As a healthcare provider, you want to attract more local patients to your practice. But how do you stand out from the competition and get found by potential patients online? The answer is local SEO.
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online presence for local search queries. These are queries that include a specific location, such as "dentist near me" or "pediatrician in Boston". These queries are often used by people who are looking for nearby services or products.
According to research studies, 46% of all searches have a local intent, and 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a related business within a day. This means that local SEO is crucial for healthcare practices that want to increase their visibility, traffic, and conversions.
Here are some tips to get you started on optimizing your website and online presence for local SEO:
Claim and Optimize Your Google My Business Listing: Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps. You can add your name, address, phone number, website, hours, photos, reviews, and more. Make sure to fill out as much information as possible and keep it updated. This will help you rank higher in local search results and attract more customers.
Optimize Your Website for Local Keywords: Local keywords are those that include your location or service area, such as "Orthopedic Surgeon in Chicago" or "Family Doctor in San Diego". You should use these keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, headings, content, and URLs. This will help you match the search intent of your target audience and improve your relevance and authority.
Get More Online Reviews: Online reviews are one of the most important factors for local SEO. They help you build trust and credibility with your potential customers and influence their decision-making process. You should encourage your satisfied patients to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and Healthgrades. You should also respond to reviews, both positive and negative, and show your appreciation and professionalism.
Build Local Citations and Links: Local citations are online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number. They help you establish your presence and consistency across the web. You should list your business on relevant directories, such as Yellow Pages, Bing Places, and Foursquare. You should also look for opportunities to get links from local websites, such as newspapers, blogs, or associations. Links are a signal of trust and authority and can boost your rankings and traffic.
By following these tips, you can optimize your online presence for local SEO and attract more local patients to your healthcare practice. Local SEO is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and improvement. If you need help with your local SEO strategy, you can contact us at +1 (877) 388-8569 and we will be happy to assist you.
References:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/local-seo-stats
https://www.webfx.com/local-seo/statistics/
