Marketing and Communicating Public Health Services: Optimizing Your Efforts When Funding is Limited
Abstract
This program will provide marketing resources and strategies for health departments with low fiscal resources designated for communications and marketing. By using several online resources including marketing and design tools, low-cost vendors, community partners, and creativity, Macon-Bibb County Health Department (MBCHD) has increased strategic partnerships and seen an increase in utilization of our programs, services, and community inquiries. Over a period of fourteen (14) months, Macon-Bibb County Health Department created a multitude of marketing content across all forms of media to optimize our marketing reach using marketing tools that were low-cost or free of charge. With low-cost editing and design software, MBCHD created flyers, newsletters, videos, social media graphics, signs, billboard designs, postcards, rack cards, business cards, and more to propel our marketing efforts. Software options were strategically reviewed, recommended, and then acquired to allow the department to create engaging marketing materials and campaigns with the ability to manage editing of the materials in-house. Additionally, printing options and vendors were revisited to maximize fiscal resources. Finally, Macon-Bibb County Health Department have maximized our efforts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. As a result, Macon-Bibb County Health Department has been able to strengthen several community relationships with local newspapers, county officials, and local news organizations to garner visibility in newspapers, newsletters, and on local television. The purpose of this presentation is to share our communications and marketing workplan with health departments to expand, reinforce, or generate new conversations to assist efforts to increase utilization of public health programs, services, and community inquiries.
Keywords
Marketing, Communications, Education
Marketing and Communicating Public Health Services: Optimizing Your Efforts When Funding is Limited
This program will provide marketing resources and strategies for health departments with low fiscal resources designated for communications and marketing. By using several online resources including marketing and design tools, low-cost vendors, community partners, and creativity, Macon-Bibb County Health Department (MBCHD) has increased strategic partnerships and seen an increase in utilization of our programs, services, and community inquiries. Over a period of fourteen (14) months, Macon-Bibb County Health Department created a multitude of marketing content across all forms of media to optimize our marketing reach using marketing tools that were low-cost or free of charge. With low-cost editing and design software, MBCHD created flyers, newsletters, videos, social media graphics, signs, billboard designs, postcards, rack cards, business cards, and more to propel our marketing efforts. Software options were strategically reviewed, recommended, and then acquired to allow the department to create engaging marketing materials and campaigns with the ability to manage editing of the materials in-house. Additionally, printing options and vendors were revisited to maximize fiscal resources. Finally, Macon-Bibb County Health Department have maximized our efforts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. As a result, Macon-Bibb County Health Department has been able to strengthen several community relationships with local newspapers, county officials, and local news organizations to garner visibility in newspapers, newsletters, and on local television. The purpose of this presentation is to share our communications and marketing workplan with health departments to expand, reinforce, or generate new conversations to assist efforts to increase utilization of public health programs, services, and community inquiries.
