On April 21, 2015, Google announced that it would begin using mobile-friendly sites as a ranking signal. That means if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, it will soon see a decrease in search engine rankings and you can lose potential patients who carry out an online search before visiting a physician.
Also referred to as “mobilegeddon” or “mobilepocalyse”, Google’s main aim behind introducing this change is to improve user experience. It will revolutionize a searcher’s experience from frustration to facilitation, as they no longer will have to struggle with zooming and scrolling of text with the desktop version of websites on their mobile screens. Mobile searchers will now land on sites with positive mobile experience.
What does this mean for you?
Let’s look at some statistics
The smartphone revolution has caught the world in its grip. Statistics have proved that in the present-day digital scenario, mobile phones have superseded desktop Internet usage. The percentage of people using mobile phones at different times is:
- 61% while at home
- 27% at work
- 23% while visiting friends or family at home
- 20% while out of town
- 16% while in a doctor’s office
(Source: Google Think)
All mobile users across the globe now expect an optimized experience for their devices. It’s obvious that they won’t return to a website if it doesn’t load properly on their mobile devices. Physicians and healthcare practitioners need to ensure that their website is mobile-friendly. If not, it’s high time to go mobile.
Mobile phone Internet usage is the new catalyst driving consumer perceptions and decision-making. Therefore, a mobile-compatible website serves as a platform that enables a smoother and faster connection with your patients.
Why should you have a mobile website?
A mobile-friendly website can be your sales force and the face of your practice. It is the first step toward building a positive online presence. Make sure that your website is updated with all vital details about your practice such as phone, address, hours, email, etc. Ensure that the website has social media integration with share buttons to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. so that patients can easily share anything from your website with others. To differentiate your website from competitor websites, you can add blogs, videos and educational materials for your patients.
It’s time to step into digital age!
The social life of healthcare has undergone a drastic change with the Internet, and this phenomenon has changed the landscape of a doctor-patient relationship. Physicians who leverage digital power will definitely be a preferred choice with digital health consumers. This platform enables a smoother and faster connection that can be channeled by physicians to provide the strongest reassurance for patients. They can build brand equity and position their brand as a partner in patients’ health in their lifelong journey to health and wellness. The marketing power of the Internet is growing exponentially, and having a mobile-friendly website is no longer just good practice but has become a prerequisite. The mobile clicks on your website will definitely have a profound impact on your appointment book.
So don’t wait and go mobile NOW!