A recent study released by ISHRS found that hair transplant procedures are expected to rise. In 2019, about 2 million individuals were treated for hair loss, up 13% since 2016.
The overall increases since 2008 are part of a trend. In 2019, an overwhelming 84.2% of hair loss cases were men.
Those seeking treatment for hair loss cited social and dating reasons as the catalyst in 37% of cases. This was closely followed by career and professional reasons. (Note both these points for later reference!)
Increase in Doctors Offering Hair Transplants
As the market for hair transplantation and restoration expands due to increased visibility, bad actors have also arisen. Illicit hair transplants performed by unskilled or untrained doctors are being outed by the “FIGHT” campaign.
The estimated worldwide market for surgical hair restoration saw a 16% increase since 2016. This represents an estimated market value of $4.6 billion USD. Naturally, more doctors want a piece of pie. Unfortunately, sometimes the patient pays the ultimate price.
This public awareness campaign, which stands for fraudulent, illicit & global hair transplants, aims to inform and educate the general public. Numerous cases have been reported where poor technique, over-harvesting, and bad graft mapping produce devastating results. YouTube is full of videos that highlight these unfortunate cases.
Additionally, on January 31, 2020, the New York State Board made a firm condemnation to any doctor handing off procedures to unlicensed staff. Now more than ever, it is extremely important to remain vigilant and active in your marketing.
Also worth noting is the doctor who received the suspension did not specialize in hair restoration and was credentialed in family medicine.
Now is the Time to Market Your Practice
As the market expands and barriers to hair restoration fall, it is more important now than ever before to engage in digital marketing. More individuals are searching the web for hair loss treatments and prevention. It is your job to remain visible so your practice can be found when it matters most.
If you don’t act, someone else will. We have hair transplant doctors in Cleveland target other cities within the area to increase their market visibility. (This can work well with video ads).
There are a number of ways to reach your target market outside of traditional TV, radio, and direct mail.
Google & Facebook Ads
It is possible to display ads in Google search results when individuals look for hair restoration doctors. Similarly, you can display ads to users on Facebook and other platforms that are most likely to be in your target audience. (As mentioned earlier, this might be men in their 20-40s with a professional career and active dating life.)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization for your medical practice website is another method for improving organic visibility in search engines. A well-optimized website is more likely to appear higher in the Google Map and organic listings.
It is worth noting that an overwhelming majority of clicks go to the top 1-3 results in Google!
One of the major benefits digital marketing offers hair transplant doctors is measurability. Unlike TV, radio, and direct mail, online marketing campaigns produce clear metrics and ROI. No more guessing is needed.
Reputation Management
In addition, the web ushered in a new era of accountability. No longer can unskilled or uncaring doctors remain unscathed. Poor work or bedside manner is punished with negative reviews on the web. These reviews can tarnish the reputation and lead to loss of revenue.
Like all businesses, there are times when a negative review is unwarranted or worse, fake. This makes it extremely important to have a strategy for managing your hair restoration practice’s online reputation.
Get Started – Your Competitor Already Has!
Implementing digital marketing strategies for your practice is not as daunting as you may think.
We can help you plan, execute and measure online campaigns within your budget. In the past, we’ve also helped review analytics provided to doctors from their current providers.
A quick audit can sometimes show clear holes in strategy and a gross lack of transparency.
Let us be your partner. Boost your online visibility, grow your practice.
Get started with a complimentary consultation today.
