The best-performing hospitals from a marketing standpoint are hospitals that are active parts of their communities. That doesn’t just mean donating to the local park and recreation league or hosting a fundraiser. It also means getting out into the community through event marketing.

Event marketing involves taking your brand off campus to reach people where they are. It could be something as simple as having a table at a job fair or something more involved like hosting a charity event.

An event can be anything that takes place outside of the hospital that involves the public. (You can even host events inside the hospital, which is a good idea, but for this post we’ll focus on off-campus events.)

Here are a few great ideas for how you can get involved with the public in a positive way.

Host Health Classes and Seminars

People need to know more about their health, and hospitals have a duty to supply that information to their community.

Sharing health-related knowledge is a great way to meet new potential patients and convince them that your team is a trusted authority on whom they can rely whenever they need care.

Talk to local universities and community colleges. Work with local libraries. Find places where the public will be, so you can host a class, a series of classes, or just a talk. Plenty of community programs would love to hear from you.

Give Back through Fundraisers

You can build strong partnerships with local nonprofits by helping them raise money. You can use your existing networks and your marketing program to raise awareness of the fundraiser and even contribute to hosting an event – such as a dinner, a 5K, or a chili cook off – for the nonprofit.

It’s a win not just for the nonprofit, but for your hospital and the community you serve. And it’s a great way to raise awareness for both your hospital and a good cause.

Go to Local Events with a Booth

All through the year, your area probably has tons of events, ranging from fairs and festivals to concerts, holiday celebrations, and other occasions.

Create a booth, load up on giveaways, get a great prize for a raffle, and show up for these events. It’s a great way to get the word out about your hospital in a friendly way. Attract people to your booth by offering giveaways like t-shirts, cups, lanyards, and other creative items, and get people to sign up for a raffle to win a nice prize. (This is a great way to get their email addresses, too!)

Event marketing for hospitals can be powerful. Get out into the community; you’ll extend your reach and get fantastic word of mouth exposure.

TotalCom is a full-service hospital marketing and advertising agency that believes in getting great results from telling great stories. Contact us for more information or view our previous work and see what stories we can tell for you.