If you want to attract customers to your pharmacy or patients to your healthcare practice, you should prioritize getting your website at the top of web searches. Most people use search engines like Google to find healthcare providers, and they are most likely to see your website if it appears on the first page of search results. The higher your website ranks, the more visible your organization is, allowing you to reach more potential patients. Here are some things you can do to get to the first page of Google and increase your online visibility:
1. Update Your Website Content
One of the best ways to get your healthcare website on the first page of Google is updating your content for search engine optimization (SEO). The term “content” refers to all the information included on your website. If you want to rank higher than other sites, Google needs to determine that your content is fresh and relevant. Make sure all the content on your website is accurate and aligns with your organization. It’s a good idea to continually update and add new content to show Google that it’s relevant. Pay close attention to areas such as the home page, blog entries, patient education pages, and photos and videos.
2. Ensure Your Website Is Mobile Friendly and Secure
If you want to get your website to the first page of Google, you need to make sure it is both mobile friendly and secure. You should use a responsive design for your website so that it will display correctly on any device, including desktop, tablets, and phones. Google will penalize your site if it doesn’t display well on mobile devices. It’s also important to ensure that your website uses HTTPS security. Otherwise, Google will tell potential users that your site isn’t secure, harming your search ranking.
3. Add Meta Descriptions and Title Tags
Meta descriptions and title tags can be found in your website’s HTML, and they tell search engines like Google what your content is about. This is optional code, but it’s important to utilize it if you want to get to the first page of Google. Do keyword research to figure out what terms your patients are searching for. Then, add these and other common search terms such as your healthcare specialties and location to your meta descriptions and title tags so Google will show your website in relevant search results. It’s also a good idea to add alt text to each photo and video to further improve your search ranking.
4. Utilize Backlinks to Your Website
A backlink, also known as a citation, is a link on another website that connects to your website. Having links to your website on relevant and respected sites will show search engines that your site is also relevant. This will improve your search ranking and help you reach the first page of Google. You can earn these links or sign up for services that allow you to purchase backlinks on sites with strong domain authorities that search engines acknowledge. This can also drive extra traffic to your website, as users on these other sites can simply click on links to reach your own site.
5. Use Pay-Per-Click Advertising
The above strategies can all help boost your organic search engine ranking and are free to implement, but it can take a while to see results. If you want to immediately become visible on the first page of Google, you can utilize pay-per-click advertising, or PPC, to place an ad for your healthcare organization at the top of the search results page. After setting a monthly budget, you’ll pay Google a small amount every time someone clicks on your ad. This type of search engine marketing (SEM) receives fewer clicks than organic results, but it starts working instantly.
Do you need help optimizing your website and incorporating strategies to get your practice on the first page of Google? Here at GrowthPharm, we specialize in helping healthcare organizations improve their online visibility and grow their business. To find out how we can help you, schedule a free consultation today!
