The Executive Suite: How to Market Your Geriatric Care Management Practice

Saturday, May 4, 2013

How to Market Your Geriatric Care Management Practice

Geriatric care management practices provide services to aging adults, as well as the family members and friends who care for them. Since many families count on geriatric care management practices to assist in caring for older relatives, it is important that you market your services appropriately and reach the people who need your services. From online marketing to networking in the community, the options for marketing your geriatric care management practice are abundant.

Here are a few suggestions:

Research your local market to determine your immediate competitors. You may find small and large firms dedicated to geriatric care management. Find out what types of services they offer and how much they charge for their services. Pay attention to how they advertise their businesses to customers. Also, look at firms outside of your local area, so you can get a good gauge of where you stand. Determine your unique selling proposition and tailor your business so that you can differentiate what your practice from the competition.
Hire a graphic designer to create a website for you that allows you to give general information about your business, as well as useful information and resources to potential clients. You may decide to keep a blog on your site where you post information about caring for aging relatives. You can include tips, meal planning suggestions and activities. In addition to your website, business cards and marketing materials, such as brochures, are useful to have on hand when networking with other professionals and attending community events. You should also have the graphic designer create brochures and business cards, so that you can hand them out at events and seminars.
Consider purchasing promotional advertising items such as pens, notepads, calendars or mouse pads to distribute to current and potential clients. Clients are more likely to hold onto promotional items that they find useful.
Host free seminars in your area on topics such as caring for aging family members, finding affordable care and making tough financial decisions for aging family members. You can even host sessions on how to stay sane during the process, since caring for an aging family member can be emotionally and physically draining. Have guests sign in and give their contact information. You can follow up with them after the seminar to provide additional information and answer questions.
Network with businesses in your community to create mutually beneficial relationships. Firms that focus on law services, financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and even real estate offices can be good connections for helping to promote your geriatric care management firm.
Search for blogs and websites in your area that are dedicated to the senior market. If they offer advertising, you may consider posting advertisements for your geriatric care management practice. Often times, people who care for aging relatives search blogs and websites for resources they can use.

You'll probably also want to join professional associations such as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and the Gerontological Society of America.

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