If you are looking to start up a new lab, now is a perfect time. With recent advancements in technology and science, there are more ways than ever to study genetics and the role they play in understanding disease. However, a start-up lab cannot conduct the research necessary in genetics if they don’t have enough clients. For your lab to thrive, you must first establish a strong marketing strategy. In this article, we will show you some modern testing methods that will allow you to stand out from the crowd and market yourself better. We will also share some laboratory outreach solutions.
Molecular Genetic Tests
One area of genetic testing that has shown a lot of promise in recent years is molecular genetic testing. Molecular genetic testing is no longer a specialty test used to only test for a small number of abnormalities. Now, molecular genetic testing can be used to find a whole host of diseases and other issues determined by a person’s DNA.
An example of a tremendous molecular genetic test is the FISH test. The FISH (or fluorescence in situ hybridization) test is used to visualize genes or a specific portion of the gene. In practical use, a laboratory will use FISH testing to help discover breast cancer in patients. The lab technician will use FISH testing to see if there are any extra HER2 genes in a person’s cells.
Furthermore, using molecular genetic testing is an excellent way for a start-up lab to market themselves to potential clients. First, molecular genetic testing has become much more affordable over the last several years. It used to be extremely difficult and expensive to conduct tests like FISH. Now, almost any lab in America can get the necessary components with ease.
Another reason it is smart for start-up labs to focus on molecular genetic testing to market themselves successfully are the diseases it can help detect. Breast cancer is one of the most devastating diseases that affect men and women all over the world. Doctors and hospitals are always looking for labs to help test incoming patients for breast cancer. When you focus your marketing around FISH testing, you show hospitals you are equipped to handle a massive inflow of patients.
Using Laboratory Outreach Solutions
While offering the best in genetics testing methods is excellent, it is only the first part of successfully marketing your lab. The next step is to establish robust outreach solutions for your start-up lab. Here are a few things you can do to strengthen the marketing of your lab.
Person-to-Person Marketing
There is nothing wrong with the classics. A great and affordable way of marketing your lab is to go to local hospitals and doctors’ offices and meet with an administrator. Here are a few benefits of using person-to-person marketing.
First, it is one of the most natural things you can do to market your lab. All you need is a car and a hospital to go visit. Sitting down with a hospital or doctor’s office administrator allows you to describe the resources and goals of your start-up lab adequately.
Also, doing person-to-person marketing adds a personal touch that goes a long way for local doctors and hospitals. The most significant factor for doctors and hospitals is that they get the results they need promptly. When you come to their offices to talk about your start-up lab, you are showing them that you are willing to take that extra step to provide the best service.
However, there is a downside to using person-to-person marketing. When this is your chosen marketing method, you limit yourself to a local level. While this strategy works well with smaller labs, it can lose its effectiveness when you decide you want to move towards a more national level.
Using a Website and Blog
Using a website or blog allows you to utilize the powerful potential of the internet to market your start-up lab. Here are a few ways you can use a website and blog for marketing your start-up lab successfully.
First, a website gives you the perfect platform to provide information on the services your lab offers. Not only does it describe your lab, but it does it in a visually pleasing way that makes it easy for potential clients to find the info they need.
Next, a blog helps bring your start-up lab to a more national level. A blog provides a platform that allows you to talk about genetics and how your lab helps shape the future of genetic studies. Also, by utilizing tools like SEO, you will be able to generate a significant amount of engagement and traffic to your website. This traffic will directly result in more business for your start-up lab.
However, there are some downsides to using a website and blog. As a matter of fact, the biggest issue is that running a successful website and blog is almost a full-time job. If you are a start-up lab, your funds are small and your time is precious. It may be smarter to focus your energies on the blog when you are ready to take your lab to a more national level.
Use Laboratory Software Based on Outreach
Hospitals and doctors care about having strong communication with the labs they are working with. They want to be able to order new tests and look at the status of existing ones, all from the comfort of their offices.
Fortunately, there is software designed to let you communicate directly with your clients from anywhere in the world. When you offer this software to your clients, you show them that you are available 24/7.
If you are interested in getting laboratory outreach solutions software for your star-up lab, we encourage you to come to Psyche Medical Laboratory Software.