Healthcare is a very competitive industry. If you want to get more patients to your healthcare facility, relying solely on offline traffic is not a good idea. You need a solid digital marketing strategy to boost your online presence.
In the process of building an online presence, SEO (search engine optimization) plays a crucial role. To rank high for relevant search terms, you need a strong SEO strategy. SEO is the process of optimizing the website to increase its visibility in major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Regardless of whether you are a physician, orthopedic surgeon, dentist, or any other doctor, investing in SEO is worth it. The marketing method may not show you quick results, but in the long run, it will help you to drive more patients to your practice.
The approach to SEO differs from one agency to another. It’s not like you hire any random marketing agency, and you will get fruitful results. To get fantastic SEO results in the long run, you need a reliable and result-oriented agency. NxtGen Marketing is here to help.
Before we dive into SEO strategies for orthopedic surgeons, physical therapy professionals, and other healthcare professionals, check out the statistics below:
- There are 100 billion searches for healthcare on Google alone each year.
- 66% of internet users look online for information about a specific disease or medical problem.
- 44% of Internet users search online for doctors or other health professionals.
- 7% of all Google searches are health-related.
From the above points, one thing is clear – if you are not working on organic search visibility, you are missing out on a lot.
Best SEO Tips For Healthcare
These are the best SEO strategies for physical therapy professionals and other healthcare professionals:
1. Set up and Optimize GMB Listing
Creating and optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) listing is more than just adding basic details. Ensure that your practice’s name, address, phone number, and business hours are accurate. Encourage satisfied patients to leave detailed reviews, as positive feedback not only influences local rankings but also builds trust with potential patients seeking orthopedic or physical therapy services in your area.
Your GMB listing alone can contribute to a significant amount of traffic. Apart from optimization, you can also regularly publish GMB posts.
2. Improve Website Loading Speed
The importance of a fast-loading website cannot be overstated. Optimize your website’s loading speed by compressing images, leveraging browser caching, and utilizing content delivery networks (CDNs).
If it is taking too long to load your website, there is a high chance that users clicking on your website may bounce back. As a result, all your SEO efforts would be a waste.
A faster website not only enhances user experience but also positively impacts search rankings, as Google considers page speed as a ranking factor.
3. High-Quality Content is a Must
Content is the backbone of your healthcare website. Craft informative, engaging, and authoritative content that not only educates but also resonates with your target audience. Regularly update your content to demonstrate ongoing expertise and relevance in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. In short, you need to write content for your audience as well as for Google.
4. Optimize Your Website for Mobile Devices
A significant number of users come from mobile devices, so ensuring mobile responsiveness is essential. A responsive design and a seamless mobile experience not only cater to user expectations but also contribute to higher rankings on Google. Prioritize mobile-friendliness to ensure that potential patients can access your information conveniently on any device.
5. Research and Find Relevant Keywords
Conduct thorough keyword research to identify the terms and phrases potential patients are using to find your healthcare facility. Be careful during the keyword research process because the selection and insertion of wrong keywords can lead to ranking for wrong search terms.
So, integrate relevant keywords strategically throughout your website content, including meta tags, headers, and within the body of the text. This not only aids in search engine visibility but also helps in creating content that directly addresses patient needs and concerns.
6. Focus on Google’s E-E-A-T Algorithm
Google’s EAT is now replaced with EEAT. The additional “E” stands for Experience. Google places a high premium on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T), especially in the healthcare sector.
Showcase the qualifications and experience of your healthcare team prominently on your website. Incorporate patient testimonials, share success stories, and provide accurate medical information to establish your practice as a trustworthy and reliable source in the eyes of both users and search engines.
With this algorithm, Google wants to make sure the sites ranking at the top are relevant and trustworthy.
7. Get Backlinks from Quality Websites
Building a robust backlink profile is an ongoing process. Seek collaboration with reputable and relevant websites, local medical organizations, universities, or industry publications. Quality backlinks contribute significantly to your website’s authority, which is a crucial factor in search engine rankings, especially in competitive niches like orthopedic surgery and physical therapy.
8. Make Your Website YMYL Compliant
Given that healthcare information falls under Google’s “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) category, strict adherence to quality and accuracy standards is imperative. Ensure your content is well-researched, backed by credible sources, and provides valuable insights. This not only builds trust with users but also signals to search engines that your healthcare content is authoritative and reliable.
9. Have Intuitive Website Navigation
User-friendly navigation is essential for keeping visitors engaged and ensuring a positive user experience. Organize your website content logically, implement a clear call to action, and make it easy for users to find specific information about orthopedic services or physical therapy treatments. A well-structured and intuitive website navigation not only improves user satisfaction but also indirectly impacts your website’s SEO performance.
Final Thoughts
Implementing these comprehensive SEO strategies for healthcare practices will not only boost online visibility but also establish your healthcare brand as a reliable and authoritative source in the digital landscape.
The healthcare industry is highly competitive. To beat your competitors and increase your visibility, you require a strategic marketing approach. At NxtGen Marketing, we help all types of businesses with their online marketing needs. If you need SEO services for healthcare, get in touch today.
