5 Ways to Market Your In-Home Senior Care Services During the Holidays

Marketing During the Holidays

It’s that time of the year again! The shopping spirit is in the air, and small businesses are dreaming of big sales, of willing buyers with open wallets. However, none of that is a guarantee. Strategic marketing is needed to leverage the festivities for improved sales during the Holidays.

Remember, too, that at this time of the year, consumers are crushing under a barrage of marketing messages. If you provide in-home senior care services, your strategy should, therefore, cut through the clutter and reach the right people where they are.

Here are some excellent holiday marketing techniques for home care services:

1. Find a holiday angle to your services

The holiday feeling is about sharing and caring, and that ties in well with the nature of your senior care business. Currently, friends and family gather to share the love, and there is no better time to deliver an infomercial on your top care services.

Create a thoughtful, inspiring, and heartfelt video on the beauty of in-home senior care and how it enhances the quality of life for the elderly and their families. For example, do a video directed at family caregivers that could use a break to be “just family members” this holiday season. You offer to supplement in a few days to a couple of weeks of service and while you assist with ADL’s and medication reminders, they can focus on their family.

Be sure to share this on your social media pages, promote it on YouTube and email to local community reps. Be prepared to answer questions especially if families are bringing loved ones home from long-term care facilities and need extra help. Learn the ‘vacation’ rules for Medicaid and Medicare coverage to provide extra peace of mind.

2. Get your clients involved

The best holiday messaging should tell the story of happiness and overcoming challenges. If you have clients willing to testify for the excellent quality of your care services, ensure to leverage that. Self-proclamation and inflationary claims don’t accomplish as much as user testimonies do.

You can send out these personal client stories through email, publish them as a series of social media posts, on flyer distribution, or online video. Don’t forget to thank your clients, their families, and everyone involved, wishing them happy holidays and include a call to action. For example, they may have family in town for the holidays so offer additional hours of care so they can enjoy their company and not put them to work or worry about things that need to get done.

3. Give away something meaningful

Let your business reflect the giving that embodies this holiday season. Your current and potential clients expect to be treated this time of year. Promotions can help you break through the market even when you are just starting out.

Your holiday promotion this year can be informed of surprise gifts for the families of your existing clients, discounts to past clients or prospects, or a community senior fun event. You can also partner with other non-competitor brands, health services providers, churches, and other organizations in spreading seniors love this holiday season. Just ensure that there is an awareness value for your business in that arrangement.

Holiday gifting helps to:

  • Spread awareness
  • Increase brand love and deepen brand loyalty
  • Increase the number of referrals

4. Add a festive holiday appeal to your website

It’s a new digital age that we are living in. Pew Research reports that 70 % of seniors go online and use digital services. The inventor of the Web, Tim Berners Lee, is himself a baby boomer, and that shows that the elderly don’t live in a faradays cage of sorts. And if the seniors are not that internet savvy, at least their kids and supporters are.

This holiday season your social media pages and website should be extra interactive full of thank you messages and best wishes. Your landing pages should be holiday-themed. Your entire site needs to be current and informative, enjoyable and assuring of the legitimacy and professionalism of your services.

5. Get out, be part of the community and build a dependable referral program

Unlike most other businesses, an in-home senior care business mostly thrives on referrals. You will find that more than half of your quality client introductions come from health service providers. Introductions from community leaders and local organizations can also give you the leap you desire.

Ensure, therefore, to engage with these people often, more so this holiday season, and offer them incentives/gifts as an appreciation for their leads. Remember to also keep in touch with clients and caregivers through postcards or greetings cards this holiday season.

Don’t let your senior care business miss out on the growth potential of the holiday cheer. Follow the above simple marketing during the holiday strategies and watch your business grow.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

Are You An Ideal Franchise Partner?

Many entrepreneurs looking for a new business venture choose to invest in franchising due to the proven systems, demonstrated success and support that a franchise system can offer. However, being a franchisee isn’t for everyone – this type of business ownership requires a unique mix of qualities, skills, and aspirations in order to succeed.

