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7 Reasons Why It Is Important to Upgrade Your Healthcare Website

By Healthcare, Marketing, Websites

Upgrading your healthcare website is crucial for improving user experience, enhancing security, embracing new technologies, optimising for search engines, complying with accessibility standards, and maintaining a positive brand image. 

And is great for Credibility!

The following 6 reasons outline why it is important to upgrade your healthcare website to provide the best patient experience:

  1. Enhanced Patient Experience: Upgrading your healthcare website can improve the overall experience for patients, healthcare professionals and other visitors. It allows you to incorporate modern design elements, intuitive navigation and responsive layouts, making it easier for visitors to find information, access services, and interact with the website.

  2.   Security and Data Protection: As technology advances, so do the techniques employed by cybercriminals. Upgrading your website helps ensure that it is equipped with the latest security measures and protocols to protect your information. Regular updates and patches address vulnerabilities and minimise the risk of data breaches, which is crucial in maintaining patient trust and complying with data protection regulations.

  3. Mobile-Friendly and Responsive Design: With the widespread use of mobile devices (approx. 85% of internet traffic), it is essential to have a website that is optimised for various screen sizes. Upgrading your website enables you to implement a responsive design, ensuring that it adapts seamlessly to different devices, including smartphones and tablets. This improves accessibility and visitor engagement, as patients can easily browse your website and access information on the go.

 4. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Upgrading your website provides an opportunity to optimise its content and structure for better search engine visibility. By implementing SEO best practices, you can improve your website’s ranking in search engine results, making it easier for patients to find your healthcare services online. This can help attract more organic traffic, increase brand visibility and ultimately lead to more patient inquiries and appointments.

 5. Compliance with Accessibility Standards: Upgrading your website allows you to ensure compliance with accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines promote inclusivity by making web content accessible to people with disabilities. By incorporating features like alternative text for images, proper heading structure, and keyboard navigation support, you can ensure that your website is usable by a wider audience.

6. Brand Image and Reputation: Your website serves as a digital representation of your healthcare business. An outdated or poorly functioning website can create a negative impression and erode trust among current and potential patients. By upgrading your website, you can project a professional and modern image, instilling confidence in your services and reflecting your commitment to staying up-to-date with technological advancements.

In summary, these 6 factors aren’t the only reasons however they certainly contribute to better patient engagement, increased online visibility and improved overall performance of your healthcare organisation. Ultimately, an upgraded healthcare website demonstrates your commitment to providing quality patient care, boosts your online presence, and facilitates effective communication and interaction with your patients, thereby enhancing the overall healthcare experience. And don’t forget is great for Credibility!!

If you need help building a high-performing website for your healthcare business, contact us and find out how we can help.

Why is Google My Business Important for any medical practitioner ?

By Healthcare, Marketing, SEO

A Google My Business (GMB) account allows businesses to manage their online presence by providing a way for people in the community to find them on search engines and establish trust. A GMB listing also helps you get more leads from potential new patients who may be searching on Google for nearby practitioners when looking for care. GMB pages are a free, easy way to create and maintain an online presence as a healthcare practitioner. Make sure you’re found locally, even though you work at a clinic.

Many doctors, dentists, physiotherapists and other allied healthcare professionals don’t have a GMB page because they simply don’t know how to set one up or aren’t aware of its importance.

In cases where a practitioner has a great reputation, it’s important they have their own GMB listing because it provides them with the opportunity to show patients that they are an established practitioner, display contact details, operating hours and more.

  • Create your own GMB and show you are a professional, established healthcare practitioner in your community. 
  • Get found by potential new patients who may be searching on Google for nearby practitioners when looking for care 
  • Help people find you so they can get quick access to the health services they need.

In this article, we’re going to explore whether the practitioner should also have their own GMB page, best practices for setting up a GMB page, and what happens if they outrank your clinic.

Let’s get stuck into it.

What is a practitioner listing?

To start with, what is a practitioner listing? According to Google:

A practitioner listing is an individual practitioner in a public facing professional, typically with his or her own customer base.

These would be practitioners like doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors etc…

According to the Google regulations, every practitioner should create their own business profile if:

  • They operate in a public-facing role. Support staff should not create their own Business Profiles.
  • They can be contacted directly at the verified location during stated hours.

A practitioner should not have multiple GMB listings that cover all their specialties. However, A practitioner can have multiple GMB listings with separate locations, which we further discuss below.

urban-lifestyl- physiotherapy-Google-Search

Why a practitioner should have their own GMB page?

In general a GMB is Google’s platform for managing your company’s online presence. However, as a practitioner, it is possible to have your own GMB page.

You should create a GMB practitioner listing if:

  • Your clinic doesn’t appear in the Google search results when you search your name
  • You want to have greater control over the content on the profile
  • Your clinic has many locations and you want to rank for “Practice Name + Your Name”
  • You are practising in more than one clinic and want to have control over your reputation and gather your own reviews.
  • You have aspirations of owning your own clinic, it’s a good way to start building your reputation online.