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March 15, 2023

Unconventional Branding and Design Strategies for the Health and Wellness Industry

In the health and wellness industry, branding and design are crucial elements that can make or break a business. While many articles cover best practices, there are some unconventional truths that can help healthcare organizations and health and wellness providers create a strong brand that stands out in a crowded market.

Unconventional Branding and Design Strategies for the Health and Wellness Industry

Accept Imperfection

When it comes to branding strategies for health and wellness marketing, it's crucial to get people to trust you. In a market that values authenticity, perfection can often seem fake and impossible to reach. Because of this, accepting your flaws is an unusual but effective way to connect with your audience. When you admit your flaws, it shows that you're willing to be open and honest, which can make your brand more approachable.

In healthcare, people often want excellent care from providers they can trust. When you accept your flaws, people will see you as more human and approachable, not just another business trying to sell something. Being imperfect can also help set your brand apart from others in the healthcare industry who may seem too polished or perfect.

Also, accepting your flaws can help you connect with your audience in a more meaningful way. By being honest about your flaws and weaknesses, you give your audience something they can relate to. If your patients see that you are willing to be open and honest about your flaws, they may feel more comfortable talking to you about their own problems. This can make people feel like they are part of a community and give them a sense of trust that is hard to get with more traditional branding methods.

Lastly, being imperfect can also help you stand out in a crowded market. When so many other healthcare providers try to look perfect, accepting your flaws can help you stand out from the crowd. Patients may like a brand that is willing to be honest and real, even if it isn't perfect. This can help you get new patients and keep the ones you already have.

In the healthcare industry, accepting your flaws can be a powerful way to build trust, connect with your audience, and make your brand stand out. Even though it might seem counterintuitive, embracing imperfections in your branding can help you create a more real and relatable brand identity.

Less is More

It's simple to want to show off all aspects of your organization, particularly in developing your healthcare branding strategy. Yet, less is often more. If employed correctly in your brand and marketing strategy, minimalism might help you stand out in a crowded field.

Simple designs can convey your brand's message. Instead of trying to include too much, focus on the most important parts that show your brand's personality, beliefs, and goals. This includes your brand's colors, logo, typography, and artwork.

A mental health services provider might use a soothing blue color scheme, a simple logo, and basic graphics to show calm, peace, and healing. With a simple approach, they can create a strong visual identity that speaks to their target audience and sets them apart from other healthcare providers.

Minimalism can also be functional. It can boost brand recognition and help patients recall your health and wellness business. Simple designs are also more adaptable for social media postings, brochures, and ads.

Healthcare organizations need a strong visual identity, but less is more. Minimalism in branding and design helps you convey your brand's message, create differentiation, and develop a strong identity in the competitive healthcare business. Use the most important aspects to build a memorable brand experience that resonates with your target audience.

Challenge Traditional Beauty Standards

The health and wellness industry is notorious for setting unrealistic beauty standards, especially in media and marketing. This can cause people to have bad feelings about themselves and others and to have expectations that are too high. As a result, many groups are now questioning these traditional ideas of beauty and promoting body positivity and diversity.

One way to do this is to use models of different sizes, shapes, and ages in your marketing and branding materials. Instead of only using models who are considered attractive, show real people and what they've been through. This not only makes your brand seem more real and approachable, but it also makes healthcare a better place for everyone.

Focusing on inner beauty and taking care of yourself is another way to question traditional beauty standards. Instead of only focusing on beauty on the outside, stress the importance of healthy habits, self-love, and mental health. This can help move the focus away from how someone looks and onto their health and well-being as a whole.

By going against traditional ideas of beauty in healthcare branding, you can stand out from the crowd and make a good impression on your audience. Embracing body positivity and diversity can help make a healthcare company more open and accepting, and it can also help you build trust with the people you want to reach.

Beyond Services

In today's healthcare industry, where patients are looking for more than just quality care, unconventional brand positioning is becoming increasingly important. One way to do this is to shift the focus from promoting healthcare services to putting the spotlight on the patient's journey and experience. Instead of simply advertising your services, focus on creating an empathetic and compassionate experience for patients that will make them feel heard, valued, and respected. By doing so, you can set your healthcare organization apart and attract new patients.

Another unconventional approach is to take a more holistic approach to healthcare. This means putting more attention on the link between physical, mental, and emotional health and focusing on the causes of health problems instead of just treating the symptoms. By positioning your brand as one that takes a more comprehensive approach to healthcare, you can appeal to patients who are looking for a more well-rounded approach to their health.