At A Place at Home, we consider candidates with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, and we seek franchisees who will be a strong representative of our brand. A Place at Home franchisees often share these similar qualities:

Passion for Giving Back to the Community

Ideal owners should possess a passion to own a senior-focused care company that largely stems from personal experience of caring for those who need care.  This can include those who have a background in the medical or senior care field; been impacted by a senior; possess the desire to be part of a movement to provide a higher level of senior care; or someone looking for a career change that will make a difference in the quality of life of others.

Background in Business and Management

Franchisees should be able to give direction and handle the responsibilities of management, delegation, and leadership, as franchisees own and run their own franchise location. As a franchisee, you are in charge of your own business, but you will still benefit from the support of a franchisor, meaning it’s important for franchise owners to have a mix of skills typically held by an employee, and also a boss.

Innate Ability to Network and Build Relationships

While passion and experience are important factors for business success, the ability to connect with others and build meaningful business relationships is essential to the overall growth of your business. It is especially important in the senior care business to be out in the community. Whether it’s marketing at assisted living facilities or participating in community events – if you are able to create a partnership authentically, then you have the capability to propel your business to the next level.

Goal-Oriented and Driven to Succeed

As a franchise partner, you will gain immediate access to 40-hours of hands-on training and ongoing support, but ultimately, you have to execute the business plan. To do that, you need to have an internal drive to take not only your career, but your business to the next level.

Willingness to Follow a Proven System

Franchisees must follow the processes and systems that a franchisor has in place, which is why candidates who possess the traits of a dedicated employee are often approved. Veterans, in particular, excel in franchising, as their military training often enables them to be mission-focused and to run their business with respect for and understanding of rules and regulations.

Align With Philosophy

The “We are CARE” (Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical) philosophy should align with your own personal objectives and a willingness to incorporate these values into their everyday role as A Place At Home franchise owners as well as everyday interactions with clients and their team. There should be an innate desire to network and build relationships within the community with the intent to grow the business and take on competitors while constantly driving to greatness.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

Common Questions About Opening a Home Care Business or Franchise

Thanks in no small part to an increasing amount of digital technologies, more and more seniors are choosing to age in place — in other words, choosing to live in one’s home as they go in and beyond their golden years. New technologies have enabled more seniors to be more self-sufficient, however, it also means an increase in the demand of home health care services to bolster senior needs. This makes now a great time for entrepreneurs to invest in and become a part of the home care industry. It also means that there are a lot of questions newcomers to the industry have, like the following:

Is experience in the healthcare or senior home care industry a necessity to open a home care franchise?

Absolutely not. While with any business having a passion in the area you’re looking to invest in is important, it’s not necessary to have direct experience. However, it is very helpful for those considering opening a franchise or starting a business to have some leadership or management experience. Such experience helps you lead and manage the employees who do have the experience necessary to make a home care business succeed.

How do I find and hire the right people for my senior home care business?

Finding experienced and high-quality caregivers is one of the first and arguably most important tasks you’ll take on as a home care franchise owner. For franchisees, the parent company will often assist you in this department and may even have a starting list of applicants who are in your area. When researching this or taking in open applicants, it’s important to be thorough and find candidates who have the training and experience to exceed state and local standard for caregivers. When you start out, you want to be the best and this begins with hiring the best.

What’s the benefit of going with a franchise rather than beginning my own independent company?

With a franchise home health care company, the investment and royalty fees may seem cumbersome but most franchisees find the benefits well worth it. Franchisees enjoy key business assets like marketing assistance, legal aid, and recruitment assistance — invaluable ongoing support that can take your business to the next level.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

5 Myths About Owning A Senior Care Business

Interested in owning a senior care business, but hesitant because of preconceived notions?

Often times people shy away from senior care because they think they don’t have the right background or they don’t quite know what the day-to-day operations entail.  We are here to rid those notions and present you with the facts.

