How much guidance do you need to buy a pack of gum? Probably not a lot. You might be partial to a brand or flavor (or price), but your choice shouldn’t take more than a second or two in the checkout line. What about choosing a new bank, though? Or a healthcare provider? For more complex products and services, we want more of everything. That’s where high-touch marketing shines — delivering the right content at the right times to a target audience that makes a purchase decision over time.

Healthcare consumerism — the concept of putting healthcare decision-making and purchasing power into the hands of consumers — has changed the way we find and access healthcare. With more consumers playing an active role in choosing their healthcare services, healthcare marketers are adopting and fine-tuning digital front-door strategies to engage with and create loyal customers. Marketing technology, or martech, is a vital part of this process.

Today’s consumers expect to “own their health,” which means they have the control, awareness and tools to influence their healthcare decisions. To connect with consumers, providers must create memorable experiences that inform, delight and spark an emotional connection. And with healthcare more consumerized than ever, patients want access to relevant, personalized information and services simply by tapping a screen or clicking a mouse.

As we put a bow on 2019, one thing’s for certain: it was a year we’ll want to remember. Our agency family grew 30 percent, developed new client relationships and even deepened others. There’s many things we’re proud of as we look back on a year of growth and learning. And we want to cap off the year by having our leadership team share what they prized most from 2019 — and what we’re most excited about in our future.