The typical healthcare consumer’s journey often begins with extensive research. In fact, search engines lead to three times as many hospital visits as non-search visitors.
So if you can’t get enough patients, your business likely has a poor local online presence. If the patients are not coming to your clinic in enough numbers, then they might go to your competitor instead just because they found it first in a local search.
A well-designed healthcare Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaign can improve your clinic’s digital presence and attract more patients.
Below are some of the best ways to use local SEO to get more patients to your door.
1. Claim And Optimize Your Google My Business listing
All local businesses, including healthcare providers, are required to apply for a Google My Business (GMB) listing. GMB has a huge impact on Search Engine Rankings, and it is one of the first things a potential patient sees after performing a local search (Google’s local pack). Fortunately, applying for a GMB account is easy and free. Once you have signed up and applied for your listing, you will need to provide the following information:
• User Name:
• Address:
• Phone Number:
• Email Address:
• Business Hours:
• Practice Pictures:
• Brief Description Of Practice:
The idea is to bring the GMB list to life by providing potential patients with complete information about their practice. To optimize your GMB listing, update it regularly and answer any questions that may arise.
What About Multiple Locations?
Every office location should have its own Google My Business listing, even if it has a main phone line for receiving calls and making patient appointments.
Otherwise, when a patient searches for its second location (satellite office), they may find their Google listing for the main location. This can lead to patients being sent to the wrong clinic or confused about where to go.
2. Have A Strong Content Marketing Strategy
About 89% of healthcare companies use content marketing to reach potential patients and expand their practice. When it comes to medical SEO, there is no substitute for high-quality, relevant content. This particular trend is not surprising. It is also important that patients have access to accurate information.
Relevant content is not only valuable to your readers, but it is also a goldmine of information and keywords that search engines can use to rank your site. Additionally, strong content helps establish authority in medical practice.
The easiest way to start your content marketing strategy is with a Blog.
Create well-written, long-form content that is relevant to your audiences, such as blog posts, case studies, and white papers. Research relevant topics that resonate most with keywords that patients use to find answers to their health-related questions.
For example, if you have a practice with a general practitioner who frequently orders lipid panels as part of routine blood tests during health checkups, you might want to blog, “Why did my doctor order a lipid panel?” Please consider posting.
3. Encourage Patient Reviews
Online reviews have become a non-negotiable part of healthcare marketing. With 84% of the patients using online reviews to evaluate their healthcare providers, patients should be encouraged to leave reviews of their practices.
As mentioned earlier, the patient journey begins with online research. Because people want to find the right practice for their needs. Potential patients will see reviews about your practice to help them make decisions.
Simply ask current patients to leave feedback about their experience at the clinic and get your rating. Encourage them to leave a review on your GMB profile and account, etc.
When you receive a review of your practice, be sure to reply to it, whether positive or negative.
Many clinics use SMS apps or email to communicate with patients about appointment reminders and other updates. Be sure to share the link to the site you want to leave a review for.
4. Optimize your website
About 90% of visitors abandon slow-loading websites, about 80% abandon due to unresponsiveness, and 70% abandon due to usability issues such as poor navigation. Typically, your healthcare website is the first port of call – your brand is what many patients want. Therefore, it should be visually appealing and optimized for usability.
When it comes to design, your website should reflect your professionalism and expertise, so invest in developing a user-friendly and informative website. Visitors will have a good experience navigating your website. , should be able to find the information you are looking for.
For example, a medical website should include important information such as clinic addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation. In addition, the website should be optimized for mobile browsers by integrating a responsive design that automatically adapts to the browser used.
Conclusion
Local SEO for clinics can help you grow your online presence and attract more patients. The local SEO strategies above will help you get started on the right path.
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