Saying that people search for health information online is like saying that people use cars for transportation; it’s obvious and it doesn’t really need stating at this point. That’s what it’s there for, after all. The internet is melded into our daily lives, and we use online search for everything: work, recreation, shopping, socializing, and time wasting. Whatever the question, curiosity, or obstacle may be, step one is almost always, “Consult the internet!”. This is why SEO services for doctors must not be viewed as optional.
Establishing a robust online presence and implementing an effective digital marketing strategy that includes search engine optimization is necessary for anyone who provides goods or services, including doctors. A well-thought SEO strategy puts you in the best position to reach your audience. Phoning it in while your competitors focus on their online presence means that you get the scraps.
Haden Interactive provides SEO services for doctors. SEO for doctors is not just a matter of slapping together a website and creating a Facebook page. Social media and a quality website optimized for mobile are critical parts of SEO, but there’s much more to it.
Here’s a look at some of the SEO services doctors need to focus on.
Optimized web content
Organic search is a big part of bringing in new patients, and optimizing your website for search helps lead people to your site. Optimization includes writing content that uses the keywords that your patients are actually looking for. For example, you may be an ophthalmologist, but your patients are searching for “eye doctor”.
Optimized content is also clear and useful. It answers the questions your patients ask the search engines. It has a clear enough focus that search engines can tell what point you’re making, and it’s accessible and enjoyable for your human visitors.
Ultimately, the best thing you can do is provide a useful and positive user experience. This includes having the answers to the questions that your patients are asking, a steady stream of well-written, quality content, and a site that is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Local SEO
This is one of the most important SEO practices for doctors and medical professionals. Most patients for most doctors are local or regional. 95% of patients look for doctors in a “nearby location”. This means that you need to show up in local search.
Improving local SEO includes managing your Google reviews, ensuring your physical address and contact information are accurate, and using place names and locations in meta descriptions.
Digital healthcare marketing
Medical blogging and social media are your bread and butter, as well as your most cost-effective options for digital healthcare marketing. Publishing regular content with useful information that potential patients can use helps bring your target audience to your website.
Don’t forget that HIPAA compliance applies to your digital presence, too. Your web content, social media, and your blog must follow HIPAA regulations.
There are also some bells and whistles that are worth including in your digital marketing strategy: healthcare infographics, custom white papers, surveys, email campaigns, and Google ads can all extend your reach and delight your visitors.
Analytics
Every site needs analytics. You simply can’t implement an effective and responsive digital marketing strategy, or gauge the success of your website, without web analytics.
Hook up your analytics even if you don’t know what you’re going to do with that data yet. You can’t go back and look at information that wasn’t recorded. If you go ahead and capture the data, though, you can provide the information your SEO specialists need when you’re ready for a comprehensive SEO strategy.
We specialize in SEO for physicians, and professionals that work in the health and wellness. Let us help you reach your audience. We can work directly with you and your healthcare marketing team, or you can outsource your digital healthcare marketing completely with Haden Interactive. Call 479-966-9761 or contact us online to learn more about our SEO services for doctors.
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