The methods that worked 5-10 years ago are no longer as effective as they were before. The reason is that those old strategies relied heavily on search engine optimization (SEO).
In the past, it was possible to manipulate your rank in Google by using black hat SEO techniques or buying ads from companies like Facebook and Google Adwords. So if you weren’t at the top of page one, then you had no chance of being found online. But today, with algorithms changing constantly and consumers growing increasingly savvy about how these things work, the best way forward is through a strategy we like to focus on, Local SEO Marketing. With Local SEO Marketing, you can optimize your website so that it ranks higher in search engines for targeted keywords, bringing you more patients in your area.
It’s time to get back to basics.
What is Local SEO Marketing
Local SEO Marketing is a strategy that can help you rank higher in search engines for targeted keywords in specific Geolocations. This will bring you
more patients in your area. By using Local SEO, you can optimize your website and Google My Business (or Google Business Profile) so that it is more effective in reaching potential patients.
Local SEO is a specialization of SEO that focuses on optimizing a website for rank in specific geographical areas. This is done by targeting relevant keywords that are specific to the location. Local SEO is beneficial for businesses that want to attract patients or customers in a specific area.
There are many ways that local SEO can be used to improve the rank and attract more patients. Some of these methods include keeping updated on services, products, hours of operation, building citations, creating local press releases to publish online, posting updates to Google Business Profile, and keeping up with online content.
People are increasingly using the internet as their main resource for information. With this reliance on the internet increasing each year, it has become critical that businesses have an effective digital marketing strategy.
Local SEO can be used by any type of business, but it has the most effective on businesses that provide physical products or services. For instance, let’s say you are a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast augmentation surgeries in San Diego. You could develop your online presence so that people searching for the keywords “breast augmentation surgery” will find your website.
Once a consumer is on your website, they can use the information you’ve provided to contact you or schedule an appointment. In this way, Local SEO helps businesses generate more qualified leads from their target audience.
Local SEO has quickly become one of the most effective internet marketing strategies for local businesses today.
How can you use Local SEO to attract more patients in your area?
In order to use Local SEO to attract more patients in your area, you’ll need to focus on optimizing your website for local search results. This can be done onsite by adding your city and state name to your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags, and by including local keyword phrases in your website’s content. You can also improve your website’s ranking in local search results with these off-site tips as well.
Keep up on your services, and products up to date
I don’t know why Google continues to keep changing the services that I update, but they continue to keep me on my toes and constantly check if they have changed my hard work. Google keeps challenging marketers to figure out what they are doing to offer the best service possible. Weekly checks of your main category on Google Business Profile and list of services is a 5 min task and highly recommended.
Keep your hours up to date
I know this seems basic but Google likes to see the activity of holiday hours. I’m going to use this section to say keep all your profile information up to date as well. I have seen many profiles that are not kept up to date which is an ongoing issue for Google hurting the trust that Google wants to put on your business.
Build a strong network of reviews from real customers
Google’s algorithm for this is constantly changing, but it looks like people having their opinion on your service will help you rank higher in local searches. Think about the last time you looked up a business on Google, and the first section that popped up was “Reviews”. They will show you a limited number of reviews that were ranked as helpful. The higher this rating is, the better the review will do for your website’s ranking in local searches.
Not only do we need to focus on Google, but we also need to look at other websites to see what they are doing, and how we can improve our own website.
SEO for 2022 is not just about Google anymore. Yes, Google still rules the rankings for Local SEO, but you now have to consider multiple platforms that also play a role in your online marketing success. Yelp reviews will soon become just as important as reviews on Google, and you’ll want to make sure your website is properly optimized for Bing as well. This can be done by adding your business’s relevant data on the Bing Business Portal.
Do not ignore other platforms that will play a role in 2022. You now need to consider Yelp reviews as important as Google reviews. Get active with the Bing Business Portal.
Build Citations
Building citations is an important part of any local SEO strategy and accounts for up to 30% of local ranking factors. Citations are simply mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. The more citations you have, the more likely it is that your business will rank higher in local search results.
There are a number of ways to build citations for your business. One of the easiest ways is to submit your business information to online directories. A good directory to start with is the Yellow Pages. You can also submit your information to the local chamber of commerce websites, and industry-specific directories.
Another important factor to consider when building citations is consistency. Make sure that all of your business information (NAP) is accurate and consistent across all directories and platforms.
Keeping track of all your rankings across multiple search engines is a full-time job. I am constantly monitoring which keywords are bringing up my website on Google, Bing, and Yahoo. I do this by using software such as rank tracking tools available on third-party websites. These tools allow us to monitor all of my website’s rankings in real-time and provide monthly reports that show changes in ranking for each search engine.
Local Press Releases
One of the most effective ways to improve your local SEO is to publish regular local press releases. Press releases are a great way to get your business’s name in front of local journalists and bloggers and can result in some high-quality links back to your website.
When writing a press release, make sure to include all the relevant information about your business, such as its name, address, and phone number. You should also include a brief description of your business, its products or services, and any recent news or events.
Make sure to distribute your press releases to as many local publications as possible. You can find a list of local newspapers, magazines, and websites on the Yellow website. You can also use Google to find local publications that are related to your business’s industry.
Make sure you keep track of the number of press releases you send out, and which ones result in high-quality links back to your website. You may need to try different types of press releases (case study, success story, etc.) until you find one that works for your practice.
Post Updates to Google Business Profile
Think of Google Business Profile posts as the new Google+. These posts do not have an expiration date if you set up a free website on GMB.
One of the best ways to use Google My Business is to post updates about your business. These updates can be anything from new products or services you offer, to changes in your hours of operation. Posting regular updates will help keep your customers informed about what’s going on with your business.
You can post updates to your Google My Business profile by logging in to your account and clicking on the “Posts” tab. You can then write a post and choose the date it’s published. These posts should be fully filled out, including an image or video, and should contain links back to your website, other posts, and your most popular citations.
The benefits of using a local strategy for your website’s content and design
There are a number of benefits to using a local marketing strategy for your website. Local marketing is a great way to target the right potential customers in your area. It helps you build trust and credibility with your customers. And third, local marketing can help improve your website’s search engine ranking in the SERPs as well as the Map Pack.
Targeting potential customers in your area is one of the main benefits of local marketing. When you target potential customers in your area, you’re more likely to convert them into customers. Local marketing also helps you build trust and credibility with your customers. This is because potential customers are more likely to trust businesses that are located near them. Finally, local marketing can help improve your website’s search engine ranking. This is because search engines like Google look at how relevant your website (and the content on it) is to users in your area.
Tips for getting started with a local marketing plan today!
Of course, this is something we can help you with. If you want us to take the bull by the horns and lead your local efforts feel free to reach out here.
If you aren’t quite ready to hire an agency, we recommend starting with simple updates on Google My Business (Google Business Profile, that will be years before I make the naming switch) and making sure you treat it as if you were updating your Facebook page.
Conclusion
Local SEO is a powerful strategy that will help your Plastic Surgery practice get found by potential patients in 2022. From updating Google My Business to targeting nearby customers, there are many benefits of using the power of local marketing for your online presence. If you aren’t quite ready to hire an agency and want some tips on where to start, we recommend starting with simple updates on Google My Business (Google Business Profile) or making sure you treat it as if you were a Facebook page. Let our team know what other questions or concerns come up when considering how best to leverage Local SEO for success!
