Is your medical practice ready to enter the digital world? We have provided 8 steps you should start with.
Local Search Engine Optimization and Local Listings
The first step in going digital is to is increase your online visibility. Make sure your prospective patients can find you online. Type your name or your practice name in Google. Do you see your exact location and phone number as it is shown on the picture below?
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Pay attention to online directories. Yelp, Yellow Pages, Zoc Doc, Vitals, etc. might not display your information correctly. It is very important to monitor regularly whether information about your name, address and phone number is accurate across the online directories. Otherwise it can lead your prospects in the wrong direction.
Is your business listed on high traffic directories?
Is it in a categorized correcty?
Are there images or video of your business?
Is your information accurate and up-to-date?
Social Media Profiles
The second step is checking your Social Media Profiles. Social Media is about building an online community of your prospective and current customers and constantly engaging them with interesting and valuable content.
If you have not thought about engaging your prospects with Social Media, keep in mind some considerations:
(Infographic with social media engagement numbers will be provided)
Doctors in similar field. Competition.
Social Media is a great way to build relationships with your customers, remind them about your services and keep them coming back.
Are your social media profiles complete?
Is your practice active on social media?
Your website
Does your main page focus on three main points:
What services are provided?
Who are the services for?
What services can I get for my condition?
Design and usability
Does your website look modern and professional? As people tend to judge a book by its cover they might judge your business by what your website looks like. Smart website design includes elements that build trust and confidence in your prospective patients. For example, using patient testimonials, citing professional memberships, accreditations, and “before and after” case studies.
Are your prospective patients able to find the information they need within 5 seconds?
Does your website have high-quality photos?
Do you have video introducing the advantages of your practice?
Copywriting
It is crucial to have persuasive copy on your website tp properly capture your prospects’ attention. Quality copywriting drives visitors to take action and call you to make an appointment.
The content should be focused on attracting visitors, converting them into leads and turning them into your patients.
The common mistake made on a majority of healthcare websites is that they focus only on their practice description. The only content visitors can see is “about us/our mission/our services” pages. Good copy should be focused on your prpospective patients and their problems.
Can your prospective pateint identify his/her problem on your website?
Do you describe available solutions and benefits to solve their problems?
Do you present your credentials?
Is there a “Call-to-action” on your website?
Is your website responsive?
Make sure your website adapts to all devices (screen sizes) nicely. The amount of mobile users is constantly increasing. In 2014 about 30% of patients used mobile devices for research and booking appointments.* If your website is not mobile-friendly Google can penalize it and prevent it from being accessible to search engines, which affects search results.
Is your website can easily accessible on smartphones or tablets?
Are mobile visitors able to use your website to contact you?
