Using Google My Business for Healthcare

With millions of people using the internet to find healthcare services, healthcare providers must stand out. That’s where Google My Business for healthcare comes in. According to Google, businesses with a complete Google My Business profile are twice as likely to be considered reputable by customers. 

In fact, within a day of conducting a nearby smartphone search, 76% of users go to a linked store to make a purchase, while 28% of searches lead to such visits. So, it’s clear that having an optimized Google Business Listing can significantly impact a healthcare organization’s online visibility. 

What is Google My Business? 

Google My Business is a free tool presented by Google that allows companies to create and manage their online presence on Google search and maps. GMB offers several features, such as updating contact information, posting photos and videos, and responding to customer reviews.  

How Can GMB Help Healthcare Providers? 

For healthcare organizations, having a Google My Business profile is especially important as it allows potential patients to quickly find information about the organization, including its location, hours, services offered, and reviews from other patients.  

Importance of GMB in Healthcare Digital Marketing 

One of the key components of healthcare digital marketing is optimizing your online presence for local search, and Google My Business (GMB) is a crucial tool for doing so. By creating and managing your GMB listing, you can ensure your healthcare organization appears in local search results and provide important information to potential patients. It’s a powerful way to build your brand and attract more patients to your practice. 

How To Set Up A GMB Profile for Healthcare Organizations? 

Setting up your Google My Business profile is a straightforward process that can significantly boost your online presence as a healthcare organization. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating your profile: 

• Sign in or create a Google account. If you have a Gmail ID, you can use that to sign in. Otherwise, you’ll need to create a new account. 
• Go to google.com/business and click “Manage Now.” 
• Enter the name of your healthcare organization. If you don’t see your organization listed, click “Add your business to Google.” 
• Choose your business category. For healthcare providers, this would typically be “Healthcare Provider” or “Medical Center.” 
• Add your business address and service area. Make sure that the info is accurate and up-to-date. 
• Verify your business. Google will mail you a verification code to the address you provided. Once you receive it, enter the code in your Google My Business dashboard. 
• Complete your profile. Add photos, hours of operation, contact information, and other relevant details about your healthcare organization. Make sure to include your website URL. 

Optimize Your Google My Business Profile for SEO 

Once your Google My Business profile is complete, it’s time to optimize it for SEO purposes. Here are some tips: 

• Use relevant keywords in your business description. 
• Choose the correct business category and subcategory. 
• Add high-quality photos of your healthcare organization. 
• Encourage customers to leave reviews on your profile. 
• Respond to customer reviews and inquiries promptly. 

After these steps, you can create a powerful and optimized Google My Business profile for healthcare organizations that can help you attract more patients and improve your online visibility. 

Updating and Managing GMB Profile 

Managing and updating your Google My Business profile is crucial to maintain an accurate online presence for your healthcare organization. To manage your profile, first, you need to claim ownership of your profile by verifying your ownership through a verification code sent to your business address or phone number. Once you’ve verified your ownership, you can update your profile by adding information about your healthcare organization.  

Make sure to regularly monitor and respond to reviews and questions posted by patients or visitors to your profile. You can also use the Google My Business app to manage and update your profile on the go. 

It’s important to keep your profile up-to-date to ensure that your patients and potential customers have access to the latest information about your healthcare organization. Make sure to update your profile with any changes to your services, business hours, or contact information.  

Common Mistakes to Prevent When Setting Up Your GMB Listing 

• Using a generic business name that doesn’t accurately reflect your healthcare practice. 
• Choosing the wrong category or adding irrelevant categories to your listing. 
• Using a phone number that isn’t associated with your healthcare practice. 
• Adding incorrect or outdated information, such as hours of operation or website URL. 

How to Maximize GMB Listings? 

Now that you’ve set up your Google My Business (GMB) listing, maximizing its potential for healthcare is crucial. According to a study by Moz, GMB signals account for 25% of local ranking factors. Adding photos and videos showcasing your healthcare organization and services is one way to make the most of your GMB listing. 

Research by Google shows that businesses with pictures on their GMB listing receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks through their website. In addition to adding visual content, it’s essential to optimize your GMB description and categories. Be sure to include relevant keywords and information about your healthcare services, such as the types of procedures you offer and the languages your staff speaks.  

How to Get Reviews on Your GMB Listing? 

Online reviews are essential to healthcare SEO, as they help patients make informed decisions about choosing a healthcare provider. To get more reviews on your GMB listing, you can ask your patients to leave a review after their appointment. 

You can also include a link to your GMB listing on your website, social media profiles, and email signature, encouraging patients to leave a review. Responding to reviews on your GMB listing is also essential, as it shows that you value your patients’ feedback and are committed to providing the best possible care. 

How To Monitor Your GMB Listing? 

Tracking and analyzing the performance of your GMB listing is crucial to ensure that it’s optimized for healthcare SEO. By monitoring your listing, you can see how patients find your healthcare organization online and make data-driven decisions to improve your listing’s performance. 

You can track the performance of your GMB listing by using the insights tab on your GMB dashboard. The insights tab provides valuable data on how patients discover your listing, including search queries, direct searches, and discovery searches. You can also track the number of views, clicks, and calls your listing receives, helping you identify improvement areas. 

What Should a Startup Business Do? 

Digital marketing for startup business can be the key to building brand awareness, and driving traffic to their website. And optimizing your online presence through tools like Google My Business is important. By creating and managing a GMB profile, startups can easily connect with potential customers searching for their products or services.  

Legend Digitech is a digital marketing agency that offers digital services to help businesses optimize and create a stronger online presence. They specialize in local SEO, which includes optimizing Google My Business profiles, building high-quality backlinks, and implementing effective content marketing strategies. In addition to local SEO, Legend Digitech also offers services such as social media marketing, and website design and development.