Healthcare has gone digital, and patients are leading the way. Nearly 77% of patients search online before booking an appointment (thanks, Google). That means if your practice doesn’t stand out online, you’re missing out on potential patients.
But standing out online isn’t the same as excellent care. Digital marketing is a whole different ballgame, and learning to cut through the noise to build patient engagement and your reputation takes an entirely different skillset. That’s what beMarketing is here for.
With a few new ideas, you can see fast results. From low-hanging fruit (speeding up your website) to higher risk, higher reward strategies (paid ads), we’ll help you take your company to new heights.
1. Build a Patient-Centered Website
Your website is usually the first impression a patient gets of your practice. If it’s outdated, confusing, or slow, they won’t be sticking around. A website needs to load in three seconds; any longer and 40% of visitors have already left.
Focus on:
- Mobile-first design: Over 60% of healthcare searches happen on mobile. Your site should adjust to different screen sizes.
- Easy navigation: Patients want quick access to services, insurance info, and appointment scheduling. Good graphic design is essential for easy navigation.
- Online booking: Self-scheduling tools can significantly increase conversions.
2. Invest in Local SEO
Patients don’t just search for “dentist” or “urgent care.” They search for “dentist near me” or “pediatric urgent care in [city].” Ranking locally is how you appear in those searches.
You’ll want to:
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile with up-to-date hours, photos, and services.
- Collect patient reviews (and respond to them). Reviews aren’t just social proof. They’re a ranking factor for the algorithm.
- Use location-based keywords to capture searches from your community.
3. Optimize for AI-Powered Search
Google’s AI Overviews are changing the rules of search. Instead of showing one set of results, Google’s AI now “fans out” a single query into multiple related ones, pulling in multiple sources that give the most thorough, authoritative answers.
For healthcare providers, this means two things:
- Geo-visibility matters more than ever. Your content should include location-specific references so AI associates your practice with patients searching nearby.
- Depth beats breadth. A surface-level FAQ won’t cut it. Comprehensive, trustworthy content on topics your patients care about is more likely to be cited in AI-generated summaries.
By combining traditional SEO with AI strategies, you give your practice a better chance of showing up when it matters most.
4. Leverage Social Media for Patient Engagement
Social media isn’t just for lifestyle brands. It’s a powerful tool for healthcare, too. Patients want to see the human side of your practice, and healthcare is incredibly human. Sharing provider spotlights, behind-the-scenes content, or wellness tips builds familiarity and trust. Plus, when patients have stories they want to share, there is no better way to promote your practice, provide education for rare conditions, and build patient engagement with your practice.
5. Use Content Marketing for More than Marketing
People do their research before making decisions, even for the smallest things, and most especially for healthcare. Creating helpful, reliable content is necessary when it comes to building authority.
Effective digital marketing tips for content include:
- Blogging about common health concerns or FAQs.Remember, you want to focus on in-depth topics that cover a wide range of individuals.
- Creating video explainers that simplify complex topics.
- Offering downloadable or even gated guides (like “10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Pediatrician”).
High-quality content positions your practice as a trustworthy resource and helps drive organic traffic.
6. Track, Measure, and Adapt
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Even the best marketing strategies fall flat without data. Use analytics tools to track website visits, appointment requests, ad performance, and social engagement.
This data doesn’t just measure ROI. It highlights opportunities to adjust and redirect your efforts. Working with a team (like us!) that specializes in healthcare marketing ensures you’re making data-driven decisions, not guessing at what might stick.
Take Control of Your Online Presence
Digital marketing is a crowded space, but the practices that stand out are the ones that meet patients where they already are, and they are online.
Ready to put these digital marketing tips into action? At beMarketing, we specialize in creating strategies that help healthcare practices attract new patients and strengthen their reputation. Let’s work together to build a digital strategy that drives real growth.
Contact us today to start growing your practice.