I recently received the following post for our blog and thought it had some value coming from the viewpoint of a consumer in our industry:

“Technology Tools for Medical Alert System Marketing

The medical alert system has been around for decades. I see it as one of the most useful tools for adults who are still able to be independent, but who need a little more than a telephone to make them (or their loved ones) feel safe. Fortunately, marketing these systems is getting much easier with the help of the internet. So many older adults are using the internet these days, and that allows businesses to reach out and get the word out about these affordable systems. You can lay it all on the line on a website and let people make their own decisions.

There are no more infomercials, sales pitches over the phone, or confused retirees who don’t understand exactly what you have to offer. Plus, when you market online with a website, you’re also reaching out to family members who might be looking to invest in these systems for their parents. Your marketing plan should consist of keyword research, finding viable advertising spaces, and reaching out to the right audience.

Educate your customers. Nothing is more annoying that showing up to a website to learn about a product and getting technical mumbo-jumbo or no information at all. I want to know how things work, why they work, and what I’m going to get for spending so much money on whatever you’re selling.

Senior living blogs are a great place to advertise, but so are blogs and websites that deal with family issues and cater to younger adults. The children, after all, are usually the ones who talk the parents into the alert system in the first place. I’m not a marketing professional, but I am a professional retiree and I can tell you that I’ve shopped for these systems myself, both on my accord and for my parents. If you use the tools that are available to you, you’ll find customers like me in no time at all.

Contributed by Mary Albert, a blogger for a senior lifestyle web site that provides advice for the 55+ age group as well as information on medical alert systems.”

I think Mary has some very valid points, and not just for medical alert companies, but for all senior service providers. More and more people are turning to the internet to do research. Make sure your information is there so they can find you and learn about how you can help them! You may not want to publish everything including your pricing, but giving them an idea of pricing levels or a starting point, special offers, special care offered, etc… would help them make an informed decision and decrease un-qualified calls. Make the most of not just your website, but search engines, directories and blogs (like Mary suggested).

Get your senior community &/or service listed on the major search engines & all the industry directories you can find! Basic listings are usually free or are available for a minimal fee. Make sure the listings include contact information & a link to your site to drive traffic. Find some blogs & forums that fit your community & service & follow them. Offer comments & help when you can, and consider writing a post on what you know. You are an expert in your field and your past experience brings a new view to old questions!

The more places you are listed, the more traffic & leads you will get. Remember, it takes 7 touches to get someone to reach out to you. And the more information you offer, the more qualified leads you will get from this traffic.     

Happy Marketing!