The Importance of Local SEO in the Healthcare Industry
For healthcare brands with clinics in specific areas, local SEO is the hidden key to success. Many brands try to target a wide audience, however, certain companies have monopolized the industry, making it close to impossible for smaller brands to rank for popular search terms. This is where local keywords come in and help these brands reach their target audience.
Local keywords are an essential part of Google rankings. When patients are searching for a new healthcare provider, they are not necessarily searching for their condition, instead, they are searching for their location and the specific type of doctor they need. Local keywords most commonly consist of the services or type of doctor next to the state or region. This allows patients to find nearby healthcare providers that offer the service they are seeking.
NewGen Marketing has seen firsthand that many healthcare providers do not utilize all the available resources for growth. Most of the time, this is a result of medical professionals either not knowing about certain tools or being unaware of how to use them. This is where NewGen can step in to guide them to certain tools and ensure they are making the most of their marketing strategy. NewGen is a modern healthcare marketing agency offering various services to medical providers. Our team of diverse marketing and advertising professionals allows us to provide comprehensive services, including content marketing, website development, SEO, graphic design, and call center services.
Understanding the Basics of Local SEO Ranking Factors
When patients are searching for a healthcare provider, certain factors heavily influence their decisions. It is essential that medical professionals understand these factors, as it can help them determine the most optimal local SEO plan to garner the most leads.
The most significant factor that influences patient decisions is Google Business Profiles. These are free-to-make business listings that share reviews, ratings, locations, links to websites, and contact information. This simple platform allows businesses to quickly share important information that patients would otherwise have to poke around to find. If your healthcare brand does not already have a Google Business Profile, it is time to make one now.
Right underneath the Google Business Profiles, also referred to as the local pack, you will find the localized organic results. These are listings that are related to the patient’s search, however, they are simply website links and do not contain additional information about the businesses like the local pack results.
Lastly, reviews play a huge role in how patients view your practice online. These offer a window into what a visit to your practice might look like. In fact, it has been found that 72% of patients read reviews and testimonials before deciding to visit a doctor. Implementing reviews is an easy and effective way to attract new patients.
Optimizing Your Website for Local Search Visibility
There are a few steps you should take to optimize your website for local search visibility. Most importantly, incorporating local terms and city names is vital when attracting patients from specific areas. Incorporating more of these terms throughout the website can result in more visitors and an overall higher search ranking. Additionally, optimizing for mobile responsiveness is equally important as an increasing number of consumers are using mobile devices to conduct local searches.
Using Keywords on Social Media
Many people do not mention the power of using keywords on social media. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have slowly become used for influencing and product marketing. By incorporating relevant and popular industry-specific terms into social media posts, professionals can improve their chances of being discovered by potential customers or clients. It is essential to conduct thorough research on the most effective keywords related to a particular field or topic, taking into consideration search volume and competition.
Local SEO Implementation with NewGen Marketing
NewGen Marketing is the leader in healthcare keyword marketing. We work directly with healthcare providers to distinguish their brands and create a unique marketing approach. We offer a variety of marketing services for medical brands looking to increase engagement. Connect with us today to learn more about working with NewGen.