Do you need a website to promote your local medical practice? Will word of mouth and social media shares be enough to drive foot traffic to your local clinic? With the world becoming more dependent on the web for information, you want your medical practice to be right before your target clients. You want to stand out.
You can promote your local medical practice and be recognized as an industry expert with an optimized website. The right SEO strategy can give you incredible and unexpected benefits.
4 True Benefits of SEO for Medical Websites
As said by Digital Authority Partners, medical professionals must consider search engine optimization (SEO) to build high-quality websites. SEO has several advantages that your medical website cannot afford to overlook. Here are a few examples.
Helps You Rank Higher on Google
A site optimized for search engines means people can use specific keywords to look up the business online. In medical or healthcare-related industries, prospects use particular keywords to find what they need.
They use keywords or key phrases such as pediatrician, dermatologist, or surgeon to find medical services online. The problem is that these are too general and less targeted and thus will bring in a large audience.
By following quality SEO practices for keyword use, you can boost your website rankings and be at the top of search engine results pages in no time.
And proper keyword use is just one of the ways for SEO to rank you higher. By publishing relevant, high-value content, you can boost your rankings and make you the expert in your field. People will come to your site to find updated information or book an appointment.
Here are more SEO ranking factors. Consider these when creating an optimized medical website.
- Create a secure and easy-to-access website.
- Improve page speed on desktop and mobile.
- Consider a mobile-friendly web page.
- Publish optimized content, and include relevant keywords and backlinks.
Improves How Your Local Clients Find You Online
Local SEO boosts local search engine results. Your small medical clinic needs a boost to compete with nearby practices. Suppose you live in a competitive town, county, or metropolis. If your clinic is in a hospital or medical complex, it may be difficult to get noticed.
But local SEO can help you showcase your business even when surrounded by your competitors. According to a Statista study, one valuable strategy is optimizing your GMB profile or Google My Business listing.
The study revealed that in more than 45,000 businesses, 56% of the actions on GMB profiles resulted in website visits. Also, after checking out the company on Google, 24% of the customers called the business through the GMB listing.
GMB is your free listing on Google; it’s the first thing your audience can see once they search for your business or your type of practice online.
Your GMB profile features your business name or clinic name, address, phone number, and other relevant business information such as your email, hours of operation, and much more. Because it’s on Google, your clients and patients can access your info and add other information like reviews, ratings, and photos.
By claiming your listing and optimizing it for search, you can manage customer reviews and photos, update your business information, and make other changes. Consider the following when optimizing your GMB listing:
- Claim your GMB profile right away to start maximizing this strategy. A Google postcard will be sent to your business address to claim your profile.
- Update your listing as necessary. Add special holiday hours, photos of your services, accessibility options, etc.
- Add photos of your business and describe them using your keywords. Use pictures of your storefront, waiting area, receiving area, parking space, etc. Give your clients something to expect.
- Improve your business description. This is a preview of your practice and shows your customers the value of your services.
- Manage reviews by thanking your reviewers and professionally handling negative ones.
- Do you have more than one clinic or office? Create separate GMB profiles for each, as your profile is linked to Maps. This will help your customers find your clinic and other clinic locations.
SEO is a Practical and Effective Strategy
Once your SEO strategies are set up, all you need is to sit back, relax, and watch your practice grow. SEO can take time to improve your stats but rest assured that your website is ready.
SEO is often compared to paid ads strategies like pay-per-click, which provide quick results but are not as cost-efficient and not for the long term. You’re investing in great results and long-term gains by optimizing your site.
And SEO is not another set-and-forget strategy. As you experience positive changes in your site analytics, you must do all you can to maintain this growth and keep your site top of search rankings. These techniques can preserve your slot on the top.
- Continue doing keyword research. Find new keywords, check competitor sites, and use keyword research tools.
- Produce quality content regularly. Create blogs and publish engaging, helpful, and relevant content. Link your blogs to your medical website.
- Improve your page titles and ensure these are relevant and engaging.
- Prioritize user experience continuously. Find ways to help your customers access new information, use tools to assess their pain points, and update your business information from your site and your GMB listing.
Increases Awareness of Your Medical Practice
SEO transforms your website into your virtual office receiving area where you can greet clients, book appointments, and provide them with the latest information about your practice. Instead of reading old magazines in your waiting room, your clients will be checking timely info about your expertise, your previous cases/clients, reviews and testimonials, and other relevant information.
Most clients decide which doctor to go to or which specialist to see. Your optimized website will help them make this crucial decision. Consider these strategies to help your clients make the best decision for their medical care.
- Create a simple, easy-to-navigate medical site.
- Publish relevant, helpful, and well-formatted content. It must be readable, easy to understand, and shareable.
- Have your contact details on every page. In case of emergencies, have a hotline number to call.
- Make your address info clear. Add a map to help your clients navigate a good route to your office.
- Give them options in case they are still considering your services. If you’re a plastic surgeon, provide non-invasive strategies but highlight the benefits of your procedure.
Final Words
SEO has impressive benefits for medical practitioners. SEO can rank websites higher on search engine results, increase local rankings, improve your expertise awareness, and eventually drive more clients and patients to your local clinic or office. Medical SEO is practical and efficient. You can’t go wrong when investing in this high-value marketing strategy.