HCS472 V2 Marketing Strategy Worksheet Page 2 Of 2
Hcs472 V2marketing Strategy Worksheethcs472 V2page 2 Of 2marketing S
This week, you will formulate a marketing strategy to use for a marketing project plan. Part 1: The 4Ps of Marketing Research the 4Ps of marketing and how they apply to health care. A strategy is generally formed around one of the 4Ps. As you complete this assignment, consider examples of strategies that can be formulated around each of the 4Ps. Complete the chart below: 4Ps Description Describe the marketing strategy that applies to this element.
Product Price Place Promotion
Part 2: Selecting a Marketing Strategy for your Hospital An integrated marketing communication approach provides various modes of communicating messages to the customer. Using only one method limits the organization’s reach. The life cycle of the product or service will also dictate changes in the communication approach. For example, in the fall of the year, a hospital may use the message “Be prepared” when advertising its walk-in flu shot clinic. The hospital may use billboards to reach those who live in the community and put up posters at the hospital.
As the season progresses, the hospital may find that the flu is especially harmful to young children. The hospital may provide flyers indicating hours of operation and insurance accepted and send these flyers to local schools and daycare centers to be sent home with children. It may also use TV advertisements to reach families. The message may change to indicate how quickly a child can succumb to the flu. As the season progresses and the life cycle begins to approach its end, the hospital may change its message indicating that it is not too late to be vaccinated and decrease the advertising frequency.
Review the marketing strategies you identified above. Compare the strategies and determine the best strategy to propose for use in the hospital. Select a possible marketing strategy your hospital will use to market the new program based on the product, service, or segment being offered. Write a minimum of 175 words in response to each of the following prompts. Be clear and concise, use complete sentences, and use your own words.
Follow standard grammar rules and provide examples where appropriate to support your answers. · Explain an advertising campaign you would propose for use in the hospital based on your selected marketing strategy. · Identify possible types of communication that could be used when advertising to your market segmentation. · Select specific communication tool(s) you would use to reach your target audience. · Explain the communication tools you selected and how they will support the integrated advertising campaign you will develop to reach your target audience. Cite at least 3 peer-reviewed, scholarly, or similar references. Include citations for Part 1 and Part 2 in your references section. For additional information on how to properly cite your sources, go to the Reference and Citation Generator in the Center for Writing Excellence.
Paper For Above instruction
Developing an effective marketing strategy in healthcare requires a nuanced understanding of the foundational principles known as the 4Ps—Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. These elements serve as the pillars upon which targeted, efficient marketing campaigns are built, ultimately influencing patient engagement, healthcare utilization, and organizational growth. This paper discusses the application of the 4Ps in healthcare marketing and proposes an integrated communication strategy tailored for a hospital’s seasonal influenza vaccination campaign.
The 4Ps of Healthcare Marketing
The first element, Product, in healthcare marketing typically refers to the services or health-related offerings. In the context of a hospital, the flu vaccination service is a vital product, especially during flu season, aimed at preventing illness and promoting community health. The strategy around this product involves ensuring accessibility, emphasizing safety, and highlighting the benefits of vaccination to target populations.
Price pertains to the cost to the consumer, which in healthcare might include direct costs, insurance coverage, and perceived value. For a hospital’s flu vaccination program, transparent pricing or free vaccines sponsored by the health department can be leveraged to increase uptake among uninsured or underinsured populations, removing financial barriers.
The element Place encompasses distribution channels and locations where services are delivered. Accessibility is crucial; thus, the hospital may set up clinics in high-traffic areas like community centers, schools, or workplaces. Mobile clinics and partnerships with schools enhance reach, especially among children and families.
Finally, Promotion involves messaging strategies to raise awareness and influence behavior. Effective promotion for flu vaccines can involve seasonal advertising campaigns, social media outreach, educational posters, and community engagement activities. Tailoring messages to resonate with specific audiences—such as emphasizing the risk to children or the safety of vaccines—enhances campaign efficacy.
Proposed Marketing Strategy and Campaign
Based on the analysis above, an integrated marketing approach focusing on Promotion will be the most impactful for the hospital’s seasonal flu vaccination initiative. The campaign will be adaptable throughout the flu season to reflect the changing focus, such as emphasizing availability early in the season, the vulnerability of children during peak months, and the urgency of vaccination towards the season’s end.
An illustrative advertising campaign would utilize multi-channel communication strategies. Initially, billboard and poster campaigns would be deployed around the community and hospital premises to generate awareness. As the season advances, targeted flyers sent home through schools and daycare centers would inform parents about vaccine hours, costs, and insurance options, addressing specific concerns of families. Television advertisements can be employed during prime times to maximize reach among parents and caregivers, emphasizing the importance and safety of vaccination.
In addition, digital platforms such as social media and hospital websites will be integral for disseminating timely information, including vaccination schedules, clinic locations, and eligibility criteria. The message’s tone would shift seasonally—highlighting urgency and risk early on, providing reassurance later, and emphasizing that it’s not too late to vaccinate as the season concludes.
Communication Techniques and Tools
Effective communication in this campaign hinges upon selecting appropriate tools that support outreach to diverse target audiences. For the hospital's community-centric campaign, visual and auditory tools such as television, radio, and social media videos are ideal to convey compelling messages swiftly. Flyers and posters serve as tangible reminders placed strategically in high-footfall areas for in-person engagement.
To support the integrated advertising campaign, specific tools such as social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter), local television, and community WhatsApp groups are chosen for their wide reach and targeted messaging capacity. These platforms allow real-time interaction, address public concerns, and increase engagement through interactive content. Additionally, the use of SMS alerts and email campaigns can provide personalized reminders, fostering higher vaccination rates.
These communication tools cater to the diverse preferences of target populations, particularly parents, working adults, and elderly community members. Their supporting role enhances message consistency and reinforces the campaign’s overall goals, ultimately improving vaccination coverage and community health outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a strategic application of the 4Ps—particularly promotion—combined with an integrated, multi-channel communication approach, can significantly enhance the reach and impact of a hospital's flu vaccination campaign. By carefully selecting and tailoring communication tools to the target audience, hospitals can increase vaccination rates, improve community health, and demonstrate proactive engagement in public health initiatives.
References
- Armstrong, G., & Kotler, P. (2017). Marketing principles (7th ed.). Pearson.
- Lwin, M., & Choi, S. (2020). Leveraging social media for health promotion: A case study on influenza vaccination campaigns. Journal of Health Communication, 25(3), 271-282.
- Ventola, C. L. (2014). Social media and health care professionals: Benefits, risks, and best practices. P&T, 39(7), 491-520.
- Yoon, S., Kim, H., & Lee, J. (2019). Effective health communication strategies to increase vaccination rates. Public Health Reviews, 40, 16.
- Peterson, E. et al. (2018). Community engagement and messaging for vaccine promotion: A systematic review. Vaccine, 36(44), 6529-6538.
- Maibach, E. W., & Parrott, R. L. (Eds.). (2017). Designing health messages: Approaches from communication theory and public health practice. Routledge.
- Reed, D. et al. (2021). Utilizing digital media to enhance vaccine uptake: Strategies and outcomes. Digital Health, 7, 20552076211037278.
- CDC. (2022). Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/about-the-vaccination-coverage.htm
- Kelly, B., & Slevin, P. (2020). Mass media campaigns for health promotion: An international review. Health Promotion International, 35(1), 15-26.
- Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.). (2015). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.