If someone types “family doctor near me” into Google on their phone, would they see your firm? If yes, then you’ve got a strong online presence, especially in your local area. If not, then you’ve got to start working on local search engine optimization (SEO).
With local SEO, you can dominate your healthcare market. You’d be the first they’ll see in the search results when they search for healthcare services in the area. Imagine the traffic coming to you if that’s what happens for every person with a healthcare query in your locality.
To grab those clicks, you need to build a site optimized for local searches. This includes hunting for local keywords and local link building. Let’s go into more detail
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Why local SEO for healthcare?
What even is SEO? SEO is how you make your website appear easily and more prominently in search engine results like Google and Bing. Local SEO is the same, but with a focus on search results for your locality.
In SEO, you want your brand to appear in search results for general terms like ‘healthcare provider.’ In local SEO, you want to appear for location-specific terms like ‘family doctor in [city name].’
You might ask: Is local SEO effective for healthcare providers? That’s a resounding yes. Around 8 out of 10 patients use search engines to find a healthcare provider. If you’re on top of the search results, that means you’ll be the first provider 80% of patients will find.
With that kind of visibility, you get more clicks and more patients walking through your doors
How to succeed in local SEO?
Local SEO isn’t something you win overnight. It takes a lot of time, consistency, and trial and error. Regardless, below are key pointers to set you on the right path.
- Provide clear contact details.You don’t want to give potential clients incorrect information. Make sure you display your organization’s correct name, address, and phone number on every page or listing. This prevents confusion and makes it easier for people to contact you.
- Build a page for every location.Do you have multiple clinics? Create a separate page for each clinic and feature neighborhood-specific content.
- Be fast and mobile-friendly.Many patients use their smartphones to look for healthcare providers near them. Ensure your site adapts and loads fast, whatever device they’re using to search online.
- Use smart headings.Location-specific keywords are necessary to get your practice to show up in local search results. Sprinkle your city or street’s name into your headings, like ‘pediatric care harbor area.
- Set up voice search.In 2024, around 21% of people use voice search regularly. Don’t miss out on that potential traffic. As a bonus, you’ll be making your site more accessible to people with disabilities. It’s a win-win.
Optimize your business profile and listings
Your website is at the center of your local SEO strategy, but don’t forget external factors such as your Google Business Profile and local listings.
If your website’s home page is your reception area, then your Google Business Profile is your storefront. It’s the first thing potential patients may see when they look for healthcare services. You want this profile at peak condition at all times.
First and foremost, update the hours listed on your profile. Make sure it’s 100% accurate. Having the correct hours listed can go a long way in establishing patient trust.
Also, post fresh photos of your clinic’s waiting room or a friendly welcome sign. These visuals help establish credibility as opposed to a profile devoid of any media. It tells people, ‘Hey, we’re serious at what we do and that extends to our online presence.
Further, add your services so a quick glance tells patients what you offer, be it pediatric care or physiotherapy.
If you optimize your Google Business Profile, you might just get featured in that handy map at the top of search results. That’s a big deal since most people click on that map before anything else.
Once you’re done with your business profile, expand to local listings. Register your practice on Healthgrades, Yelp, or your local chamber of commerce website. Each listing is another chance to pop up when someone nearby needs care.
Local keywords + great content
Every online search starts with a keyword. How do you figure out which keywords your audience uses? You must think like your patient and conduct keyword research.
If you were in your patient’s shoes, would you type “back pain doctor” or “back pain doctor in [city name]”? You will use the second one every time if you actually want to find a back pain doctor near you. That’s called a geo-keyword, and you should use them smartly across your webpages.
As for content, deliver blog pages that are relevant and useful to your audience. Use social media automation for marketing teams to schedule and share those posts at peak times in your area. Titles like “How to keep cool during summer in [You Area]” are both relevant and helpful to potential patients within your reach.
Lastly, feature testimonials. These are user-generated content that show people how satisfied your patients are with your service. Praise from other patients carry more weight and breathe more authenticity onto your pages. Most of all, they’re free and Google loves them.
Final words
Which local SEO tweak will you implement today to transform your clinic into the community’s first choice? Partner with Kode Digital, Malaysia’s leading digital marketing agency, to turn that question into your next success story.
