To reach patients where they are now, businesses must promote to them and interact with them online. That is especially true in the healthcare industry, where people have more alternatives than ever thanks to broader health insurance coverage and a huge selection of providers available online.
In reality, the majority of patients start their search for an online provider, thus your website frequently makes an impression on potential clients.
However, having a website does not guarantee that your medical practice is successfully reaching its target market. Consider this: Even for keywords like “cardiologist” or “primary care physician,” a Google search for a potential patient frequently yields millions of results. How can you differentiate your practice from the competition?
You must optimize your healthcare website for the finest patient experience possible since it is your hidden weapon. Starting with the seven fundamentals listed below may have a major impact without needing a lot of time or money.
Website Security
Most of us have been trained to check that the websites we visit are safe because the internet has become a part of our daily lives over the past few decades.
We want assurances that the data we’re giving is secure and confidential. Anyone would have that, but a healthcare website really needs to have it. Not simply because that’s what people want, but also because HIPAA requirements apply to both your website and your medical data.
As well as collaborating with a website hosting company that is HIPAA-compliant and has PHI-protecting measures in place, you’ll want to make sure you have an SSL certificate and HIPAA-compliant online contact forms.
Start the process off right by having a discussion regarding website security and HIPAA compliance with your website designer or hosting company.
Mobile-friendliness
Did you know that four out of every five patient interactions begin with a mobile phone online search, per Google? Search engines and users favor websites with responsive designs that are mobile-friendly.
A responsive website is not simply advised; it is necessary. Make sure your website can adapt to any screen size by making sure the design is responsive. Additionally, you should make it simple to locate important information and make sure that buttons and hyperlinks are large enough to be quickly clicked.
Site speed is important. Make sure your website loads quickly because less than 10% of visitors will stick around if it takes too long.
Easily accessible contact details
Important details, like your contact information, ought to be obvious. This may be as simple as making sure your phone number is prominent and clickable on your webpage or as sophisticated as providing customers with an easy option to sign up for a service or make an appointment. Regardless of the alternatives you select, make sure the entire route is simple for patients to follow.
Clearly listed locations on Website
People will want to know where to locate you if they schedule an appointment with your business or even just think about doing so. Any healthcare website locations page often ranks among its most popular ones. Therefore, your audience should have no trouble discovering the locations page and navigating through the information there.
Make sure the location information is clearly accessible and comprehensible and post it in a prominent spot on your website. Important information about the sites, such as what services are provided there and how to get there, should be included.
Provider information on Website
There is a lot of stress and worry involved when we are worried about our health. Because of this, building trust between medical professionals and patients is a crucial and occasionally undervalued aspect of providing health care.
Your website can help you start building that trust. Utilize the pages of your website to inspire trust in the medical services you offer and to assist your audience in recognizing your providers as industry leaders. Ensure that your clinicians’ qualifications are readily evident, but keep in mind that consumers also want to establish a cozy and reliable rapport with their practitioner.
Highlighting schooling, fellowships, board certifications, and other evidence of expertise is important, but keep in mind that many other providers also possess these credentials. To enable patients get to know the providers, including more friendly material or even videos in the physician profiles.
Insurance details
The decision we make regarding our health care is frequently influenced by our insurance coverage. As a result, a lot of patients look up if their insurance plans are accepted on a healthcare website .
Your website has to make it simple to discover and understand such information. Include all the information that both existing and prospective patients would need, and present it in a legible and thorough manner.
Updated listings
Do you know that over 50% of Google searches result in “no-clicks,” meaning that the user didn’t click on any results at all? Many people base their choices on information found on Google Maps or other websites, such as Healthgrades or ZocDoc.
You will never have the chance to make a great first impression on a patient if they never find their way to your website.
Make sure you frequently examine and update your Google, Bing, and Yahoo company listings, as well as any industry-specific listings, to make sure your audience is finding their way to your site.
Having happy patients leave reviews of your medical practice is one way to achieve this since it fosters confidence among prospective patients.
