According to a study by Pew Research Center, about 77% of online health seekers use a search engine such as Google, Bing or Yahoo to engage in health information-seeking and to research about a healthcare provider prior to scheduling an appointment.
Considering that the Internet offers widespread access to health information along with the advantages of interactivity and information tailoring, healthcare providers should implement effective SEO strategies to ensure their website and content are highly visible in search results.
Why investing in an SEO strategy is a worthwhile endeavor for your practice
Well, you might think that you already have a well-designed practice website for online health consumers. But the fact is a website is only useful if people can find it. The healthcare industry is progressively adapting to the online marketing era and there is high competition for search traffic. The numbers of people who research the Internet before making a decision to book an appointment are increasing exponentially. Without proper SEO, people may not be able to locate you online and chances are high they may choose your competitor over you for booking an appointment. An effective SEO strategy increases your search engine ranking and overall web presence, which allows you to be found when a potential customer conducts an online search.
SEO, in simple terms, is like forming a relationship with search engines and your website to ensure that your website can be easily found in search engines when someone searches for words or phrases relevant to what the site offers. SEO optimizes your website and is a vital component of any Internet marketing plan. It can help you expand your patient reach and win over competition.
Some key points to keep in mind while drafting an SEO strategy
Conducting keyword search
Keywords are words or phrases that searchers use to find the results they want. It is important to choose the right ones for your website and content you post to ensure your site ranks high on these words. For finalizing a list of all the keywords that your practice could be associated with, you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner or get professional help from an SEO specialist.
Generate user-friendly content
Strong knowledge + steady implementation of SEO = Smart content optimization
As search engines update their search algorithms, it changes the way they look at websites. Therefore, having a strong knack for SEO is important to generate content, which is useful for the audience and gives you an edge to rank high on search engines. An easy way to do this is to leverage your website to attract traffic. You can post content in the form of blogs, articles, infographics, newsletters, FAQs, case studies, videos, patient testimonials, medical breakthroughs and conversations about the healthcare industry with relevant keywords to boost traffic.
Make sure that you keep posting fresh content on a regular basis so that your online presence is refreshed with every post you make. Search engines love informative, up-to-date content and rank those sites that are updated with fresh content on a regular basis.
Reduce the use of medical jargons and keep the content simple
While it’s important to provide accurate scientific knowledge to your readers, always keep in mind that they want to absorb health information in an easy way. Complex medical nomenclature and use of jargon should be avoided while writing online content for patients.
The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving and adapting with the digital advancements. Competition is at an all-time high for search traffic. An effectively implemented SEO strategy can mean the difference between a full waiting room and an empty one. Stay ahead and get noticed! Plan an effective SEO strategy to ensure the good health of your practice.