How do you stay current on healthcare marketing and communication?

1 Read industry publications

One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep yourself updated on healthcare marketing and communication is to read industry publications regularly. These can include journals, magazines, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, or webinars that cover topics such as healthcare strategy, branding, digital marketing, social media, content marketing, patient experience, crisis communication, and more. You can subscribe to the ones that interest you, bookmark them, or use an RSS reader or a content aggregator app to access them conveniently.

2 Join professional associations and networks

Another way to stay current on healthcare marketing and communication is to join professional associations and networks that cater to your field. These can provide you with valuable resources, insights, opportunities, and connections that can help you grow your skills and knowledge. For example, you can join the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD), the American Marketing Association (AMA), the Healthcare Communication and Marketing Association (HCMA), or the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM). You can also participate in their events, webinars, courses, certifications, awards, or online communities.

3 Attend conferences and workshops

A third way to stay current on healthcare marketing and communication is to attend conferences and workshops that offer relevant and timely content and speakers. These can expose you to new ideas, best practices, case studies, and trends that can inspire and inform your own work. You can also network with other professionals, experts, vendors, and influencers in your industry and learn from their experiences and perspectives. Some examples of conferences and workshops that you can attend are the Healthcare Marketing and Physician Strategies Summit, the Healthcare Internet Conference, the Healthcare Social Media Summit, or the Healthcare Marketing and Communications Workshop.

4 Follow thought leaders and influencers

A fourth way to stay current on healthcare marketing and communication is to follow thought leaders and influencers who share their insights, opinions, and advice on various platforms. These can include industry experts, consultants, authors, speakers, bloggers, podcasters, or social media personalities who have a strong reputation and influence in your field. You can follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or their own websites or blogs and engage with their content and conversations.

5 Experiment and learn

A fifth way to stay current on healthcare marketing and communication is to experiment and learn from your own projects and campaigns. You can try new tools, techniques, channels, formats, or messages and measure their impact and effectiveness. You can also solicit feedback from your colleagues, clients, patients, or stakeholders and learn from their preferences and expectations. You can also benchmark yourself against your competitors or industry standards and identify your strengths and areas for improvement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?