Doctors who want to get more patients for their private practices or hospitals can utilize the various benefits of SEO to help users find their specialty through online searches.
Check Out These Ways to Improve Your SEO
Industry-Related Directories
When potential patients are looking for new providers, or a doctor in a specific field, they will likely want to compare and contrast a variety of professionals before making a choice. One of the easiest ways they can do that is by looking at sources that list multiple professionals at once:
As you can see in the above example, there are sites that offer lists for users to browse. Being listed on these sites, with links pointing to your website, can not only help you to be found more often, but can also improve your site’s backlink profile.
Listings on Google My Business
Unlike many other industries, healthcare professionals are fortunate enough to have access to multiple listings on Google Maps, with areas for both themselves and the entire practice.
According to advice from local SEO experts, if you are going to have a listing for your office and also yourself, you should:
- Have different categories
- ex: Dental Office and Orthodontist
- Link to different website pages
- ex: Main homepage and doctor’s individual page
If you want more information on the rules and regulations for practitioner listings, you can check out these great resources:
- Google My Business Changes How They Deal with Practitioner Listings – by Sterling Sky
- Why You Cannot Ignore Practitioner Listings on Google My Business (Case Study) – by Search Engine Land
Collect More Reviews
We have seen evidence that when you have a large number of good ratings on Google Maps, it can help your rankings in the local pack.
For example, in an effort to collect more reviews, after you meet with your patients you can send a follow-up email with a link where they can review you.
Improve Site Copy
When was the last time you really examined your website from a patient’s point of view? Take a step back and put yourself in their shoes, and really read your website’s copy – on the homepage, services pages, contact page, etc. – and see if the information you are sharing is helpful and clear, relaying key info patients would want to know.
We often find that many doctors’ websites are very bare when it comes to copy. Having strong copy can not only help SEO efforts, but can also encourage customers to reach out for an appointment.
Provide Helpful Content
Having a blog on your site has been a longstanding SEO approach that can open the door to potential patients, and blogs also help you get more backlinks online. You could produce posts such as “5 Early Signs of an Oncoming Cold,” or do a write-up on anything you have been researching. Utilizing your knowledge and expertise can really pay off on the marketing side.
Become a Credible Source
Did you know that journalists are always looking for quotes from reliable medical professionals to use in their writing? Not only that, but you can have their requests sent straight to your inbox so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting.
Thanks to resources like Help A Reporter Out (HARO), Qwoted, and many others, you can get more mentions (and links) in articles from great outlets across the web that can help improve your online presence!
