Supercharge Your clinic’s GMB ranking
Google Business Profile is crucial for local healthcare businesses to improve local SEO and get more traffic to their websites. Many clinic owners know the why but not the how. These tips will help you improve your SEO, optimise your Google My Business, and rank higher on Google Maps.
This is a set of formal tips focused on keywords following on from a previous article here.
1. Select the Right Business Category for Targeted Local SEO
The cornerstone of any healthcare SEO strategy is choosing the most relevant business category for your Google Business Profile. This ensures you appear in the right Google searches, connecting you with the patients you aim to serve.
For example, if you’re a dental clinic, categories like “dentist,” “oral care,” or “dental services” would be ideal. This is a crucial ranking factor that can significantly impact your visibility. Add as many as are appropriate, one is not enough!!
2. Use Keywords Wisely in Your Business Description
Your business description is a prime spot for incorporating local SEO keywords. Keyword research is essential here to ensure you’re targeting terms that your potential patients are actually searching for and improving your local search results. Keep it concise and informative, outlining the services your healthcare business offers. If you specialise in orthopedics, for instance, mention key treatments like “joint replacement” or “sports injuries and your location eg Manchester.”
3. Maximize Business Attributes for Local Search Engine Optimization
Google allows you to add extra details about your healthcare business through the attributes feature. This is a great place to include aspects like accepted insurance, wheelchair accessibility, or telehealth services. Sprinkle in relevant keywords to boost your local search engine optimization and improve your visibility in Google searches.
4. Keep Your Google My Business Posts Fresh to Enhance SEO Efforts
Regularly updating your Google My Business posts with valuable information and targeted keywords can significantly improve your healthcare SEO strategy. Think of these posts as mini-blog posts that can be part of your broader content strategy. They can have important words like “flu shots,” “preventive care,” or “mental health services,” which can attract the right people.
5. Showcase Services and Products to Drive Traffic to Your Healthcare Website
The services and product features on Google My Business offer an excellent opportunity to spotlight what your healthcare business offers. Add keywords to your descriptions to optimise your site and web pages, helping Google and patients understand your services better. This not only enhances your visibility in Google searches but also drives more traffic to your healthcare website.
6. Utilize the Q&A Feature to Build Trust and Amplify SEO Efforts
The Q&A feature allows you to address common questions from patients while subtly including relevant keywords in your answers. Improving local SEO and establishing authority in healthcare builds patient trust, which is invaluable.
7. Get More Patient Reviews to Boost SEO and Credibility!
Patient reviews are a goldmine for local SEO and ‘may’ serve as a ranking factor. (More on this in another article).
Encourage satisfied patients to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. Not only do these reviews build trust among potential patients, but they also provide fresh, user-generated content that Google loves. You can even respond to reviews to sneak in some relevant keywords.
For example, if someone praises your “excellent orthopedic care,” your response could include, “Thank you for highlighting our orthopedic services. We aim to provide the best care for conditions like joint pain and sports injuries.”
8. Use Photos and Videos to Enhance User Engagement and SEO
Visual content can be a game-changer for your healthcare business’s Google Business Profile. Photos and videos of your facility, staff, or even patient testimonials can make your profile more engaging. Make sure to use descriptive file names for your images and videos, incorporating relevant keywords where possible.
For instance, instead of naming a photo “IMG_1234.jpg,” you could name it “Pediatric_Care_Facility.jpg.” This not only helps in optimizing your site but also makes your profile more appealing to potential patients.
9. Optimise for Mobile to Enhance User Experience and SEO
In today’s world, a significant portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Google also considers mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor. Therefore, ensuring that your healthcare website is mobile-friendly can give you an edge in local SEO.
This doesn’t just mean your site should be viewable on mobile, but also that it should be optimised for mobile users. Simple navigation, fast loading, and user-friendly interface can greatly enhance user experience and SEO.
10. Leverage Local Backlinks to Boost Authoritativeness and SEO
Backlinks, or links to your site from other reputable websites, are a strong indicator of your site’s authority and credibility. In the healthcare industry, these could be links from local healthcare providers, news outlets, or health blogs. Reach out to local organisations or even write guest blog posts to earn high-quality, local backlinks. This not only boosts your site’s authority but also improves your local SEO efforts.
And a bonus…NAP
Remember that directories with business listings are REALLY important to Google. This is where you list your business, include things like business hours, address and phone number, how to book an appointment, what kind of healthcare service or medical services you provide and so on. (NAP).
Think of these as a way of Google checking your online reputation and your location so when people search, Google is confident that they’re getting the right result.
