What is SEO? Why is It Important for Patient Growth? How to Use In-House Review Management to Improve It?
What is SEO and Why is It Important?
In short, SEO is what makes your Google page rank higher. How to do that? This is where SEO comes in. Here’s how SEO (Search Engine Optimization) works – in simple terms. Imagine the internet as a vast library, with millions of books (websites) on every topic imaginable. In this library, search engines like Google act as librarians.
When someone asks the librarian for information about “veterinarians near me,” the librarian’s job is to recommend the most relevant and helpful books. SEO is like organizing your book (your veterinary practice’s website) in a way that makes it easy for the librarian to find and recommend it.
The better your SEO, the more likely your practice will appear at the top of search results when pet owners are looking for veterinary services. Why is this important for your veterinary practice? Simply put, most pet owners start their search for a new vet online. If your practice doesn’t show up in these searches, you’re missing out on potential clients. Your higher-ranked competitors are more likely to get the call.
Here are a few key aspects of SEO that can help your practice:
- Using the right keywords in your site: These are the terms pet owners might use when searching, like “cat vaccinations” or “dog dental care.” Brainstorm keywords with your team and sprinkle them across your site.
- Blog posts: Informative articles about pet health can keep visitors on your site longer, which search engines view positively.
- Ensuring your website works well: Fast loading times and mobile-friendliness are important for both users and search engines.
The Importance of Online Reviews for Veterinary SEO
One key ingredient of veterinary SEO is the power of online reviews to boost your page rank. Having a high review rating – especially Google Reviews – pays a double bonus. It helps improve new patient flow and helps drive higher page rankings.
Potential clients place a lot of weight on the opinions and experiences of others when choosing a veterinary practice. 91% of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews and 84% trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. When pet owners search for a “veterinarian near me,” they are likely to choose practices with higher ratings and more positive reviews.
Positive reviews – and more of them – also help increase your page rankings. With modest effort, the hospital’s team can do this in-house.
How to Do It In-House?
Enlist your social media-savvy team members to put these steps in place:
- Team members should tactfully encourage pet parents to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile and other platforms like Yelp and Facebook
- Make it easy for clients to leave reviews by providing links or QR codes in your office (e.g., at reception), in emails, and on the website
- Respond professionally and promptly to both positive and negative reviews
- Monitor your review profiles regularly and address any concerning trends or issues
The more 5-star reviews you accumulate, the more search engines will rank you more highly.
Conclusion
In summary, SEO is a crucial component of any successful veterinary practice’s marketing strategy that, over time, will show concrete results. By focusing on keywords, content quality, website optimization, local SEO, and online review management, you can significantly improve your page rankings and attract more clients.