SEO for Hospitals and Healthcare
Today, more people than ever before are turning to the Internet for advice on medical problems. In fact, 58% of web users look online for information on specific medical treatments and procedures.
Having your hospital or healthcare practice show up in natural search results is a great way to edge out competitors and make sure you stand out to potential patients. But how can you make this happen when healthcare is such a competitive field?
Specifically targeting these prospective patients with an SEO campaign for healthcare will help you rank better in search engine results pages (SERPs) for healthcare-related keywords. Hospital SEO is quickly becoming essential in today’s fast-paced, digital world, as medical queries and references in search engines are getting more and more common.
What is SEO?
The benefits of SEO for hospitals and healthcare
Whether you’re looking to grow the number of patients that come through your door or increase the number of procedures that take place at your hospital or practice, an SEO for healthcare campaign is the best and most cost-effective way of reaching potential patients and improving the authority of your business within the medical industry, not to mention increasing your ROI!
With 77% of patients using search engine results prior to booking an appointment at a hospital or local practice, it’s important to capitalize on these searches by making your website as visible as possible, whether you’re a large hospital or a small local practice. SEO gives you the opportunity to rank higher in SERPs for very specific terms or targeted location.
Local SEO for hospitals
Including local search factors in your hospital or healthcare SEO plan can also support this. Local SEO can help potential patients to find relevant material quickly for the area that they are in or wishing to search for.
Your local SEO campaign should also include setting up a new, or enhancing an existing, Google Places profile. This will have your local listing return higher in location-specific results—for example, if a potential patient in Dallas is searching for Dallas hospitals.
The importance of a mobile-friendly website
When optimizing your website, it’s important to keep in mind that mobile-friendly websites are especially important for the medical sector, as consumers may be seeking for urgent information on a condition or ailment while not in front of a desktop.
44% of mobile users schedule appointments after finding hospital information online. This means that having a website that is user-friendly is a priority. Additionally, Google incorporates mobile-friendliness into its ranking factors, so it’s crucial to consider how your site’s visibility might be impacted by its design.
The role of content in SEO
With original blog entries, videos, patient endorsements, interviews, and news about industry advancements and medical discoveries, you can establish yourself as an authority in the healthcare space.
Symptoms and medical conditions have historically been the most searched for topics before a potential patient visits a hospital or medical practice, so having extensive informational content on your website is a detail that should not be overlooked when it comes to encouraging user conversions. Not only does this content make your website more engaging and informative for users, but it also helps Google to understand exactly what your site is about and why it should appear on the first page of relevant search results.
How can 86 Agency help with your hospital’s SEO?
At 86 Agency, we understand that you work in a time-sensitive industry and may not be able to keep the SEO process going yourself. This is where we can help. We can take over all aspects of your hospital SEO campaign, from creation of content to outreach and local optimization, to ensure that your valuable time is spent helping those who need you most: your patients.
We have a team of seasoned Internet marketers ready to assist you in achieving the online success you desire. In order to start your SEO campaign, we first develop a plan that fits your business objectives and thoroughly investigate your target market, competitors, and current rankings.
Other Relevant SEO Stats for Hospitals:
- Average engagement rate: 62%
- Average time on site: 3:01
- Landing page conversion rate: 1.3%
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