1. I Need Healthcare Experience

Becoming a successful business owner that specializes in senior home care doesn’t require a background in professional health management or care. Companionship and care coordination is the main goal of most home care businesses. Basic care is what is normally provided, not medical assistance or health care.

2. I’m Too Old

You are never too old to start a new adventure! Starting a new business may be just what you need to give you a new lease on life. Besides, your knowledge and experience will be an asset. Investing your time and money in a new business gives you an opportunity to remain active and help others.

3. The Market Is Saturated With Home Care Businesses

Contrary to what many people may think, the number of care providers is actually shrinking. This means fewer actual caregivers and a greater need for the services offered by home care companies. Not only does a home care business support the caregiver, but home care workers can also perform many of the duties that might be difficult for the caregiver to accomplish on their own.

4. I Will Spend My Days Processing Medicare & Health Insurance Claims

Most home care services aren’t covered through the patient’s insurance or by Medicare. Some may have benefits they receive from Veteran’s programs, but in most cases, home care services are private pay. Long-term care insurance may cover some of the cost, but more than likely not all of it.

5. I Don’t Have The Capital

While it does cost money to invest in an established franchise, that doesn’t mean you have to be a millionaire. If you can come up with $50k in cash and prove a net worth of at least $120,000, you have what it takes to move forward. Additionally, there are franchising options for most anyone looking to purchase a franchise—from Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and traditional bank loans to special programs for veterans.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

Ready To Become Your Own Boss? Franchising Just Might Be The Answer

Are you ready to make an economic change this year? Are you eager to be your own boss?

If so, then consider the benefits of franchising. There are so many great reasons to become a franchise business owner and take hold of a company, but the following are a few of the most popular reasons that many current franchise owners give for choosing to franchise:

Taking the Lead

There are people who enjoy going to work, doing their given tasks, and then going home. Then there are those who strive to do more. A big part of becoming a franchise owner is being the boss, the leader of your own business.

In this role, you determine how much, how fast, and how far you want to take the company and yourself. As such, this is a great career choice for those who have strong leadership and managerial skills that are being underutilized or have hit a plateau at their current position.

Enjoying the Benefits of a Proven Framework

Opening a business can be an overwhelming task, especially if you aren’t sure how to begin. However, by choosing to franchise, you are choosing to work within the framework of an already successful business model.

This means that while you’ll have plenty to do on your own and business facets to choose from, other aspects like finding vendors and marketing supplies has already been done for you. This takes a lot of the guesswork and common stresses out of the equation and enables you to get on the ground running.

Having a Strong Support Network

In addition to plugging into an already successful business model, franchising also plugs you into an already established support center. In fact, many franchises will request interested new franchisors to meet and work with an already established branch and to undergo a period of training at their business headquarters.

Both these meet-and-greet work periods allow soon-to-be franchise owners to learn from people just like them how best to operate a successful store. You get to connect with peers and stay connected so that should you ever have questions, you know exactly who to ask.

Ready to get started? 

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

Location Is Key When Opening A Senior Care Business

So, you’ve done the research and determined that a senior care franchise is the right business opportunity for you. Now you’re wondering where to open your business in order to help the right people and have success.

Many venture capitalists are moving into the senior care business. The United States Census Bureau estimates that by the year 2030 all current baby boomers will be aged 65 and above, and one out of five Americans will be of retirement age. While it’s clear that senior care is on the rise, it’s important to choose your location wisely when considering a senior care business.

Here is what we look for when deciding on the territory location for each franchise owner:

A Community of Aging Population

It would help if you start your elderly care business in a senior-friendly state. You will be better able to take advantage of the community when positioning your services. These locations have easy access to health care, advantageous tax structures, and a friendly climate. For a substantial return on investment, the senior population should be above 35,000 in your potential area (people who are age 65+).

Healthcare Resources

As mentioned before, seniors like to live in places with easy access to medical care, particularly centers that accept Medicare. By starting your elderly care business in such locations, you can develop connections and referrals from medical centers—thereby growing the number of your clients.

