If you’re a doctor looking to increase your visibility in local search results, you’re in luck. In this blog post, I will discuss why local SEO (search engine optimization) is so important for doctors and how you can start implementing it into your marketing strategy.
In 2022, local SEO is projected to become even more important as more and more people turn to their smartphones for healthcare information. According to a study by Google, “71% of smartphone owners searched for local health information in the past year.” In other words, if you’re not doing local SEO, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of your potential patient base.
What Is Local SEO Doctors Marketing and Why Do You Need It
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in local search results. This includes adding local keywords to your website, creating local business profiles, and building links from local websites.
There are a number of reasons why local SEO is so important for doctors.
First, as I mentioned earlier, more and more people are searching for healthcare information on their smartphones. In fact, according to Google’s Mobile Planet report, “half of all mobile searches are related to location.” So if you want your practice to be found by potential patients, you need to make sure your website is optimized for local search engines like Google Maps and Yahoo! Local.
Second, most people prefer to visit a doctor who is local to them. In a study by the Pew Research Center, “78% of respondents said they would prefer to have all or most of their health care done locally.” This means that if you want patients to visit your practice, you need to make sure your website appears as high as possible in local search results.
Third, local SEO is an effective way to target new patients. By optimizing your website for local search engines, you can reach out to potential patients who are looking for a doctor in their area. As I mentioned earlier, 71% of smartphone owners searched for local health information in the past year, so there’s a good chance that many of these people are looking for a doctor in their area.
Fourth, local SEO can help you stand out from the competition. With so many doctors competing for patients, it’s important to find ways to set yourself apart from the pack. local SEO can help you do just that by increasing your visibility in local search results.
Finally, local SEO is an affordable way to market your practice. Unlike traditional forms of advertising, local SEO is a relatively low-cost solution that can produce big results.
If you’re ready to start implementing local SEO into your marketing strategy, here are a few tips:
- Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
- Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.
- Add local keywords to your website.
- Optimize your social media profiles with local information.
- Create local business profiles on popular directories like Google Maps and Yahoo! Local.
- Build links from local websites.
- Promote your practice locally through online and offline channels.
By following these tips, you can start seeing improved local patient search results for your practice. So what are you waiting for? Start optimizing today!