that don’t bode well for the future.

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