In today’s digital landscape, search engine optimisation (SEO) plays a pivotal role in connecting companies with their local target audience – for healthcare brands, this is especially true at a local level.
By leveraging the power of local SEO, you enhance your online visibility, attract new patients and customers, and ultimately grow your business.
But healthcare brands face unique challenges and opportunities in the ultra-competitive online arena. The best route to success? Through partnership with specialists. Our team of experts combines extensive medical and healthcare local SEO expertise with proven digital marketing strategies to help you achieve your goals.
Whether you're a clinic, wellness centre, gym, or any other healthcare-related company, Rocket Healthcare Marketing is here to assist you.
Today, we’re delving into the world of local SEO: we'll provide valuable insights, share best practices, and offer actionable tips to optimise your website, enhance your online presence, and drive more traffic to your business.
Ready to take your healthcare business to the next level?
When it comes to growing your healthcare business online, mindset matters. You have to think global, act local.
And by that we mean: ‘on-your-street’, ‘in-your-neighbourhood’ local.
Saying that to say, local SEO is an essential strategy to master. Local SEO focuses on optimising your website and online presence to rank higher in search engine results for local searches related to healthcare services.
It helps you connect with potential patients in your area, boost your online visibility, and increase your website traffic.
From optimising your Google My Business (GMB) profile and enhancing your website's content with relevant keywords, to leveraging social media and online reviews, an effective local SEO strategy is nothing if not comprehensive. But by utilising the right strategies and techniques, you can attract more patients, improve your online reputation, and position your healthcare business as a trusted authority in your local community.
In the ever-expanding digital landscape, local SEO has emerged as a vital strategy for healthcare businesses.
Did you know that 77% of people use a search engine to start their patient journey? Or that, globally, 7% of all Google searches are health-related? (Digitalis.)
We’ll get into the healthcare-specific benefits of local SEO a little later, but suffice it to say: it’s a big deal for companies in this space. It can make or break your business success. Visibility, reach, trust and authority, and position are all elements of your online presence that stand to gain from an optimised strategy.
Want to see more evidence? No problem. Just consider the following statistics:
Nine-in-ten patients use online reviews when selecting a healthcare provider. (Software Advice.)
Once you reach the higher spots in the SERPs (search engine result pages), you’ll begin acquiring backlinks at a rate of 5 - 14.5% per month (AHRefs) - so it’s a self-sustaining marketing strategy.
Despite this, almost half (48%) of healthcare companies have basic address errors in their local listings. (PR Newswire.)
And 31.5% - almost one in three - healthcare brands don’t have a local listing at all. (Yext.)
When it comes to growing your healthcare business, local SEO is a bonafide game-changer.
By optimising your website for local search, you can attract more patients, increase your online visibility, and establish your brand as a trusted local healthcare provider. Here are the key benefits of optimising your healthcare site for local SEO:
Targeted reach
Local SEO allows you to target patients in your specific geographical area who are actively searching for healthcare services. By appearing in local search results, you can connect with people who are more likely to convert into loyal patients.
Enhanced online visibility
With effective local SEO strategies, your healthcare business can secure higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). This increased visibility ensures that your website receives more organic traffic, exposing your brand to a wider audience.
Improved user experience
Local SEO involves optimising your website for better user experience, such as mobile responsiveness, fast page load times, and easy navigation. This leads to higher user satisfaction, longer site visits, and increased chances of conversions.
Reputation building
Local SEO helps you manage your online reputation through patient reviews and ratings. Positive reviews and high ratings can boost your credibility, instil trust in potential patients, and differentiate your healthcare brand from competitors.
Cost-effective marketing
Compared to traditional marketing channels, local SEO offers a cost-effective way to promote your healthcare business. By targeting specific local keywords and optimising your online presence, you can generate quality leads and maximise your marketing ROI.
Are you ready to take your healthcare business to new heights with local SEO?
Follow these 8 simple steps to boost your online visibility, attract more patients, and outrank your competitors.
Optimise your website and content with relevant local keywords to target the specific locations you serve.
Incorporate keywords such as "healthcare services in [location]," "best clinic near [location]," or "top-rated [specialty] in [location]." This will help search engines connect you with potential patients in your area who are actively searching for the services you offer.
Create a robust Google My Business profile and keep it updated with accurate information, including your address, phone number, business hours, and services. This not only enhances your visibility in local search results but also allows patients to find essential information quickly. Encourage patients to leave reviews on your Google profile to improve your local rankings further.
Ensure that your business information is consistent across online directories and listings. This consistency builds trust with search engines and improves your local search rankings.
Verify that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) details are accurate and up to date on Google, as well as other platforms such as Yelp, Bing Places, and industry-specific directories.
Leverage social media platforms to engage with your local community, share valuable healthcare content, and promote your services. Establish profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and consistently post relevant updates, health tips, and patient success stories.
An engaging social media presence can boost your local SEO efforts by increasing brand awareness and driving traffic to your website.
Positive reviews from satisfied patients not only enhance your reputation but also influence local search rankings.
Encourage patients to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or healthcare-specific review sites.
Respond promptly to reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you value patient feedback and are committed to providing exceptional care.
Implement schema markup on your website to provide search engines with structured data about your healthcare business, such as your address, phone number, specialties, and customer reviews. This helps search engines understand and present your information accurately, improving your chances of appearing in relevant local search results and attracting more patients.
Schema can be a tricky business; for some expert assistance, contact us today.
Tailor your website content to address local healthcare needs, trends, and interests. Moreover, create blog posts, articles, or videos that discuss health topics specific to your community or highlight local events and initiatives.
This demonstrates your expertise in the local community and improves your chances of appearing in relevant local search results. Incorporate location-specific keywords naturally into your content to further boost your local SEO efforts.
Regularly monitor your local SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Aim to analyse data on website traffic, keyword rankings, user behaviour, and conversions to identify areas for improvement and refine your local SEO strategy. Monitor how your website appears in local search results and make adjustments based on performance insights.
In an interconnected digital world that is modern healthcare, optimising your healthcare local SEO strategy is no longer a choice - it's a necessity.
By harnessing the power of local search, you can:
Elevate your online presence
Attract more patients
Outshine your competition
Implementing local SEO strategies involves using local keywords, developing your Google Business profile, focusing on local visibility, growing your social media platforms, encouraging patients to leave online reviews, adding schema markup, localising your content, and monitoring your performance.
It’s not a quick fix, and it takes care and attention to detail to get things right. But it’s a journey worth taking.
At Rocket Healthcare Marketing, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that healthcare brands face when it comes to digital marketing. Our team of experts combines our in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry with the latest SEO techniques and tools to create tailored strategies that drive growth and deliver results.
Ultimately, the world of local SEO is ever-evolving, and staying ahead of the competition requires continuous effort and expertise. Get in touch with us today for a free growth plan, and take your first steps towards a sky-high online presence.
SEO is a vital component of healthcare marketing. It involves optimising your website and online presence to improve visibility in search engine results. SEO helps doctors, clinics, and healthcare brands reach a wider audience, attract more patients, and increase their online authority.
For healthcare professionals, SEO involves strategies and techniques that help them appear prominently when patients search for relevant healthcare information, medical services, or local healthcare providers. By effectively utilising SEO practices, healthcare brands can increase their online visibility, attract more patients, and grow their business in the digital space