For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way healthcare is given in a big way. Because of this, for instance, telehealth has become a popular alternative to traditional medical care. By providing telehealth services, healthcare systems can reach more people and make patients happier. Also, healthcare systems can gain market share and keep more patients if they give priority to projects that reflect the changing demographics of patients and decision-makers.

You can set your health and wellness business apart from competitors and stand out in a crowded market by giving your brand an unusual position. Remember that patients are looking for more than just high-quality care; they want a personalized, empathetic experience that addresses their unique needs and concerns. By focusing on the patient journey and taking a holistic approach to healthcare, you can deliver on your brand promise and position your brand as one that truly cares about the well-being of its patients.

In the competitive healthcare landscape, unconventional branding is becoming increasingly important. One way to stand out is through the use of a creative tagline. A tagline is a short, memorable phrase that communicates the essence of your brand. For instance, MD Anderson’s slogan "Making Cancer History” emphasizes their commitment to not only treating cancer but also advancing research and finding cures that could one day eradicate the disease altogether. A memorable tagline can help your brand stand out from the competition and leave a lasting impression on potential patients.

Make an Emotional Connection

To create a strong brand, it's essential to connect with your audience emotionally. Think beyond your products and services and focus on how they make your patients feel. Use storytelling to create an emotional connection with your audience. This will not only help you connect with your patients but will also build patient loyalty.

To make an emotional connection with your audience, it's important to understand their needs, desires, and values. You can do this by creating buyer personas and understanding their pain points and aspirations. Once you have a clear understanding of your audience, you can craft messages and marketing campaigns that resonate with them emotionally.

Storytelling is a powerful tool for creating an emotional connection. Share stories of patients who have overcome challenges with the help of your healthcare services or stories of doctors and nurses who have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional care. These stories will humanize your brand and make it easier for patients to relate to your healthcare services.

Another way to create an emotional connection is by showing empathy and understanding towards your patients. Use language that shows you care about their well-being and understand the challenges they are facing. This can be achieved through social media interactions, blog posts, and other forms of content marketing.

By making an emotional connection with your patients, you can build trust and loyalty and ultimately create a strong and recognizable brand in the healthcare industry.

Think Outside the Box

The healthcare industry is always changing, and it's important to stay ahead of the curve. Don't limit yourself to the traditional norms of healthcare branding and design. Experiment with different color palettes, typography, iconography, and images to create a unique brand identity. This will help you stand out in a crowded market, deliver an enhanced patient experience, and attract new patients.

Focusing on how your organization’s products and services affect people and the environment is a unique way to rebrand a health and wellness company. This means letting people know how the company helps make the world a better place, like by using materials that are good for the environment, pushing for fair labor practices, or giving a portion of its profits to charities. Through this kind of brand positioning and differentiation, a healthcare organization could use a rebrand to reach new audiences of socially and ecologically conscious consumers who make purchases based on their principles if it places an emphasis on these values in the messaging and design of the brand. This technique may also assist the company in standing out in a competitive market and distinguishing itself from competitors who may not prioritize these values as highly as the company does.

Also, market research and metrics can help healthcare systems find points of contact that can make patients happier and keep them engaged with the organization. For example, by using patient satisfaction surveys, healthcare systems can identify areas for improvement and make the necessary changes. This can lead to increased referrals and positive rankings. In a case study by a medical practice, they used a new pricing model that got rid of unexpected medical bills and gave clear information about prices right away. This nontraditional approach made patients happier and led to more referrals, which led to a 20% increase in sales.

In conclusion, effective healthcare branding and design require unconventional thinking. Accepting imperfections, using minimalism, promoting inclusivity, focusing on the patient experience, making emotional connections, and thinking outside the box are all effective strategies for creating a strong brand identity. By adopting these strategies, healthcare businesses can differentiate themselves from their competitors, attract new patients, and build a strong brand.

About Tenth Mountain

Tenth Mountain is a brand studio that specializes in providing marketing services to businesses in the health and wellness industry. With a team of experienced operators, strategists, and creators, Tenth Mountain has helped some of the most innovative and recognizable brands in the world achieve lasting growth through brand strategy and development, marketing systems, content development, and advertising campaigns.

Tenth Mountain's focus and expertise in the health and wellness industry helps clients unlock performance and increase their enterprise value. By integrating cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Tenth Mountain assists clients in identifying, acquiring, and retaining their most valued customers while improving their marketing return on investment. To learn more about how we can help you, visit www.tenthmtn.com.