Recreational & Leisure Activities

States like California, Texas, and Florida rank higher on the senior-friendly list because they have one thing in common—there is plenty for seniors to do and see. According to the American Association of Retired Persons, senior baby boomers plan for an average of two to four trip in a year.

Higher Household Income

Although seniors may partially rely on long-term care insurance or veteran’s benefits, they or their family will likely pay for most of their care services out of pocket. For that reason, you will want to place your senior care business in a location where people can afford your services.

Network

Having roots and a network in the location you are considering to start your business can be very helpful in the initial building stages. Although you can later employ marketing techniques to grow the popularity of your business, you first need to have an understanding of the community for your business to grow. While the care you offer is delivered where it is needed, territory location still matters when it comes to running a profitable senior care business today.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

4 Tips For Online Marketing: In-Home Care

It is indisputable the significant role home care agencies play in enhancing the lives of seniors.  They are an assurance of comfort, safety and friendship for many seniors during their golden years. But how can you position your senior care business in the market?

Let’s dive in to explore all the dynamics of marketing a senior-focused care business in the digital realm.

Build a Captivating Website

A website is the backbone of any online marketing endeavor. Times have changed. Many seniors are tech-savvy, and often times younger family members assist in finding care. Data by Pew Research shows that 59 % of all Americans aged 65 and above use the internet. There is a vast audience of potential clients whose primary source of information is the internet.

The website design for a senior care center should include:

  • Simple user-friendly and easy navigation
  • Clear images – avoid blue shades that may appear saturated to older people
  • Images that paint your facility in a favorable light and communicate the unique services you have to offer
  • Font size should be big enough, no less than 16 pixels
  • SEO Optimized so that your website can be found

Focus Your Campaigns on Helpful Information

Gimmicky marketing doesn’t work with home care. Potential clients must carefully weigh their options when it comes to finding the best fit regarding in-home care services.  The decision-making process could be weeks, months, or even years.

The information found on your website, as well as throughout your social media and email campaigns should provide detailed information that pertains to senior care. This, among others, includes blogs on health care, diet, depression, diabetes, and other health-related topics. You should also provide a proper description of all services provided.

Rank Top of Search Results

Apart from receiving recommendations from family and friends, a major way people find senior care services is by searching the web. Many people have grown to become inseparable friends with Google. To get these potential clients to visit your site and consider your in-home care services, you have to seek online prominence.

You can only get that by being on page one of the search engine results. Search engine optimization is what you need. Adding plugins such as Yoast, SEMRush, or Google Keyword Planner can be a major game changer when optimizing your website.

Manage Your Online Reputation

The internet sphere is a gold mine of opportunities for home care agencies. However, a single mistake online could bring all your years of hard work to rubble. It takes careful reputation management to stay top of your client’s mind as a trustworthy brand.

Positive reviews will help to paint your senior care center in good light. A study by BrightLocal shows that 84 % of all people use online reviews when considering a service or a product. When your potential customers are considering your service, they first scour the web looking for what past customers are saying about your facility. This means that you have to be on the lookout for what is said about you by a client and aim to get positive reviews on social media and review websites.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have your very own website built for your specific location, strong support, thorough training (including online marketing), and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

 

Top Tips for Business Success In The New Year

The beginning of the year is a good time to reflect on your business’ progress from the previous year and plan how you want your business to develop. Do you want increased success in the coming year or more chances to enjoy the success you’ve achieved? Below, we have outlined tips for striking a better work-life balance and increasing your business success this year.

Learn To Delegate

It’s hard to let go and let others do for you what you think only you yourself can do well. But that may not be the best way for you to spend your time. Let someone else do some of the tasks for a change. Delegation is the key to a healthy work-life balance.

Plan & Track Progress

It’s easy to just let yourself go with the flow and walk in the same old groove you have become accustomed to. Weekly business planning sessions are a good way to ensure you are actively steering your business toward success. Set aside time each week to review, adjust, and look forward—or even better, make business planning a part of each day.

