In the present day of smartphones, the majority of people first turn to the Internet for service inquiries. Most of these searches do not include a specific name or brand, but instead, a type of service followed by, “near me.” This means the very first information they find about your business likely comes from a Google My Business listing. Many local businesses are simply unaware that this even exists and may be deterring customers.
Google My Business
Google My Business is one of the simplest ways to attract local patients, but in order to do so, you must first claim and verify your business. You will then be able to use it to optimize search results to gain local attention.
Google My Business contains a listing of your business’ operating information, reviews, posts—the list goes on. An incomplete or ineffective Google My Business listing could steer patients toward other local providers and practices. But, have no worry, because there are plenty of easy ways to improve your healthcare business’s listing if you feel it’s lacking.
Accuracy
The accuracy of the details you provide in your profile are critical. Information must be clear, descriptive, and highly visible for patients seeking the care you offer. This means you must include complete contact information such as phone numbers and addresses. You must also list it under the correct category when prompted, and have it set up so it accurately reaches your correct service areas. We’ve all experienced the frustration of trying to find information on a service with a lacking business listing.
Along with accuracy, it’s especially important in healthcare listings to not overwhelm the potential patient with too much unnecessary information. They should not have to sift through your listing to figure out what the heck your healthcare practice even provides.
Include Photos of Practice
While the business description is incredibly important, humans are visual creatures, and we take comfort in being able to visualize their experience at their potential provider’s office. Including photos of your healthcare business not only saves the potential client from having to take the extra step of visiting your website, but it also establishes a level of immediate trust when they can predict what their experience will be with you. Visuals can include your logo, the interior and exterior of your building, photos of your services, and sometimes even videos.
List of Services
Because of the nature of healthcare, you are most likely providing multiple services at your business, which makes this is one of the most important sections to fill out. Not only does this inform potential clients of what you provide, it can also help clear up misconceptions on what your practice does.
Keep in mind this isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list of every single thing you offer. Focus on services or items you most want patients to find. If you have a secondary revenue stream — you’re a podiatrist with a medspa, or a family doctor who sells supplements — include those in your services.
Reviews from Patients
When a potential patient is considering multiple providers, they’re more likely to go with the one showcasing a variety of positive reviews from existing patients. Reviews and testimonials may be more important in healthcare than any other business, because it successfully establishes trust in the practice. Therefore, you know your health is in good hands.
Google My Business offers a way to let your patients fill out reviews so it displays in the profile, and the user can immediately get a good sense of good service or not. If you find reviews lacking, encourage your patients to fill them out — they probably don’t know it’s an option!
Foster Local Attention
Before ever getting to your healthcare business’s website, people will see your Google listing before anything else. Even if you hire a digital healthcare marketing agency and have the best healthcare website design, a poorly filled out Google listing may prevent potential patients from ever getting to your website. Take the first step to attract local attention and create a Google My Business listing.
It’s also important to note that there are multiple other business listings websites, so while Google My Business is the main one, finding and refining all of your online profiles will help garner local attention. Furthermore, your website is guaranteed to gain more traffic.
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