There’s no question about it – the internet has totally transformed industries across the board, healthcare included. For physicians and medical practices nowadays, having an online presence is not just a nice bonus – it’s completely essential for success in today’s healthcare landscape.
In this post, we’ll explore why optimizing your online presence is so critical for healthcare professionals now. We’ll look at the major benefits it offers and provide some practical tips for doctors and practices aiming to improve their digital footprint.
Building Trust and Credibility Online
Reviews and ratings are everything these days. Maintaining a robust, positive online reputation is truly crucial for physicians and practices who want to stand out. Research confirms over 90% of prospective patients read online feedback before selecting their healthcare provider. And a full 65% say positive reviews increase their confidence in a doctor.
For today’s skeptical healthcare consumers, seeing a well-developed online presence with good patient testimonials helps establish vital trust and credibility for doctors. Being listed on sites like Healthgrades or Vitals allows you to showcase real patient experiences. Keeping your practice website and profiles on social channels up-to-date also gives you control over how you present yourself online.
Digital Accessibility Meets Modern Healthcare Demands
Today’s patients expect healthcare services to offer digital convenience and connectivity. A recent survey showed 76% of patients want the ability to book appointments online, while 70% want access to virtual visits.
An optimized online presence meets these demands, with options for online scheduling, telehealth visits, prescription refills, lab results, and secure messaging. For busy professionals and patients on the go, digital accessibility provides needed flexibility many now see as essential.
As a physician-owned practice catering to physicians’ needs, Atlanta Health Partners offers user-friendly online booking, virtual visits, and a secure web portal with robust features – key advantages that set your practice apart.
Improved Search Visibility Attracts New Patients
Most patients turn to Google as a starting point when researching physicians or medical services. An astonishing 77% of internet users now search online to find local healthcare providers.
Optimizing your website and online profiles for search can have an enormous impact on discoverability and new patient acquisition. Improving factors like site speed, mobile responsiveness, and local SEO best practices can bump your rankings to the critical first page of search results.
With nearly 50% calling or scheduling an appointment after an online search, digital visibility is equivalent to visibility in general. Don’t leave potential patients struggling to find you online.
Omnichannel Marketing Expands Your Reach
While word-of-mouth referrals have long been a trusted source for finding healthcare providers, recommendations now spread faster and wider thanks to social media and online reviews.
An omnichannel digital marketing approach expands your reach beyond existing patients to new networks online. Social media ads, pay-per-click search ads, and retargeting campaigns keep your practice top of mind across channels. Optimized content and SEO organically reach people researching medical topics.
For Atlanta Health Partners, no avenue is left unseen. Our data-driven digital marketing targets likely patients wherever they connect online, fueling rapid growth through expanded visibility.
Digital Communication Improves Patient Relationships
In the past, healthcare delivery centered around in-office interactions. Today’s digitally enabled patients increasingly expect ongoing, personalized communication between visits.
Your website portal, email newsletters, and text messaging provide new channels for delivering health education, treatment reminders, and tailored content to keep patients engaged. Virtual visits and secure messaging offer convenient alternatives to in-office consultations.
Digital communication nurtures closer provider-patient relationships. It empowers patients to proactively manage their health with relevant information and access to your care team.
An Online Presence Generates More Business Overall
The numbers speak for themselves: a robust online presence provides a measurable, multi-pronged boost for modern medical practices. Consider the following advantages:
- 73% increase in new patient acquisitions from improved search visibility
- 67% increase in appointment bookings from online scheduling
- 57% increase in patient retention from digital communication tools
- 48% increase in referral rates from positive online reputation
For Atlanta Health Partners, our physician-run team draws on digital data and analytics to constantly optimize our online presence, fueling rapid growth year after year. Our multi-channel digital footprint allows us to effectively reach, serve, and deliver an unmatched healthcare experience to physicians throughout Atlanta and beyond.
Call Patients to Action with Your Online Presence
In today’s digital age, the numbers speak for themselves – prioritizing your online presence as a healthcare provider is no longer optional, it’s essential. Here are three key action steps:
- Audit your current online presence – How does your website stack up? What are patients saying in reviews? How do you currently reach patients digitally? Identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Set online presence goals – Prioritize objectives like improving search visibility, driving online appointments, collecting reviews, launching social media, etc. Develop a plan and timeline.
- Partner with online marketing experts – For long-term success, leverage experts like Atlanta Health Partners to manage your online presence. Our physician-run team can elevate your brand and maximize your reach through proven digital strategies.
Don’t leave potential patients struggling to find and connect with you online. Contact our team today to audit your current presence and map out a success plan tailored to your goals. Also be sure to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter for regular digital marketing tips that work for busy practices.