Google’s search engine is one of the most important websites in the world. If you want to find something (or be found) on the internet, Google can help. But finding the information you need from a search engine is usually a lot easier than helping people find your business.
If you own a medical practice, attracting new patients is an ongoing challenge. Fortunately, Google now has tools that help local businesses rise to the top of the search results so new customers can find them with ease. Your Google Business profile can help you market your medical practice effectively and get new clients.
What is a Google Business Profile?
Formerly known as Google My Business, the Google Business Profile (GBP) offers small businesses the opportunity to include relevant business information and assistance inside the search engine itself. Instead of having to click through to your website, visitors can find information like your phone number and business hours directly through the search engine. Removing additional steps from the search process makes it more likely that prospective patients will contact you and set up a consultation.
GBP Helps You Rank
Your GBP indicates that you have a physical practice in a specific geographic area. That’s important because when someone is looking for a medical provider, they will typically search in their local area first. With a GBP, you have the opportunity to rank higher than sites that might be more popular, but less helpful to prospective patients.
Local search is a powerful tool for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Medical practices can leverage their GBP to bring in new, local clients with the help of all the features the profile offers to small businesses.
Description & Photos
First impressions matter. People want to know what they’ll be walking into when they visit your practice for the first time. A strong description and photos can help!
You have the option to include a short description in your profile. This is a great opportunity to set the tone for your practice and build trust right away. If you don’t know what to write, think about what makes your practice unique and why patients come to you instead of your competitors.
Photos are powerful marketing tools. Including high-quality photos of your practice can help create a positive first impression. It can be worth paying for a professional to come and take pictures for you so you can show potential clients your beautiful facility when they’re searching for a new provider.
Phone Number & Call Button
Picking up the phone to call someone is hard for a lot of people. It’s also often inconvenient, which means you could miss out on a new customer simply because they didn’t want to go through the steps of calling your practice.
Your GBP offers both a click-to-call listing of your phone number and a call button, making it easy for someone to dial in from a mobile phone. If they have any questions, they don’t have to go any further to find your contact information. Removing these barriers can lead to more business.
Directions
Whether or not your practice is hard to find, Google makes it simple for people to pull up directions. Being able to see your location on Google Maps can help people figure out how far away your practice is and how convenient it is for them. Having all of that information in one place can make people more likely to contact you.
Reviews
Reviews are absolutely critical for any medical practice. There is a huge amount of trust that goes into a doctor-patient relationship and people want the peace of mind that your practice is well-reviewed before they schedule a consultation.
Building up your reviews and reputation on your GBP takes time, but it’s something you should focus on as a key marketing strategy. Your credentials are important, but prospective patients want to hear about the experiences of other patients and feel confident that their own experience will be good.
Asking for a review when your patients are delighted with their results can help you build that all-important reputation. When people search in the future, they’ll be able to browse these reviews, which will help them decide whether or not to call you.
Chat Services
Google now has the option to add a Business Profile Bot-in-a-Box, a chatbot service that can help prospective clients 24/7. Your staff can’t be available all day and night, but a chatbot can help pre-qualify leads, answer questions, and help you make a good impression with your GBP.
Q & A
Lots of people have questions when they’re looking for a medical provider. Your GBP allows people to ask questions directly on your profile, visible to everyone who searches. By answering questions in the Q & A section as soon as possible, you’ll not only be helping the person who asked the question but anyone else who might have the same question.
An Updated Profile That Follows Guidelines is Important
With so many great features to help you get noticed, a Google Business Profile is an excellent tool for any medical practice. However, you do have to maintain your profile to continue seeing the benefits. An outdated profile will frustrate searchers and can make a poor impression.
It’s a good idea to check your profile regularly for needed updates. You should also take care to follow Google’s guidelines and rules for content to ensure that your profile isn’t removed.
Make Your Marketing Count
Managing your marketing strategy can be challenging when you’re running a busy practice. Still, it’s important to make your marketing count and focus on high-value platforms and marketing activities that will bring in new patients. Word-of-mouth marketing is fantastic, but it can’t be your only source of new business.
At Surgeon’s Advisor, we take the guesswork out of the process and leverage our unparalleled industry process to get you results. If you need help with your Google Business Profile, reach out to us for a free consultation today.