Community outreach is a powerful tool for medical professionals to market their private practice in their community. Volunteering your time or donating your services or money within your city or town provides new opportunities to form relationships with local citizens.
Additionally, community service is the perfect avenue for establishing a reputation as a person or business of influence in your town. Getting started is as simple as finding a role in community outreach that feels comfortable for you. We have 5 ideas to help you get started:
School Events: Participate in the schools in your area by involving yourself in sporting events, theater productions, science fairs, or career days. There are many different ways you can help out such as sponsoring a school event, setting up a booth at career day, or volunteering to judge at science fairs.
Fundraising: Sponsor a fundraising event such as a 5k race. Typically, sponsorship includes advertising at the event. Attend the event as a sponsor. Be present and visible, setting up a station to hand out water or snacks to participants or helping with parking.
Chamber of Commerce: Join your local Chamber of Commerce and attend events consistently. Further your impact by hosting an event for the other members at your business. Forming relationships with local business owners is important to establishing strong connections within your community.
City Festivals and Events: Participate in seasonal festivals and events in your city or town. Most events have space for local businesses to set up a booth and promote through handing out promotional items such as pens, buttons, or flyers. Additionally, you can donate your services as an item for raffles or silent auctions.
Sponsorships: Gain visibility for your name and practice by sponsoring local sports teams, theater companies, camps, or even college scholarships. Sponsorships do not have to be expensive, especially for small local events. Not only does this draw attention to your name, it is a way for you to communicate you care about the well-being of the community where you practice.
As you begin to involve yourself in your local community, using social media can be beneficial in promoting your practice and publicizing your involvement in community outreach as it helps to humanize your physician practice.
Diversify your exposure by striving to involve yourself in multiple projects and volunteer opportunities. Look for areas in your local community that need help. Perhaps the local animal shelter needs financial donations or the community food bank needs food. Whenever possible, be present at important local events.
Community involvement does not have to be time consuming, many of the opportunities only require a few hours each week. However, using your time to give back not only helps to increase employee engagement and build community relations, it promotes your physician practice as a byproduct.