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How to Plan Your Digital Marketing for Your Senior Living Community

With an influx of a newly retired community it's important that senior living communities have a digital marketing plan in place.

Published on

Nov 22, 2022

Written by

Nadia Mehra

In 2020, 16.9% of the population was retired. It’s estimated that by 2030 20.6% of the population will be retired. That means there’s going to be an influx of people looking for a new place to live. This is a great opportunity for senior living communities to double down on their marketing efforts and reach these individuals as they’re thinking about their next steps. So we recommend that senior living communities have the proper channels in place to reach those people and gain their business. 

Historically advertising revolved around print advertising, but now as we’re in a more digital world. No matter your business, it’s imperative to have a digital footprint. We know that many people research their options online before making a purchase, and this is just as true when living in a senior living community. So it’s important to ensure your senior living community is easily found on the web. The good news is there are many digital marketing channels to reach your target market. The bad news is it can be hard to know where to start or how to budget your time and money. When putting together your marketing plan, you want to include a variety of different strategies. In this article we’ll review the benefits of a diverse marketing plan, advertising senior living communities, different types of marketing, and how to diversify your strategy. 

Table of Contents 

The Benefits of a Diverse Marketing Plan 

Seniors are increasingly using the internet to research their options for retirement living, so senior living communities need a strong digital presence. However, it’s not enough to have a website. Digital marketing is the process of promoting your business or organization online. This can be done through various means, including website design and development, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

So senior living communities should invest time in optimizing their website for SEO and that their content is engaging and informative. In addition to the website, communities should also be active on social media and have a robust email marketing strategy. Email marketing is a great way to reach potential residents who have already shown an interest in your community. By sending monthly newsletters or targeted emails, you can keep your community top of mind and let people know about upcoming events or promotions.

By diversifying your marketing plan, you’ll ensure that you’re reaching seniors where they are and providing them with the information they need to make an informed decision about their retirement living options.

man looking at cell phone with social media icons floating around him.

Digital Marketing & Senior Living Communities 

Digital marketing is important for senior living communities for a few reasons:

  1. It allows you to reach a larger audience with your marketing message. With so many people using the internet these days, it’s important to ensure that your website and online presence are up to par.
  2. Digital marketing is more cost effective than traditional marketing methods.
  3. It provides a way to track and measure your results so you can see what’s working and what’s not.

By creating compelling content, optimizing your website for search engines, and using social media to reach your target audience, you can ensure that your senior living community is top of mind when potential residents are making their decision.

Advertising a Senior Living Community

When it comes to advertising and marketing, there are a lot of options out there for senior living communities. Knowing where to begin or how to create an effective plan to reach your target audience can be difficult.

The most important thing to keep in mind when planning your marketing is to diversify your approach. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Instead, try a variety of different marketing channels to reach your potential residents.

Some ideas for marketing channels to explore:

  • Online advertising
  • Social media
  • Direct mail
  • PR and media relations
  • Events and tradeshows

Each channel has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to test and see what works best for your community. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to marketing a senior living community.

However, some general tips that can help you get started include:

  • Define your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your marketing?
  • Create compelling content. Your marketing materials should be informative and interesting to make potential residents want to learn more about your community.
  • Make it easy to take the next step. Include clear calls to action on your website and in your marketing materials so potential residents know what they need to do to get in touch with you.

By planning and executing a well-rounded marketing strategy, you can ensure that your senior living community is top of mind for potential residents.

Digital Marketing Strategies to Promote a Senior Living Community

Here are the various ways you can promote your senior living community. In the next section, we’ll dive into how to diversify your marketing plan with these strategies in mind. 

Website design and development: 

Your website is often the first impression potential residents will have of your community, so it’s important to ensure that it’s designed and developed with their needs in mind. When planning your website, include elements that will appeal to seniors and their family members, such as easy-to-read font sizes, easy-to-navigate menus, and high-quality photos and videos.

Search engine optimization (SEO): 

SEO is the process of optimizing your website for search engines so that you can rank higher in the search results. This is important because it will help seniors find your community when they’re searching online for retirement living options. When optimizing your website, be sure to use relevant keywords and phrases and create informative and keyword-rich content.

Content marketing: 

Content marketing is about creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and engaging content to attract and retain your target audience. This can be in blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, or even e-books. When creating content, keep seniors in mind and make it something they would find interesting and useful.

