When it comes to finding new patients, improving your practice’s local search results ranking is one of the most effective methods. According to a 2020 report, 57% of consumers search online when looking for a new healthcare provider. In order to rank higher when potential patients search for new healthcare providers, follow these local SEO tips.
4 local search engine optimization (SEO) tips to help healthcare providers reach new customers
- Perform an online audit
- Update your website and listings
- Research and optimize with keywords
- Build a local link network
1. Perform an online audit
Before you can begin to improve your practice’s search results, it’s best to get an idea of what its online footprint looks like. Perform an audit of your website, business listings and social media pages to gain insights on what patients see when they search for your practice.
Stay organized while performing your audit with a spreadsheet. Include each page link, the last time it was updated and notes on outdated content you want to update. This makes tracking your practice’s pages easy and provides an at-a-glance look at which need the most attention.
2. Update your website and listings
Once you’ve performed an audit, prioritize the pages that need updating first. Choose those that:
- Have prominence: Major listings, like your Google® Business Profile, Yelp® and Facebook® pages, are likely to draw many potential customers’ eyes, so make sure those sites contain the most up-to-date info.
- Contain outdated info: An old social media profile or webpage with incorrect hours or contact information is likely to confuse potential patients.
If you don’t have time to update web pages or social media accounts that are no longer relevant, it might be a good idea to redirect those pages or close those accounts to streamline your practice’s online presence and prevent confusion.
3. Research and optimize with keywords
Keywords are terms people use when searching for something online. Knowing which keywords potential patients type into a search engine and updating content on your website to include those keywords is an effective strategy. It will help your practice show up on their search results page. Write blog posts with helpful information or tips, especially about your practice’s healthcare specialty. Incorporate those keywords to help improve your site’s visibility.
Keep in mind that keywords can change constantly, so it can’t hurt to repeat this process every one to three months to make sure you’re creating content that is relevant to current patient search terms.
4. Build a local link network
Backlinks occur when a different local website, such as the local newspaper, association of commerce or community blog, links directly to your website’s content. Building a network of trusted backlinks can help your website rank higher in search engines because it shows your site is more trustworthy and credible. Building backlinks can take time, but here are some ideas for how to do it:
- Press Releases: Write press releases (that include links back to your website) for the local newspaper when you offer a new service or welcome a new team member to your staff.
- Local business directories: Ask for local business guides to feature your practice in their providers’ section.
- Sponsorships: If you’re able, your practice can sign on to sponsor a local event, such as a community fair. Ask the organizers of the event to share your website’s link on their page.
As you build your link network, send healthcare giveaways, like a stainless water bottle, 3D Adjustable Face Mask or Mighty Massage Ball, to your affiliates to show appreciation for the vote of confidence.
Use local SEO tips to help get your practice noticed
Using helpful local SEO tips and some time and patience, you’ll be more likely to see your practice’s website climb the ranks on the search results page, making it easier for potential new patients to find you.