Before we begin, watch a report published by the National Library of Medicine. Have a quick look at what the report said:
‘The majority of patients (68%) who accessed the Web for health-related information did so by performing a Web search and accessed information (73%) from a medical site providing general information. Another 46% of health Web users accessed a Web site for a specific disease or problem.’
The data said it all. Online searches for healthcare services are becoming increasingly common. For this reason, more and more medical professionals are investing resources into creating solid online presences or websites.
So, let’s face the reality: the digital space has become oversaturated. With so many options, how can users recognize your online presence? Here, local SEO comes into play.
What is local SEO, and how can it help healthcare professionals attract relevant leads? We will delve into all the answers here!
Let’s start!
What is Local SEO?
Local search engine optimization, short, ‘local SEO.’ It’s a target marketing strategy to acquire local customers organically. For local SEO for medical professionals, the focus lies in ranking your website on local searches and attracting nearby customers searching for medical help.
The primary objective of local SEO is to refine medical practitioners’ online presence for local searches. It aims to make your website visible on searches that match the intent of your local target customers.
For example, let’s say you offer skin care services in London. With a local SEO strategy, you can make more people aware of your services. When someone searches for an expert skin care clinic in London, your website will be visible to them.
What Are The Resources for Local SEO For Medical Professionals?
Here is a list of core resources of local SEO to attain target reach and qualified leads:
Local Keywords
Medical terms, or words that target customers searching for or queries that describe pain points of customers.
Local content
Content that addresses the pain points or addresses the issue of people belonging to a particular region.
Location-specific landing
Specific pages for websites targeting particular locations.
Positive online reviews
Positive online reviews and feedback across relevant platforms that target customers count on.
Online listings and Google business profile
Online listing and Google business profile set up for establishing consistent NAP and reputation.
Mobile friendly website
A mobile-friendly website to stay visible to customers searching for immediate help.
What is the Importance of Local SEO for Medical Professionals?
Earn Recognition Among Local Patient
Local SEO makes your website visible to nearby people looking for your specialty services. You will be surprised to know that 46% of Google searches are local. In this regard, the research said that local SEO leads have approximately 15 % close rates. Needless to say, without considering the local SEO strategy, you may lose potential leads.
Create Tailor Made Website Content for Target Customers
Local SEO creates local content to share on the website and other relevant platforms. This practice boosts website relevance, aligning the website for exact local search matches.
By crafting user-focused local content, you will address the specific needs of the target community. This will make your website appear on relevant searches and attract qualified clients for your medical services.
Build Trust and Authority in the Local Market
Visibility in local searches and listings marks you as a reputable local provider. A study revealed that 82 % of consumers evaluate online reviews for local businesses. It shows how relevant online reviews are these days. You can build a reputation by creating a perfect local SEO strategy for your medical services. This practice will establish credibility and make you earn brand authority.
Increased Insights On Prospects’ Behaviour
Local SEO is a data-driven process. So, you can use analytical tools. These tools will give you valuable insights into prospects’ behavior. They will also provide more data on market trends, allowing you to refine your strategy for better reach and leverage market opportunities.
Improve User Experience
Local SEO practices boost the user experience of your medical website. Let’s understand how. By optimizing your on-page elements with local keywords, publishing local content on location pages, or improving website speed, you will add value to the website. As a result, your customers will easily find what they want and enjoy a splendid web experience on your site.
Take Ached of Competition and Increase Revenue
Local SEO brings extensive benefits to medical practitioners and medical center owners. First, a good rank in local searches keeps you ahead of your competitors. With local SEO, you can get a lucrative amount of leads organically. Since it’s an organic process, the conversion happens with lower marketing expenditures.
Is Doing Local SEO Worth It?
Absolutely yes! Whether you run a medical facility or are a medical professional, local SEO is worth your money. When people in your area will look for medical services, this digital marketing strategy will introduce your services to them. Plus, it will attract qualified clients and retain them with the best strategic approach. Being an organic strategy, it will allow you to acquire new clients at zero cost. In other words, local SEO generates leads, boosts conversion, saves marketing costs, and establishes a sustainable position in the market.
Are you a healthcare professional? Let us handle every aspect of local SEO.
Get a Proposal today!