How to Outrank Your Medical Competitors on Google Search
Google is an incredible tool for reaching potential customers. But it’s also crowded with millions of other websites fighting for top visibility in search results. If you want eyeballs on your website, you need a strategy to help it stand out from the crowd. This can be difficult if your site isn’t optimized or lacks unique content. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to boost your SEO and get your site on the first page of Google. Whether you’re a medical spa, surgeon, or dentist, this guide will walk you through how to rank higher.
9 Tips for Ranking High on Google
Being the top search engine in the world, Google wields enormous influence on people’s lives. To rank well, you must consistently:
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Provide value (answer questions that people have)
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Write for your reader (rather than focusing on keywords you want to rank for)
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Create original and engaging content on relevant topics to establish authority
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Educate people about your services, products, or industry
Don’t think about search engine optimization for search engine optimization’s sake. Instead, think about answering questions people are seeking answers to.
Chris Z.
President of Medstar Media
Besides these simple rules, there are nine considerations to keep in mind to rank on the first page of Google. Let’s get into it!
1. Be Patient
It takes patience to get more patients. SEO is the delicate art of providing unique content, monthly updates, and technical support to optimize your website so Google sees you as an “authority” over your competitors. It’s far from a quick fix—it takes time and consistent effort.
Many of the major websites you’re familiar with were built over decades to receive the amount of traffic they do every day. It’s not unusual for SEO to take a few months or even a year before you start seeing results—and even then, those results may be small at first. But if you’re willing to put in the work and patience, then SEO can be your ticket to success online.
Let’s say you’re a dentist trying to rank for the term ‘Invisalign.’ It’s going to take time because other dentists in your area may have had Invisalign on their websites for years. The best thing you can do is to offer superior content to anyone in your city. Google will eventually recognize the quality and reward you.
2. Share Unique Content Frequently
By sharing unique, high-quality content consistently, you help Google understand what your site is all about. Search engines will show your website at the top of their rankings if they recognize your business as an authority in your niche.
Aim to produce two to four blogs per month with relevant and helpful content. Your blog articles should have not only original copy but also unique photos and videos. This takes time and effort, but it’ll pay off in the long run when you start appearing more often in search results.
If you’re a plastic surgeon and have a new technique or approach, introduce it on your blog! Then, direct traffic to that article by sharing it on your social media channels.
3. Keep Technical SEO in Mind
Businesses often overlook the technical aspect of SEO. But the reality is that SEO isn’t a one-and-done deal. It requires constant nurturing—like a baby! You must conduct regular checks to ensure your website:
- Loads quickly
- Is mobile-friendly
- Has working links
Remember, your SEO score can change at any time. Optimizing your website is just the first step to increasing visibility in search engines. You must continually monitor it and make adjustments whenever necessary.
Suppose you’re a med spa offering Morpheus 8. You must ensure that it’s a breeze to discover information about this treatment on your website. The content should be distinctive, and the page should load quickly.
4. Get Reviews Consistently and Respond to Them
Respond to all your customer’s reviews, both good and bad. This can be tough, especially if you have negative reviews. But it’s crucial to address all feedback. If you don’t address issues head-on, they will continue to haunt your business online.
Customers who leave reviews about your business want to know you’ll take their comments seriously. And prospective customers use reviews as a way to gauge whether they can trust you as a business. By offering to make things right, people (and Google!) recognize your care and are more likely to give you another chance.
Let’s say you’re a med spa offering Emsculpt NEO. You received a negative review on Yelp from a customer stating they didn’t get the slimming muscle-toning results they had hoped for. Taking the time to acknowledge and solve their concern will not only restore trust, but it will show prospects that you do what it takes to ensure a positive experience.
When responding to customers, ensure that each response is HIPAA-compliant. Avoid going into too much detail about the patient’s treatment or mentioning specifics about their visit. If you feel the need to discuss something further, provide a general response and offer to take the conversation offline. Include a phone number where they can reach out to get their issues resolved.
5. Update Your Google My Business Profile Regularly
To get your website on the first page of Google, you must ensure your business information is up to date:
- Address: Check to see if the address listed on your Google My Business profile matches what someone would find when they type it into Google Maps. Otherwise, they may get confused and end up somewhere else.
- Phone number: Make it easy for people to reach your office by including an updated phone number.
- Photos: Think about why people would visit your establishment and take pictures of those things. Then, add the images to Google My Business so people can see what you're all about. For starters, med spas may consider adding patients' before and after images, photos showcasing the facility and equipment, and friendly staff members.
6. Include Unique Before and After Photos
When you’re working with patients on cosmetic procedures, it’s imperative to show the outcome of your work. Including authentic photos on your website helps builds trust with potential clients. If they like what they see in your before and afters, they’ll be more likely to turn into customers. Google prioritizes websites with helpful content—before and after transformations show you deliver excellent results.
If you offer facial services, include transformation photos showcasing the drastic improvement in your patients’ skin tone and texture. Does the facial target acne scars? Hyperpigmentation? Wrinkles? Whatever it is, make sure it shows in photos so visitors know what they can expect if they choose this treatment.
7. Only Add Unique Content to Your Site
If you’re offering treatments such as CoolSculpting, use unique content rather than copying the content from the manufacturer’s website. Google warns users against using plagiarized content and rewards unique content. Invest in unique copy and visuals if you want to rank your website and avoid penalties.
8. Get Quality Backlinks
One of the best ways to get your website on the first page of Google is by getting in touch with the press. If you have something that will be of interest to them—such as a new product or an exciting event planned at your spa—you can invite journalist(s) to come in and write about you. Getting quality backlinks can be costly, though. Med spas often pay PR companies $10,000+ for this service. However, small-town med spas have allowed news anchors and writers to try out Emsculpt NEO for free in exchange for a backlink. It’s something worth considering!
9. Apply for Citations with BrightLocal
Citations are vital for SEO purposes because they increase your website’s authority in Google’s eyes. When people search for local business information on Google Maps or Google search result pages (SERPs), they want to see that businesses have been referenced by reputable sources.
BrightLocal is one of the most popular citation services on the web today. We include this in our SEO for Medical Spas, but you can also do it yourself by visiting www.brightlocal.com.
When Should I Invest in SEO?
When asked when the best time to invest in SEO is, Medstar Media’s VP of Client Experience, Whitney Zelig always says, “last year!” But if you’re reading this now, don’t feel like you’re too late to the game. It’s better to start now than wait longer. The sooner you implement SEO strategies, the faster your website will climb in search engine rankings.
Medstar Media Can Help You Rank #1
For many businesses, the prospect of getting started with SEO is daunting. Even if they manage to get past the initial stage, most don’t have time to keep up. Sound familiar?
We can help—Medstar Media is an experienced SEO company with decades of expertise and experience to help you rank on the first page of Google. We help our clients connect with their audience by creating blog articles that educate, inspire, and entertain.
Our typical client that invests in SEO will make tens of thousands of dollars in extra revenue from the added organic traffic. Call (801) 890-3847 to schedule a free consultation and learn how you can be next!
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