LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE NESHCo 2008 FALL INSTITUTE. |
| By Liz LaRose, LaRose Marketing Communications, Inc. When your organization is trying to grow a key service, marketing dashboards have the most power when developed by and for multiple stakeholders within your organization, including marketing, development, the executive team, finance, operations, and front-line employees. With all these stakeholders at hand, there is a risk of creating a dashboard that includes everything and the kitchen sink too. However, it is a balancing act worth attempting. By creating a dashboard that measures success, identifies trends, and uncovers roadblocks, you and your stakeholders can proactively manage operational needs to support marketing activities and growth. read more |
| by Kathy Cox, Captured Light Studios In the medical field, patient education plays a powerful role in successful outcomes. Research shows that the more people know about medical procedures and their conditions, the less fearful or anxious they are. They are better patients and more likely to buy into the recovery process, ensuring optimal medical results. You want those patients at your healthcare facility. Healthcare consumers shop around and research medical issues on their own in far greater numbers than ever before, and their first stop is the Internet. You understand the importance of a good website, but what extra steps can you take to ensure those consumers stop – and stay – on your website? read more |
by Julie Pokela, PhD, Elizabeth Denny, PhD, Ingrid Steblea, and Frank Melanson Today, when decision makers need data, they’re increasingly turning to online surveys instead of more traditional telephone surveys. Why? At first glance, the answers seem obvious. Lower costs. An abundance of software on the market making it easy for anyone to conduct an online survey. Quick turnaround times. So why should anyone consider doing things the old-fashioned way? In March 2007, Market Street Research, Inc. and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, conducted a study to assess the comparability of online and telephone survey methodologies in researching residents’ image of area hospitals. Marketing professionals will find the results eye-opening. read more |
by Brian Reich, principal, EchoDitto, author of Media Rules! and a recent NESHCo Webinar presenter
From my perspective, when it comes to communicating with an ever-evolving audience, today’s organization has more than enough tools to get the job done — blogs, podcasts, social networks (which was our focus in this discussion), search, advertising, and much more. Yet the combination of rapid technological innovation and continuous social shifts have left many organizations, and newspapers in particular, struggling to stay focused and execute their ideas. What's wrong? First and foremost, organizations too often look to technology as the solution to their problems. It’s not about the technology -- no widget or tool or database or network on its own will make your customers do anything. There is no single online community or set of functionality they offer, that will meet all your needs. Technology can help host a vibrant conversation, facilitate a purchase or make delivery of products or services more efficient. And social networks make the interaction that you have with your audience that much deeper and potentially more meaningful. But the key to success is understanding how people use technology to create, consume, and share information and what their expectations are when it comes to interacting with folks like you.
| |