How to Take SEO Even Further

You’ve probably heard about search engine optimization (SEO), which is a content strategy that helps your practice website stand out in search results when a new patient is searching for a practice online.

Search engine optimization is one of the most trustworthy ways to drive traffic to your website, but this is not the only way.

Online directory listings give you even more opportunities to stand out in search results. The most popular business directory is Google My Business.

Take Advantage of a Shortcut to the Top

When searching for a local practice, Google My Business Listings appear at the top of search results, second only to paid advertisements. This listing contains photos of your practice, operating hours, and reviews from your patients.

These local search results can be an effective way to get new patients through the doors of your practice. Many people that search for a business on a mobile-device visit or call that business within 24 hours.

Make Sure Your Information Is Consistent

To take advantage of your Google My Business directory listing, you first need to claim it. After you claim your listing, be sure to standardize your name, address, and phone number (often called NAP). You want to make sure this information is consistent everywhere your practice is listed across the web.

Inconsistencies in your information, even if they seem insignificant, can confuse both prospective patients and search engines, resulting is lower search rankings.

Patients Trust Online Reviews

Most business listings allow people to leave a review of the business. Online reviews carry a lot of weight with prospective patients. 88% of them reporting that they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

This shift from in-person to online recommendations should be embraced by enabling and responding to reviews on various directory platforms across the web.

When your Google My Business listing appears in the search results, the star rating appears with it. To make sure your listing has good reviews, encourage your happy patients to leave you a review on your listing. Some social media sites, like Facebook, also enable users to rate and review a practice they have visited.

Don’t ignore the power of these reviews. Social media profiles of businesses are likely to show up in search engine results when a patient searches for a practice in their area on Google or Facebook.

Responding to Positive and Negative Reviews

You must respond to all reviews, whether they are positive or negative. When responding to a positive review, make sure that your patient for taking the time to leave that review.

Responding to a negative review can be tricky. Before responding, investigate the claims made in the review and draft a response based on the findings. Be careful not to place blame on the unhappy patient and offer a solution to rectify their grievances. While you may not see that patient again, this allows you to showcase your brand and your character to potential patients.

Expand Your Practice and Your Reach

Search engine optimization combined with directory listings can be an effective and powerful way to expand the presence of your practice in search results. To check your listings or to learn how to use online business directories to expand the reach of your practice, contact Officite.