3 Senior Living Marketing Ideas to Recruit More Patients
Recruiting new residents for senior living communities requires innovative and personalized marketing strategies that resonate with both potential residents and their families. While traditional marketing approaches have their place, standing out in a competitive market means embracing fresh ideas that showcase the unique benefits and welcoming environment of your community. In this guide, we’ll explore three fun marketing ideas that can help you attract more residents and create lasting positive impressions.
1. Interactive Virtual Reality (VR) Tours
Why It Works
Virtual reality is all the craze right now due to its novelty and ability to give people an experience without having to physically be there. VR offers a highly immersive experience that can help potential residents and their families get a real sense of your senior living community without leaving their homes. This can help ease the minds of those who are hesitant about making visits or who live far away. If you do trade shows or make house visits to prospects, we encourage bringing a VR headset with you to give people the full experience!
Implementation Steps
Create High-Quality VR Content: Invest in professional VR video production to create detailed and engaging virtual tours of your community, including living spaces, common areas, outdoor facilities, and any other special areas that would “wow” potential residents.
Integrate with Your Website: Embed the VR tours on your website, making them easily accessible to visitors. While this doesn’t provide the standard VR experience with the headset that everyone envisions, it can still be a great way for website visitors to get a sense as to whether or not your facility is for them. Ensure the experience is user-friendly and compatible with various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and VR headsets, if possible.
Promote on Social Media and Email: Use social media and email marketing campaigns to promote the VR tours. Highlight the convenience and immersive experience in your promotional materials.
Offer Guided VR Sessions: Provide the option for guided VR tours where a staff member can walk potential residents and their families through the community in real-time, answering questions and providing personalized insights.
Benefits
Enhanced Engagement: VR tours are more engaging than traditional photos and videos, helping prospects feel more connected to and envision themselves as part of your community.
Convenience: Offers a convenient way for distant families to explore your community.
Competitive Edge: Sets your community apart from competitors who may not offer such advanced technology.
2. Personalized Welcome Packages for New Residents
Why It Works
A personalized welcome package can make new residents feel special and valued right from the start, improving their overall experience and satisfaction. Happy residents are more likely to share their positive experiences with others, serving as organic ambassadors for your community.
Implementation Steps
Gather Personal Preferences: During the intake process, collect information about the new resident's hobbies, interests, and preferences.
Curate Custom Packages: Create welcome packages tailored to each new resident. This could include items like favorite snacks, books, puzzles, or gardening tools to use if you provide space for that. Include a personalized welcome letter from the staff and other residents.
Include Community Information: Add a detailed community guide with information about activities, dining options, and nearby attractions to help them get acquainted with what’s offered. Even if you’ve already mentioned it prior, having the info all in one place will be appreciated by both the resident and their family. Highlight upcoming events and encourage new residents to participate.
Deliver Thoughtfully: People love to feel welcomed in a new environment. Have a staff member or a group of residents personally deliver the welcome package to the new resident’s room. This gesture can help break the ice and foster immediate connections.
Benefits
Personal Touch: We’re all about the human element to business and this simple act can go a long way. It’s a great way to show that your community cares about each resident's unique interests and preferences from day one.
Positive First Impression: You only have one opportunity to make a lasting first impression! Providing a simple welcome package helps create a welcoming and warm atmosphere from the moment a resident arrives. Sometimes people can be hesitant when it comes to change, so this can help break that ice.
Word-of-Mouth Marketing: When people are thoroughly impressed with an experience, they are more likely to encourage new residents to share their positive experiences with friends and family, potentially leading to referrals.
3. Community Ambassador Programs
Why It Works
Community ambassador programs leverage the positive experiences of current residents and their families to attract new residents. Ambassadors can provide authentic, relatable insights and build trust with potential residents.
Hot tip: Community Ambassadors can play into your UGC campaign!
Implementation Steps
Identify Ambassadors: Select a diverse group of current residents and family members who are enthusiastic about your community and willing to share their experiences.
Provide Training: Offer training sessions to ambassadors on how to effectively communicate their stories and represent the community. While it’s essential to encourage them to share their personal stories, equipping them with key talking points can help them share their stories more easily.
Create Ambassador Content: Feature your ambassadors in various marketing materials, including blog posts, videos, and social media content. Consistently sharing their stories and testimonials provide a personal touch to your marketing efforts and help make your campaign more recognizable.
Benefits
Authentic Testimonials: Prospects are more likely to trust and relate to current residents and their families (aka people that are the demographics speaking about issues they value).
Enhanced Community Feel: Getting your residents involved in campaigns shows that your community values and involves its residents in meaningful ways rather than just using your marketing team to be the face of the content.
Increased Engagement: Ambassadors can provide real-life examples of their experience at your senior living facility along with answering questions, making potential residents feel more comfortable and informed about their next steps.
As senior living marketing is constantly evolving, it's crucial to adopt innovative strategies that not only attract potential residents but also make them feel valued and welcomed. By implementing these three senior living marketing ideas, you can create memorable and engaging experiences that highlight the unique strengths of your community. These approaches can not only set your community apart but also foster trust and connections that lead to successful resident recruitment. Embrace these innovative ideas and watch your senior living community thrive with happy, satisfied residents who feel right at home.
Need help marketing to senior citizens for your organization?
Incept Health can help! Contact us today to learn how we help senior living organizations grow their patient count.