5 Ways to Communicate With Millennials About Healthcare
March 4, 2019 |
What does it mean to be a millennial? Opinions vary greatly and it is difficult to disagree on the exact definition. Metro explained the generation as babies born from the 1980’s to the mid 1990’s. However, others might consider anyone born from the 1970’s up until 2000 to be a millennial. Despite the timeline debate, it can be agreed millennials tend to be tech savvy, educated, health conscious, flexible, liberal, and progressive. These traits combined create an interesting challenge for healthcare companies as although millennials are constantly communicating with the world around them, they won’t accept just any message. Here are some tips for communicating with millennials:
1.Keep it simple
The healthcare system can be confusing. Messages dealing with healthcare should be kept as simple as possible to prevent further frustration, which will in turn help millennials continue to develop a positive relationship with healthcare. Use simple yet engaging methods of communication, such as fun infographics and social media posts.
2.Be transparent
For the generation that reached young adulthood during a time when safety and security were unknown, millennials are especially sceptical and anxious. We want brands to be realistic and easily see through gimmicks and lies. While millennials tend to respect health care professionals, they like to do their own research and ask around before they commit. Millennials might turn to Google, social media, their parents, or peers, in addition to professionals, when it comes to making decisions about their healthcare. Being transparent adds authenticity, builds trust, and eases some anxieties that come with making important health decisions.
3.Engage and stay connected
Millennials are opinionated, and as a part of an educated population, demand respect. Since millennials are typically glued to their phones, one might initially think that they are an easy generation to reach. According to Forbes, millennials often refuse to give in to traditional marketing techniques, which can make reaching them a bit difficult. Social media is an important tool when communicating with millennials; however, the generation might “turn off” to information from sources that seem unfamiliar to them. Many turn to social platforms to ask for advice from their peers, especially when dealing with healthcare. Many millennials follow brands they know and trust, but they won’t rely solely on this information.
4.Personalise
There is no “one size fits all” approach to healthcare communication. Millennials tend to take a liking to health care tailored to them. For example, some brands have taken advantage of this and created personalized products. Customers are able to take quizzes that allow products such as vitamins, makeup, shampoo, and cleansers to be more personalized for a specific desired outcome. As technology continues to advance, it’s important to look outside the box.
5.Be convenient
Millennials are known for a lot of things, but the need for instant gratification seems to always be at the top of the list. When something goes wrong, millennials want care to be ready and accessible. Before going to see a doctor in person, some might utilise a symptom checkers or have a chat with a doctor through a patient portal. They do not want to wait around for an email; they want a text message instantly delivered to their phones.
Millennials are a generation unlike those before them. They have information at their fingertips. they do their research and take pride in their health and well-being. Although the generation might call for more creative methods of marketing, branding, and communication overall, millennials are not that difficult to communicate with once they are understood.
This content was provided by Say Communications
Company Details
Latest Content from Say Communications
Is Technology Harming Your Brain?
Is technology harming your brain? Saycomms healthcare PR team confronts different opinions on how technology affects memories and attention span.
Machine-made humans: a spooky prospect
The healthcare team at Saycomms PR asks if major advances in 3D printing and bioprinting could lead to machine-made humans.
The vitamin D deficiency: should we act?
Healthcare PR agency Say Communications analyses whether headlines are able to trigger a behavioural change with regards to the vitamin D deficiency issue.
Is obesity the new smoking?
Is obesity the new smoking? The healthcare PR team at Say communications analyses the question posed by NHS Chief executive Simon Stevens.
Children, the weight issue and how we deal with this responsibly?
Say Communication, Healthcare PR Agency, looks at how children deal with the weight issue and how we can approach it responsibly.
Longevity but at what price?
Say Communications, healthcare PR agency, analyses the prospect of living to 150 years old, thanks to the anti-ageing biomedical research, and what PR will look like.
Allergies – Always a story
Saycomms looks into the seasonal trend of allergies stories in the media and the communication campaigns launched in UK in 2015.
When is sun safety doing more harm than good?
Say Communications analyses the impact of sun safety campaigns in the news and on consumers
Energy drinks and heart disease
Say Communications analyses the link between energy drinks and heart disease and how the issue has been covered in the media.
23andMe – is DNA screening ethical?
Say Communications reflects on the ethical side of DNA screening.