Community marketing is great advertising
Community marketing can be costly but the return can be high. This is an area where sponsorships and events can cost a lot of money and the time to see the return on your efforts can be a while. Even with the slower exposure, I think community marketing is worth it. I often recommend instead of casting a wide net and trying to get a little bit of exposure in all areas, it is better to get more exposure at a few areas. Instead of sponsoring something at every school, sports program or arts organization you could strategically look for ways to do multiple things with fewer organizations. It takes more than seven times for someone to recognize your brand and sometimes more before they act upon it.
Sometimes the cost of your “no” to a sponsorship opportunity can be more than the cost of the ad or banner. If an active community parent with multiple children in treatment asks you to sponsor something for their child and you say no to a small monetary investment this could result in negative talk or outcomes. I understand you can’t sponsor everything and there are ways to script your response, but I highly recommend you weigh the cost of your “no”.
Many doctors try to say yes to as many opportunities as possible, but sometimes funds just won’t allow you to say yes to it all. This is where it’s important to have a plan! List your priorities and criteria for saying yes to a patient sponsorship. This will create a filter for you to use as you prioritize commitments. If the answer is no but you really wanted to support the cause, commit to a future opportunity when your budget permits. Additionally, you’ll want to make the most of your investment. See if there is an opportunity for you or your team to be present at the school or event.