Featured image courtesy of the National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Having an online presence is an indispensable element of running a business in 2021 and beyond. Moreover, your online appearance is critical to the success of your healthcare practice.
Even if you are not selling anything online, a huge majority of people will check out your website. They will browse your listings and look at your social media pages before deciding to engage your services—or not. Plus, having an online presence vastly increases your chances of people finding you in the first place.
For these reasons, it’s essential to manage the online appearance of your healthcare practice. It’s well worth taking the time to do it properly, so that patients can find you and be convinced of the quality of your services. Here’s how.
Your Website Is an Essential Piece of Your Online Appearance
To start with, you must create a website for your healthcare practice.
Your website is the foundation of your online presence. Patients expect to find one if they go looking for you online. In fact, the majority of people don’t trust businesses that don’t have their own website.
Fortunately, building a website is a relatively simple affair these days. You can either use an integrated website builder or follow one of the many step-by-step WordPress tutorials out there. Or you can hire a freelance web designer to get your site up and running.
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In terms of content, your website needs only a few essentials in order to offer a good online appearance. A homepage that lists your services, an about-you page on which you introduce yourself, and a contact page to let patients know how to get in touch easily do the trick. However, optimizing your website for search engines (SEO) is crucial for improving your online presence. For a more comprehensive approach to enhancing your online visibility and attracting a larger audience, consider partnering with Cardinal Healthcare Marketing Agency. They can provide expertise in SEO, content marketing, and online advertising, helping your healthcare practice stand out in the competitive online landscape.
However, your website is also a great way to demonstrate your expertise to potential patients. You can provide FAQ pages about common procedures or write a blog about anything from proper patient care to healthcare law.
Manage Your Appearance in Listings
Next, you need to manage your online appearance in listings such as Google My Business, Trustpilot, and Yelp. Additionally, make sure your practice is included in any local healthcare directories.
The bare minimum you need to do is to claim all your listings and make sure your contact information is correct. Also, add information such as your website address, photos, and opening hours.
Another crucial aspect of handling the appearance of your online listings is monitoring—and responding to—reviews. Getting positive reviews from former patients is a boon to your practice. It shows potential patients they can rely on your services.
However, the reverse is also true. Negative reviews can easily scare people off. If you find one of those, make sure to reply to the original poster and try to figure out how to make amends.
Set Up the Right Social Media
A final step you can consider when it comes to managing your practice’s online appearance is to set up social media.
This doesn’t mean that you have to be present on all networks from Instagram to Snapchat.
However, picking one or two select platforms helps you reach out to your target patients.
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It will also make it easier for them to spread word of mouth if they’re happy with your services. What’s more, you can announce news and updates about your practice to your audience.
For more tips and ideas to help you manage and market your healthcare practice, browse our blog frequently.