With Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season fast-approaching, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss thanks, gratitude, and appreciation as they apply to your healthcare marketing strategy. (If these are not currently part of your marketing strategy, make sure to keep reading!)

“Thank you” is a verbal expression of gratitude or appreciation.  It’s one of the most powerful phrases in the English language when used with intention. Most of us were taught from an early age to say “please” and “thank you.” For some, it has become a habit…the words slipping out seemingly of their own accord. Unfortunately, this rote delivery may render the words virtually meaningless. When was the last time you actually stopped, reflected, and gave sincere thanks for the opportunities, experiences, and people you have in your life? When was the last time you noticed and commented on the “little things” others do for you? When was the last time you genuinely thanked your patients?

Dictionary.com defines “gratitude” as: “the quality or feeling of being thankful.” Thus, it’s largely an internal state of being. Living in the proverbial “attitude of gratitude” can raise your spirits and the spirits of those around you. It fills you up emotionally, and that can impact your actions, behaviors, and responses. Check out this video by gratitude-guru, Marie Forleo. Be grateful for each marketing opportunity – and allow that feeling to show – to truly connect with your community.

Finally, Dictionary.com defines “appreciation” in multiple ways, one of which is: “the act of estimating the qualities of things and giving them their proper value.” Therefore, appreciation is a more dynamic concept whose focus is to take action on the internal state of gratitude. Show authenitic appreciation for your patients, for those who coordinate or assist with marketing events, for your employees, and for your family. Dr. Paul White states: “Each person has their own preferred ‘language of appreciation.’ And within each language, there are specific actions that are most valued by that individual…But the key is to be able to use the right action with the right person, at the right time, and with a genuine spirit of appreciation.”  For more information on this topic, consider reading The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White.

Not sure how to incorporate thanks, gratitude, and appreciation into your healthcare marketing strategy? Here are a few tips:

1. Remember to say genuine “thank you’s” when appropriate.
2. Block 10-15 minutes out of your daily schedule…use this time to write a few thank you notes or emails to patients, employees, friends, family, vendors, and community leaders. It will leave behind a positive impression and show others how much you care. Struggling with time management? Download my FREE 2018 Practice Marketing Planner and take control of your schedule.

3. If your handwriting is terrible, or you’re looking for a way to help streamline your appreciation, consider a company like com. Choose your membership category and let the fun begin. Simply select the desired card, campaign, gift card, or gift – personalize it – pay for it – and it gets sent out in the mail.
4. Some more great options for delivering gifts of appreciation include: Gift Tree (for hundreds of options for every budget), Edible Arrangements (for beautiful fruit bouquets), and simpletruths.com (for motivational and inspirational gifts).
5. After any marketing activity or event, ask yourself who helped make it possible. Then show your appreciation in a way that’s meaningful to them. (This should be included in your marketing budget and schedule!)

I hope you’ve enjoyed our “conversation” and have gotten some useful insights. To wrap things up, I’d like to extend a sincere Thank You to you for sharing your valuable time with me today. I’m humbled, honored, and grateful to be on this path of service to other healthcare professionals. I’m deeply indebted to my mentors, teachers, professional organizations, friends, family, colleagues, and patients for guiding me along this fantastic journey. I appreciate each and every one of you in a million different ways!

How about you? What are some of your favorite ways to express thanks, gratitude, and appreciation? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section!

For more information on building community connections, I encourage you to read my new book Community Connections! Relationship Marketing for Healthcare Professionals. If you want more valuable information about how to Connect with YOUR Community, you can find FREE healthcare practice marketing content, PowerPoint Presentation Jumpstart Kits, workbooks, blog articles, and my FREE “Practice Marketing Planner” Now!