Email marketing: 

Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with potential and current residents and keep them updated on what’s happening in your community. Be sure to include an easily identifiable call-to-action in your emails so your audience knows what you want them to do next.

Social media marketing: 

Social media is a great way to connect with potential and current residents and promote your community to a wider audience. When using social media, be sure to post relevant and engaging content, as well as interact with your followers regularly.

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising: 

PPC is a form of online advertising that allows you to target potential residents with ads that appear in the search results. This is a great way to get your community’s name and website in front of seniors searching for retirement living options.

group of seniors playing chess in a senior living facility.

How to Diversify Your Marketing Plan

We just reviewed several different digital marketing strategies. By using a variety of digital marketing strategies, you can reach a larger audience, save money on your marketing budget, and track and measure your results. In addition, by diversifying your marketing plan, you’ll be sure to reach the most seniors possible and promote your community in the most effective way.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Create Compelling Content

One of the best ways to reach your target audience is by creating compelling content that speaks to their needs and interests. When writing blog posts, for example, address common questions and concerns seniors have about retirement living. You can also create helpful guides and resources that offer advice on choosing the right community, making the most of retirement, and more.

When it comes to content, you can diversify the type of content you create and share. This could include blog posts, infographics, videos, or even podcasts. By creating a variety of content, you can reach more people and ensure that there’s something for everyone.

Different types of content serve different purposes. Some types of content, like blog posts, are great for SEO and helping potential residents find your community online. Other types of content, like infographics or videos, are more shareable and can help generate word-of-mouth buzz about your community.

Optimize Your Website for Search Engines

Speaking of SEO. Another important element of your digital marketing strategy should be to optimize your website for search engines. This means ensuring that your site is properly coded and using the right keywords throughout your content. Doing this will make it easier for potential residents to find your community when they’re searching online.

Include a Mix of Paid and Organic Methods

Diversify your digital marketing by using a mix of paid and organic methods. Paid advertising, such as Google AdWords or Facebook ads, can be a great way to reach more people quickly. However, it’s important to also focus on organic methods, like SEO and social media, which will help you build long-term relationships with potential residents.

Use Social Media to Reach Your Target Audience

Use social media to reach your target audience. Create a profile on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and share your content with your followers. You can also use paid advertising on social media to reach an even wider audience.

Experiment with Different Strategies

Finally, it’s important to experiment with different digital marketing strategies. This could include using different types of content, promotion methods, or even target audiences. By trying new things, you can find what works best for your community and continue to grow your reach. 

The digital world is always changing and what works today might not work tomorrow. That’s why it’s important to experiment to find what works best for your community. By trying new things, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that your marketing plan is always effective.

By following these tips, you can create a digital marketing strategy that will help you reach more potential residents and grow your senior living community.

Why It’s Important to Diversify Your Marketing Plan

It’s important to have a diversified marketing plan for your senior living community for a few reasons. 

First, today’s seniors are more tech-savvy than ever before, and they’re using the internet to research their options for retirement living. Meaning if you want to reach them, you need to have a strong digital marketing strategy in place.

Second, a diversified approach will help you reach more potential residents. By using a variety of marketing channels, you can ensure that your community is top of mind when people are making their decision about where to retire.

Finally, a diversified marketing plan allows you to adjust your strategy as needed. As your community grows and changes, you can adapt your marketing tactics to continue reaching your target audience.

Overall, a diversified marketing plan is the best way to reach more potential residents and grow your senior living community. By using a variety of channels and strategies, you can ensure that your community is top of mind when people are making their decision about where to retire.

two people sitting outside of a senior living facility.

Plan your Digital Marketing Strategy for a Senior Living Community

The best way to plan your digital marketing is by diversifying your approach. By using a mix of paid and organic methods, you can reach more people and generate long-term interest in your community. Additionally, by using different types of content and promoting your content across different channels, you can ensure that there’s something for everyone. Finally, it’s important to experiment with different strategies and find what works best for your community. By doing this, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that your marketing plan is always effective.

We recommend looking at your digital marketing holistically and seeing how each piece of the marketing puzzle connects. The key is finding what works best for your community and growing your reach. With a little effort, you can create a digital marketing plan that’s sure to generate interest in your senior living community.

If you’re a senior living facility, how does your digital marketing look? If you’re unsure how to answer or need help with your answer, consider working with a digital marketing agency. We at Two Trees PPC would love to help! Contact us today!

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