While hospitals cater to everyone, their most influential consumers are women, who make 80 percent of healthcare decisions in America. It’s important to segment and target by gender, but remember that women prefer gender-neutral marketing messages. With recent social media movements toward greater equality for women (in all realms, not just healthcare), women are more sensitive than ever to gendered messaging, and they dislike feeling pandered to.
This article originally appeared on Forbes.
While providing high-quality medical services is the No. 1 aim of hospitals, this isn’t always the No. 1 criteria women consider when shopping for health care. All hospitals strive to provide the best care, whether overall or by service line, so advertising that as a point of difference is a quick way to get passed up in the consideration set. Focusing on technology and expertise can also be ineffective, as so many hospitals and health systems already do this.