Take Marketing Seriously

Most business owners fall far short of maximizing the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. Spiffing up your website, brightening up your brick-and-mortar business sign, investing in smart promotional items, and networking with non-competitive, but related, business types are all key ways to grow. It’s also important to find the balance between enticing new leads to try your products and services and rewarding loyal customers so they stay.

Get Involved Locally

Two great reasons to get involved in your local community: you actually care about the community causes your business will support and customers do too. Give back to the local community, whether to charities, school events, environmental improvements, or awareness campaigns. Make this the year that you serve on a committee, be a mentor, volunteer, or make regular donations to the groups in your community that try to make the place you live better.

Build Your Network

There’s nothing like talking to other business people for sparking new ideas, refining old ones, and making contacts. Whether it’s a group specifically designed for networking or an organization dedicated to a particular type of business, in person or over the internet, making the effort to be a part of a group will revitalize you and your business.

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is like maintaining a good relationship; you have to keep working on it. If you apply these tips to your daily life, you will not only feel better but you will also have more energy to put into your business and make it the success you deserve.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training, and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

Social Media’s Impact on Your Business’ Growth

Social media has turned into an incredible tool for business outreach in the modern world. Initially, it was used largely for personal purposes, but the extension of social media in business is essential in today’s digital world. Being a densely populated arena where things go viral very fast, it gives businesses a direct line of communication with their prospective customers, current customers, and peers.

With a high rate of growth and development in technology, social media changes often. As a marketer or a business owner, you need to keep up with these changes in trends in order to achieve maximally from it. Here are some of the social media trends that you should not miss out on as a business owner.

Facebook Marketing

Facebook remains to be one of the most influential social media platforms with a great traffic of daily users. Businesses can take advantage of consumers flocking the platform every day. Online marketers have now shifted from organic Facebook outreach into paid promotions that entail video creation, branding, data analytics, re-marketing, and content marketing. As a marketer, you should always take advantage of the changes taking place in Facebook marketing, benefiting from both paid and organic Facebook marketing.

Ephemeral Content

Businesses are using short-lived content in form of videos and images on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. This content displays on their account or the profile for a short period, targeting immediate reactions from the customers. The content provides a more authentic level of engagement. This is because they are designed to allow businesses to take advantage of FOMO (fear of missing out) among the viewers. Business owners can use ephemeral content to communicate with the customers on updates about their brands, latest offers, or introducing new products.

Chatbots

Chatbots are artificial intelligence (AI) programs that can be used to replicate human conversation to help in customer service and marketing. With Chatbots, customer service and rate of engagement increase, hence better customer interaction. Facebook Messenger is one of the most utilized Chatbots. This service continues to grow as Facebook Messenger adds functions such as built-in Natural Language Processing (NLP), In-chat Payment, and Handover Protocol.

Changes in Organic Reach

The crackdown of the organic reach by Google, Amazon, and Facebook should not scare you as a marketer, it is, however, a chance for you to explore SEO and AI-based marketing to expose your brand to customers.  You should now focus on presenting customers with the content they can easily engage with. This calls for high-quality content with more significant interactions with the viewers.  You should also know how to balance between the quality of the content, the desires of the customers, as well as the goals and the objectives of the business.

Social Ads

In recent years, social advertisements have gained a lot of popularity among businesses. Businesses are able to make thousands of advertisements on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others. These adverts reach a great number of social media users across the globe. Businesses take advantage of them because they are cheap.

Social media adverts give businesses an advantage because they mainly focus on the call to action (CTA). In retail businesses, for instance, Instagram has introduced a new feature which allows people to use ‘shoppable tags’ as a call to action among consumers.

Social advertisement has also been largely used in Snapchat and YouTube, exponentially surpassing television advertisement. The predictions, according to Zenith Media, state that social adverts have the potential to outspend television advertisements by over $40 million. With the social market always growing, expanding your brand into the digital realm is essential to boosting your brand and taking it to the next level.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.