Why did the dermatologist bring an Alexa to the office? Because they wanted to ‘speak’ the language of modern SEO, of course!
In the digital era, the convenience of voice search has taken over. Like sunscreen on a sunny day, voice search allows people to safely search on hands-free devices while driving, cooking dinner, tending to the yard, and so much more. It increases a website’s accessibility to those who may face barriers when typing, seeing, or reading. It allows people to quickly access information from anywhere in their homes.
Just like voice search has opened up a whole new world of ease for many, these local voice SEO tips for dermatologists will reveal your true beauty to potential patients next time they need a chemical peel or an excisional biopsy.
Riding the Wave of Search
Imagine the Internet is a massive ocean. For us in Virginia, that’s the Atlantic, but any ocean will do.
When you built your website, you cast it adrift in those vast waters. Voice SEO brings your website to the people who need dermatology services—those who are on the beaches soaking up the sun… after 4 PM if they’ve been following doctor’s orders.
What’s more, LOCAL voice SEO makes sure those waves crash down on the right beach, the one that’s a couple blocks from your clinic.
Because you’re reaching people who are very likely patients, they engage more with your brand online and schedule more appointments.
This not only makes your brand more “visible” through voice. It helps your clinic become visible across the traditional local search results where you type in the query box. So, these local voice SEO tips for dermatologists are also critical to your overall SEO strategy.
Amplifying the Echo of Voice Search
Voice search is not merely a feature. It’s like the front door of your clinic through which your ever-growing audience walks to seek your dermatological expertise.
Understanding how Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana guide potential patients to your doorstep is fundamental.
An estimated 58% of consumers have used voice search to find local business information. Many are seeking healthcare providers in their area. Often, the closer to work or home, the better.
58% of those aged 25-40 (mostly millennials) use voice search every day. 62% of people use voice search with 36% using a home voice assistant other than their phone. Amazon is the top voice search engine for homes. But Google (Android) and Siri (Apple) rule the mobileverse because they are the default for their respective mobile devices.
20% of voice searches contain one of 25 common words, one of which is a person’s location or “near me”. Other top 25 include:
- Recipe
- Easy
- Types
- Home
- How
- What
It’s easy to see how a dermatology clinic could create an online recipe using these types of words to encourage patients to schedule their next appointment from the comfort of their homes. But of course, SEO is more than what words you use, as our local voice SEO tips for dermatologists will reveal.
The Impact of Voice Search: A Closer Look
Consider voice search as the digital receptionist of the modern age, directing queries with a level of precision that delivers:
- Instant connection with local patients actively seeking dermatological services
- An opportunity to capture their attention at the peak of their interest
- New patients in your vicinity
- Significant growth in visibility in your area
Leverage this online love to start making appointments.
Amplifying Your Practice with Local Voice SEO Tips for Dermatologists
1. Conversational Keywords Are Your Best Friend
As we mentioned, people are using conversational words like how, what, who, and where.
Incorporate natural, conversational phrases into your keyword strategy. Patients might ask, “Who is the best dermatologist near me?” or “How do I treat sunburn?” Tailor your content to answer these queries directly and conversationally.
But note, this is just for starters. Search engines don’t just pick the best answer. A million websites produced a great answer.
They choose the best answer based on the authority, relevance, and proximity to the searcher.
That’s why applying multiple local voice SEO tips for dermatologists is important.
2. Optimize Your Online Profiles
Ensure that your Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Bing Places are not only claimed but optimized. They’re not just your digital business cards. They should present your clinic accurately and invitingly and build instant trust with strangers. Your business will not be recommended on any voice search platform without optimized profiles.
To do this you can add:
- Images and videos
- Hours
- Helpful FAQs
- Consistent location information
- Your website
- Special offers
- Scheduling information
3. Be Mobile and Quick
Your website should be responsive and quick to load, akin to a swift and effective consultation. A sluggish website can deter potential patients, much like a long wait time in a clinic lobby.
Except it’s a whole lot easier for them to walk out of a virtual door before you even have their appointment time on the books.
4. Structured Data: Your Invisible Ally
Structured data helps search engines understand your site better. This allows them to display information more clearly in visual search. It helps search find and speak the answers that people are looking for more easily on your website.
Structured data is like the medical history chart for your website. It provides essential information at a glance to improve your visibility in search results.
5. Content That Speaks
Your content should serve as a helpful resource. Answering common questions and providing valuable information that people are actually looking for.
This is what keyword research is. Researching keywords is a data-driven way to learn what words people use to find a website like yours.
Building content around these keywords and common questions is your clinic’s way of starting a conversation with potential patients even before they step through your door.
6. Leverage Local Reviews
Make this one a healthy habit! Develop a system that encourages satisfied patients to leave reviews, particularly mentioning the location of your clinic.
Voice search often prioritizes local results, and positive, location-specific reviews can enhance your visibility in these searches. These reviews are the active ingredient in your trust-building serum.
7. Utilize Voice Search Analytics
Monitor how people find your clinic using voice search and what queries they use. This data can inform your local voice SEO strategy, helping you refine your approach to more effectively targeting common questions and concerns.
When you have access to high-quality data and easy-to-understand reports, making data-informed marketing decisions becomes easier. This reduces your marketing costs while increasing your return on investment over time.
8. Engage in Community Outreach Online and IRL
Participate in local online forums, social media groups, and community events. By increasing your digital footprint in local online communities, you improve your clinic’s local relevance online, and that ocean your website was once swimming in becomes the community swimming pool.
Integrate your “IRL”, in-real-life presence, with your digital presence. Consider networking with a local non-competitive business to host an in-person event or participate in a local charity event with your clinic team These kinds of activities demonstrate that you’re connected in the community and give you the opportunity to generate the locally relevant content that local voice search and locals love.
9. Maintain Consistent Information Across All Platforms
Ensure that your clinic’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are consistently presented across all online platforms and profiles. This uniformity is crucial, as voice search algorithms rely on this information to provide accurate local search results.
Any discrepancies in your NAP details can confuse search engines and potential patients, leading to a loss of visibility and trust. If you have multiple clinics, they might schedule at the wrong one or not realize that you have a clinic in their neighborhood, not just one across town.
Regularly audit your online presence to confirm that your clinic’s information is up-to-date and consistent everywhere it appears, from your website and social media profiles to online directories and review sites.
Say It Aloud: Local Voice SEO Starts Here
Investing in local voice SEO is not just about adapting to a trend. You’re setting your clinic apart in a crowded digital landscape. You’re ensuring that when someone in your community asks their device for dermatological help, your clinic is the top recommended option.
Voice search is reshaping how patients find your services. It’s become imperative to integrate local voice SEO tips for dermatologists like these into your digital strategy. By doing so, you’ll enhance your online presence and ensure that your clinic remains at the forefront of patients’ minds and search queries.
Embrace these changes with the same precision and care you apply in your practice. After all, in dermatology and digital marketing, the right approach can lead to healthy, lasting relationships with your patients, just like the right treatment can lead to healthy, radiant skin.
Ready to take your local search marketing to the next level? Discover how Surefire Local can streamline this process, making your clinic the talk of the town—quite literally. Join a Surefire Local demo and see how we can transform your digital footprint with our comprehensive marketing platform.