Very often, people are swayed by emotion when they choose one doctor or dentist over another.
Although they will “do their research” in making the decision, it’s typically a gut reaction — emotions — that push them to book the appointment.
In fact, the adverts that were “most shared” in 2015 had strong emotional content — focusing on warmth, friendliness, happiness, inspiration. Compare that to the 1990s when humor and sarcasm were the trend, and the past decade when cynicism and bitterness were considered more “funny and interesting,” until people got sick of it, researchers report.
Today, people want a more positive, optimistic message — which they consider to be more refreshing. And as psychologists have gained understanding of emotions in social interactions, we now understand that human emotion is based on four basic emotions: happy, sad, afraid/surprised, and angry/disgusted.
Let’s look at each emotion, with insight into how each is used in advertising:
Happiness
Images of smiling, happy, laughing patients/customers are shared more often, and posts with a positive message are shared more than negative messages, according to a 2010 study. Clips of very cute animal friends were the most-shared ads year — and of all time — was Android’s Friends Furever. Another company’s “happiness” theme showed happy people connecting with one another.
Sadness
Adverts that are moving, inspirational, heartbreaking — they can move you to tears. And they often become popular because they do have an emotional impact. Charities, social agencies, and other services devoted to improving the lives of others — they often use “sadness” very effectively to elicit empathy, leading to donations. Another public event sponsor recognised mothers and their key support in raising Olympic athletes.
Fear/Surprise
We react with fear when there’s a threat to our survival, and that fear creats urgency — prompting us to take action. Fear can lead us to make important changes, often to prevent something “bad” from happening. Fear is used in adverts to prevent drunk driving accidents and nicotine-related deaths. Environmental groups use fear effectively (and for good reason) to obtain donations that help protect our valuable natural resources.
Anger/Disgust
Generally, it’s best to avoid negative emotions like anger — at least, that’s true in most social situations. But in advertising/marketing, anger can spur action. When we see an injustice — or another person being injured — it’s natural to react with disgust and anger. These emotions can prompt us to reconsider our stance and ask critical questions.
In social media, negative images can spur negative emotions that lead to social change. One study found that negative images were effective in grabbing attention, generating surprise and “going viral” in social media. These images must be used wisely, of course.
What’s the bottom line for healthcare marketers?
“Advertising is based on one thing: happiness,” says one marketing expert. Happiness is freedom from fear, reassurance that all will be well. Patients want to trust their healthcare providers, know that they are in good hands, treated by experienced experts.
It’s important to educate patients about health risks and potential problems, but also reassure them of your expertise, training, experience. If your website and blogs explain the risks in easy-to-understand language, and describe the solutions in a reassuring manner, you will gain this all-important trust from potential patients. You will be considered a “thought leader” in social media — an important element when patients decide which provider to see.
Overwhelmed? Let us handle the details
Somnowell Marketing has a team in place to professionally create and execute your patient communications campaigns. Emails, messaging, web content, blogs, social media — they can handle it all, taking the burden off your shoulders. The information is always from respected sources, and will dispel any misinformation. Your online content and social media posts are an investment in your practice’s reputation and the trust your potential patients feel — and that’s undeniably priceless.
