Have You Seen This?”The Curiosity Trigger That Gets Clicks in Healthcare Marketing
Let me tell you a secret: I’ve written thousands of headlines in my career. Long ones. Short ones. Boring, safe ones (not proud of those). But the ones that stop people mid-scroll? They usually start with four magic words: “Have you seen this?”
It’s not fancy. It’s not SEO poetry. But it works. Why? Because it taps into a primal urge: the need to know what everyone else might already know. If you’re in healthcare marketing, whether you’re pitching to overworked CMOs, clinical buyers, or skeptical CIOs, you need every unfair advantage you can get. And this phrase? It’s one of mine.
Let me break down why it’s a marketing win, and how you can use it (especially in healthcare IT) to boost your visibility, engagement, and trust.
1. Why It Works: Psychology Meets Simplicity
“Have you seen this?” isn’t just a headline — it’s a cognitive itch.
It taps into:
- Curiosity bias: Our brains crave completion. You’re not telling them what “this” is. That drives them to click to find out.
- FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Especially juicy in the B2B space, where your reader doesn’t want to be the last to know about new tech, a major regulation change, or, my favorite, who’s doing something more innovative than they are.
- Social proof (implied): The question implies that others have seen it. If they haven’t, they’ll want to. Instantly.
In short, it’s a subtle power move in your marketing stack. Especially if you’re trying to rise above the beige noise of “industry-leading solutions” and “synergistic platforms.”
2. How I Use It: Real Examples From My Campaigns
If you’re wondering, “Okay, but how does this work in practice?” Let me show you how I’ve used it in campaigns that increased open rates, social engagement, and sales calls for my healthcare IT clients.
Example 1: LinkedIn Post for a Health Data Startup
💬 “Have you seen this? Our newest payer dashboard is helping clients reduce processing time by 40%, without switching EHRs.”
📈 Result: 3x increase in DMs from CIOs and COOs asking for demos. Why? Because it hinted at a solution to their most annoying problem without spilling all the details.
Example 2: Email Subject Line for a Cybersecurity Partner
Subject: “Have you seen this breach map?”
Insight: Security officers don’t have time for long intros. This campaign is directly linked to a live, interactive map that shows healthcare breaches by region.
Open Rate: 48% (Industry avg: 18%)
Example 3: Conference Promo on TikTok
🎥 Voiceover: “Have you seen what this hospital did with just one AI plugin? You’re gonna want to sit down for this one.”
Engagement: Increased profile traffic 220% in 48 hours and led to two podcast invites for the client’s CTO.
Bottom line: You’re not selling a product. You’re sparking curiosity. And you’re doing it with just enough restraint to earn the click.
3. Where It Shines: Channels That Thrive on Curiosity
This phrase crushes on platforms that reward curiosity-driven clicks:
- LinkedIn: Use it for B2B hooks that invite readers to check out a feature, insight, or breakthrough (especially if it involves data, AI, or outcomes).
- TikTok/Instagram Reels: Combine with storytelling for a compelling experience. Show the outcome, hint at the “how.”
- Email Marketing: Works best when paired with a single CTA (think “watch the demo” or “see the dashboard in action”).
Don’t sleep on this: the phrase has cross-channel mileage. And in healthcare, where trust and time are both short, every sentence has to pull.
4. The Healthcare IT Advantage: Elevate Complex Ideas With Simplicity
Love it or hate it, HITters, our industry loves jargon.
You’ve seen the whitepapers that feel like a dissertation. You’ve watched product videos with more acronyms than action. “Have you seen this?” flips the script.
It humanizes the tech. It’s the whisper in a loud room; a personal nudge in a sea of corporate speak.
Let’s say you’re launching a new SDOH analytics platform. You could lead with:
“XYZ Platform enhances social determinants of health data aggregation through machine learning frameworks integrated with clinical workflows.”
Or, you could say:
“Have you seen this? It’s helping health systems predict readmissions based on ZIP code and grocery access.”
Which one would you click?
5. Tips for Using “Have You Seen This?” Like a Pro
Want to start incorporating this into your marketing mix? Here’s your playbook:
✅ Use it to tease, not tell
Pair it with a powerful visual or stat. Let the “this” be a screenshot, a short video, a dashboard, or a before-and-after transformation.
✅ Make “this” specific and intriguing
Generic = forgettable. Tie it to a benefit or result that matters to your audience: saved time, reduced errors, improved workflows.
✅ Pair with urgency or exclusivity
Examples:
- “Have you seen this week’s trend map?”
- “Have you seen this new CMS policy update? It could affect your Q3 reimbursements.”
✅ Keep it ethical
Don’t bait-and-switch. Curiosity is powerful, but it only builds trust when the payoff is real.
6. When Not to Use It
Yep, there are a few red flags:
- If what you’re sharing isn’t genuinely compelling or valuable, don’t fake it.
- If your audience has already seen it, frame it differently: try “What you may have missed…” or “A closer look at…”
Remember, the tool works because it’s built on authentic curiosity. Don’t cheapen it.
Use It Like the Strategic Ninja You Are
So, have you seen this strategy before?
Probably not broken down this way. But I guarantee you’ve clicked on it. Maybe today. Maybe on this blog. Maybe right now.
Here’s the real deal: great marketing doesn’t scream. It whispers. “Have you seen this?” is a whisper with gravity. A question with intention. A hook with heart.
If you’re marketing anything in healthcare, especially tech solutions, physician tools, or workflow innovations, this is one phrase that consistently earns its keep.
Your Next Step
Try it out today.
- Write a LinkedIn post using “Have you seen this?” to introduce your latest product insight.
- A/B test it as an email subject line.
- Or stitch it into your next TikTok with a behind-the-scenes view of your product in action.
Then tag me. I’d like to see what you’re building and how you’re utilizing curiosity to advance healthcare.
Let’s make them stop scrolling.
