Happy New Year!  As is always the case in hospital branding, 2014 is sure to be filled with many adventures and marketing challenges.  Based on new studies about social trends, best-selling lifestyle books, and well-read business publications, it will also be a year of less.  Perhaps in contrast to the past few years, where the focus has been on more.  More technology, choices, services, information, and so on. The arrow is pointing towards “less” in 2014 as consumers attempt to simplify and streamline their lives.

Here are a few key areas of hospital branding trends in 2014 will be focusing on the year of less. However, it will offer more opportunities for healthcare marketers.

Immersive Experiences

The new JWT study identifies this topic as its number one trend.   Brands will envelope us with a full and immersive experience like hot brand Sonos does with its wireless speaker systems.  On a recent trip to Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA, I took a tour of the new front entrance space and it was, quite simply,  beautiful.  A hotel-like reception area with uniformed ambassadors, brand and consumer-friendly colors/lighting, and less!  Less clutter of wheelchairs in the hallways, less hassle with a separate waiting area for valet parking, and less lines with streamlined admission areas.  Kudos to my friends in marketing and Laura Harner, Director of Guest Services. They have created a true brand experience that really envelopes visitors with the right sights, sounds, and well, less.

A Visual World

Our world is visual.  From on-line videos to Instagram, from Pinterest to Snapchat, consumers want less explanation and long-copy. They prefer ideas to be presented visually.  The implications for marketers are endless in terms of advertising, signage, social media, on-line communications and so forth.  In short, be visual and less verbose.

Impatience

It’s just not for kids anymore…our entire society is becoming very impatient.  We want less in terms of wait times, administrative runarounds, lines, hold times, and for those brands that can achieve this, it will pay off in terms of more gratification and brand loyalty.  Audit your brand and customer service initiatives to determine if it meets your patience criteria.

Going Mobile

No surprise here as more people will streamline their on-line activity with fewer devices and a greater focus on mobile technology.  The consumer has definitely been the winner in the cell phone wars between Apple, Samsung, and others. As new devices offer many more features, apps,  and amazing synchronization between them.  Evaluate your on-line strategy to make sure web pages and social media channels are optimized for mobile technology.  In  addition, this is the year to offer services and information, such as ER wait-times, via text strategies and/or mobile portals. Beep beep.

Less Anonymity

Let’s face it, it’s hard to go stealth these days.  From re-marketing digital ads  to government monitoring of emails and social posts, “big brother” is definitely in the house.  As a marketer, you can do more with less. Such as encouraging consumers to share safe information on landing pages, websites, and social media channels.   We’re used to it!  You should also think about doing less in this regard, too.  For example,  I recently learned of a hospital that ceased publishing birth notices in the local paper for fear of arming potential baby-nappers with too much information. The trend toward less anonymity works for and against marketers and should be treated with caution.

Less Tradition

From new marriage laws in many states to over-the-counter marijuana being sold in some states, old traditions and practices are being turned upside down.  The opportunities for marketers are endless in terms of engaging the new consumers and recognizing that differences exist among them.  However, as written months ago in this blog,  the “modern family” of today is diverse, interesting, and not sitting around the dinner table at 6 p.m.  This is truly the time to “skate to where the puck is going (thanks, Wayne). Most importantly, in terms of looking at your business and consumer base, and leaving your caution zone behind.

Mindful Living

More stress has caused the desire for less toxins in our lives and consumers are seeking out more zen and less gluten.   From healthier eating, wellness initiatives, and more engagement in social communities and groups, marketers of health-related products and services have an enormous opportunity to support the concept of mindful living.  It is not as much about getting healthy as staying healthy – mind, body, and soul –  and healthcare organizations can surely take the lead.

These are just a few examples of 2014 being the “year of less.”  As marketers, it gives us greater opportunity to develop hospital branding promises and service strategies that are more engaging and in line with today’s visually-driven, less anonymous, less traditional, more mindful and mobile customer with less patience.  And who could ask for more!

Click here to learn more about Springboard Brand & Creative Strategy and hospital branding.

Here’s to a wonderful, healthy new year.

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