Medical Practices have long relied on referrals, from colleagues and patients, to grow practice volume. Today, the way these referrals effect practices are largely shifting to the internet.
Everyday, patients are turning online to research their symptoms and treatment options long before scheduling a first appointment. In fact, patients are far more apt to search the internet before seeking the opinion of a trusted friend or physician.
What is your online presence?
Most practices have developed websites. Far fewer have sites which are designed and optimized to meet the need of potential patients.
If your website looks more like an online brochure rather than one dedicated to answering patient questions, you are missing out on countless referrals each day.
Patients are looking for authoritative information online. Having a website that provides good and timely information, that allows you to look like the physician leader in your field, puts you one step closer to getting that new patient referral.
Good design and content is one thing, but is your website optimized for search engines?
When doing their homework in selecting a physician, patients generally turn to Google.
Does your practice fall on the first page of search results in your community? Without an effective SEO strategy, it is going to be very difficult to achieve this.
Depending on the size of your market, it can be extremely difficult to rank high for a term like “surgeon”. However, by partnering with an SEO Guru, you can find their are other keywords which can be used to pull patients to your page when they search.
These keywords may include descriptions of symptoms or even cutting edge treatments offered by your practice. Good keyword planning, with an effective SEO plan, can help your practice quickly rank high when patients are looking.
Why should a practice be concerned with a optimized website?
In the past, physicians were dependent on the goodwill of others, they hoped their patients and colleagues would remember to offer referrals. While hope can be a strategy, it is not a highly effective one.
By having a strong website, with an effective SEO plan, your practice can reach potential patients who are actively searching. Think about it, when you develop an SEO strategy, you are reaching the potential client when they are researching their concern and when they are actively looking for answers.
What are your steps to get started?
Few practices have the skills and resources to accomplish effective SEO and web design in house. I recommend developing a strategy with an expert in the field.
When looking for a partner to assist with development of your website, look for one skilled in not only design components but one who has a proven track record for SEO development.
GREG BRUCE is co-founder of friendsted. Greg has worked with some of the nation’s highest performing companies in various areas of the healthcare sector. A student of people, he believes the key to reaching top performance for an organization is recognition that we are all in the people business.
Working with teams to rethink what they believe about people, craft their stories, and build high performing teams is Greg’s passion.
A former member of the editorial board of PHYSICIANS PRACTICE, Greg’s work has been recognized by the American Advertising Federation Club with their ADDY Awards and as the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce volunteer of the year.
While not working with teams, Greg is actively involved in designing exciting new models for care for the long-term care industry. He lives in Texas and spends most of his spare time with his grandchildren, reading, and learning about technology advances.
GREG BRUCE is a co-founder of friendsTED. He has worked with many of the nation’s top healthcare companies. A student of people, he believes the key to improved organizational performance is to focus on people first.
Souce: http://www.friendsted.com/blog/friendsted-blog/search-engine-optimization-physician-practice/