Social media posts from healthcare workers can quickly damage patient trust and create reputational risks for hospitals and health systems. Viral incidents can also affect employer brand and recruitment. Healthcare organizations need clear policies and training to help employees use social media responsibly. In this edition of Vital Signs, we look at how social media posts from healthcare workers are creating new challenges for hospitals and health systems, and what that means for employer branding.

Healthcare marketing just keeps on evolving, and our clients are asking smarter, more specific questions than ever before. From patient privacy and targeting changes to proving ROI and driving real appointment volume, the challenges are complex and the stakes are high. In this edition of Plain Talk, we pulled together some of the most common healthcare marketing questions we hear as a full-service agency and asked each of our department leaders to share their perspective.

Healthcare marketing continues to evolve around one central truth: trust drives engagement, and engagement drives growth. As patient expectations continue to change, marketing leaders are taking a closer look at how they show up. That’s why we’ve compiled some of our best healthcare marketing content. Each article tackles different challenges, so you can focus on the ideas that feel most relevant to your strategy this year. 

As AI-powered search increasingly answers patient questions directly, healthcare brands risk losing their search visibility, even when their websites still technically rank in traditional search results. In this edition of Vital Signs, we interviewed our resident SEO and content strategy expert Courtney Henderson on search engine invisibility and what it means for healthcare SEO.

Whether you’re just starting to experiment with AI or looking to sharpen how you use it day to day, understanding the basic do’s and don’ts of AI in public relations is key to using it responsibly and making it work for you, not against you. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll help you navigate what AI does well and how to use it in a way that still sounds like you.

You can’t out-perk a trust problem. Try as many brands might, they can’t seem to get past building their loyalty strategies around symptoms of the deeper issues they’re ignoring. This reactive approach leads to pouring money into the same three “fixes”: richer loyalty perks, sleeker UX updates, and shiny new branding. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll explore the main reasons why your customer loyalty strategy is failing and what you can do about it.

Consumer demand matters, but it’s only half the battle for CPG brands. Without retailer and distributor support, even popular products struggle to earn shelf space. Success depends on connecting shopper appeal with clear business value that convinces buyers, making strong B2B messaging just as essential as consumer marketing. This edition of Plain Talk explores how to punch up your B2B messaging and strategy, so it resonates with buyers and turns more impactful consumer campaigns.

Social media is transforming the way patients engage with healthcare providers. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Reddit are now being considered go-to sources for health and wellness information. In this edition of Vital Signs, we’ll explore how healthcare organizations can cut through the noise on social media and restore trust with patients.

Everyone in healthcare marketing wants to do media better. They want the easy button—press it, trim the budget, and watch the sales roll in. But in reality, the equation isn’t that simple. Consumers expect personalization and a seamless digital journey, yet they also bristle at the idea of advertisers using personal data to reach them. And let’s be honest—most people don’t even like ads. They just want you to show up, relevant and helpful, at the exact moment they need you. In this edition of Vital Signs, we’ll explore why more organizations are asking the same question: Should we build an in-house media team, or partner with an agency?

As long as the marketing industry has existed, it’s been the case that when global financial disruption strikes, marketers must pivot. Those pivots represent challenges, but they’re also opportunities for brand leadership and differentiation. In this edition of Plain Talk, we explore how marketers can take a disciplined, strategic approach to budget planning in the face of global tariffs and economic uncertainty.